Paducah Area Chamber Membership Reaches Record Amount of 1075 Members
The final results are in for the Paducah Area Chamber of Commerce’s 2016 Annual Membership and Total Resource campaign with a record total for membership reaching 1,075 members. The campaign exceeded its goal and recruited 106 new members during the four week campaign. The results were announced at a Campaign Celebration held at the Commerce Center and sponsored by Payment Plus.
“This is a record-setting total number for our Paducah Chamber membership,” said Tammy Zimmerman, Campaign Chair and Chair-elect of the Paducah Chamber Board of Directors and Owner of Payment Plus. “To have accomplished this recruitment effort during such a busy time for the Chamber with our recent trip to DC, our local seminars and events, to having this campaign underway, is a real tribute to our leadership and our many volunteers.”
According to Chamber President Sandra Wilson, “The local businesses have been very supportive of the Chamber and the work we are doing on behalf of our community and our businesses. Our new members range from small businesses to several new businesses under construction to some established businesses who have not been a member and have now decided to join.”
"I want to congratulate Tammy and Sandra and thank the many volunteers and businesses who participated in this campaign,” said Bruce Wilcox, Chamber Chair of the Board and President of Henry A. Petter Supply Co., LLC. “Gaining 106 new members in this short-time frame and reaching a record high of total members are significant benchmarks for the Paducah Area Chamber of Commerce. Our volunteers have really been hard at work on our behalf during this annual campaign."
The top volunteer producer for the campaign was Janice Cleary with Paducah Bank. This is the second consecutive year that Cleary has won this award. Second place producer award went to Jessica Newman with Advantage Insurance; third place was Jessica Wallace with Paducah Bank; fourth place was Eri Gjergji with Computer Services Inc.; and fifth place was Megan Thomason with Northwestern Mutual.
The Paducah Bank team received the “traveling trophy” award for Overall Team Winner with Cleary serving as Team Captain, also for the second consecutive year. Cleary’s team recruited 27 new members plus other renewals from the 2015 campaign and a variety of new sponsorships. The team captained by Darlene Mazzone with Mazzone Communications received second place and the third place team was Mike Muscarella with Baptist Health. Source: Paducah Chamber
Once Scott Lebin, Geneva Chamber board chairman, said, “His grandfather began retail shops in downtown Geneva,” it did not take long for the packed house to realize that the 2016 Wood Award recipient would be Michael Simon, owner of The Little Traveler and other properties in the city’s downtown.
Geneva Chamber news: Mike Simon receives Wood Award
Once Scott Lebin, Geneva Chamber board chairman, said, “His grandfather began retail shops in downtown Geneva,” it did not take long for the packed house to realize that the 2016 Wood Award recipient would be Michael Simon, owner of The Little Traveler and other properties in the city’s downtown.
Simon received a standing ovation after Lebin and others detailed his contributions to the community Nov. 10 at the annual chamber awards dinner held at the Eagle Brook Country Club in Geneva.
“This is an incredible honor,” Simon said. “Thank you very very much.”
This is the 32nd award given in the name of William Wood, which recognizes those who have made significant community contributions in business, education, youth involvement, civic organizations, art, recreation, charity or government.
“Mike’s careful development of the properties he owns in downtown Geneva has helped keep Geneva a destination, filled with unique shops that draw people to the area,” said his wife, Nancy Sohn. “He sees filling an empty storefront as not just a matter of finding a tenant, but as a search for a business that will benefit the Geneva community as a whole and for the long run.” Read more: Kane County Chronicle
5 Star Chamber: Rapid City Area Chamber of Commerce 2016 Community Guide & Membership Directory
The Rapid City Area Chamber of Commerce 2016 Community Guide & Membership Directory is available at the Rapid City Chamber today! Thanks to Linda Rabe, Kristina Simmons and the chamber team for their help and direction putting this together!
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| Rapid City Directory |
Town SquarePublications (www.townsquarepublications.com) can help you accomplish your chamber's gloss map, directory, community profile or publication needs at no expense to the chamber. Please email John Dussman at jdussman@tspubs.com or call (847)-427-4633.
Virginia Peninsula Chamber Board Chair Named Community Banker of the Year
Virginia Peninsula Chamber Board Chair Named Community Banker of the Year
Old Point Financial Corporation (NASDAQ: OPOF) is proud to announce that Rob Shuford, Jr., President & CEO of Old Point National Bank was named Virginia Association of Community Banks' (VACB), Community Banker of the Year for 2016.
Steve Yeakel, President & CEO of the VACB said, "Rob's life story is inspiring. He started in the mail room at the bank, returned to the bank after military service to become the bank's first information technology officer, and worked his way to leadership, where he now leads the bank very successfully in challenging times." According to Yeakel, nominees were evaluated based on their leadership and community involvement, as well as for their industry advocacy and contributions to the vitality of their bank.
Yeakel also had high praise for Shuford's advocacy efforts. "Community banks enable economic growth in our economy, especially for small businesses, but they are restrained by burdensome regulations and an un-level playing field. Rob goes well beyond understanding that. He engages policymakers and regulators on a regular basis to tell his bank's story, and to ask for their help in allowing them to play a greater role in job creation and building the local economy."
Shuford was presented with the award at the Chairman's Banquet during VACB's 39th annual convention in October. VACB Chairman Mike Ewing explained the origin of the awards. "VACB is committed to do more to identify and celebrate the people who make community banking what it is – an invaluable element of the fabric of the communities they serve. This year, we heard story after story of people going above and beyond the call, to help, to educate, to guide, to comfort their fellow citizens, to make life better, for a single customer or a whole community."
"We're pleased for Rob, his family and his team at Old Point National Bank, that his colleagues across the Commonwealth are able to express our appreciation for him in this way," said Ewing.
Rob, a native of Hampton Virginia, grew up immersed in the Old Point culture. Starting in the mailroom and working on special projects during his summer breaks from Duke University, Rob laid the groundwork for a career in banking that would begin more than decade later. After graduating from Duke University with a degree in Biomedical Engineering, Rob was commissioned into the US Navy in 1986 and in 1990 returned to a civilian career path with a focus on operations and efficiency. In 1998, with a growing family of five, the Shufords returned home to Hampton and Rob accepted a position with Old Point as Vice President of Technology. In 2003 he was promoted to Chief Operating Officer, directing the strategic plan for the organization and managing all retail, operations, and marketing functions within the bank.
Focused on continuing his education, Rob earned diplomas from the Virginia Bankers Association School of Bank Management, BAI Graduate School of Bank Operations and Technology, and the CIVIC Leadership Institute. He challenges both himself and his employees to increase their knowledge daily and to stay on the cutting edge of financial and marketplace trends.
Over the years, Rob has committed his talent and time to dozens of organizations, including serving as the Chair of the Board of Directors for the Virginia Peninsula Chamber of Commerce. He also holds a position on the Board of Directors for the Civic Leadership Institute (Treasurer), the Board of Directors for the Hampton History Museum Association (Treasurer), the Board of Trustees for the Virginia Bankers Association School of Bank Management (Chair), as well as many others. Read more Stockhouse
#BestChamber practices: Lansing Regional Chamber: Recognizing investment in the region’s economic growth
The Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce created the Celebration of Regional Growth (CORG) in 2006 as a community celebration designed to recognize businesses that have invested in the economic growth and prosperity of the Greater Lansing region. Even during the economic downturn, our employers continued to invest in our people and region.
How much growth can we have that is noteworthy of such a large scale celebration? The answer can be seen in the list of names and projects that have flourished in our region over the past decade. Since 2006, CORG has recognized sixty organizations that have collectively invested $2.3 billion into this region!
Those organizations represent the rich diversity we have come to enjoy in our regional economy, including advanced manufacturing, healthcare, technology, insurance and financial services, higher education, transportation and more. They are household names and some “under-the-radar” firms that you may not have heard of but are global industry leaders. This year, the Chamber will recognize four more great organizations that are making a difference in Greater Lansing and around the world:
Block Imaging is being recognized as the International Trade recipient and is a premier worldwide provider of refurbished medical imaging equipment, parts and services. Block began as a home-based business with the founder, Bruce Block, brokering medical equipment. The company has continued to grow and now employs 125, mostly at its corporate headquarters in Holt, and does business in more than 100 countries.
Lansing Community College (LCC) is being recognized for its investments in placemaking and talent development. LCC has renovated two of its flagship buildings—Arts and Sciences and Gannon and fundamentally changed the student experience. Along with significant investments in public spaces and arts, LCC has created a campus environment that is helping attract, retain and prepare students for career success.
MSU Federal Credit Union (MSUFCU) has grown five-fold since 2000. To meet the needs resulting from steady growth, the credit union has made major investments in new facilities and is being recognized for two of those investments: the $46 million, 180,000 square-foot headquarters expansion and new Financial Innovation and Education Center in downtown East Lansing. These facilities will not only accommodate growth for MSUFCU but also help attract and retain students, interns and talent in our region.
Sparrow is being recognized for the $285 million in investments it has made in the region in recent years—not only advancing healthcare, but also helping transform the landscape along the Michigan Avenue corridor. Read more: Lansing Star-Journal
Vicksburg-Warren County Chamber membership drive a success
Plainfield chamber director earns Regent Scholarship
The Institute for Organization Management (IOM), the professional development program of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, recently announced that Brad DuBois, executive director of the Plainfield Chamber of Commerce, has been awarded a Regent Scholarship.
Given to professionals across the country, Regent Scholarships recognize recipients for their involvement in industry professional organizations, community service and professional background.
“Regent scholarships offer executives the opportunity to attend the institute and learn about emerging industry trends, expand their organizations’ influence and grow their peer network,” Raymond P. Towle, vice president of the Institute for Organization Management at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, said. “We are pleased to help these talented professionals advance their careers and organizations.”
“Last year was the first year I received the scholarship,” DuBois said. “When I applied I had to send a resume as well as a couple of letters of recommendation. I was lucky enough to be awarded the scholarship for a second time this year.”
Since its commencement in 1921, the Institute program has been educating tens of thousands of association, chamber and other non-profit leaders on how to build stronger organizations, better serve their members and become strong business advocates. The institute’s curriculum consists of four week-long sessions at five universities throughout the country. Through a combination of required courses and electives in areas such as leadership, advocacy, marketing, finance and membership, participants are able to enhance their own organizational management skills and add new fuel to their organizations, making them run more efficiently and effectively.
“A lot of us face the same challenges across the country,” DuBois said. “You go through these classes with the same people all four years. My class had people from Alabama, Arizona, Florida, the East Coast, the West Coast — all over the United States. We get a lot of great information. It’s a good way to connect and network and create contacts.”
DuBois will be attending class at The Winter Institute in Tucson, Ariz.
“I’ll be there with a couple of people from Indiana,” he said. “We’ll be there for four or five days.” Read more: Flyer Group
Twin Lakes Area chamber: A gala and a good time
Bella Vita Banquets in New Munster was bustling with more than 100 community members at the 18th annual Twin Lakes Charity Gala and Auction on Nov. 5.
The Twin Lakes Area Chamber and Business Association selected Bella Vita to host the event for the first time, citing improvements to the banquet hall, according Director Marilyn Trongeau.
“The newly renovated Bella Vita was a wonderful venue for this event,” Trongeau said, crediting owner Brian Boeckenstedt and his wife, Heather, for their help.
“Brian Boeckenstedt was a pleasure to work with and went above and beyond in assisting the Twin Lakes Area Charity with this event,” she added. “Chef Heather Boeckenstedt created the delicious buffet, tasty appetizers and pizzas.”
Chamber Chairman Chris Brown said in previous years, the event was held at Rumpoles in Twin Lakes or the Twin Lakes Country Club, but the group made a change to support other area businesses.
“The location change was due to supporting another member of our chamber,” he said. “It helps us realize we are the Twin Lakes area chamber, not just Twin Lakes.”
Proceeds from raffle items along with silent and live auctions went to the Twin Lakes Area Charity Corp., a nonprofit organization launched last year, and in turn, will be donated to community organizations.
“Funds raised by the Twin Lakes Area Charity Corp. will be used for the second year commitment as sponsors of character-building books distributed to Lakewood Elementary, Randall Consolidated and Brookwood Elementary and middle schools,” said Trongeau, noting they also give to the Sharing Center, Inc., in Trevor and additional education programs. Read More: MyKenoshaCounty.com
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