Lakewood Chamber of Commerce March Newsletter

THANK YOU TO OUR CORPORATE SPONSOR

March Newsletter

March 1, 2010- Vol 6

Thank you to our March Sponsor

In This Issue

March Meeting

February Meeting Recap

Economic Development Task Force Update

Education Task Force Update

Legislative Task Force Update

Marketing & PR Task Force Update

Membership Task Force Update

Let's Wine About Winter

State of the City Address

March BAH

February New Members

Congrats

March Calendar

March 4 @ 8:30am

Membership Task Force

March 6 @ 7pm

Let's Wine About Winter

Rozi's Wine House

March 9 @ 7:30am

Legislative Task Force

March 10 @ Noon

Economic Development

Winking Lizard

March 10 @ 7pm

State of the City Address

Horace Mann Elementary

March 11 @ 7:30am

Board Meeting

March 11 @ 5:30-7:30pm
Business After Hours

The Beck Center

March 19 @ 7:30am

Monthly Meeting
The Clifton Club

Board of Directors

2009-2010 Officers
Chairman of the Board
Terry Vincent

Brouse McDowell
Treasurer
Steve Clark

Clark Financial Group
Vice Chair of

Econ. Development
Brian Salem

Howard Hanna Smythe Cramer
Vice Chair of Education
Debra Girman

First Federal of Lakewood
Vice Chair of Legislative and Government Affairs
Nikki Farley

Millisor & Nobil
Vice Chair of Marketing & Public Relations
Dan Carney

Cox Business
Vice Chair of Membership and Investor Relations
Lisa Tomm

Hospice of the Western Reserve
Immediate Past
Erin Fach

Lakewood Community Recreation & Education Department

Board of Directors
Linda Garrett Beebe

Attorney
Mary Anne Crampton

LakewoodAlive
Scott Duennes

Nature's Bin
Lucinda Einhouse

Beck Center for the Arts
Diane Helbig

Seize This Day Coaching
Shawn Juris

The Juris Agency
Nathan Kelly

City of Lakewood Planning & Development
Bill Koziol

Lakewood Hospital
Ryan Krivosh

Around the Corner
Matty Lucarelli

Sweetwater Restaurant Group
Bruce McNabb

Lakewood Senior Health Campus/ O'Neill Management
Linda Thayer

West Shore Career Tech
Julie Warren

Erie DeSign
Michael Whitkofski

Thinsolutions

Staff
Patty Ryan

CEO & President

Val Mechenbier

Office Manager

Letter from the CEO & President

It's the first day of March and even though there is more than a foot of snow outside, spring is on the way.

We'll have plenty of opportunities to get out and network this month and hopefully the weather will cooperate! LakewoodAlive is hosting a wine tasting, our Business After Hours is a Backstage Pass at the Beck Center, the Mayor is giving his Annual State of the City Address, and our March meeting will be breakfast at the Clifton Club and features a presentation about the upcoming school levy.

Look for the details on these events in the articles below, and catch up on what our Chamber Task Forces are working on.

As always, the Lakewood Chamber of Commerce strives to bring you opportunities to engage at the local level. We encourage you to attend events and volunteer for Chamber committees. Get out there, get involved and get more out of your investment in the Lakewood Chamber of Commerce!

Patty Ryan

March Meeting

Friday, March 19, 2010
The Clifton Club

17884 Lake Road
Lakewood
7:30 am Networking; 8:00 Breakfast
$15 Members/$20 Non-members
RSVP: 216-226-2900

vmechenbier@lakewoodchamber.org

Join us for an informational presentation regarding the upcoming Lakewood City School Levy from levy committee members Jay Foran and Mike Summers.

sponsored by:

Reservations are required and our
48 hour cancellation policy will apply.

2010 Outstanding Work Ethic Awards

The West Shore Career-Technical District's 2010 Outstanding Work Ethic Award winners were honored at a luncheon at Lakewood Hospital's Wasmer Auditorium on February 19th. The Lakewood Chamber of Commerce and the Lakewood/Rocky River Sunrise Rotary Club welcomed over 100 members, students, parents, employers, work supervisors, and guests to the 4th annual awards event, sponsored by Fitzgibbons Arnold & Co. Twenty West Shore Career-Tech students, one representing each program at West Shore, were recognized for their exceptional dedication to their studies, extra-curricular activities, and, most importantly, to their places of employment. Each student received a certificate, plus a door prize and a gift bag of items donated by local businesses.

Congratulations to the 2010 Outstanding Work Ethic Award winners:

Nick Sclimenti            Accounting & Financial Services
Bogdan Yakymchuk     Auto Maintenance
Charles Sposit            Auto Technology
Shannon Walsh           Biotechnology
Steve Houska              Business Management
Abbey Hegarty           Career Paths to Teaching
Phil Bullock                 Community Based Training: The Bonne Bell

Ryan Wendt Community Based Training: Marlin Manufacturing

Sa-She Minor              Community Based Training: Cleveland Airport Marriott
Catherine Lavelle        Community Based Training: Rae Ann Nursing Home
Mike Shestina              Construction Trades
Matt Snyder                Culinary Arts/ProStart
Amanda Lee                Early Childhood Education / Senior Services
Donivan Lanzer            Electronic Technology
Mya Glass                    Health Careers
Carley Amalong            Interactive Media
Bukurie Ukshini            Medical Office Management
Nathaniel Giffels        Networking/Cisco
Steven Caja                 Project Lead The Way
Jessica Elinsky             Service Occupations Training

Thank you to our February sponsor:

Economic Development Task Force
Establishing a West End Merchants Association

The Economic Development Task Force will begin working with businesses on the western end of Detroit Avenue to establish a West End Merchants Association.

At our February committee meeting, Mary Anne Crampton of LakewoodAlive presented the merchants association model successfully used for Downtown Lakewood which is based on the Ohio Main Street approach.

West End businesses will be invited to an informational coffee on Wednesday, March 24 at the Lakewood Chamber office.

Interested in the Economic Development Task Force?

Contact Chamber CEO,
Patty Ryan at pryan@lakewoodchamber.org

Education Task Force
"Selling in a Tough Economy" was Fun & Informative

The Education Task Force held their first educational seminar of 2010, Selling in a Tough Economy onThursday, February 4th at Brennan's Banquet & Catering Center. Diane Helbig of Seize this Day Coaching presented to over 20 area business leaders, helping them analyze how they currently sell and what changes they can make to create demand for their products and services during this recession.

This informational and fun seminar left attendees more motivated and with great new tools to employ to fight through this tough economy!

Interested in the Education Task Force?

Contact Chamber CEO,Patty Ryan at pryan@lakewoodchamber.org

Legislative Task Force
Refuse Collection Survey

The Legislative Task Force is working with the City of Lakewood on a small business refuse collection plan. In order to determine the needs of the Lakewood business community, the Legislative Task Force is conducting a brief refuse collection survey. Please take the time to answer this short survey.

Click on the link below to participate.

http://survey.constantcontact.com/survey/a07e2rhtpeqg68bcbxu/start

Thank you for your valuable input!

Interested in the Legislative Task Force?

Contact Chamber CEO,Patty Ryan at pryan@lakewoodchamber.org

Marketing & Public Relations Task Force
SAVE THE DATE for the 2010 Taste of Lakewood

The 7th Annual Taste of Lakewood
Sunday, June 6th, 4:00 to 7:00 pm

The Clifton Club
17884 Lake Road
Lakewood, Ohio

The Lakewood Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce its Seventh annual Taste of Lakewood. This gala event is targeted towards both our business members and the Lakewood residential community.

Last year's Taste of Lakewood was sold out and we anticipate another record attendance for this year's event. It highlights the many fine restaurants we have in Lakewood. It is our largest fundraiser and helps support both educational programs offered by the Lakewood Chamber of Commerce and our annual scholarships for graduating seniors from both Lakewood High School and St. Edward High School.

BECOME A PART OF THIS YEAR'S TASTE OF LAKEWOOD

Both Sponsorship and volunteer opportunities are available. Contact Patty Ryan at pryan@lakewoodchamber.org for more information.

Membership Task Force
National Survey Proves Importance of Chamber Membership

A national study by The Schapiro Group, an Atlanta based market research firm, reveals a number of important findings about how consumers and business owners perceive their local chamber of commerce and the businesses that are their members

When consumers know that a business is a member of a chamber of commerce, they are 44% more likely to think favorably about it.
Consumers who are told that a business is a chamber member are 51% more likely to be highly aware of it and 57% more likely to think positively of its local reputation.
Consumers are 63% more likely to buy goods and services from a company they believe is a member of the local chamber of commerce.

The study also had good news for businesses that sell to other businesses.

When business decision makers believe that a business is a chamber member they are 37% more likely to think favorably of the business, 51% more likely to be highly aware of it, 58% more likely to think positively of its local reputation, and 59% more likely to buy goods and services.
82% of respondents believe that their local chamber of commerce helps create jobs and promotes local economic development.