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And the 2014 Small Business of the Year Is....
It's finally here. After months of applications, preparation, showcases, site visits and more - it's time to unveil the Traverse City Area Chamber's 2014 Hagerty Small Business of the Year. Join us this Thursday, May 29, starting at 4:30 p.m. at NMC's Hagerty Center for the Small Business Celebration Award Ceremony. The Chamber will present the 2014 Hagerty Small Business of the Year Award to one of the Top 10 SBC finalists, and celebrate all the wonderful companies who made the Top 10.
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Click here to register for the Award ceremony. Congratulations to these Top 10 finalists in this year's Small Business Celebration:
BrightStar Lifecare of Northern Michigan
| Captain's Quarters
| Celtic Transport Logistics
| Culver Meadows
| LochenHeath Golf Club
| Mad Mike's Computer Service
| Northwest Michigan Surgery Center
| Oryana Natural Foods Market
| Short's Brewing Co.
| Williams & Bay Pumping Service
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The Small Business Celebration is presented by:
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CONNECT | Economic Development
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China Conference Next Week
The International Affairs Forum is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year with a pinnacle event - a two-day conference offering an up-close look at China and its rapidly-evolving economy.
"China Today: Competitor or Partner?" is June 5 -6 offering a series of speakers and expert roundtables offering various perspectives on the growing superpower. The keynote address is June 5 starting at 6 p.m. at the City Opera House, featuring China expert Prof. David Shambaug of George Washington University on "China in the 21st Century: Are We Ready?"
Several break-out sessions are scheduled for Friday at NMC's Hagerty Center and Dennos Museum Center. They include programs on attracting Chinese investment, cultural and social changes in China, education exchanges, consumer habits in China and more.
Tickets for each session and more information on the programs and schedule are available by clicking here.
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Member Anniversaries in May
The Chamber wouldn't exist without the support of its members. Several membership milestones were reached in May, including the 55th anniversary of the Gourdie-Fraser Inc. engineering firm in downtown Traverse City.
Other significant Chamber anniversaries this month include:
40 Years
Huntington National Bank
30 Years
AlcoTec Wire Corporation
Federal Express
25 Years
Hagerty
Marsh Industrial
Popp Excavating, Inc.
Click here for a list of other Chamber businesses celebrating membership anniversaries in May.
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Connect with Michigan's Big Three
Several Northern Michigan companies have snared supplier opportunities through the Pure Michigan Business Connect program of the Michigan Economic Development Corp. Opportunity knocks again this summer when Big Three automakers Ford Motor Co., Chrysler Group LLC and General Motors - and more than 40 of their Tier One partners - seek procurement deals with other Michigan-based companies at the Detroit Three Summit.
These companies will offer more than 300 procurement opportunities and want Michigan-based suppliers to source them. The application deadline is June 20. Click here for more information from the MEDC.
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INSPIRE | Leadership Growth
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 | | LGT Fellow MacKenzie Bickel |
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LGT Fellows Off and Running
Leadership Grand Traverse is reaching new heights for the Traverse City Area Chamber of Commerce. Last week's launch of the new LGT Fellows program offers an opportunity for hundreds of LGT graduates to re-engage with the program.
LGT Fellows is a special alumni group that will be able to connect with current and former LGT classes, and take on special projects and initiatives in the community. Plus, their financial support for LGT Fellows will increase scholarships and programming for current and future LGT classes. Click here to learn more about Leadership Grand Traverse, the LGT Fellows program or register for the Fall 2014 class that starts in September.
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Chamber Leadership programming is supported by:
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IMPACT | Advocacy for Business
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Key Elections Loom - Your Vote Counts!
It's a big election year in Michigan, starting with the Aug. 5 primary election. The Traverse City Area Chamber urges its members, their families and employees and everyone in the business community to register and vote to ensure their voices are heard.
The Chamber is making it easy to participate - there's a Business Votes Matter registration kiosk at every Chamber event this year so those in attendance can easily make sure they're eligible to vote. The first registration deadline is fast approaching on July 7
for the August primary vote.
BREAKING NEWS
State legislative leaders reached a compromise agreement Tuesday on raising Michigan's minimum wage. Read the latest from Chamber Govt. Relations Director Kent Wood by clicking here.
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