Greenville Chamber Logo

WEEKLY UPDATE           Wednesday, April 6, 2011  

Greetings! 

Please join us in welcoming our newest members! Click here to see a list of the newest investors in the Upstate's premier business community.

 

We hope you have time to review what we've got going on below and wish you a terrific week!

Have You Reserved Your Booth for GROW EXPO on May 17th?  Early Bird

Pricing ($100 off booth price) has been extended through this Friday, April 8th!

GROW2011GROW EXPO is the Greenville Chamber's salute to regional businesses and celebration of National Small Business Week! It's the region's largest business-to-business trade show with hundreds of members exhibiting and more than a thousand attendees.


Special pricing for past exhibitors ends this Friday! 

Click here for exhibitor and sponsorship information!

Announcing the Greenville Chamber's NEW Healthcare Providers Network!

If you are a Greenville Chamber Member that provides goods and services within the healthcare industry, we'd love for you to attend our new Healthcare Providers Network meetings! This group's mission is to encourage Chamber members to support healthcare providers by increasing the awareness of what their organizations offer within the community; encouraging marketing as well as providing goods and services to each other. If you are interested in more information, please contact Julie Alexander at 864-239-3754. Meetings will be held the 2nd Thursday of each month starting April 14th from 8:00-9:00 am in the Chamber board room. There is no cost to attend, but please register here so we can plan for breakfast.

 

In need of Social Media tips to to engage customers and grow your business? 
Our 7 Experts-7 Tips-7 Minutes on April 14th is for you!

The hot topic for our next 7-7-7 is Social Media Success. Join us

on Thursday, April 14th from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm at the Greenville Hilton. Each panelist will have precisely seven minutes to offer you one actionable tip to help you  focus, save money, time or anxiety. Panelists Include:

  • Amy Wood, WSPA
  • Stacy Coulter, The Spa At West End
  • Chris Manley, Engenius
  • Jon Evans, Social Media Barista
  • Steve Wiley, Special Services Corporation
  • Richard Blackwell, Upstate Alliance
  • Marie Dunn Blough, Red Hype

Moderator: Hal Westmoreland of AccessAbility Services, Inc.
Sponsor: GreenvilleHD

Cost to attend is $20 if you pre-register or $25 at the door. Click Here to Register.

Washington Update with U.S. Representative Trey Gowdy April 19th!

Gowdy

United States Congressman Trey Gowdy will provide Greenville business leaders with a legislative update from Washington on April 19th at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Greenville. 


Registration/networking begin at noon. Lunch/program start at 12:30 p.m. Cost to attend is $25, which includes lunch. This event is open to Greenville Chamber members only. Space is limited.
Register here by Wednesday, April 13th.

Seeking Money for Training Your Employees?

The Greenville County Workforce Investment Board (WIB) will begin receiving applications on April 6, 2011 for the Incumbent Worker Training (IWT) Program, funded through the Federal Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (Public Law 105-220). IWT provides funding for training needed in current businesses due to expansion, new technology, retooling, new services/product lines and new organizational structuring or as part of a layoff aversion strategy. IWT may also fund training in new businesses if those jobs are ineligible for assistance through ReadySC. This year's IWT solicitation will give priority consideration to the following in-demand, high growth areas:

  • Aviation/Aerospace
  • Advanced Manufacturing
  • Energy
  • Life Sciences
  • Chemicals and Films
  • Automotive

To obtain a copy of the IWT application, contact Katie Falconer at Greenville County Workforce Development, 864-467-7381,TTY: 711 or kfalconer@greenvillecounty.org or go to

http://www.greenvillewib.com. Applications are due by 3:00 pm on May 5, 2011. An Equal Opportunity Employer/Program. Applications can also be accessed here: http://www.greenvillewib.com/notices.asp

You're Invited to Salute to Quality April 28th at the Chamber!

Eddie

We asked Eddie to help us create an invitation for our upcoming
Salute to Quality event. To our surprise and delight, he utilized one of our program's Quality Tools - an If... Then Chart* - to relay the message!
 
Eddie Zahiu is a third grade student engaged in the Greenville Chamber's Carolina First Center for Excellence program at partner school Ellen Woodside Elementary. 
 Eddie If Then Chart Invitation
 
*If... Then charts are used for predicting the consequences of proposed changes. They provide a safe method to study the ramifications of potential changes within a system and allow for looking further into the future that just identifying the next step.

 

Come see our Center for Excellence partner schools display their use of Quality Tools and Principles at this annual event!

Salute to Quality

Thursday, April 28
4:00 to 6:00 pm

Greenville Chamber

There is no cost to attend and we hope you will bring guests. Click here to register!
 

Accepting Nominations for the Leadership Greenville Distinguished Alumni Award!

LG Alumni LogoLeadership Greenville Alumni recognizes an outstanding graduate of the Leadership Greenville Program for their outstanding civic and community contributions each year. Past winners include Nancy Whitworth, Jim DeMint and Mack Whittle. Click here to learn more and download a nomination form.

How does your corporate retirement plan stack up? Find out on April 29th!

Turbulent markets, an aging workforce and changing rules have spurred many plan sponsors to take a closer look at their defined contribution plan: its design, fee structure, investment lineup and how its communications program educates participants. Please join us for an engaging seminar where we will discuss how you can capitalize on recent legislative changes and industry trends.

This 2011 Trends in Corporate Retirement Plans Seminar is on April 29th from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm at the Greenville Chamber. Cost is $7. Click here to register.

Help Celebrate the Upstate's Diversity Champions on May 3rd!

UDLAD NEWCelebrate Upstate organizations and individuals who demonstrate leadership in promoting diversity and inclusion as an important mission.

The Upstate Diversity Leadership Award Winners will be announced at the 7th Dinner on Tuesday, May 3rd at the Carolina First Center.
Click here for ticket and sponsorship information.

Sponsorships Available for the 19th Annual International Luncheon on May 24th!

FlagGlobeGE Energy will receive the 2011 International Economic Development Award at the Chamber's 19th Annual International Luncheon on Tuesday, May, 24 at the Marriott Greenville.

Click here for information about sponsoring and/or attending this important event to recognize the investment and employment by international companies in the Upstate!

Are You Saving Your Company Money with the Chamber's SmartBuys Programs?

BlureCross BlueShield

The bottom line is this: Your company wants to save money. And to help our members do this, the Greenville Chamber has selected the best discount offerings for health insurance, office supplies, and  telecommunications that we could find. Our SmartBuys partners are BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina, Office Depot, and Windstream Communications. 


Click here to start saving money with SmartBuys today!

Must See: Our Gallery is featuring paintings by Melissa Anderson through May!

Bike.Melissa Anderson

 

The Chamber has partnered with the Metropolitan Arts Council to provide exhibits of local artists throughout the first floor of the Chamber.

 

Our current exhibition features paintings by Melissa Anderson and will run until the end of May.

 

Please stop by and & see these beautiful works of art!

 

Here's What's Happening Next Week @ the Chamber:

BWIA Women Business Owners on The State of Economy

Date/Time: Monday, April 11, 11:30 am - 1:30 pm

Who Can Come: All Chamber Members

Topic/Guests: Finding Opportunity, Becoming Involved and Being Responsible in our Community and State: A discussion with U.S. Representative Trey Gowdy and State Representative Chandra Dillard facilitated by Erika Cannon, SC COM

Location: Greenville Chamber Board Room

Cost: $10, includes lunch

Register: Click here

 

Business Before Hours   

Date/Time: Tuesday, April 12, 7:30 - 9:00 am

Who Can Come: All Chamber Members

What it is:A monthly breakfast event for Chamber members who want to network and make business contacts 

Location: Commerce Club

Sponsor: BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina

Cost: $7 if you pre-register online or $10 at the door. Chamber Members who are also members of the Commerce Club can attend this event for $5 (billed to your club account). If you are a Commerce Club member, please register by sending an email to Dot Drennon.
Register: Click here
  

Manufacturers Roundtable

Date/Time: Wednesday, April 13, 12:30 - 1:30 pm
Who Can Come: Plant managers and related senior staff only
Location: Greenville Chamber Board Room
Cost: Free for Manufacturers Group members/$10 for guests, lunch included
Register: Click here

 

Healthcare Providers Network

Date/Time: Thursday, April 14, 8:00 - 9:00 am
Who Can Come: All Chamber Members
Location: Greenville Chamber
Breakfast Sponsor: Glorified Health & Rehab of Greenville, LLC
Cost: Free, breakfast included
Register: Click here
 
 
7 Experts - 7 Tips - 7 Minutes

Date/Time: Thursday, April 14, 8:00 - 9:00 am

Who Can Come: All Chamber Members

Topic: Social Media Success (see above for feature experts)
Location: Greenville Hilton
Sponsor: GreenvilleHD

Cost: $20 if you pre-register or $25 at the door, lunch included

Register:Click here 
 

Transportation & Infrastructure Committee Meeting

Date/Time: Friday, April 15, 8:00 - 9:00 am

Who Can Come: All Chamber Members

Location: Greenville Chamber Board Room
No Registration Necessary

 

Leadership Greenville Alumni Association Brown Bag Luncheon Series

Date/Time: Friday, April 15, 11:30 am - 1:00 pm
Guest Speaker: Former Governor of South Carolina and Secretary of Education under President Bill Clinton's Administration Dick Riley 
Who Can Come: Leadership Greenville Alumni Association Members
Location: Greenville Chamber Board Room
Cost: Free for LGA Members/Bring your own lunch/beverages will be provided.
Register: Click here

 

 

Mark Your Calendars for More Greenville Chamber Events!

  • April 19: Washington Update with U.S. Representative Trey Gowdy
  • April 19: Business After Hours at Spectrum Lasik
  • April 20: Sales Roundtable
  • April 26: Environmental Issues Committee Meeting
  • April 27: Small Business Owners' Forum
  • April 27: Upstate Young Professionals Annual Hangar Party
  • April 28: Salute to Quality
  • April 28: Regional Business After Hours
  • April 29: Trends in Corporate Retirement Plans-What You Need to Know for 2011
  • May 3: Upstate Diversity Leadership Awards Dinner 
  • May 17: GROW EXPO
  • May 17: OSHA Training - Hazardous Communications Standards
  • May 24: International Luncheon

  • Click here to see the Greenville Chamber's Events Calendar!

               Building one of the premier business communities in the world!