Category: Podcast Episode

Alex Sonifrank, Affinity & Partnership Manager of the American World Trade Chamber of Commerce joins me for this episode to share how the AWTCC can help local Chambers process certificates of origin.

The AWTCC is a special interest Chamber with satellite offices across the country.

Alex shares why it is so important for local Chambers to have the ability to process certificates of origin to support their local manufacturing and export businesses. He explains how Chambers are uniquely qualified to create certificates of origin. Alex tells how the AWTCC can help certify local Chambers to do this on their own or a Chamber can partner with the AWTCC as an affiliate and actually earn non-dues revenue.

The affinity payments made by the AWTCC to partner Chambers has grown from $30,000 to $300,000.

Alex shares some of the pros and cons of doing this type of work in-house vs. utilizing a partnership like the AWTCC.

If you would like to connect with Alex about anything he discussed in this episode you can see his contact information below:

• 202-844-2641
• asonifrank@awtcc.org

FREE resources to help you better serve your Chamber members and your community.

As you focus on your Chamber’s mission and purpose, you will find that your publications say a lot about your organization. Community Matters, Inc. is an award-winning Chamber publisher that would like to help your Chamber with your next Chamber Directory, Guide, or Map. Community Matters has a turn-key program that is very simple. In the end, your Chamber has a great looking printed & digital publication that will represent your Chamber very well while providing a smooth source of non-dues revenue. Click here to learn more.

Derek Miller, President & CEO of the Salt Lake Chamber joins us for this episode in our 2021 ACCE Chamber of the Year Finalist Series.

Derek is a return guest. He joined us on the podcast two years ago for episode 32 as a Chamber of the Year Finalist in 2019.

In our discussion, Derek shares details about the two program synopsis that were submitted with their Chamber of the Year application.

The first program that Derek shared was their Stay Safe to Stay Open campaign. They created in partnership with the Utah Department of Health, 7 guidelines for employees and staff to inject confidence with their protocols through the COVID pandemic. They ended up with over 10,000 businesses talking a pledge to stay safe to stay open. This program was promoted via social media as well as earned media as the program gained momentum.

The second program that Derek discussed was Workforce Resilience which is part of their foundation. This program focuses on mental fitness. It brings awareness for employers and employees to understand available resources to address mental health, some of which are covered through their existing healthcare plans. The program also aimed to remove the stigma that often clouds mental health concerns.

Derek encourages listeners to learn from others in the Chamber industry. Find out what is working for others.

If you would like to connect with Derek about anything he discussed in this episode you can see his contact information below:

• slchamber.com
• dmiller@slchamber.com

FREE resources to help you better serve your Chamber members and your community.

As you focus on your Chamber’s mission and purpose, you will find that your publications say a lot about your organization. Community Matters, Inc. is an award-winning Chamber publisher that would like to help your Chamber with your next Chamber Directory, Guide, or Map. Community Matters has a turn-key program that is very simple. In the end, your Chamber has a great looking printed & digital publication that will represent your Chamber very well while providing a smooth source of non-dues revenue. Click here to learn more.

Michael Huber, President & CEO of the Indy Chamber joins us for this episode in our 2021 ACCE Chamber of the Year Finalist Series.

As this episode goes live, the Chamber of the Year winners have been announced and the Indy Chamber was named the Category 4 ACCE Chamber of the Year Winner!

Michael was also a previous guest on the podcast as he joined us for episode 99 when we discussed Your Chamber as a Unifying Force.

In our discussion, Michael shares details about the two program synopsis that were submitted with their Chamber of the Year application.

The first program that Michael shared was about their Rapid Response Hub. At the onset of COVID in mid-March 2020, they made a bet that small businesses would be effected the most with hospitality being hit first. They moved fast to train all of their employees on small business service. The Rapid Response Hub was established to share resources. They raised $10 million for relief funds from donors. Through this program, they also partnered with local lending organizations to facilitate $21.5 million in small business relief compared to less than $1 million from 2019.

The second program that Michael shared was their Inclusive Economic Development Incentives. He was clear that you don’t need a specific economic development responsibility to lead a program like this at your organization. Michael noticed that both the left and the right side of this discussion both wanted more which is usually a good sign when you are able to meet in the middle.

Michael encourages listeners to be inclusive with your economic growth strategies. Also, don’t limit yourself to the current tools within your organization. Look at partnerships as an extension of your Chamber.

If you would like to connect with Michael about anything he discussed in this episode you can see his contact information below:

• mhuber@indychamber.com
• Michael Loves Indy Podcast

FREE resources to help you better serve your Chamber members and your community.

As you focus on your Chamber’s mission and purpose, you will find that your publications say a lot about your organization. Community Matters, Inc. is an award-winning Chamber publisher that would like to help your Chamber with your next Chamber Directory, Guide, or Map. Community Matters has a turn-key program that is very simple. In the end, your Chamber has a great looking printed & digital publication that will represent your Chamber very well while providing a smooth source of non-dues revenue. Click here to learn more.

B Kyle, President & CEO of the St. Paul Area Chamber joins us for this episode in our 2021 ACCE Chamber of the Year Finalist Series.

In our discussion, B shares details about the two program synopsis that were submitted with their Chamber of the Year application.

The first program that B shared was their Strategic Communication Plan that was spurred by the COVID shutdowns.

The second program that B discussed was their Equity Leadership Continuum. The goal of this program is to train leaders around diversity, equity, and inclusion. She talked about the need to create connections that count. One of my key take-aways from B was the idea that words create reality so it is important to be intentional.

B encourages listeners to figure out what your organization can do better than anyone else and monetize it.

If you would like to connect with B about anything she discussed in this episode you can see her contact information below:

• stpaulchamber.com
• Twitter
• B’s Table Talk Podcast

FREE resources to help you better serve your Chamber members and your community.

As you focus on your Chamber’s mission and purpose, you will find that your publications say a lot about your organization. Community Matters, Inc. is an award-winning Chamber publisher that would like to help your Chamber with your next Chamber Directory, Guide, or Map. Community Matters has a turn-key program that is very simple. In the end, your Chamber has a great looking printed & digital publication that will represent your Chamber very well while providing a smooth source of non-dues revenue. Click here to learn more.

John Urbahns, President & CEO of Greater Fort Wayne, Inc. joins us for this episode in our 2021 ACCE Chamber of the Year Finalist Series.

John is a return guest as he was on the podcast last year in episode 79 as a Chamber of the Year Finalist which makes this 2 years in a row for GFW, Inc.!

In our discussion, John shares details about the two program synopsis that were submitted with their Chamber of the Year application.

The first program that John shared is about was GFW, Inc.’s response to the COVID pandemic. They introduced what was coined a Roadmap to Healthy Re-Open. This program included 17 industry specific webinars geared towards ideas and protocols for businesses to reopen safely.

The second program that John discussed was their Bridge Program. This program is a 5 year commitment from corporations who sponsor an entrepreneur in their community. These corporations sponsor the entrepreneur’s membership and programming and offer mentorship. They had over 40 entrepreneurs apply to be paired with the 25 corporate sponsors. All but 1 of the corporate sponsors got their first choice of their entrepreneur. For their next round, they are adding 10 more corporate sponsors and entrepreneurs with a focus on minority entrepreneurs.

John suggests that a Chamber needs to have a vision for their community. He believes that a Chamber needs to understand their lane (leadership vs. support). This past year has also confirmed John’s belief that a Chamber needs to be adaptable and nimble.

If you would like to connect with John about anything he discussed in this episode you can see his contact information below:

• jurbahns@greaterfortwayneinc.com
• gfwinc.com

FREE resources to help you better serve your Chamber members and your community.

As you focus on your Chamber’s mission and purpose, you will find that your publications say a lot about your organization. Community Matters, Inc. is an award-winning Chamber publisher that would like to help your Chamber with your next Chamber Directory, Guide, or Map. Community Matters has a turn-key program that is very simple. In the end, your Chamber has a great looking printed & digital publication that will represent your Chamber very well while providing a smooth source of non-dues revenue. Click here to learn more.

Tom Baldrige, President & CEO of the Lancaster Chamber joins us for this episode in our 2021 ACCE Chamber of the Year Finalist Series.

Tom was a past guest on Chamber Chat back in episode 98 as he talked about adjusting business models.

In our discussion, Tom shares details about the two program synopsis that were submitted with their Chamber of the Year application.

The first program that Tom shared is about is called Recovery Lancaster. The Lancaster Chamber played a key role in helping businesses get what they needed to get through the COVID shutdowns. The Chamber helped to distribute over $45 million in grant money with the average grant amount being around $23,000. They distributed 8,500 PPE kits to allow businesses to remain operational. Together with the EDC, the County, and the Chamber, business based information was gathered and distributed. None of the benefits from Recovery Lancaster were exclusive to Chamber members. They went about serving all businesses in their community.

The second program that Tom discussed was called Words that Activate Change. This program is focused around the diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives that the Lancaster Chamber values. This was a collection of personal and opinion based columns that told the stories. These columns were published in the Chamber’s Thriving Magazine and were also shared through social media.

Tom encourages listeners to not wait for permission before acting on a mission based idea.

If you would like to connect with Tom about anything he discussed in this episode you can see his contact information below:

• tbaldrige@lancasterchamber.com

FREE resources to help you better serve your Chamber members and your community.

As you focus on your Chamber’s mission and purpose, you will find that your publications say a lot about your organization. Community Matters, Inc. is an award-winning Chamber publisher that would like to help your Chamber with your next Chamber Directory, Guide, or Map. Community Matters has a turn-key program that is very simple. In the end, your Chamber has a great looking printed & digital publication that will represent your Chamber very well while providing a smooth source of non-dues revenue. Click here to learn more.

Allen Smith, President & CEO of OneSpartanburg, Inc. joins us for this episode in our 2021 ACCE Chamber of the Year Finalist Series.

As this episode goes live, the Chamber of the Year winners have been announced and OneSpartanburg, Inc. was named the Category 3 ACCE Chamber of the Year Winner!

In our discussion, Allen shares details about the two program synopsis that were submitted with their Chamber of the Year application.

The first program that Allen shared is about the revision, reimagining, and rebranding of their organization to become OneSpartanburg, Inc. Previous to this change, the Chamber, EDC, and CVB were siloed into their respective areas of work and they did not recognize their competitive advantage joining the forces of these departments together. This was a 16 month long journey of changing mindsets and responsibilities to become more effective. The decided that “Chamber” sounded too exclusive to part of the rebrand was a name change as well.

The second program that Allen discussed was their business recovery taskforce that was coined “Bring Back the Burg“. This 34 person steering committee established 19 benchmarks that would measure recovery from the negative business and economic impacts from the pandemic. In June of 2021, they shut down this taskforce because they had already met 18 of the 19 benchmarks. On top of that, they have seen $1.2 Billion in new investment since January 1.

Allen encourages listeners to have a plan for your Chamber that is based on data to best serve the needs of your community.

If you would like to connect with Jim about anything he discussed in this episode you can see his contact information below:

• asmith@onespartanburginc.com

FREE resources to help you better serve your Chamber members and your community.

As you focus on your Chamber’s mission and purpose, you will find that your publications say a lot about your organization. Community Matters, Inc. is an award-winning Chamber publisher that would like to help your Chamber with your next Chamber Directory, Guide, or Map. Community Matters has a turn-key program that is very simple. In the end, your Chamber has a great looking printed & digital publication that will represent your Chamber very well while providing a smooth source of non-dues revenue. Click here to learn more.

Tony Howard, President & CEO of the Loudoun Chamber joins us for this episode in our 2021 ACCE Chamber of the Year Finalist Series.

In our discussion, Tony shares details about the two program synopsis that were submitted with their Chamber of the Year application.

The first program that Tony addressed was how the Loudoun Chamber responded to the effects of the COVID pandemic to their business community. Within the first few weeks, the Chamber had made contact with all 1,100 members to check on their status and needs. They shifted to virtual online meeting platforms and were able to continue forward with about 90% of their committees and events.

The second program that Tony shared was about their affordable housing program. The Chamber introduced a comprehensive land use plan with a goal to help bridge the gap especially for those who are early in their careers, typically with lower incomes to have housing options at an affordable rate with the cost of home ownership on the rise. Tony mentioned the investment that is made in educating the students in their community just to have them leave the area once they graduate because they can’t afford to live their on an entry level income. Their plan would allow for 11,000 new affordable housing units.

Tony stressed the important need for Chambers to be a change agent and true leaders in their communities.

If you would like to connect with Tony about anything he discussed in this episode you can see his contact information below:

• thoward@loudounchamber.org
• 571-209-9020

FREE resources to help you better serve your Chamber members and your community.

As you focus on your Chamber’s mission and purpose, you will find that your publications say a lot about your organization. Community Matters, Inc. is an award-winning Chamber publisher that would like to help your Chamber with your next Chamber Directory, Guide, or Map. Community Matters has a turn-key program that is very simple. In the end, your Chamber has a great looking printed & digital publication that will represent your Chamber very well while providing a smooth source of non-dues revenue. Click here to learn more.

Roy Nascimento, President & CEO of the North Central Massachusetts Chamber joins us for this episode in our 2021 ACCE Chamber of the Year Finalist Series.

In our discussion, Roy shares details about the two program synopsis that were submitted with their Chamber of the Year application.

The first program that Roy addressed was based around how the North Central Massachusetts Chamber responded to support their business community in the early onset of the pandemic. As part of their economic development umbrella, they normally have a micro loan program the typically facilitates small business loans. They established an emergency loan program to help businesses bridge the gap until state and federal aid could arrive. They accepted $425,000 from doners. They also facilitated $2.7 million in PPP loans through their economic development loan program with an average of $14,000 per business.

The second program that Roy talked about was around the topic of education and workforce development. The chamber rolled out a new niche regional job board at worknorthcentral.com. This regional job board in addition to helping businesses find the right employees, it also created a new tiered dues benefit.

A key takeaway from my discussion with Roy was that there are solutions for every Chamber that would like to offer lending options to do so, whether that be through certifications or strategic partnerships, there are several options.

If you would like to connect with Roy about anything he discussed in this episode you can see his contact information below:

• northcentralmass.com
• rnascimento@northcentralmass.com
• 978-353-7600

FREE resources to help you better serve your Chamber members and your community.

As you focus on your Chamber’s mission and purpose, you will find that your publications say a lot about your organization. Community Matters, Inc. is an award-winning Chamber publisher that would like to help your Chamber with your next Chamber Directory, Guide, or Map. Community Matters has a turn-key program that is very simple. In the end, your Chamber has a great looking printed & digital publication that will represent your Chamber very well while providing a smooth source of non-dues revenue. Click here to learn more.