News from Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce

Connect with the Chamber

10.13.2011

In This Issue

Chamber Focus
New Members
New Ambassadors
Maximize Your Membership
Chamber Award Nominations
Food Drive for United Way
Free Microsoft Seminar
Business After Hours
Eggs & Issues
VA Chamber Small Business Alliance
NRV Founders Group gets award
Job Fair
Events & Happenings
Chamber Communications
Contact Us

New Members

Help us WELCOME

our new Members!

Hank Schneider; Realtor

3601 Holiday Lane

Blacksburg, VA 2406

Long & Foster

Real Estate

hankschneider.com

Susan Erickson; Realtor

3601 Holiday Lane

Blacksburg, VA 24060

Long & Foster

Real Estate

susanerickson.com

Todds Jewelry

900 Dundee Drive

Radford, VA 24141

Todd Ratliff

Jewelry - Design & Repair toddsjewelrynrv.com

Darlington-Smith Graphics

662 Dobbins Hollow Road

Riner, VA 24149

Jill Darlington-Smith

Graphic Design

darlingtonsmith.com

We're Wireless

30 Spradlin Farm Drive

Christiansburg, VA 24073

Kari Vaughan

Communications

be-wireless.com

East Coast Music, LLC

PO Box 58

Christiansburg, VA 24068

Jeff Martin

Music/Retail, School, Lessons

eastcoastmusic.us

eastcoastmusicdoctors.com

NRV Gateway Realty, Inc.

417 Roanoke Street

Christiansburg, VA 24073

Mary Wright

Real Estate

nrvgateway.com

Piccolini Clothing Botique

1460 S. Main Street Ste. 112

Blacksburg, VA 24060

Meghan Pugliese

Retail/Children

piccolinikids.com

Chamber Focus

CAtheine

Greetings! Good things are happening in Montgomery County! Congratulations to Federal Mogul for their expansion project at the Blacksburg Industrial Park and Welcome to BackCountry.com for making their decision to open a fulfillment center at Falling Branch Industrial Park in Christiansburg. We welcome both announcements. At the same time, Montgomery County Public Schools is building two new high schools with the Auburn groundbreaking earlier this month and Tuesday the Blacksburg groundbreaking; we are truly experiencing positive growth here. And the Chamber is experiencing that same growth; just look at the number of Ribbon Cuttings we have scheduled for the 4th Quarter! We are so pleased that so many new companies, as well as those who have expanded are taking advantage of their Chamber membership. See Nancy Creed's article on Maximizing Your Membership for even more ideas.

As your Chamber Director, I am so fortunate to have many opportunities to connect with local businesses, elected officials and members of the community at large. I can tell you that there is genuine interest and excitement around several issues - discussions regarding a broader and innovative approach to growth by utilizing all of the assets of this region, broadband issues needed to be that community and the commitment of many to our future. As these groups create specific goals and direction, I will be sharing them with you so that we are all in the loop.

Many thanks to Dr. Joe Meredith, President of the Corporate Research Center for his presentation at Eggs & Issues in October. With over 50 local business leaders in attendance, Dr. Meredith presented the plans and goals for Phase II of the CRC and the economic impact of that expansion. We are very proud that the CRC was awarded the 2010 AURP Outstanding Research/Science Park. November's speakers for Eggs & Issues will be Jim Politis, President of the Montgomery County Board of Supervisors and Craig Meadows, Montgomery County Administrator. We welcome your reservation to join us for breakfast at Lucie Monroe's on November 3rd.

Our October Business After Hours will be a Tailgate hosted by Ewing Cabinets, State Electric, Ferguson, G&H Appliance, featuring Duncan Automotive and catered by Hethwood Market @ Marlington & Main. We are so excited that many of you will get to see the beautiful Ewing Cabinet showroom! I have my personal favorites at Ewing but I know that you'll have your own. Join us for a wonderful social and Hokie wear is encouraged. After that game on Saturday (WOW!), I may have my voice back by the 20th!

Mark your calendars for Friday, December 9th. Our Annual Dinner & Awards will be held at the VCOM II and this year we are thrilled at the number of individuals and companies that have been nominated. Our committee will have a difficult time choosing!

See you soon!

Catherine

We would like to welcome our newest

Ambassadors, Jonathan Rosche

& Christine Lewis!

John is with Edward Jones Investments located at 45 W. Main St. Suite 1 Christiansburg, VA Contact John

Chris is with Shared Success, LLC. Contact Chris

Visit: www.sharedsuccess.myshaklee.com

Maximize Your Membership

Membership image

Hello Chamber Members! I am very excited about sharing information in each newsletter about how you can Maximize your Membership! My goal is to provide you with a "piece of the puzzle" that you can immediately put into action. One word that keeps coming to my mind is "exposure." How can we increase your exposure in this community through your Chamber membership? How can we support each other as members in this organization?

The first tool I want to talk about is a program called the "Member 2 Member Discount." These are special offerings that as a Chamber Member you would offer to other Chamber Members. With well over 600 businesses in the Chamber, I was surprised to find only a handful of "Member 2 Member Discounts" available. These discounts can be as simple as a small discount at a car repair shop or a "buy one get one FREE pizza." The best thing that can happen if you offer a discount is that word about your business begins to spread like wild fire throughout the Chamber Membership. How would you like 650 businesses buzzing about your product and service?

Wow-think of the testimonials! There is no shortage of business in Montgomery County when we Member 2 Member logo consider buying and selling to one another! And I have to say that as I work to acquire new Chamber Memberships, the few offerings we have from members awarded to New Members is by far the best selling tool that I have. Wouldn't you like that exposure for your business? Call me if you have an idea that your business could offer!

This second piece of information is going to make a HUGE impact on your business. Each of you has the ability to customize what a visitor sees regarding your business listing on the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce web site. You were issued a password and log in when you registered with the Chamber. Let me show you the impact customization makes on your listing. Go to www.montgomerycc.org. Click on the Business Directory and take a look at your listing (throw in a few more for fun.) Now I want you to visit the business listing for Holiday Inn University. This listing shows every enhanced feature that is available for you to use as part of your Chamber Membership!! WOW! I know you want to have your listing look like this!

If you don't know your log in and your password, please contact me and I will show you how to make this site work for you.

Have a great day. Remember these two great tools-"Member 2 Member Discounts" and enhancing your listing on the web site. It's all about exposure!

Nancy signature

Save the Date- December 9, 2011 as the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce presents it's Annual Dinner & Awards Ceremony!

We are gathering nominations for the following awards. To be eligible for an award, a nominee must be a member of the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce and has contributed to the community through its civic/charitable efforts, its innovation in products or services and its economic success or impact on Montgomery County.

Business of the Year
Small Business of the Year (<25 employees)
Distinguished Business Person of the Year
Outstanding Community Service
Outstanding New Member
Longest Active Chamber Member
Chamber Volunteer of the Year

How can you can nominate someone?

Call the Chamber at540.552.2636
Email the Chamber at DLyons@montgomerycc.org
Submit nominees via Facebook
Submit nominees via the Contact Us page of the Chamber Website

If you know of a business you would like to nominate, give us a call. We'd love to speak with you!

Deadline to submit nominations- October 21, 2011

Microsoft Seminar

MS Office

ymca

handzon 102011

applebees ad

102011 eI

Va Chamber logo

Earlier this year, the Virginia Chamber's Board of Directors adopted a new strategic plan which included several new goals in the areas of growing membership through "partnering with local chambers."

The Virginia Chamber announced a new partnership with local chambers through the Virginia Chamber Small Business Alliance. This initiative allows qualified small businesses in Virginia to have a dual membership in both their local chamber and the Virginia Chamber of Commerce.

Read More Here

EMPLOYERS: Your company is invited to participate in the New River Valley Job Fair Expo which will be held on October 27 at New River Community College in Dublin. This is an excellent opportunity for you to engage with potential employees, technically trained entry-level employees, recent college graduates and experienced professionals.

Registration deadline for employers is October 17 (or until all available slots are filled.) A $95 registration fee includes a meal for up to two company representatives, an exhibit booth and an interview room. There will be a $20 charge for any additional company representatives. Register by October 1 and save $25. Register online at www.nr.edu/nrvjobfairexpo.

NRV JOB FAIR EXPO

Date: October 27, 2011
Time: 3 to 7 p.m.
Location: Edwards Hall, NRCC in Dublin www.nr.edu/nrvjobfairexpo/

The NRV Founders Chapter (Blacksburg, VA) and its members took home top

honors at the Annual BNI Leadership Conference on September 19th. Read More Here!

BNI group award