Traverse Chamber Bulletin
Top Talk
November 25, 2015


Hagerty Boosts TraverseCONNECT
The Chamber's parent organization - TraverseCONNECT - received a major financial contribution this month from Hagerty, the world's leading provider of collector vehicle insurance based here in Traverse City. Hagerty's $90,000 grant to TraverseCONNECT over the next three years will help provide programming and business expansion services through TraverseCONNECT, the Chamber and its economic development arm Venture North Funding & Development.

Learn more about this significant commitment to the region's business community.

Don't Wait to Celebrate
Make plans to join us for the Chamber's Annual Celebration coming up Friday, January 15, at the Grand Traverse Resort & Spa. Reserve a seat today for this special evening that brings together more than 1,000 members of our local business community to celebrate their involvement with the Chamber. We'll also present our 2015 Distinguished Service Award to a deserving individual.
 
Tickets are $100 each and corporate tables are available for $1,200. The evening will feature a strolling dinner from 6:30 - 7:15 p.m., a seated program including the DSA presentation from 7:15 - 7:45 p.m. followed by a mix and mingle reception - including more food and refreshments - until the 10 p.m. close. It's a great way to launch into 2016 with your friends at the Chamber.
 
The Annual Celebration is sponsored by: 


IMPACT | Advocacy for Business
Federal Road Funding Backed by Chambers
On the heels of a new state road and transportation proposal being passed in Michigan, federal lawmakers also grappling with transportation funding issues. The Great Lakes Metro Chamber Coalition, which includes the Traverse City Area Chamber, is monitoring the progress and you can learn more in Government Relations Director Kent Wood's latest Northern Michigan Business Blog.

CONNECT | Events and Programs
Membership Event on the Horizon
We're just two weeks out from our Membership Event coming up December 8 - 10 at the Holiday Inn/West Bay Beach. The Chamber is looking to surpass the 2,000 membership mark, and our team of Membership Chairs have put together an energetic team of volunteers ready to get the job done.
 
Thanks again to our Membership Chairs including: Allison Beers, Troy Broad, Warren Call, Stephen Peacock, Sander Scott, Tammy Tarsa, Kevin Schlueter, and Lisa Pointe. These chairs and their team captains and volunteers are already lining up new member businesses as we look to grow the Chamber family and strengthen the voice of business across Northern Michigan. If you'd like to participate in this high-energy event, contact Chamber Event Coordinator Andi Wagenschutz at [email protected]

TC NewTech Rolls On
The Chamber is proud to be a co-sponsor of TC New Tech, a monthly meeting of technology enthusiasts looking for ideas, potential investors and to learn about what's going across the local technology scene. The group meets on the first Tuesday of each month starting at 6 p.m. at the CenterPointe Building in Greilickville, and the next session is set for December 1. Click here to register.

INSPIRE | Leadership Development
Vote for Chamber Directors
The Chamber is fortunate to be led by a talented and engaged Board of Directors that provide direction and oversight for our century-old organization. Four new directors have been nominated for the board in 2016 and they include:
  • Bill Golden - Golden Shoes
  • Marie-Chantal Dalese - Chateau Chantal
  • Beth Holmes-Bozung - Safety Net
  • Steve Nance - Oryana
Chamber bylaws require the director slate to be approved in a vote of the membership. Please cast your vote for the new director slate by contacting Executive Assistant Caryn Cleland at [email protected]. The new directors will join the board in January.
 

Giving Thanks for Our Members
The Thanksgiving season is an appropriate time to say "Thank You" to our terrific members who make the Chamber go. Beyond their financial support that sustains the organization, we're fortunate to have hundreds of members who take part in our events, get involved in our legislative advocacy efforts and utilize the Chamber's products and services to promote their businesses.

Click here to see which members are observing their membership anniversaries in November.

 

Partner News
Check out the Latest Venture News
The Chamber's sister economic development organization known as Venture North Funding & Development continues to expand its business financing efforts across the region. Check out the latest edition of the Venture News e-bulletin for a report on how Venture North helped a local auto body shop owner secure his business' long-term future, and significantly reduce his overhead expenses while doing it.

If you'd like to stay up to date on what's going on at Venture North, sign up for the Venture News e-bulletin by contacting Administrative Assistant Diane Brown at [email protected]

Connect with DTE Energy
Pure Michigan Business Connect, in partnership with DTE Energy, will be hosting an invitation-only supplier summit on February 10, 2016 at Ford Field in downtown Detroit. This summit is focusing on suppliers that can supply commodities in the groups of telecommunications, information technology, fleet, energy optimization, renewables and facilities and more.
 
Each application will be reviewed and invitations will be sent to those companies that are the best fit for the specific opportunities. The priority deadline to apply is December 19th. Applications received after that date will only be considered if there are needs that were not addressed through the initial application window.
 

Upcoming Events
Click Event to Register
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In Case you
Missed it...
Read Kent Wood's column in the Traverse City Record-Eagle
 
Get connected to more Chamber program info: www.tcchamber.org

Suggestions for topics you would like to read here? Email: [email protected]