Chamber Blog

Chamber seeks to catalog builders

In response to a growing number of requests, the Opelousas-St. Landry Parish Chamber of Commerce is in the process of creating a master list of all local contractors and sub-contractors.

"We just had a general contractor from St. Louis who has been hired by major retailer come into the Chamber for a referenced list. We have been getting similar requests for several months now," said Frankie Bertrand, head of the Chamber. "They would prefer to hire locally but they are having a difficult time finding local sub-contractors."

To help make the process easier, and hopefully generate some work for local builders, electricians and others, Bertrand said the Chamber wants to compile a list of all local, licensed and insured contractors and sub-contractors.

Read full story [Daily World]

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Michael Schidlovsky named Exeter Area Chamber of Commerce president

After a five-week search, the Exeter Area Chamber of Commerce has found a new president.

The Board of Directors announced Tuesday, Aug. 25, that Michael Schidlovsky, of Durham, will fill the shoes of former president Thom Kraus who resigned in July.

The new Chamber president has been involved in the Seacoast area business community for over 20 years, said interim President and Chairman of the Board of Directors Electra Alessio. He was formerly employed by Exeter Hospital as the sales and marketing director for occupational health and most recently has been employed as the general manager of the Employment Times.

The board offered the position to Schidlovsky on Friday, Aug. 21, Alessio said, and the deal was finalized late Monday afternoon. Schidlovsky will begin the position Thursday, Sept. 3.

Read full story [Seacoastonline]

Dubai Chamber launches 21st issue of Commercial Directory 2009-2010

The rise in the number of listed companies this year reflects positively on Dubai’s economic strength, says Director General

Dubai Chamber of Commerce & Industry has launched the 21st issue of its Commercial Directory 2009-2010. Published separately in Arabic and English and in CD format, the directory has an increased listing of 5% from the last edition and is considered a strong trading tool for all businesses and consumers locally, regionally and internationally.
 
The new version of the directory lists all types of active businesses operating in Dubai and registered with Dubai Chamber in addition to updates and information on businesses and economic activities in the UAE in general and Dubai in particular. The directory also provides an overview of Dubai’s economic and trade activities, infrastructure, free zones, social services, procedures of obtaining licenses, future Dubai projects and a brief description of services offered by the Chamber.

Read full story [Albawaba]

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Ontario Chamber approaches centennial with optimistic outlook

After experiencing one of the most tumultuous years of its 99-year history, the Ontario Chamber of Commerce now is forging ahead.
After a year marked by the departure of the chamber's CEO, massive staff reduction and deficit of about $40,000, chamber leaders say the organization's finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.

The goal: A leaner, more efficient resource for the city's businesses.

The chamber's financial crisis publicly unfolded in June 2008 when Mark Smiley, who led the Ontario chamber as CEO for three years, was laid off.

At that time, it became clear that the group was spending more than it was bringing in with membership dues and fundraising efforts. The chamber had amassed a $40,000 debt, according to the board of director's immediate past chairman Cid Pinedo.
It was then that Pinedo said he posed these fundamental questions: "Who are we?" and "What services can we afford to offer?"

Pinedo said he and the board took a hard look at staffing and events on the books. They slashed the six-person staff to just two and canceled unprofitable events like the annual gala.

As the board of directors evaluated the group's financial situation, Pinedo said he knew it also meant a total rethinking of the chamber's operation.

Without a CEO guiding the chamber, Stephanie Palomar, who previously had served as administrative assistant, was named interim executive director.

"Our focus was on reducing the debt and providing services to our membership," Pinedo said, adding that Palomar has done a tremendous job and "was a big part of what allowed us to keep the doors open."

The board of directors, along with Pinedo whose day job as the executive assistant to Chaffey College's president keeps him pretty occupied, devoted its personal time to make sure the chamber was operating.

The board of director's executive committee also has taken over the finances of the chamber.

Dave Bartlett of Brookfield Homes has been appointed vice chairman of finance. His primary focus is moving the chamber's financials into the black, said Cindy Carpenter, chairwoman of the board.

Read full story [Daily Bulletin]

McKinney chamber chooses new president, CEO

Jodi Ann LaFreniere has been named president and CEO of the McKinney Chamber of Commerce after a national search.

LaFreniere has 17 years of chamber management experience and has served as president and CEO of three chambers located in Connecticut and North Carolina. Most recently, she provided leadership to two chambers of commerce located in the Research Triangle region of North Carolina near Raleigh.

LaFreniere said in an interview that her experience in the fast-growing Research Triangle area makes her a good fit for McKinney, which is also experiencing significant growth.

Read full story [Dallas Business Journal]

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Turning membership into revenue: The San Francisco Chamber of Commerce

The Chamber uses a three-point strategy of public policy, economic development and business development as it represents members and companies of every size and every industry, from all around the Bay Area. According to its website, it delivers 1 million annual referrals to member companies via phone, website, staff and programs. Members and prospective members of the Chamber have access to 250 networking programs. Its programs are designed to give Bay Area small and mid-sized businesses an edge by providing internal employee professional development.

Read full story [Examiner]

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Dinah Rowe earns chamber of commerce executive status

Dinah Rowe has been called “truly a shining star” by an official with the Georgia Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives.

Last month, Rowe, president of the Chatsworth-Murray County Chamber of Commerce, became one of only 13 Georgia Certified Chamber Executives in the state when she received the certification at the association’s annual conference at Jekyll Island.

“Dinah is such a pleasure to work with,” said Tiffany Fulmer, association administrator, adding the local chamber is “very lucky to have such a savvy, personable executive working on their behalf.”

Rowe said she has been working on the certification since being hired by the chamber in 2001.

“I had a wonderful background for this job,” she said of her days working for Temporary Placement Services in Murray and Whitfield counties as a sales and service manager. “I already knew a lot of business owners and plant managers and knew of their concerns, and I also had been a diplomat with the Dalton chamber.”

Read full story [Daily Citizen]

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Avon Chamber of Commerce adds live chat services to its website

Avon Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce the launch of live chat services on their website, avonchamber.org. Aside from the many business and visitor resources you can find at Avon Chamber's website, online visitors can now interact with their friendly live chat team to receive immediate assistance as well as answers to frequently asked questions.

"As a progressive Chamber of Commerce, we are deeply committed to providing the very best in friendly, professional, and responsive services to the Avon community. As technologies such as online social networking and "texting" become more ingrained in our business culture, people are expecting more from service organizations. Adding a Live Chat component to our website just seemed to make sense" says Tom Downard, Executive Director.

With the Chamber's new live chat service, they hope to encourage consultative interactions between the Chamber and their website visitors to enhance visitors' overall experience and promote Avon's business community. Avon Chamber's live chat service offers a more instantaneous communication channel for website visitors compared to telephone and email. Cory Hull, President of the Avon Chamber Board states, "We are excited to offer our website visitors personal engagement in a quick and easy medium like live chat. Providing human interaction in a traditionally impersonal medium like the Web gives our Chamber a distinct edge in servicing the Avon community"

Read full story [IndyStar]

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Chambers of Commerce offer crucial edge to help survive tough times

Newburgh — When Shawn Joyce started his insurance restoration construction business, he shopped around for insurance for himself and his four full-time workers. But with the economy tanking, and health insurance premiums climbing, the hope of finding an affordable plan seemed remote until he joined the Orange County Chamber of Commerce.

By joining the chamber, he was entitled to buy a group plan that offered slightly better coverage than an individual plan, as well as save him $100 per month per employee. The membership turned out to have other perks for ventures getting started in difficult times.

"The bottom line is that anything you can do to network is going to help you with your business, and it's also a good way to meet people not affiliated with your industry who can help you build knowledge about what you don't know," Joyce said.

Read full story [Times Herald-Record]

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Holland MI. Chamber of Commerce kicks off its own stimulus effort

Holland, MI — A Holland Area Chamber of Commerce task force isn’t content to leave economic stimulus to the federal government. A two-pronged local economic stimulus effort is kicking off this month, aimed at retail and real estate spending.

“Our message is there’s never been a better time to both shop in Holland and invest in real estate,” said Jane Clark, president of the chamber, announcing the Holland Chamber Local Stimulus Plan. “Anything the chamber can do to help those two segments of our economy we think will make a positive impact.”

One focus is on retail spending and is recruiting businesses willing to give  $5 “fast cash” gift certificates for every $50 spent at participating merchants the week of Aug. 23. Those certificates will be good for purchases the following week, Aug. 30 through Labor Day, Sept. 7.

The goal is to distribute $100,000 of certificates, representing $1 million of local spending, she said.

The extent of the program will depend on how many merchants sign up, still underway, but Clark hoped for 100 participating businesses. Those will be listed in a special section of The Sentinel on Aug. 23 as well as on Sentinel and Chamber Web sites.

Read full story [Holland Sentinel]

Holland Chamber Stimulus PowerPoint presentation - Click here

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