The Chamber celebrates our New Year each July 1^st; we may not have fireworks and champagne toasts but we sure are excited about the beginning of another year providing first-rate services for our members.

Small business assistance tops the priority list for this year with a new agenda of social media workshops to help you promote your business, increased mentoring opportunities, entrepreneurial training/counseling, and business tip articles in our newsletter to help grow your business.

Developing a long-term business retention plan to assist companies in Gilbert grow and expand is the theme of our Partners In Progress program.  Speaking of partners, we are proud to announce the Chamber, Town of Gilbert Business Development, Chandler-Gilbert Community College, and ASU Polytechnic are all working together to develop this unique program. 

The Chamber will continue to enhance those opportunities for you to engage your business in the community and to connect your business with potential new clients, vendors, and programs that will increase your bottom line. We have found over the past year of introducing the concept of referral partners to our members that those who have incorporated the Referral culture have increased their business tremendously.

So we have extended our morning networking by offering interactive referral partnership events.  It is so easy once you have experienced it - the key is to begin by forming a tight group of business partners who will promote your business and listen for opportunities to provide you with a good, solid referral.  You do the same for them.  You will quickly learn how to expand your partnership base and before you know it you have a strong referral network that is helping you grow your business.  Networking is no longer about how many business cards you can take back and cold-call; it's about netting an 85%+ closing rate on the referrals you receive. 

The great thing about the bi-monthly Referral networking series is that you can also send your sales and marketing staff so they can learn this unique way of growing your business base.  Keep an eye on the website for times. This is one of the best investments you can make for your business; and it is exclusive to Gilbert Chamber members.

Gilbert Leadership is entering its 20^th year and the enthusiasm for the program just continues to grow.  We are proud of the more than 300 graduates and their involvement in the community.

Watch for more information about how the Chamber is enhancing the promotion of our members.  We are exploring specialized marketing opportunities this year for specific types of businesses - lots more on that in the upcoming months!  But in the meantime, you'll soon see a new format for our monthly newsletter - we are expanding the number of pages to incorporate member news, profiles, business advice columns, and news about how to grow your business. 

Our free video commercials will be scheduled again this year; so you may want to start thinking about your messaging now as we plan dates to get your video on our website.  If you are camera-shy then why not join one of our four leads clubs to practice your referral messaging, your elevator pitch and while you are at it - meet some great folks who will help promote your business.

This list goes on and on as we have programmed many of our popular events into this year's schedule.  What Women Want...In Business luncheons will host four events this year; starting with this month's business expo. 

We'll participate in several fund-raising events that will benefit the Chamber and some of our community non-profits.  In fact, community involvement has ranked so high on our member's list of why they join the Chamber that we are restructuring positions at the Chamber that will deal specifically with community development - from small business assistance to mentoring, scholarships for high school Scholars students, adopting seniors at Christmas, raising funds for the Boys and Girls Club, and much more. 

Your Chamber is the conduit to grow your business, engage you in the community, and connect you to success.  We look forward to working with you. 

Topping the list of decisions that will have long-term impacts and where we are heading as a community the new Town Council began its tenure with the selection of a new Town Manager.  Having the opportunity to participate in the initial phone interviews with the search team and serving on the community panel for personal interviews, I felt the Council provided a good process to put candidates through their paces and allowed for several levels of community involvement throughout. 

On Thursday, June 23^rd, the Town Council announced Patrick Banger as the new Town Manager. Following background checks, the Council will finalize their selection process.  We look forward to working with Pat and we'll have him out at one of our upcoming events so you can all meet him and offer a big Gilbert welcome.

As you know, we have been working with the Development Services staff for close to two years on moving from a business registration to an annual business license that would allow businesses to pay for their business registration, fire inspection fee, police alarm fee at one time and also complete their wastewater discharge paperwork as part of that process. 

The Public Policy committee has worked tirelessly over the past two years reviewing ordinances, fees, consequences, pros/cons, and met with key Town staff several times. In conclusion of that process, it was recommended and supported by the Board of Directors to support the changes as the Chamber's involvement resulted in reduction in fees and streamlined processes.  The next phase is to implement the ability for businesses to pay and apply online with a credit card. 

How They Voted

The Town Council voted to approve the various ordinances and fees finalizing the process of transitioning from an annual business registration to annual licensing and reduced the annual police alarm fee to $5 a year instead of $10.  A yes vote below supports the Chamber's position.

Guest speaker Anthony Kirlew of AKA Internet Marketing will share his expertise on LinkedIn, including:
·Setting up a personal profile
·Setting up a company profile
·Leveraging LinkedIn groups
·Developing expert status and getting referrals
·Connecting your social media tools to LinkedIn
 

Reservations required, space limited.

Register Now 

 Women in business will come together to share their products and services at this exciting event. Guest speaker Annie Groth, founder of The Maximization Team will speak on the topic "Whether you think you CAN or you CAN'T - you're right!" You don't want to miss Annie's enthusiasm and insights to being a successful woman in business.

The presentation will begin at noon.
 

 General admission- $35
Chamber Member admission - $20

Exhibit space available.

Non-member exhibitor fee is $225. Member exhibitor fee is $100. Fees include lunch. Only two of the same business accepted at this time.
 

Register Now