Chamber Executive Ongoing Education Weekly New Idea: The Power of Full Engagement: Managing Energy, Not Time, Is the Key to High Performance and Personal Renewal; Chamber interest: Washington County, Virginia wants to help create more local businesses; Many awarded at Decatur County Chamber of Commerce Annual meeting; Sheboygan Chamber President Betsy Alles: Not your grandfather’s chamber; Chamber opportunity: Logistics company drives international trade through Lansing; Chamber opportunity: Logistics company drives international trade through Lansing; MEC, Chamber interest: OUR OPINION: Expect big highways push in 2016 legislative session; Chamber Chuckle - Wacky Wednesday Weirdest Chamber Requests; Paducah Chamber Small Business Council; Town Square Publications Chamber Membership Directories, Community Profiles, Re-Lo Guides and Custom Maps

Good morning chamber world! Today is going to be a great day!



Chamber Executive Ongoing Education Weekly New Idea: The Power of Full Engagement: Managing Energy, Not Time, Is the Key to High Performance and Personal Renewal

By Tony Schwartz and Jim Loehr

The number of hours in a day is fixed, but the quantity and quality of energy available to us is not. This fundamental insight has the power to revolutionize the way you live. 

As Jim Loehr and Tony Schwartz demonstrate in their groundbreaking New York Times bestseller, managing energy, not time, is the key to enduring high performance as well as to health, happiness, and life balance. Their Full Engagement Training System is grounded in twenty-five years of working with great athletes -- tennis champ Monica Seles and speed-skating gold medalist Dan Jansen, to name just two -- to help them perform more effectively under brutal competitive pressures. Now this powerful, step-by-step program will help you to: 
· Mobilize four key sources of energy 
· Balance energy expenditure with intermittent energy renewal 
· Expand capacity in the same systematic way that elite athletes do 
· Create highly specific, positive energy management rituals 
The Power of Full Engagement is a highly practical, scientifically based approach to managing your energy more skillfully. It provides a clear road map to becoming more physically energized, emotionally connected, mentally focused, and spiritually aligned -- both on and off the job. Read more: Amazon

Chamber interest: Washington County, Virginia wants to help create more local businesses
The Washington County, Virginia Business Plan Challenge will award over $10,000 in business investment grants for start-up and existing businesses looking to expand with additional job creating in Washington County, Virginia, Town of Abingdon, Town of Glade Spring or Town of Damascus.

Applications must be submitted or postmarked no later than 5:00 p.m. on January 13, 2016 and received at the Washington County Chamber of Commerce at 1 Government Center Place, Suite D, Abingdon, VA 24210 or by email at washctybiz@gmail.com or fax at 276-628-3984.

Eligible business categories include Arts and Culture, Outdoor Recreation, Value Added Agriculture/Agritourism, Restaurants and Hospitality, Technology/Manufacturing/R&D, Retail and Support Services, and Light Manufacturing.

You can download rules and an application here.

Many awarded at Greensburg Decatur County Chamber of Commerce Annual meeting

The Decatur County Chamber of Commerce held their annual dinner, awards and recognition dinner on Thursday evening at the Indiana Grand Racing and Casino. The event held annually features recognition for each of the Chamber’s members, the annual business meeting and awards are given out for Entrepreneur of the Year, Ambassador of the Year, Small Business Grant Winner and the Don Horan Community Leader of the Year Award.

The night began with invocation by 2014 Don Horan Community Leader Award winner Oris Reece and dinner.

Following dinner, Johnny Budd, Superintendent of Decatur County Schools and Greensburg/Decatur County Chamber of Commerce Board President, began the annual meeting.

Following the meeting, awards were handed out.

Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Jeff Emsweller says that the awards given out are of utmost importance to the night.

“It is always great to give out the awards that we do,” Emsweller said. “These awards and recipients are true pillars of the community.”

This year’s small business grant winner was RBSK Partners. The $1,000 grant is annually awarded to a locally-owned business located in Decatur County and is used for enhancing, promoting or growing the business. Read more: Greensburg Daily News

Sheboygan Chamber President Betsy Alles: Not your grandfather’s chamber

Gone are the days when local chambers of commerce took hardline positions on issues of the day, sometimes creating divisions within their own membership and their communities.

Today, the Sheboygan County Chamber is a place of learning and connecting with the intention of finding solutions that serve all.

These days, people are looking for places where they can make valued connections, build rich relationships and work together to make a difference. Hand in hand with our 300-plus volunteers, we are building an organization that pays close attention to the broader good here in Sheboygan County.

We welcome a variety of voices into the room because we believe many-sided discussions result in more learning, better understanding, healthy compromise and ultimately better outcomes. 

Collaboration is at the heart of everything the chamber endeavors to accomplish. We don’t just pay lip service to our “Better Together” tagline — it has become a rallying cry for major initiatives throughout the county. Our “Working Together” award category has many nominations — a healthy sign. This award recognizes projects that succeed because business, government and nonprofit organizations work together.

Our Business Education Partners committee is composed of half leaders from education and half from business. Working together, they have developed richly-woven relationships that benefit our students, the businesses that hope to employ them and our communities. Read more: Sheboygan Press

Chamber opportunity: Logistics company drives international trade through Lansing

Inside TOC Logistics International's warehouse in Dusseldorf, Germany, workers load pallets of automotive components destined for Lansing into shipping containers, which are trucked 221 miles to a seaport in Bremerhaven, Germany.

From there, the parts are loaded onto a cargo ship that travels roughly 3,800 miles from the North Sea to a port along the Atlantic coast where the containers are loaded onto a train and hauled to the Port of Detroit. They make the final leg of the journey to TOC’s warehouse at the Capital Region International Airport by truck.

“It’s a bunch of different stuff coming in,” said Norm Stratz, TOC’s warehouse manager, reading over a shipment summary a few days before the container arrives. It will include wire harnesses and flip-down coat hooks that hang above car doors. "There's some stuff I don’t even know because I don’t check the boxes.”

Stratz doesn’t have time. He’s got 30 minutes to unload the 40-foot container so it can be cleared by U.S. Customs and Border Protection and trucked to different auto suppliers in the Midwest by the next day. Some include Grupo Antolin Primera Auto in Canton and Voss Automotive in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

TOC's warehouse space inside the Port Lansing Global Logistics Centre has been the company's Midwest consolidation hub for distributing European Cargo since August. The program makes up more than 50 percent of TOC’s business in the Midwest, where numerous clients share one container that gets unloaded in Lansing and the supplies then distributed. TOC serves more than 100 companies in the Midwest. Read more: Lansing State Journal

Effingham County Chamber President Norma Lansing Honored w/Noon Rotary Vocational Excellence Award

Norma Lansing, President, Effingham County Chamber of Commerce, has been selected to receive the Effingham Noon Rotary Club 2015 Vocational Excellence Award.

Norma serves as Chamber president, overseeing the programs and services that the Chamber provides to its 550+ members. For nearly four decades, her leadership, input and involvement has supported community and economic development efforts in Effingham County.

Norma’s leadership of the Effingham County Chamber is recognized and modeled by many Chambers around the State and beyond. Whether it is a Business After Hours, a First Friday Luncheon, the Chamber Annual Golf Outing or its Annual Business Recognition Gala, Chamber members benefit from Norma’s efforts. 

Norma organized the Effingham County Manufacturing Day, which benefits area manufacturers, high school students and area colleges. She also implemented a Job Fair that is well attended by job seekers, students and area employers. Read more: WXEF Radio

MEC, Chamber interest: OUR OPINION: Expect big highways push in 2016 legislative session

The 2016 Mississippi legislative session will likely see a major initiative to pass a substantial highways and bridges maintenance and construction bill, a critical issue that involves not only infrastructure but economic development, which is always linked in some way to transportation.

That issue, among others, will test the mettle of newly elected legislators to take on key state issues and finding or creating revenues to pay for what’s needed.

Transportation is a nationwide issue as well, the reason for intense interest in a proposed $325 billion measure in congressional conference that faces a Nov. 20 deadline for action.

A long-term federal program, adequately funded, would segue with a new and more adequate state revenue effort for highways, bridges and other infrastructure. However, the still-developing Mississippi effort is not linked to federal legislation.

Mississippi Economic Council executive officer Blake Wilson confirmed Monday the private-sector statewide chamber of commerce will release its thoroughly researched recommendations on transportation before the end of November, providing a valuable resource for moving ahead. Read more: Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal

Chamber Chuckle - Wacky Wednesday Weirdest Chamber Requests

I have to go the hospital, who will cat sit for me?


Paducah Chamber Small Business Council

Small businesses are important to the Paducah Chamber with about two/thirds of our members employing 25 employees or less. The Chamber has as an initiative in our Strategic Plan to strengthen our partnership with small businesses by providing statistical data, celebrations, recognition, seminars, and establishing an advisory group. 

The Chamber and Paducah Economic Development, in cooperation with the Murray State University Small Business Development Center, are in the process of hiring a part-time small business consultant. For more information about the position, contact cwooldridge@murraystate.edu.  

The Paducah Chamber has also chosen SizeUp for a Local Business Intelligence (SizeUp LBI) as a new service to give area businesses powerful new tools they need to grow and be successful.   More information will be coming soon!  

The Chamber’s Power in Partnership Breakfast in May featured a “Spotlight on Small Businesses.” The program included a panel of speakers discussing local resources available for small businesses and entrepreneurs. The panel of speakers include: Scott Darnell, President/CEO, Paducah Economic Development; Jim Pape, Vice President of Workforce and Economic Development, West Kentucky Community and Technical College; Melinda Winchester, Downtown Development Specialist and Main Street Director, City of Paducah; and Chris Wooldridge, District Director, Kentucky Small Business Development.  

Additionally the names of three local businesses were drawn from those submitting their summaries during a segment to feature the businesses and their products and services. They included Supply Solutions, Rob’s Cleaning Company and Cook’s Computer Solutions. Businesses are asked to submit a 75 word summary about their business.  The submitted summaries were compiled into a document for distribution to attendees at the breakfast and posted on the Chamber’s website and Facebook.  

Town Square Publications Chamber Membership Directories, Community Profiles, Re-Lo Guides and Custom Maps 


 More information: Town Square Publications

Chambers of Commerce and member focused organizations serve as a valuable resource in the local marketplace. The networking opportunities and representation with a wide variety of diverse businesses in your community is the catalyst of a successful organization. For further information about Town Square's publishing partnership with chambers of commerce and our No-Cost guarantee and Earned Revenue Share Program, To request your publication proposal, Click here

Lansing Chamber, Airport urges support for American Airlines bid; The Marion (Illinois) Chamber of Commerce Legislative Summit; Chamber Best Practices: Sail Young Professionals of Manitowoc County; Washington County (Virginia) Chamber of Commerce presenting a technology seminar; Indy Chamber hires Steven Stolen for new executive position; #BestChamber Practices: Washington County (Mississippi) Economic Alliance: Economic Development; Christian County Community Vision plan focuses on youth activities

Good morning Chamber world! Today is going to be a GREAT day!


Lansing Chamber, Airport urges support for American Airlines bid

Members of the Capital Regional Airport Authority joined Lansing officials and business leaders to urge the community to support American Airlines’ bid to begin service from Lansing to Washington D.C. once Sun Country discontinues its flights in October.


“There’s a tremendous opportunity to fill the void left by Sun Country and bring in new, expanded travel options,” said Chris Holman, who chairs the CRAA.


American Airlines would offer daily, nonstop service from Lansing’s Capital Region International Airport to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on Nov. 5 if the Federal Aviation Administration and the U.S. Department of Transportation approve its application. It would also offer three daily flights to Chicago O’Hare International Airport, starting in early 2016.



The Marion (Illinois) Chamber of Commerce Legislative Summit

The Marion Chamber of Commerce Legislative Summit will be held on Friday, August 28 at 11:30 a.m. at Kokopelli.

The event will include a buffet-style lunch (cost $13 to Kokopelli), followed by networking, updates by your Legislators, and then a Q&A session moderated by a member of your Legislative Affairs Committee.

RSVPs are required.

Here are a few Legislators who plan to be in attendance:

• U.S. Rep. Mike Bost
• 117th District Representative John Bradley
• Illinois 59th District Senator Gary Forby
• Williamson County Commissioner Ron Ellis
• Marion Mayor Robert Butler
• Marion Commissioner John Goss
• Marion Commissioner Angelo Hightower
• Marion Commissioner Anthony Rinella
• Marion Commissioner Jim Webb

The Legislative Affairs Committee meets on the third Thursday of each month at 8 a.m. at South Porte Bank in Marion. The Marion Chamber of Commerce Legislative Affairs Committee serves as a research and advisory committee for the Chamber's Board of Directors. The goals of the Legislative Affairs Committee are to monitor governmental matters that could impact the community or local business, present recommendations to the Chamber's Board of Directors, and to assist in the initiation of the appropriate action. The Legislative Affairs Committee is a non-partisan organization and shall neither endorse candidates for public office nor political parties.

Chamber Best Practices: Sail Young Professionals of Manitowoc County

Sail, Young Professionals Network of Manitowoc County is catering exclusively to the active lifestyle of today’s young professionals. By providing professional, networking, and social opportunities for young professionals, Sail is creating a more vibrant and connected community.

Sail, a young professionals network for Manitowoc County, is a committee of The Chamber of Manitowoc County, and brings  together a target audience of adults ages 21 to 40 by offering a welcoming social environment  through planned activities and opportunities for professional growth.

Washington County (Virginia) Chamber of Commerce presenting a technology seminar

The Information Technology Committee of the Washington County Chamber of Commerce is having a Lunch & Learn seminar on August 26, “Is Your Website Mobile Ready?"

Businesses and organizations are invited to attend and learn how the mobile readiness of your website affects your Search Engine results and what you need to do about it.

Patrons will learn if their website meets the mobile-friendly test. Even if your site makes the grade today, there’s no guarantee that it will continue to stand up to future change. Learning the latest in Search Engine Optimization will be one component and how Saratoga can help you achieve your marketing goals.

The seminar will be at the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center in Room 240 from 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM. Lunch, compliments of seminar sponsor, Saratoga, will be provided. Bristol Herald Courier

Indy Chamber hires Steven Stolen for new executive position

Steven Stolen, the former managing director for the Indiana Repertory Theatre, has been hired to a newly created executive position at the Indy Chamber, the organization announced Monday.

Stolen will become vice president of corporate advancement Sept. 8. In that role, he will work to build more corporate partnerships with the Chamber.

"It's a unique pleasure to have the opportunity to work with our business community and continue the kind of work in which I believe so strongly—connecting people and organizations in a powerful way so that together we can accomplish great things," Stolen said in a written statement.

Stolen played a prominent marketing role at IRT from 2006 until 2013, with responsibilities that included new business development, community relations, strategic planning, finance and development. Read more: IBJ.com

#BestChamber Practices: Washington County (Mississippi) Economic Alliance: Economic Development

Washington County is ready for growth.

Lead the way, lead the world in Washington County, Mississippi

Featuring outstanding site selection offers that resource rich abundant land, and fast-moving logistics include world-class port, rail, air and highway. Land a workforce custom-trained to your specifications providing top-flight skills plus the scale of a labor pool of nearly 300,000.

Land here, lead here, and love it here in one of the Southeast’s top visitor destinations, home of the blues, historic and cultural attractions and spectacular outdoor recreation.

FEATURED SITE: AIRPORT INDUSTRIAL PARK: PRIME ACREAGE, AVAILABLE BUILDINGS.

When it comes to performance, the Airport Industrial Park is ready to reach for the sky, offering available land as well as a 20,000-sq.-ft. facility ideal for warehousing and distribution. The Park puts all the services of the Greenville Mid-Delta Airport at hand, with U.S. Highway 82 just 5 miles away. Utility infrastructure is excellent: In addition to municipally sourced water through the city of Greenville, electricity is provided by Entergy, gas by Atmos Energy and broadband by AT&T Suddenlink. (READ MORE)

Christian County Community Vision plan focuses on youth activities


How can the city increase youth involvement and their choices for programs and entertainment?

This question consumed the second consultant meeting of the Christian County Chamber of Commerce’s Community Vision Plan Tuesday, where more than 20 city officials and community members joined together to discover how to make Hopkinsville more appealing to youth. Read more: Kentucky New Era

Cable (Wisconsin) Chamber host: World athletes welcomed in spectacular ceremony; Benton (Arkansas) Chamber recognizes members with awards; ‘Innovative’ Greenville (Michigan) Chamber of Commerce hands out annual honors; The Southeast Kentucky Chamber of Commerce announces new President and CEO; Chamber news: One Southern Indiana announces “One” Awards finalists; Hoffman Estates chamber hands out annual awards; Chamber Event: 412th DCG shares leadership philosophy with Leadership Vicksburg; Washington County (Virginia) Chamber holds annual luncheon; Famous Chamber of Commerce Quotation

Cable (Wisconsin) Chamber host: World athletes welcomed in spectacular ceremony

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Nordic Skiing World Championships in Cable kicked off its 10-day run with a spectacular opening ceremony last Friday evening before a large crowd of 135 athletes from 15 countries, their coaches and spectators at The Lakewoods Resort near Cable.

Held on a flag-bedecked stage bordering Lake Namakagon, the ceremony included a parade of national flags, and welcoming remarks from Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, from IPC Governing Board member Todd Nicholson and from local organizing committee members James Bolen and Gerry Hansen.

Flags were carried in by representatives of Austria, Canada, China, Finland, France, Japan, Germany, Mongolia, Norway, Poland, Russia, Sweden, Ukraine, the United States, State of Wisconsin and the Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians.

A sit-ski athlete from the Fond du Lac reservation of Minnesota, Brenden Ojibwe, skied to the state carrying a torch and handed it to Wisconsin Secretary of Tourism Stephanie Klett — who then lit the Olympic-style cauldron on the stage to signal the start of the event.

Walker declared the games open, and fireworks lit up the sky, reflecting on the ice of Lake Namakagon. Read more: Sawyer County Record

Benton (Arkansas) Chamber recognizes members with awards

Recognition was the theme of the day as the Benton Area Chamber of Commerce acknowledged the accomplishments of its members during the First Thursday Lunch and Awards Presentation.
Lori Terrell, the incoming president of the chamber, welcomed the crowd Jan. 8 at the Benton Event Center.
“I hope we can continue to move forward and grow our community,” she said.
Terrell, who is the group human resources manager at CoorsTek, cited the chamber’s 2014 accomplishments, which included hosting the 2014 banquet with guest speaker Bill Rancic, conducting the first Saline County Business Expo, publishing the first Saline County Restaurant Guide in partnership with the Bryant Chamber of Commerce and organizing a presidents’ club that will include all past chamber presidents and will meet quarterly.
She also said attendance at last year’s events was “great,” noting that 700 attended the Cajun Fest, 1,500 attended Savor the Flavor, and 6,000 attended the Glitz & Garland event.
Terrell and Gary James, executive director of the chamber, presented plaques to the honorees. Read more: Arkansas Online

‘Innovative’ Greenville (Michigan) Chamber of Commerce hands out annual honors

A successful city needs a successful chamber of commerce.
As it turns out, Greenville has one of the best.
After yet another successful year advocating for this community, the Greenville Area Chamber of Commerce held its annual meeting and awards celebration. The event highlighted the accomplishments of the chamber last year and handed out annual awards.
“It’s a great opportunity to celebrate the outstanding people we have in Greenville,” said Chamber of Commerce Co-Executive Director Candy Kerschen. “Greenville is a great place to work and live because of them and they are very deserving of our appreciation and recognition. The annual dinner is also a great opportunity to acknowledge the accomplishments we have achieved together as a business community.”
Held at the Montcalm County Fairgrounds, the awards dinner theme was based on the upcoming Super Bowl. Attendees enjoyed a buffet and drinks as well as playing a game of pseudo squares throughout the night. There also was a drawing for a large flat screen TV.

Outstanding Chamber

Executive Director of the Michigan Association of Chamber Professionals Bob Thomas joined the ceremony and gave a small speech. He praised the fact that the Greenville Chamber has won Michigan’s Outstanding Chamber of the Year award three times, which is one of only three chambers out of 300 in Michigan to receive the award thrice.The Greenville Chamber won the award in 2009, 2011 and 2012. Read more: The Daily News

The Southeast Kentucky Chamber of Commerce announces new President and CEO

A new President and CEO will now lead the Southeast Kentucky Chamber of Commerce.
Jacob Colley was elected this past Friday by a Board of Directors.
Colley has been serving as the Interim President since November, prior to that he was the Chamber's Vice President of Operations.
"I'm very excited to start this chapter for myself and for the Chamber of Commerce. Read more: WYMT news.com

Chamber news: One Southern Indiana announces “One” Awards finalists

One Southern Indiana (1si), the chamber of commerce and economic development organization for Clark and Floyd counties, announced Monday the finalists for the 2015 “One” Awards, according to a news release from 1si. The “One” Award is a reinvention of the Southern Indiana Business Awards and recognizes the finest 1si member in one of seven categories. Winners will be announced at the event from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, March 10, at Huber’s Orchard, Winery and Vineyard’s Plantation Hall in Borden.
The finalists were chosen by an independent panel of judges and were selected based on criteria of business history, community involvement, response to adversity, newly-created opportunities and innovation in products or services. This year’s finalists (in alphabetical order) include: Read more: News and Tribune

Hoffman Estates chamber hands out annual awards

Andy Spentzos and his brother Peter grew up in the restaurant business, busing tables and cooking in the kitchen at their father's restaurant.

Since 2002, they've operated their own restaurant, Apple Villa Famous Pancake House & Restaurant, at 3101 Barrington Road in Hoffman Estates.

So when Apple Villa was recognized as Business of the Year Thursday night at the Hoffman Estates Chamber of Commerce and Industry's fourth annual Celebration of Excellence, Andy Spentzos knew who he was going to dedicate the award to.

"I owe this to my dad, who taught me everything I know about the business," he told the crowd at Chicago Marriott Northwest. Read more: Daily Herald

Chamber Event: 412th DCG shares leadership philosophy with Leadership Vicksburg

“What is leadership and what are the qualities that make a good leader?”

This is a question Brig. Gen. Donna Williams, deputy commanding general of Operations, 412th Theater Engineer Command, and Vicksburg, Mississippi, native, presented to Leadership Vicksburg while speaking to them Jan. 27 at the Vicksburg Chamber of Commerce.

Leadership Vicksburg is an annual program run by the Chamber of Commerce to provide leaders with a deeper understanding of critical issues effecting Vicksburg and Warren County. The attendees include leaders of the local casinos, hospitals, restaurants, mills and the Vicksburg National Military Park.

“We have this program of the chamber called Leadership Vicksburg where the people of this community, we’re developing them as leaders,” said Jane Lauderdale Flowers, executive director, Vicksburg Chamber of Commerce. “We’re also trying to acquaint them and make them aware of all the various industries in town, so they’ll have an industry day, they’ll have an education day, in Vicksburg, which is unique, they’ll have a casino day. Today is an Army Corps of Engineers day.” Read more:dvidshub.net

Washington County (Virginia) Chamber holds annual luncheon


The Washington County Chamber of Commerce hosted its Annual Awards Luncheon on Jan. 14 at the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center. New Chamber board members and officers were announced with Jamea Blevins of State Farm assuming the office of President for 2015. Danny Ruble was elected as the President-Elect. Outgoing president Jim Swartz presented a review of 2014 commenting on the progress made with the addition of 40 new members, five ribbon cuttings for new businesses, various seminars and events and the continued success of the Chamber Breakfasts for 2014. Tony Miller and Roger Ketron, who retired from the Board, were recognized for their service on the Board for two terms. New Board members for 2015 are Allyson Mays, Barter Theatre, and Kay Stout, DePaul Family Services.
The Washington County Teachers of the Year were announced by David Matlock. Awards were presented to Washington County Elementary School Teacher of the Year – Jennifer Coe, Meadowview Elementary School; Read more: swvatoday.com

Famous Chamber of Commerce Quotation:

"Selling a vision to a chamber board is always a compromise between what you want to say and what they want to hear" --- JD

Cubs owner Tom Ricketts at suburban multi-chamber luncheon Jan. 27; Chamber Best Practices: Conway Program gives preschoolers better chance; Apply at chamber: Washington County (Virginia) offers competitive business challenge with more than $10,000 in prizes; Bowling Green chamber news: Region, Kentucky seeing job growth; Chamber economic news: Klohs drives economic development through strategic planning, rigorous measurement; Chamber asset: 7 national parks in Nebraska, Iowa pour more than $23 million into local economies; Missouri Chamber: State faces economic challenges; South Dakota chamber president to speak at legislative luncheon; Chamber challenge: 9 key issues facing the 2015 Minnesota Legislature; New Year's Resolution Quotation: Mark Twain

Cubs owner Tom Ricketts at suburban multi-chamber luncheon Jan. 27

Cubs owner Tom Ricketts will talk about the state of his ball club at a multi-chamber luncheon, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Jan. 27 at Avalon Banquets, 1905 E. Higgins Road, Elk Grove Village. Ricketts will be introduced by Daily Herald sportswriter Barry Rozner. Tickets are $35 and the deadline to sign up is Jan. 20. Must pay before event. Call (847) 398-3730 or visit rmchamber.org. Source: Daily Herald

Chamber Best Practices: Conway Program gives preschoolers better chance

Dr. Charlotte Green of Conway Public Schools believes all children should have an equal start, and so she founded Arkansas Preschool Plus.

Housed at Conway Adult Education, the small nonprofit organization provides professional development for pre-kindergarten teachers, support for parents and teaching materials. The organization was founded in response to the Conway Area Chamber of Commerce Conway 2025 initiative, which determined private daycare centers needed more support so all children could access a quality preschool experience. Arkansas Preschool Plus exists through a partnership between the Conway Public Schools and the Conway Area Chamber of Commerce. It also receives some funding from the United Way of Central Arkansas. Read more: Log Cabin Democrat

Apply at chamber: Washington County (Virginia) offers competitive business challenge with more than $10,000 in prizes

The Town of Abingdon, the Washington County IDA, Highlands Union Bank and several participating partners of Virginia Highlands Small Business Incubator, have announced the second annual Washington County Business Challenge.

The Business Challenge program is an ambitious business plan competition designed to attract entrepreneurs with new technology, value added agriculture, outdoor recreation and retail/support service businesses to locate their start up or to expand their existing business within Washington County. (1) One start up and (1) one existing business will win $5,000 each towards implementing their winning business strategy. Read more: SwVAtoday.com

Bowling Green chamber news: Region, Kentucky  seeing job growth

The region will likely have a stronger economic year in 2015 than 2014.
Kentucky is on the road to economic recovery, with last month’s jobless rate dropping the most it has in more than 30 years. Warren County and the surrounding counties have also seen positive growth that will likely continue, according to Ron Bunch, president and chief executive officer of the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce.
“We’ve been really fortunate in our area to have economic development over the past several years,” Bunch said.
Warren County’s November unemployment rate was 4.4 percent, Bunch said. The chamber announced nine economic development projects this year, creating 653 new jobs. Although it’s good that jobs are open in manufacturing and more jobs are opening in health care, Bunch said there’s still work to be done for unemployed and underemployed people in our region. Read more: Bowling Green Daily News



Chamber economic news: Klohs drives economic development through strategic planning, rigorous measurement

Birgit Klohs’ career has been full of many firsts.

Before ever joining The Right Place Inc., Klohs led a team of West Michigan executives on the first organized foreign trade mission to her native Germany, which landed a commitment from Behr Industries to invest in building a plant on 7 Mile Road in Comstock Park.

When Klohs excitedly agreed to serve as president and CEO of The Right Place in 1987, she effectively became the first woman executive to lead an economic development organization in the state of Michigan, and one of only a handful to do so across the country at that time.

She continues to add to the ever-growing list of firsts as Klohs was selected by a panel of judges to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award as part of the inaugural MiBiz Best-Managed Nonprofit Awards program.

For people who’ve known and worked with Klohs over the years, her career feats come as no surprise.

“She’s established herself as the dean of economic development officials,” said Milton Rohwer, the former president of the Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce, the founding executive leader of The Right Place and one of Klohs’ closest mentors.

- See more at: MI BIZ

Chamber asset: 7 national parks in Nebraska, Iowa pour more than $23 million into local economies

The Niobrara’s scenic river designation has a huge economic benefit to Valentine, a north-central Nebraska community of 2,700, said Dean Jacobs, executive director of the Valentine Chamber of Commerce and Cherry County Tourism.

“There’s no question that having the Niobrara National Scenic River here as part of the national park system helps. It’s probably our biggest tourist draw,” he said.

The Park Service report attributed $2.9 million in visitor spending in the Valentine area to the Niobrara National Scenic River in 2013. Spending by nearly 72,000 visitors supported 40 jobs.

“We do a lot of marketing to get the word out about the river,” Jacobs said. “There are a lot of outdoor recreation reasons to come here, but Valentine is known for the national scenic river.” Read more: Omaha.com

Missouri Chamber: State faces 

economic challenges

Missouri's Chamber of Commerce and Industry conducted its first regional initiative in Cape Girardeau on Thursday to discuss the state's future.

Nearly 20 people gathered at the Drury Lodge to hear Karen Buschmann, vice president of communications at the state chamber, and Ted Abernathy, leader of the initiative, speak about their findings.

The initiative is part of the chamber's "Missouri 2030: An Agenda to Lead," which is formed around discussing Missouri's sustainability and how business leaders intend to help the state become a leader in economic growth over the next 15 years. Abernathy cited a recent survey of more than 1,000 employers.

Missouri's job growth from 1994 to 2014 increased 12 percent, he said, while its manufacturing jobs have fallen 29 percent. The number of 25- to 44-year-olds remaining in the state fell 6 percent during that period. Read more:  Southeast Missourian

South Dakota chamber president to speak at legislative luncheon

The Government Affairs Committee of the Aberdeen Area Chamber of Commerce will preview the 2015 South Dakota legislative session at a noon luncheon on Jan. 9 at the Ramada Convention Center.

David Owen, president of the South Dakota Chamber of Commerce and Industry, will speak. Read more: Aberdeen News



Chamber challenge: 9 key issues facing the 2015 

Minnesota Legislature

 With a more than $1 billion surplus, state legislators say the prospect of a government shutdown over the 2016/2017 budget is unlikely.

But it's not going to be a cakewalk, either. That $1 billion may seem like a lot, but it only barely covers spending increases under current law — and there are plenty of people and groups competing for a piece of this relatively small pie for what they argue are deserving issues.

Senate Majority Leader Tom Bakk and House Republicans are already tempering expectations, saying that spending increases — if there are any — will likely be small. And legislators should expect to see spending cuts in some areas as well.

With a billion-dollar cushion, Gov. Mark Dayton says that he won't propose a general tax increase but will propose new revenue to pay for transportation projects.

Meanwhile, House Republicans say they want to cut taxes to make the state friendlier to business. That's a position held by the powerful Minnesota Chamber of Commerce as well, which has suggested reducing the corporate tax and lowering taxes for businesses that pay through their income tax filings. Read more: Minnesota Public Radio News


New Year's Resolution Quotation: Mark Twain



"New Year's Day now is the accepted time to make your regular annual good resolutions. Next week you can begin paving hell with them as usual." -- Mark Twain