Northern Kentucky Chamber's Trey Grayson: 8 reforms to make Kentucky better
During 2015, Kentucky will experience an open-seat gubernatorial election for only the second time in 20 years. Given our state's financial situation, this election is the most critical one in several decades, and we should pay close to attention to the records and platforms of the candidates.
In December, the Chamber unveiled Where We Stand, our 2015 legislative priority agenda. These eight priorities, combined with other Chamber priorities, would make a pretty good gubernatorial policy address. With that in mind, think of the rest of this column as "The Gubernatorial Speech You'd Like to Hear in the Upcoming Year."
For too many years, Kentucky's budget has been balanced with smoke and mirrors such as not funding pensions for teachers and state employees at an appropriate level. Fortunately, several tools can be adopted which will unleash the power of the private sector to help address our needs. Read more: Cincinatti.com
Southern Wayne County Regional Chamber Announces Josh Linkner as Keynote Speaker
On Friday, January 30,
2015, the Southern Wayne County Regional Chamber will hold its Business to
Business Expo and Conference at Crystal Gardens Banquet Center in Southgate,
MI.
Josh
Linkner, New York Times best-selling author of Disciplined Dreaming and Road to
Reinvention will be the keynote speaker at the business luncheon, also at
Crystal Gardens. Linkner is one of the
most in-demand keynote speakers on the topics of innovation, creativity, and
reinvention. Linkner will share his experience as a 4-time entrepreneur,
and provide practical tools to help attendees grow their businesses to the next
level. He'll bring fresh ideas from his two NY Times Bestsellers on
innovation, and discuss how creativity and entrepreneurial approaches are
helping to rebuild Detroit. His talk will be both inspiring and
actionable, helping participants drive meaningful progress in their businesses
and communities.
Luncheon
tickets are $25 in advance and $35 at the door if available. The luncheon also is included in the cost of
vendor booths and sponsorships. To register or for more information,
visit www.swcrc.com or call 734-284-6000.
Bill Mercer and John Manier proved to be an adept double-play combination Monday at the Chippewa Area Chamber of Commerce annual meeting.
Mercer, the outgoing board chairman, and Manier, the 2015 board chairman, had the look back at last year and the look ahead to ‘15 covered.
The big announcement was made by Mercer, the plant manager for Premium Waters, Inc., when he stated that Chamber employees would be moving into the new 5,000-square-feet, state-of-the-art facility at the corner of Bridge and Spring streets on Friday. (The Herald ran a story on the building’s progress Jan. 13.)
He said that with the addition of a recent donation, “that puts us at our goal of (raising) $300,000. Thanks to the generosity of everyone, the Chamber will be debt-free when we move into the building. You’ll be very proud of the visitors center, and we couldn’t have done it without you.” Read more: Chippewa Valley Business Report
Chairman's Circle recognizes top Conway Chamber investors
Institute for Organization Management, the professional development program of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, is pleased to announce that Jeff Emsweller, CEO of the Greensburg/Decatur County Chamber of Commerce, has recently completed his first year at Institute for Organization Management, a four-year nonprofit leadership training program at Arizona University in Tucson, Arizona.
“Institute graduates are recognized across the country as leaders in their industries and organizations,” said Raymond P. Towle, IOM, CAE, the U.S. Chamber Foundation’s vice president of Institute for Organization Management. “These individuals have the knowledge, skills, and dedication necessary to achieve professional and organizational success in the dynamic association and chamber industries.” Read more: Greensburg Daily News
Keeping the destination of Deadwood in front of key movers and shakers across the state, region and country is paramount and efforts to do so will be helped as the Deadwood City Commission approved $6,873.25 in advocacy funding. requested by the Deadwood Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau to be paid from the Historic Preservation Public Education and Advocacy line item in 2015.
“Mr. Lee Harstad, Deadwood Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau director, presented to the Deadwood Historic Preservation Commission a formal request for advocacy funding for three separate projects for 2015,” said Deadwood Historic Preservation Officer Kevin Kuchenbecker. “This request was positively received by the Deadwood Historic Preservation Commission.” Read more: Black Hills Pioneer
Council Bluffs would be happy if Omaha-based Woodmen of the World would relocate across the Missouri River, an official said Friday, but keeping jobs in this area is the primary concern.
“We would like to retain those jobs in the metro area, but if they (Woodmen) are unhappy with Douglas County, we think they would be happy here,” Mayor Matt Walsh said.
The mayor commented about a World-Herald report that iconic Omaha life insurance society Woodmen of the World may be looking elsewhere for its headquarters because of tax disagreements with Douglas County.
Walsh said he has neither talked with Woodmen officials nor with Stothert, though he expressed concern that Woodmen may move out of the area if their tax requests aren't met. Read more: Omaha.com
Famous Chamber of Commerce Quotation: (Attittude)
Chippewa Area (Wisconsin) Chamber move highlights eventful time
Bill Mercer and John Manier proved to be an adept double-play combination Monday at the Chippewa Area Chamber of Commerce annual meeting.
Mercer, the outgoing board chairman, and Manier, the 2015 board chairman, had the look back at last year and the look ahead to ‘15 covered.
The big announcement was made by Mercer, the plant manager for Premium Waters, Inc., when he stated that Chamber employees would be moving into the new 5,000-square-feet, state-of-the-art facility at the corner of Bridge and Spring streets on Friday. (The Herald ran a story on the building’s progress Jan. 13.)
He said that with the addition of a recent donation, “that puts us at our goal of (raising) $300,000. Thanks to the generosity of everyone, the Chamber will be debt-free when we move into the building. You’ll be very proud of the visitors center, and we couldn’t have done it without you.” Read more: Chippewa Valley Business Report
Chairman's Circle recognizes top Conway Chamber investors
Each year, the Conway Area Chamber of Commerce acknowledges its top
investors through a “Chairman’s Circle” designation. Members of the
Chairman’s Circle underwrite the economic development, education and
government affairs initiatives of the Chamber, Conway Development
Corporation and Conway Downtown Partnership.
“The level of community building and economic development work we do is not sustainable on a membership dues model,” said president and CEO Brad Lacy. “In order to lay the groundwork for business recruitment, new initiatives and site development, greater investments are necessary. Each year, more and more companies invest at a higher level to help us underwrite major projects and initiatives. We couldn’t operate without them.”
In 2014, 46 Chamber-member businesses achieved the designation, compared to 43 members in 2013 and 35 members in 2012. Total investment increased by more than $57,000 since 2013.Read more:
“The level of community building and economic development work we do is not sustainable on a membership dues model,” said president and CEO Brad Lacy. “In order to lay the groundwork for business recruitment, new initiatives and site development, greater investments are necessary. Each year, more and more companies invest at a higher level to help us underwrite major projects and initiatives. We couldn’t operate without them.”
In 2014, 46 Chamber-member businesses achieved the designation, compared to 43 members in 2013 and 35 members in 2012. Total investment increased by more than $57,000 since 2013.Read more:
Log Cabin Democrat
Chamber lunch - Mt. Prospect mayor: People want experiences not stuff
Mount Prospect Mayor Arlene Juracek said
existing vacancies in the village's downtown area won't necessarily be
filled with traditional retail shops in the future.
Instead, residents should expect to see businesses that sell services or "experiences," she said.
"With the rise of online
shopping, I'm not sure we'll see a flood of mom-and-pop stores opening
in our downtown going forward," Juracek said. "People, particularly
younger people, appear to be more interested in spending their dollars
on experiences, which is why restaurants and service providers might be a
bigger attraction."
Juracek talked about this shift
at a recent luncheon hosted by the Mount Prospect Chamber of Commerce,
and she expanded on those remarks Wednesday. Read more: Daily Herald
Jeff Emsweller of the Greensburg/Decatur County Chamber of Commerce completes first year at Institute for Organization Management
Institute for Organization Management, the professional development program of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, is pleased to announce that Jeff Emsweller, CEO of the Greensburg/Decatur County Chamber of Commerce, has recently completed his first year at Institute for Organization Management, a four-year nonprofit leadership training program at Arizona University in Tucson, Arizona.
“Institute graduates are recognized across the country as leaders in their industries and organizations,” said Raymond P. Towle, IOM, CAE, the U.S. Chamber Foundation’s vice president of Institute for Organization Management. “These individuals have the knowledge, skills, and dedication necessary to achieve professional and organizational success in the dynamic association and chamber industries.” Read more: Greensburg Daily News
Deadwood gives chamber $7K in advocacy funding
Keeping the destination of Deadwood in front of key movers and shakers across the state, region and country is paramount and efforts to do so will be helped as the Deadwood City Commission approved $6,873.25 in advocacy funding. requested by the Deadwood Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau to be paid from the Historic Preservation Public Education and Advocacy line item in 2015.
“Mr. Lee Harstad, Deadwood Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau director, presented to the Deadwood Historic Preservation Commission a formal request for advocacy funding for three separate projects for 2015,” said Deadwood Historic Preservation Officer Kevin Kuchenbecker. “This request was positively received by the Deadwood Historic Preservation Commission.” Read more: Black Hills Pioneer
Council Bluffs mayor on potential Woodmen move: 'We're not trying to poach any jobs'
Council Bluffs would be happy if Omaha-based Woodmen of the World would relocate across the Missouri River, an official said Friday, but keeping jobs in this area is the primary concern.
“We would like to retain those jobs in the metro area, but if they (Woodmen) are unhappy with Douglas County, we think they would be happy here,” Mayor Matt Walsh said.
Walsh said he has neither talked with Woodmen officials nor with Stothert, though he expressed concern that Woodmen may move out of the area if their tax requests aren't met. Read more: Omaha.com
Famous Chamber of Commerce Quotation: (Attittude)
‘The
way to get started is to stop talking and start doing.” Walt Disney
