The region's business sector plays a major role in shaping the quality of life we all enjoy in Northern Michigan. But business needs a stronger voice in the local community to ensure our area continues to thrive. Our local business leaders are needed to serve on local boards and committees to bring their knowledge and experience to these important decision-making bodies.

How can you get involved? Click here to learn more.

A Traverse City native with an extensive background in sales and customer service is the new Membership Sales Representative for the Traverse City Area Chamber of Commerce. Sheila R. Peek joined the Chamber this month after several years as a Print and Digital Media Consultant for Hibu, formerly known as YellowBook. Click here to learn more about Sheila and her role at the Chamber.

Mitchell Stapley

Dan Loepp

 

Slots are filling quickly for the Chamber Economic Outlook Breakfast and Business Expo set for Nov. 11 at the Grand Traverse Resort & Spa. Register now for the Outlook Breakfast featuring Daniel Loepp, President and CEO of Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Michigan, and Mitchell Stapley who's the Chief Investment Officer for Clear Arc Capital. Tickets are $25 or a table of 10 for $250.

The Economic Outlook Breakfast is sponsored by:

The Chamber's annual Business Expo immediately follows the Outlook Breakfast. The day-long event features more than 140 exhibitors displaying their products and services to more than 1,300 attendees at the region's largest business show. Booths are $500 for Chamber members and $800 for non-members, and exhibit spaces are filling up quickly. Don't wait to reserve a space and click here to get registered.

The Business Expo is presented by:

Our local Chase bank representatives invite Chamber members to apply for Chase's Mission Main Street program for 2014, where Chase will award a share of $3 million to 20 small businesses across the U.S. Applications are open through Oct. 3. Click here to learn more.

Congratulations to 13 new members for joining the Traverse City Area Chamber of Commerce in August. These operations are supporting the community through their Chamber involvement. Welcome them to the organization and support them whenever possible.

New members include:

Want to learn more about the benefits of Chamber membership? Click here for more information.

Do you know someone deserving of the region's most-enduring public service honor? Nominate them for the Chamber's annual Distinguished Service Award. The DSA has been awarded annually since 1929 to a local individual or couple who through their time and efforts have made the Grand Traverse region a better place to live. Click here to learn more about this prestigious award and to access a nomination form.

The Chamber's Young Professionals are heading to hills around Leelanau's County Pyramid Point for the annual YP Conference. The Leelanau Outdoor Center will host the Chamber YPs on Oct. 3 for a fun-filled day of networking, outdoor activities, team-building exercises and much more. The cost for the day-long event is just $80 and you can register by clicking here.

Chamber Leadership Programming including the Young Professionals is supported by:

Congress recently approved legislation to keep the federal Highway Trust Fund solvent through May 2015. But it's a temporary fix and lawmakers are struggling to come up with long-term measures for federal road funding Learn more in the latest Northern Michigan Business Blog from Director of Government Relations Kent Wood.

The answer is - there isn't one. Family make-up has evolved dramatically over the past 60 years, and the changing U.S. household creates a significant impact on the country's workforce. Learn more about the rapidly evolving U.S. household in this recent article from the Washington Post.