Chamber Executive Michigan Digest
June 2016
Chamber news: Dow Chemical officials stress commitment to Midland
Dow Chemical Co. officials on Wednesday re-affirmed the company’s
commitment to Midland amidst a report that other states are trying to lure it
from the city it’s called home for more than a century.
Bridge Magazine and Crain’s Detroit
Business on Wednesday reported numerous states are
aggressively courting Dow. The report said Dow management has quietly
acknowledged to Michigan business leaders it’s getting significant incentive
offers, according to business leaders who spoke to Bridge Magazine on condition
of anonymity.
Dow spokeswoman Rachelle Schikorra, in an email to The Detroit News, didn’t
confirm the report, but said it was “common practice” for other states to reach
out to companies to discuss future growth objectives and explore investment
opportunities. She said Dow was committed to Midland, the city in which it was
founded in 1897.
“Dow has repeatedly expressed its commitment to the community of Midland and
the Great Lakes Bay Region, as evidenced by the new materials science
headquarters remaining in Midland, and the construction of a new corporate
center at our HQ location,” she said.
“As it relates to future growth and investment, we believe it is critical that
Michigan remain competitive when viewed against other states that work hard to
attract and retain world-class companies and high-paying jobs to their states.
We will continue to work with the State of Michigan and the Michigan Economic
Development Corporation (MEDC) regarding Michigan’s competitiveness.”
Doug Rothwell, president and CEO of Business Leaders for Michigan and chairman
of the MEDC Executive Committee, said the absence of large-scale taxpayer
incentives to compete with other states trying to lure Michigan companies away
puts the state at risk of losing future job growth opportunities: “I’m
concerned about not just Dow. I’m concerned about our ability to grow as a
state.”
The chemical manufacturer is in the midst of a merger with Wilmington,
Delaware-based DuPont Co. that is expected to close in the second half of 2016.
The merged company, DowDuPont, would then be split into three independent,
publicly traded companies that focus on separate areas: commodity chemicals
including plastics (based in Midland); agricultural products including
herbicides and genetically modified seeds (based in Delaware); and specialty
chemicals such as those used in solar panels (based in Delaware).
Midland’s headquarters will focus on materials science in a new
150,000-square-foot building that will employ 600.
Dow and DuPont expect their merger will cut annual expenses by $3 billion.
Rich Studley, president and CEO of the Michigan Chamber of Commerce, said he
had dinner a week ago with a senior Dow executive and received no signs of
trouble.
“My impression is that even through the recent corporate changes and into the
future, Dow is very focused on not only remaining competitive nationally and
internationally but the company remains strongly committed to Midland and the
state of Michigan,” Studley said.
Dow employs more than 5,000 in Midland, including about 1,600 at its
headquarters. An additional 1,400 people work in the city for Dow Corning
Corp., a split joint-venture that Dow is gaining control of. Read more: The Detroit News
#BestChamber practices:
Birmingham-Bloomfield Chamber: THRIVING MICHIGAN: Aligning Stakeholder
Interests
Putting the
interests of the owners or shareholders of a company above those of its
customers, employees, suppliers and other stakeholders has been shown to be a
short-slighted and costly management strategy. Trade-off decisions that
pit the interests of one stakeholder against another are false choices.
Business leaders who recognize this and work to align the interests of all of
their stakeholders build resilient companies that greatly outperform their
peers.
Thriving
Michigan is a statewide program of the Michigan Chamber Foundation that
strengthens communities by challenging business leaders to do four things:
To identify
a purpose beyond profit for their company
To maximize
value creation for all of their stakeholders, not just their shareholders
To create
workplace cultures that care for the wellbeing of employees, and
Michigan Chamber
2016-2020 Strategic Plan
About the
Plan
Eighteen
members of the Michigan Chamber’s Executive Committee, Senior Advisory Council
(past Board Chairs) and professional staff of the Michigan Chamber met on
January 25, 2016 to review progress made on implementation of the Chamber’s
2014-2016 Strategic Plan and start work on a proposed new Strategic Plan for
2016-2020. The strategic planning session was facilitated by Bob Harris,
Certified Association Executive. Mr. Harris is a nationally recognized expert
on association management who is very knowledgeable about state and local
chambers of commerce. On April 26, 2016, the Michigan Chamber’s Board of
Directors reviewed and unanimously approved a Strategic Plan for
2016-2020.
Michigan Chamber Goals
The
following four organizational goals are the core competencies or pillars of the
Michigan Chamber:
Deliver
Powerful Advocacy – Be the voice of business advancing
member priorities through legislative, legal and political action to achieve
good public policy favorable to free enterprise.
Provide
Business Solutions – Provide members and customers with
high quality products and services to facilitate business success.
Embrace
Government Accountability and Economic Growth –
Support business and taxpayer friendly policies to promote increased government
efficiency and encourage economic growth.
Sustain a
World Class Chamber – Continue to be recognized as an
efficient, high performing Chamber of Commerce.
Strategies
The
following implementation strategies support the Chamber’s four organizational
goals:
Powerful Advocacy
- With
input from many Chamber members, identify a compelling legislative agenda
to advance Michigan.
- Maintain
a highly effective lobbying team.
- Maintain
or increase funding for political action.
- Retain
business-friendly majorities in the State House and Michigan Senate.
- Retain
a rule of law majority on the Michigan Supreme Court.
- Continue
to collaborate with local chambers and trade or professional associations
on issues of mutual interest.
- Deliver
winning messaging on key issues, ballot proposals or election campaigns.
- Continue
to be a strong leader of the Chamber Federation at the state and national
level.
Business Solutions
- Continue
to provide high quality member benefits, products and services through
Chamber Services.
- Develop
new products and services beneficial to customers and profitable to the
Chamber.
- Customize
existing communications and open new channels of communication to more
effectively reach current and prospective members and customers.
- Emphasize
diversity in the growth of membership and strength of Chamber.
- Achieve
benchmarks for membership growth and retention.
- Develop
volunteer leaders and Chamber staff to serve as “Ambassadors” for the
Chamber at the local level and in the policy arena. Read more: Michigan Chamber
Ferndale Chamber of Commerce
selects new executive director
The
Ferndale Chamber of Commerce has hired a new executive director who hopes to
reach out to the people and businesses of the city.
Kim Hart
was appointed to the position on April 11, where she replaced Ashleigh Laabs,
who left the position in October 2015, and Carol Jackson, who had served in the
interim.
A
University of Michigan-Dearborn graduate, Hart has worked at Detroit Country
Day School and the Drayton Avenue Cooperative Preschool.
She has
experience in fundraising and event planning.
“It’s
been great,” she said of her job so far. “It’s just meeting a lot of people in
the community, staying positive, listening to other people’s dreams.
“When I
talk to new businesses that come, I really like listening to their stories and
kind of going back and forth with ideas when they’re signing (up) for
membership. I really like where they’re moving with their business and (what)
their visions are.”
With her
job, Hart said she wants to bring together the community and network so that
the right people are talking to each other so all of their businesses can
flourish.
“That’s
what I like to do,” she said. “I’ve tried to make the atmosphere as comfortable
for them as possible, and try to do what they want us to do. If they need any
type of advertising, if they need any type of service, we’re here for them.”
Chamber
of Commerce Chairman of the Board Jay McMillan said the board loved how Hart
was very involved with the community, as well as how she has lived in Ferndale
since 2003. Read more: C and G Newspapers
Greater Brighton Area Chamber Power
lunch will focus on development
The Greater Brighton Area Chamber of Commerce invites its members and the
public to its monthly Power Lunch: University of Michigan Project and Other
Development in Brighton “Uptown.” The lunch will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1
p.m. June 9 at Oak Pointe Country Club, 4500 Club Drive, in Genoa Township.
Tony Denton, senior vice president and chief operating officer of clinical
enterprise at the University of Michigan, will present an update on the $175
million health center the University of Michigan has announced for Brighton.
Mike Craine, managing director of the Livingston County Road Commission, will
also be on hand to discuss upcoming road projects on Challis Road to
accommodate additional traffic volume. Cost to attend is $25. Register online
at www.brightoncoc.org no later than June 2 if you plan to attend. Patch.com
Troy Chamber Gets Fresh New Look for Spring
The Troy
Chamber of Commerce’s marketing materials and website have a fresh new look.
The new
collateral materials were created by Troy-based Basso Design Group, an
award-winning digital marketing agency a member of the Chamber.
The logo,
which uses monochromatic shades of blue and a Museo Slab typeface, has been
applied to marketing materials and the newly designed website.
“Our
website takes on a different feel and ease in order to create a positive
experience for our members,” Ara Topouzian, president and CEO of the Troy
Chamber of Commerce said in a news release.
Sterling Heights Regional chamber welcomes new president
After almost a
year of searching, the Sterling Heights Regional Chamber of Commerce and
Industry has found its new president and CEO.
Sterling Heights
resident Melanie Davis, 45, will officially join the organization on May 2 and
will take over the duties performed by outgoing President and CEO Wayne Oehmke,
who is retiring on May 6 after a 20-year career with the chamber, including
eight years in the top leadership position.
“The Sterling
Heights Regional Chamber of Commerce and Industry has a more than 50-year
history of excellence in guiding and caring for the business community in the
region it serves,” Davis said. “I’m beyond excited for the opportunity to build
on this organization’s rich legacy and help guide it and its members to added
success.”
In her new role,
Davis will be responsible for the organization’s operations and the
planning/execution of its strategic plan. She will be tasked with developing
the organization’s annual program of work, including developing products,
programs, services and events that meet the needs of the chamber’s 1,300
members while also working to enhance the organization’s brand in the community
and encouraging membership growth.
“The chamber is
very fortunate to have a dedicated and caring group of volunteers and employees
who will serve alongside (Davis) to help ensure that our members and
communities continue to receive the high level of care, features and benefits
they’re so used to receiving from our great organization,” Oehmke said.
“(Davis) brings a high degree of knowledge, experience and enthusiasm that will
take our chamber to that all-important next level, and I wish her the very best
in all of her endeavors with the chamber.” Read more: The
Source
#BestChamber Practices: Saginaw County Chamber Ambassadors
The
mission of the Saginaw County Chamber Ambassadors is to promote the Chamber of
Commerce through direct membership contact. Member retention and satisfaction
are their ultimate goals.
The Ambassadors are member volunteers who actively perform a variety of
services for the Chamber including public relations, member retention, new
member support, and event hosting. They are the goodwill, public relations arm
of the Chamber and facilitate communications between the Chamber Board of
Directors, staff and the members.
Ambassadors encourage the participation of members at all Chamber functions and
make new members feel included. They act as greeters and mentors, helping
to build a strong and active membership.
Ambassadors conduct hundreds of personal visits and contacts each year
completing member surveys, delivering new member information, asking and
answering important questions and performing a variety of tasks designed to
strengthen member retention. The information Ambassadors gather is
invaluable in helping us evaluate and provide member communications, benefits
and services.
Working in teams, the Ambassadors provide assistance at Chamber events in areas
such as registration, greeting, and networking. Events include ribbon
cuttings, monthly ambassador meetings (generally the 2nd Tuesday of each
month), grand openings, Percolator Breakfasts and Business After Hours among
others. They are also key volunteers at the Regional Business After Hours
and the Chamber Golf Outing.
The commitment is great but so are the connections and community relationships
that result. Ambassadors are truly the "eyes and ears" of the
Chamber. More information: Saginaw County Chamber
Michigan Chamber: Are You Ready to E-Verify?
E-Verify is a fast, free, and
easy-to-use internet-based service run by the Department of Homeland Security
(DHS) and partnership with the Social Security Administration that allows
employers to verify the eligibility of their newly hired employees to legally
work in the United States. It is important that employers understand E-Verify
and employee
rightsduring the federal employment eligibility verification
processes.
All U.S.
employers are required by law to complete the Employment Eligibility Verification Form I-9 for
every worker hired. That includes citizens and non-citizens.
E-Verify
takes the Form I-9 process one step further. It compares information provided
on a Form I-9 against information in government records. In most cases, It
tells the employer in just seconds if an employee is eligible to work in the
United States.
E-Verify
is currently used by over 656,000 employers at 2.1 million hiring sites. It is
growing rapidly, with more than 1,400 new businesses enrolling each week. Since
September 2009, E-Verify is mandatory for many federal
contractors.
#BestChamber practices:
Rochester Regional Chamber Business Resources on Website
The greater Rochester area
is full of resources to help you grow your business
Please consider your business's current stage of developement:
STAGE ONE First Time/ Start Up Business
Are you launching your first business? The early stages of
development can determine your profitability for years to come. It is important
that you work closely with a start-up mentor organization to increase your
chances of success.
STAGE TWO New Business (1-5 years)
Depending on the type of business, the 'New Business' phase
could last anywhere from one to five years. Now that you're up and running you
may be looking to secure additional resources or a network of professionals to
support further growth. If the organizations in this guide don't have what
you're looking for, they will work to connect you to further support.
STAGE THREE Mature Business (5+ years)
Even the most experienced entrepreneurs must periodically take a
fresh look at their business plan and operations and make significant changes
to meet the needs of the ever-changing market. There are local organizations in
this guide that are ready and willing to bring a fresh perspective.
Still not sure who to contact? Any of the organizational resources listed
below will spend time with you to identify the resources you need. The success
of your venture is vitally important to our community and our region's
future.
Is your business 'healthy'?
It is important to determine how healthy the development of your business is.
Take this one page questionnaire to see if you're on the right track. Click here for the Business Fitness Check Up.
Plainfield
Area Chamber of Commerce 2016 Community Profile & Directory
The Plainfield Area Chamber
of Commerce 2016 Community Profile & Directory is available at the Plainfield
Area Chamber today! Thanks to Tasha Kitson, Mari Edmondson,
Vitella Barnes, Kellie Wujek and the chamber team for their help and
direction putting this together!
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.
Muskegon
Lakeshore Chamber: Middle school students solve problems at Michigan’s
Adventure
On Wednesday, May 25,
2016, nearly
500 middle school students in
grades 5 – 8 from 13 Michigan schools will combine work with play from9:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. as they attempt to
solve scientific problems during the 25th Annual Amusement Park Physics Day at
Michigan’s Adventure Cedar Fair Park.
This year students will
focus their problem-solving efforts on the Wolverine Wildcat, Kiddie Motorcycle
Carousel, Gondola Wheel, Rip Cord, Thunderhawk, and Zack’s Zoomer. Because
students cannot interfere with the normal operations of the rides, they will
use other problem-solving techniques to find answers to the eight written
questions.
Required to work in teams,
they will hop on roller coasters, carousels and other rides that create
push-and-pull (forces) on them. Students will also use handmade altimeters (for
measuring angles), trigonometric ratios, and the length of their own pace to
solve height problems. Students will use the relationship between distance,
rate, and time in order to determine the speed of a ride, and find the best deal
on food using unit rates. At the end of the day, the student teams will submit
completed problem sheets that will be scored by the Muskegon Area Intermediate
School District’s (MAISD) Regional Mathematics and Science Center.
Results and prizes are sent to teachers within two weeks of the park visit and
are posted on the MAISD website at www.muskegonisd.org.
Prior to their experience in
the park, students learn to measure distance, time, vertical angles, and
acceleration using a few basic trigonometry and physics concepts. Each child
also builds an altimeter (for measuring angles) out of common inexpensive
materials. Then they move outside the classroom to solve problems similar to
those encountered in an amusement park. They measure the height of school
buildings, flagpoles, trees, and telephone poles. Students complete their
preparation by reviewing sample problems. Read more: Muskegon-Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce
Monroe County Chamber members learn
about conscious capitalism
Members of the Monroe County
Chamber of Commerce attended a Thriving Michigan Forum Thursday morning to
learn more about conscious capitalism, an idea that says businesses succeed
when they have a greater mission to strive for than simply making money.
Members of the Monroe County Chamber of Commerce attended a Thriving Michigan
Forum Thursday morning to learn more about conscious capitalism, an idea that
says businesses succeed when they have a greater mission to strive for than
simply making money.
Keynote speaker, Nathan Havey, is
founder and chief executive officer of Thriving Michigan, a statewide effort to
promote the conscious capitalism movement.
Mr. Havey explained there are four
pillars of conscious business: purpose beyond profit, stakeholders, conscious
culture and conscious leadership.
“There is some higher purpose that
can be directly analogous to the business you are in,” he said to attendees.
“Growth and profit is not a purpose.”
Worthy purposes can include things
that allow a community to thrive, and often when a company works for a higher
purpose employees feel more engaged at work and workplace culture improves.
He shared a statistic that said 70
percent of the workforce is disengaged from their job, and 25 percent of United
States workers intentionally work against the company flow.
“One of the critical things we can
all do is pay attention to the culture we are creating in our businesses,” he
said. Read more: Monroe News
#BestChamber
practices: Orion Area Chamber: Hiring Teenagers
The Aspiring Entrepreneurs program along with Oxford Bank is
hosting a job fair geared specifically for high school students seeking summer
employment or internship opportunities. The job fair will be held at Crates
Coffee House on Wednesday, May 18th, at 4 pm.
According
to a 2014 article found here, some
reasons your business should hire Generation Z, the internet generation, are
the fresh perspective they bring and your ability to make an impression on
today's youth. Another article on the benefits of hiring teens can be
found here.
If your
business is seeking summer employees, or year-round part-time employees, this
event is for you. You will be meeting with students who are eager to get jobs.
If you are interested in attending this event as an employer,
please reserve your space by registering below.
Chamber event: Caro Cars &
Crafts Weekend begins June 3, thousands expected downtown
Yesterday,
officials at the Caro Chamber of Commerce were already looking at the weather
forecast for next weekend in the Thumb region, fingers crossed that predictions
for how Mother Nature will behave are accurate.
The reason
is simple: better weather means more people will take part in the 27th Annual
Caro Cars & Crafts Weekend and 9th Annual Bike Show that begins next
Friday, June 3 and continues all day Saturday, June 4.
“It
really depends on Mother Nature and the weather,” said Susan Rickwalt-Holder,
president, board of directors, Caro Chamber of Commerce. “We’ve had 125 cars
and we’ve had 75 cars so it really depends on the weather and so forth.
“I don’t
want to jinx myself, but the weather, right now, looks wonderful. Perfect.”
In
addition to those who set up for the car show, Rickwalt-Holder said the event
usually draws about 50 crafters who are set up. Read more: Tuscola Today
Birmingham-Bloomfield Chamber host: It's fair
time in Birmingham
For kids of all ages, the Village Fair marks the true beginning of
summer. Coming annually the weekend after Memorial Day, this year marks the 53rd
Annual Village Fair, hosted by the Birmingham Bloomfield Chamber of Commerce.
Located in and around Shain Park to the delight of fairgoers, cotton
candy-lovers and carnival game fans.
The fair opened Thursday, June 2, at noon, and will run until Sunday,
June 5, at 9 p.m. Hours for the fair are Friday, noon to 11 p.m.; Saturday, 11
a.m. to 11 p.m.; and Sunday, noon until 9 p.m.
The park is full of all kinds of rides, from tame kiddie rides for wee
tykes to hair-raising ones for wild teens. Rides include a beautiful
merry-go-round, Ferris wheel, bumper cars, giant slide, Freak Out, tea cups,
and many others. There are many games of chance, most benefitting non-profit
organizations, including Birmingham Youth Assistance, Rotary Club of Michigan,
Michigan Birmingham Education Foundation, Julian Boivin Courage for Cures
Foundation, Birmingham-Bloomfield Symphony Orchestra, and others. Read
more: Downtown
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Notable Midwest Chamber Retirements
Top Five Daily Postings in the last month at Midwest Chamber of Commerce
Daily – click to go there or Google search “Midwest Chamber of Commerce blog”
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2016
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2016
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Last Month’s Stories
Inc.: #Chamber delight - The Best Small Cities in the U.S. to
Launch a Startup -Why Holland, Michigan is the best small city to launch a
Company INC.com
Chamber good news: D.C. flights from Lansing start July 5 Lansing
State Journal
Troy Chamber Hosts 11th
Annual Nonprofit Management Conference Jessica@troychamber.com (248) - 641-1606
Traverse City Area
Chamber of Commerce Hosts Celebration of Local Businesses 9 & 10 NEWS
Rochester Regional Chamber: #BestChamber Practices: Recognizing
your Prospects: Chamber "Wednesday Workshop" Beyond the DiSC Contact the RRCC for more
information.
Muskegon Lakeshore Chamber names Entrepreneurs of Excellence GRBJ.com
#BestChamber Practices:
GRACC West Michigan Business Day at the Capitol May 10!
Chamber Executive Ongoing Education Weekly New
Idea: "The Power of Broke: How Empty Pockets, a Tight Budget, and a Hunger
for Success Can Become Your Greatest Competitive Advantage" by Daymond
John
#Chamberheart -
Clarkston Area Chamber promotion for the Lighthouse of Oakland County info@LighthouseOakland.org.
#FamousChamber of Commerce
Quotations --- (Chamber Executive Resourcefulness)
“Great emergencies
and crises show us how much greater out vital resources are than we had
supposed.” William James
#BestChamber Practices:
Birmingham-Bloomfield Chamber: Chamber 411
Michigan Chamber Foundation Awards Lansing Area
High School Students $5,000 In Startup Funding Michigan Chamber
Chamber Executive Ongoing Education: Importance
of Motivation – Four Proven Principles to Motivate Your Team ProfessionBiz
Chamber Good News: West Michigan Works returns to Ionia Ionia Sentinel-Standard
If you
would like delivery of a new gloss Chamber directory or gloss community map in
January, 2016, please contact me at your earliest convenience.
Best,
John
John Dussman | Chamber Manager
jdussman@tspubs.com | 847-427-4633 | Town Square Publications
Daily Herald Media
Group
155 E. Algonquin Road | Arlington Heights, IL 60005
To request
your chamber publication proposal, Click here
Do you have a story idea?
If you know of a chamber news item that you would like to be included in
the CHAMBER EXECUTIVE INTELLIGENCE REPORT or the MIDWEST CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
DAILY, please email me at jdussman@tspubs.com or call me at
(847)-427-4633. Thank you.
John
John Dussman | Chamber Manager
jdussman@tspubs.com | 847-427-4633 | Town Square
Publications
Daily Herald Media
Group
155 E. Algonquin
Road | Arlington Heights, IL 60005
To request your chamber publication proposal, Click here
