Economic Development Awards for Existing Businesses - The annual ACES awards nomination process has begun, and we encourage you to let us know about your business successes in 2013 so we can recognize your efforts (or maybe those of one of your loyal customers or suppliers).  Read up on the ACES program and submit a nomination for your company today. This program is an important part of our economic development program; a community that wants to cultivate growth must celebrate the achievements of its businesses.  Please help us be that kind of community and thank you and other businesses for your investments and improvements.

Identify the Hazards - This Wednesday is the monthly Safety Council meeting featuring a presentation on how to identify workplace hazards before an accident occurs.  The presenter is Lisa Wellman, Plant Health & Safety Manager for O-I.  Lisa is a Certified Occupational Safety Specialist.  The meeting is Wednesday at 8 am at Zanesville Country Club.  Chamber members should feel free to attend - the cost is $10 per person which includes breakfast.

A Business Growth Strategy - The only way to grow your business is to retain customers and attract new ones.  And there is a direct correlation between your ability to do those two things and the quality of your organization's customer service.  That's why we are offering a special live customer service seminar on Friday, January 31 from 9 am to 12 noon. The presenter will be Lisa Kristensen, who is the Guest Relations Manager at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium & Zoombezi Bay.  Lisa manages the 350 employee guest relations department at the Zoo and will share with us their approach to customer experience and satisfaction.  The admission fee for Chamber members will be $20 for members and $40 for non members.  Visit the Chamber's web calendar to register online and for more details.

Wanna Be On TV? - The Chamber of Commerce has again partnered with WHIZ-TV to produce three 30-second television messages to promote both local buying and the American free enterprise system.  Each message will feature seven representatives from participating businesses and they will air during the upcoming 2014 Winter Olympics on WHIZ-TV.  f you would like to appear on TV and to be associated with these positive messages, contact Jenni at jmasterson@zmchamber.com.  Here is more information about this opportunity.

Refer A Member - Do you know a local company that is not a Chamber member and could benefit from the services offered by the Chamber of Commerce?  Our Chamber offers many services which are beneficial to businesses. Nearly 700 companies joined in 2014 for a variety of reasons, ranging from marketing services to cost savings on workers comp and other services to support for growth and development.  Please contact Dana Matz, Membership Services Director, at dmatz@zmchamber.com, so he can contact any non member businesses and explain the benefits of joining.  Also, any current member that would like to hear an explanation of member benefits and services, please also contact Dana.  We are more than willing to consult with you to help you get all you can from your membership.

Marketing The Community - Lori Kappes, Sales Manager for the Convention and Visitors Bureau, just returned from American Bus Association Marketplace that was held in Nashville, Tennessee.  Lori met with 30 Tour Operators representing eight states.  At Marketplace, delegates have more than 100,000 face-to-face business meetings with people from all across North America to book hundreds of millions of dollars' worth of business to destinations, attractions and hotels in the United States and Canada. They also take advantage of professionally run educational programs and network with fellow business leaders. More than 3,300 delegates attended ABA's 36th Marketplace.

Did You Know? - The motorcoach-based tourism industry generates nearly 1.4 million jobs in communities across the United States, paying more than $55 billion in wages and benefits?

Submit an Event - If you have an event coming up you should enter it in our online events and meetings calendar at zmchamber.com as a way to promote it.  It's free to members and it's simple to use.  There is a "submit new event" link on the right side of the calendar page.  Click it and fill in your details.  You can also find the calendar link at any time on the homepage of zmchamber.com.    

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