Top Talk

April 1, 2015

Kalkaska's Business and Citizen of the Year

Congratulations to Shetler Family Dairy and Dan and Sherry Johnson for being selected as the 2015 Business and Citizens of the Year for the Kalkaska Chamber. The Shetler family and the Johnsons will be honored at the annual Kalkaska Chamber Luncheon on April 21 starting at 11:30 a.m. at the Kalkaska Church of Christ. Reserve your seat today.

The Shetler Family Dairy is among Kalkaska's most-recognized businesses, while the Johnsons have a long record of public service spanning nearly three decades in the community. Learn more about this year's honorees.

The Kalkaska Chamber Luncheon is sponsored by:

CONNECT | Economic Development

Highlights from the SBC Candidates Showcase

Sixteen Chamber businesses put their best foot forward at the 2015 Small Business Celebration Candidates Showcase last week. They were greeted by hundreds of fellow Chamber members and the public as they prepare for their review by the SBC's distinguished judges panel. Check out these images from the Candidate Showcase.

Don't miss the Meet the Top 10 Breakfast on May 5 starting at 7:30 a.m., featuring the top 10 finalists for the 2015 Hagerty Small Business of the Year Award. You can also reserve a seat for the SBC Award Ceremony on May 28 starting at 4:30 p.m. SBC Events are held at NMC's Hagerty Center.

The Small Business Celebration is sponsored by:

INSPIRE | Leadership Growth

Become an LGT Fellow

The Chamber's Leadership Grand Traverse program has helped hundreds of area business men and women emerge as community leaders in the Grand Traverse region. How can those LGT graduates double down on their experience and commitment? By joining the Leadership Grand Traverse Fellows program.

LGT Fellows is an alumni program launched in 2014 to help past LGT participants renew their involvement in the program and connect with current LGT activities. LGT Fellows get exclusive communications and updates, information on local leadership and volunteer openings and continued education opportunities. Learn more about how you can get involved with LGT Fellows.

Chamber Leadership programming is supported by:

Ron Jolly, Laura Oblinger and Dan Brady

Weekly Entrepreneur Focus Rolls On

The return of the Weekly Entrepreneur Focus on NewsTalk 580 WTCM brings inspiring stories of local business success to the airwaves. Host Ron Jolly and Chamber Chief Operating Officer Laura Oblinger interview a local business owner each Wednesday morning from 8:30 - 9 a.m. where they share their insight on what's helped them build a successful business in Northern Michigan.

In case you miss a show, click here for an archive of episodes kept on the Chamber website.

The Weekly Entrepreneur Focus is presented by:

IMPACT | Advocacy for Business

State Budget Update

Michigan lawmakers are taking a spring recess from critical state budget discussions. Here's the latest on the budget talks in the Northern Michigan Business Blog from Government Relations Director Kent Wood.

A powerful body of research shows that children who have a high quality preschool and early educational experience are more likely to graduate from high school and pursue post-secondary education. Investing in children during their earliest and most formative years is a strategy proven to help close the achievement gap and prepare the future workforce for career success.

Join the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE) this Thursday, April 2, from 3 - 4 p.m. for a free webinar entitled "Invest Early and Often: The Economic Case for Early Childhood Education."
Learn how chambers of commerce are incorporating early childhood education into their economic development strategies by:

Creating birth-to-five community partnerships that prepare children to be Kindergarten-ready
Expanding access to high-quality Pre-K through advocacy
Developing efforts to better integrate and align early care and education with the K-12 system

Click here to register.

Voter Registration Deadline Looms

This Monday, April 6, is the deadline to register for the May 5 election that includes Proposal 1, a state-wide ballot issue to raise more than $1.2 billion a year for Michigan's roads and transportation network. Learn why the Traverse City Area Chamber of Commerce endorses the road plan in a column from Kent Wood. You can register to vote with your local municipal clerk or click here for a step-by-step guide from the Michigan Secretary of State office.