Commerce

The Danville-Boyle County Chamber of Commerce has begun work on the production of the 2011 Danville/Boyle County print and online magazine. Showcasing the best of Danville and Boyle County’s people, places and progressive business climate, Danville/Boyle County reinforces the area’s favorable quality of place while also targeting prospective residents, employees, businesses and visitors. The magazine will be distributed by the Danville-Boyle County Chamber of Commerce as well as through key local businesses, trade shows, conferences and events throughout the year.

As the November election draws nearer, small business owners will become more coveted for their opinions — and their votes. That’s one of the many information kernels Ben Taylor of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce shared with local chamber members in a fast-paced and wide-ranging talk over lunch Wednesday at Danville Country Club. When Taylor asked, more than half of the 25 or so who attended the chamber’s public policy luncheon identified themselves with small businesses.

The new executive director of Mercer County Chamber of Commerce addressed Judge-Executive Milward Dedman and the Fiscal Court Tuesday, and the night before she gave a presentation to Mayor Eddie Long and the Harrodsburg City Commission. One thing was apparent, Jill Cutler and the new Chamber of Commerce are off and running. “High tech, high touch and high energy is just one of our mottos,” said Cutler. Electronic communications are simply a part of life today, and we plan on using all forms of new technology when promoting the chamber.

The Winchester-Clark County Chamber of Commerce's roles might read like this: business enhancer, community advocate and social organizer - some would even say a local cheerleader for Winchester and Clark County. Our mission is to promote and enhance our community through business, social, cultural, and educational programs, and serve as an advocate for our members.Many think the Chamber of Commerce is a government entity or is funded by the city or county, but it is not. It is a membership organization, and a very diverse one. The chamber has approximately 400 members, ranging from individuals to company members with up to 800 employees.

We all know that times are tough and the economic difficulties are affecting all Americans. Fear and uncertainty are playing havoc with our long-term plans. Rising costs are forcing us to make tough choices. Being in this kind of economic climate, businesses are evaluating their expenditures and making prudent decisions. Regardless of your size or business sector, an investment in your local chamber would be a wise decision. The Winchester-Clark County Chamber of Commerce works in every area, from business advocacy, and economic and community development, to education and work force development.

Danville-Boyle Chamber of Commerce is having a membership drive through Thursday. All businesses are invited to join the chamber at any time during the year, but a special invitation is extended to all interested businesses during this drive. Those joining will receive several incentives, including 15 months of membership for the price of 12 months; waiving of the one-time application fee; and two free workshops in the last quarter of this year. Businesses also will be included in the 2008 Danville Magazine membership directory; 7,500 copies are printed and distributed in the course of the year.

Question: What is the Danville/Boyle County Chamber of Commerce’s relationship with the U.S. Chamber? Danville/Boyle County Chamber Executive Director Paula Fowler: The Danville-Boyle County Chamber of Commerce is a membership-driven, non-profit organization. We are an independent organization that works locally and regionally to promote business and our members. The U.S. Chamber is also a membership based non-profit organization. The Danville-Boyle County Chamber of Commerce is a member of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, so we can utilize the many resources they offer to the business community, and local and state chambers.

Danville/Boyle County Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce Phillip Nichols has joined the team as the new membership director. Nichols will be responsible for actively engaging and recruiting potential new members to the Chamber. The position is commission-based. Nichols joins the chamber after retiring earlier this year after a long and successful career. Before retiring, Nichols was executive vice price/senior loan officer at Farmers Bank in Nicholasville, capping off a 31-year career in the banking sector.

The Winchester-Clark County Chamber of Commerce is hosting a seminar on the new health care reform law and how it affects employers and the affect it will have on their businesses. With the passage of the most significant reform of America's modern-day health care system, many small business owners and human resources professionals are trying to assess what the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) means for their organizations.   The seminar will be held Thursday, April 26,  from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. at Clark Regional Medical Center, 1 Hospital Drive.  Cost is $10 per person for Chamber members and $15 for nonmembers - breakfast is included.  Deadline to register is April 20.  Call 859-744-6420 to register.  Seating is limited.

The 2006 edition of "Images of Winchester-Clark County," a community magazine sponsored by the Winchester-Clark County Chamber of Commerce, will publish this June. "Images of Winchester-Clark County" is a vibrant, newsstand-quality magazine that showcases the best of Winchester through its people, places and progressive business climate, according to the chamber. With all new, original photography and features, the 2006 publication will focus on specific areas of education, the arts, sports and recreation, health care, commerce and quality of life.

The Jessamine County Chamber of Commerce has received recognition from the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce Executives (KCCE) for Outstanding Publication (for the Resource Guide) among local chambers of similar size. The excellence awards were given out during the KCCE Annual Spring Conference last week in Frankfort.

STANFORD - Lincoln County's Chamber of Commerce honored several lifetime Lincoln County residents and relatively recent transplants to the area with its annual banquet awards Tuesday night. Inter-County Energy Vice President Sheree Gilliam won the Citizen of the Year award for her longtime service to the county and area, serving in a variety of capacities for a large number of groups. A Lincoln County native, Gilliam has been involved in United Way campaigns; Relay for Life and March of Dimes events; Habitat for Humanity; Kiwanis; and Big Brothers and Big Sisters.

Many workers are expected to keep increasing their productivity, even in the midst of the stress that comes with company reorganizations or layoffs. The Danville-Boyle County Chamber of Commerce is offering a workshop, “You Don't Have to Accept Mental Decline,” to help employees learn how to deal with added stress in the workplace. The workshop will teach employees how to increase memory, processing and attention.  Carol Brown, executive director and educational specialist for the Academic Success Center of Kentucky, will lead the workshop and offer tips on how to train the brain to handle more information.  “Brain training” is a mental workout to improve cognitive performance and quality of life.

U.S. Rep. Brett Guthrie will speak at the Danville-Boyle County Chamber of Commerce AT&T Public Policy luncheon Wednesday at the Danville Country Club.  Guthrie represents Kentucky's Second Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives, which includes Boyle, Mercer and Garrard counties. He serves on both the House Energy and Commerce (E&C) Committee and the House Committee on Education and the Workforce for the 113th Congress. He also serves on the following subcommittees for E&C: Subcommittee on Health; Subcommittee on Communications and Technology; and Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade.

Sun staff report The Winchester/Clark County Chamber of Commerce will welcome U.S. Senator Rand Paul to its August Public Policy Luncheon next week. Paul, Kentucky's Republican junior senator, is scheduled to speak at the event which takes place at noon Monday at the Clark County Extension Office. "We hope all Chamber members take advantage of this opportunity to hear from Sen. Paul about the critical issues facing our nation," Chamber Board Chairman John Austin said. A Bowling Green opthalmologist, Paul is known as a fiscal conservative and tea party affiliate.

The Chamber would like to thank our sponsors and all those who took part in the 5K Race for Independence on Saturday. The Chamber of Commerce was given the event, late in the game, but it went off without a hitch! Next year will be bigger and better. The Chamber will be using the proceeds from the race for scholarships for LCHS students. Special thanks to the City for the use of the parking garage, the Stanford police, and the volunteers that helped! Andrea Miller Chamber of Commerce  Executive Director

A contingent from a Kentucky chamber of commerce descended upon Wooster, Ohio, Wednesday to explore what has made the area successful in terms of economic development. Members of the Jessamine County Chamber of Commerce periodically take trips to other cities to see what works for them and to determine if it can be implemented back home. Wayne County Commissioner Scott Wiggam - a Jessamine County native - spoke to the group of 20 about how the county operates. Wiggam, along with Wooster Mayor Bob Breneman, Orrville Mayor Dave Handwerk and Rittman Mayor Bill Robertson, shared with the group about the successes and struggles of their cities.

Jessamine Chamber of Commerce director Amy Cloud has been awarded a Regent Scholarship by the Institute for Organization Management. Given to 102 professionals across the country, the scholarship recognizes each recipient for his or her involvement in industry, professional organizations, community service and professional background. Cloud will attend one of IOM's five sites in 2012. At the completion of the four-year curriculum, Cloud will receive the IOM recognition, signifying completion of 96 hours of course instruction in nonprofit managment.

STANFORD - Lincoln Manufacturing won Business of the Year and jack-of-all-trades Calvin Denham took home Citizen of the Year at Tuesday's annual Lincoln County Chamber of Commerce banquet. But one of the most emotional moments of the night came when Lincoln County High School Principal Tim Godbey was given the “Big Apple” award. Godbey helmed the high school during an audit by the state after the school was designated as underperforming. Principals of underperforming schools are rarely found capable by state audits, but Godbey was an exception to the rule.

The Winchester-Clark County Chamber of Commerce is hosting a seminar on the new health care reform law and how it affects employers and the affect it will have on their businesses. With the passage of the most significant reform of America's modern-day health care system, many small business owners and human resources professionals are trying to assess what the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) means for their organizations.   The seminar will be held Thursday, April 26,  from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. at Clark Regional Medical Center, 1 Hospital Drive.  Cost is $10 per person for Chamber members and $15 for nonmembers - breakfast is included.  Deadline to register is April 20.  Call 859-744-6420 to register.  Seating is limited.