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Greetings!    


Based on today's weather, it's hard to believe that this time last week we were on the lookout for freezing temperatures and icy conditions.  Thank you to our member businesses that are participating in Business EXPO, which due to weather was rescheduled.  The new EXPO date is Thursday, February 13th at the Westin Hilton Head Island Resort & Spa. We have over 110 businesses participating and are expecting a big crowd for the Lowcountry's largest business building event.

If you already have your tickets for former Disney VP Lee Cockerell's talk on the 39 Irrefutable Laws of Customer Service, you're all set for the following Thursday, February 20th at the Westin to hear Lee speak about how to take your customer service skills to the next level.  Tickets still include complementary admission to the February Business After Hours event, later that evening at the Crazy Crab north-end location.  If you haven't made your reservation yet, click here for all the details.

I'm excited to see all the great things happening in the business community.  When you look at today's briefing, it's filled with chamber initiatives designed to build your business, encourage involvement with our schools and ways your chamber is engaged with government to ensure the voice of the business community is being heard loud and clear. 

Have a great week!

 

    

Sincerely, 

Bill email MMB signature  

 

Bill Miles, IOM, CCE

President & CEO 

Follow Me On Twitter @MilesatChamber 
 
P.S. Only 70 days until opening ceremonies for the RBC Heritage Presented by Boeing! 


Did you know:

Your chamber in cooperation with our tourism partners hosted over 300 meeting planners in 2013 which have resulted in corporate group bookings in 2014 and beyond. 

Chamber Restaurant Week
Diner's Choice Winner is... Hugo's Seafood & Steakhouse
We asked you to cast your votes and the winner is in!  Island eatery Hugo's Seafood & Steakhouse received the Chamber Restaurant Week Diner's Choice award.
 
 The 6th Annual Chamber Restaurant Week was a huge hit as once again diners enjoyed of the area's most popular weeks for dining out and trying new restaurants.   
 
Thanks to all our participating Chamber Restaurant Week chefs, restaurants and diners!
Chamber "Groundhog" Job Shadow Day
Wednesday, February 5
Chamber Business Education Partnership Committee

 

You might see a "shadow" this Wednesday as two dozen area young people experience their dream jobs for the day!   The inaugural Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber Groundhog Job Shadow Day will take place this Wednesday, February 5.

 

Area businesses are hosting students from five area schools who been matched according to their career interests with chamber member organizations in fields of medicine, law, engineering, non-profits and athletics to name a few!  
Presented by the chamber Business Education Partnership Committee. For details contact Hannah Horne [email protected] 

Business EXPO

Thursday, February 13
Westin Hilton Head Island Resort & Spa 

Flood Insurance Summit 10 am  
EXPO 11 am-5 pm    MEGA After Hours 5-7pm

It's EXPO time!   Chock full of great networking, seminars and more, Thursday's EXPO begins at 11:00 a.m. with a MEGA Expo After Hours from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.  Get the day started with our informative no-cost Flood Insurance Summit at 10:00 a.m. With over 2,000 attendees, Business EXPO is the largest business networking event in the Lowcountry.   
  • 10:00 am: EXPO Flood Insurance Summit - From Headlines to Bottom Lines - Why It Matters! 
    Industry experts share valuable news on this hot topic and address questions in an informative Q&A session.  Is there a difference in insurance rates for primary home versus second homes?  When do  new rates begin?  There are lots of questions out there. Don't miss this valuable no-cost seminar! 
  • 11:00 a.m. Business EXPO Begins!  Build your business at the largest business networking event in the region!
  • 5:00-7:00 pm: MEGA EXPO After Hours!
    Let the networking begin! Enjoy great food, complimentary beer, wine and entertainment along with live remotes from L&L Broadcasting, exhibitor giveaways and coverage from WSAV, WHHI and 104.9.
There is no cost to attend EXPO during the day. Cost is $10 to attend EXPO After Hours for members. $20 for non-members.

There is no charge to attend the Flood Insurance Summit but registration is required so we can provide adequate seating for attendees.
Presenting Sponsor:
                           

EXPO After Hours Sponsors:
Palmetto Electric logo   

                                      Internet Sponsor:
 
                               
Flood Insurance Summit Sponsors:

       
    
Marketing On A Dime: Building Biz Buzz 

 

 If you build it, they will come - the same works when building effective "marketing buzz." 

The first step to attracting a larger customer base on the cheap is simply to deliver an outstanding customer experience. People will talk about it, and others will come.  
Click here to learn more in this report from entreprenuer.com 
Back by Popular Demand!   
Lee Cockerell 
Thursday, February 20
3:30-5:00 p.m.
Westin Hilton Head Island Resort & Spa 

 

Former Executive VP for Disney Lee Cockerell returns to the Lowcountry!  Learn from Disney's best about how to take your  customer service to a whole new level.  Don't miss his seminar, Thursday, February 20, 3:30 p.m. at the Westin Hilton Head Island Resort & Spa. You'll leave with the tools you need to engage clients and potential clients like never before!  

 

"At Zappos, many of our business decisions revolve  
around the customer.  Lee Cockerell understands
the importance of a great customer experience and shows
you how to deliver happiness to your customers."
 

Tony Hsieh,
 
CEO of Zappos.com

A national speaker who's latest book is "The Customer Rules: 39 Essential Rules for Delivering Sensational Service," Cockerell's worked with many of the nation's largest companies and now he brings his successful business expertise to the Lowcountry.

Cost to attend the seminar is $20, or special price of $25 also provides entry to February's Business After Hours at Crazy Crab north-end location

This seminar is sure to be a sell-out!  Register early. Seating is limited.  
Bluffton Regional Business Council Luncheon
Bluffton Branding Reveal 
Presented by Rawle Murdy Associates
Wednesday, February 19 
11:30 a.m. Registration 
Noon Luncheon 
Bluffton Rotary Community Center 
Oscar Frazier Park, Bluffton 

 

Join us on Wednesday, February 19 as we see the final results of an intense marketing project, nearly a year in the making!   After hundreds of interviews and dozens of meetings with the community, Bluffton's new, creative branding is ready to roll out for tourism and economic development.

The town's unique charm and innovative spirit has been captured in the new brand that will be used in marketing materials, commercials and print advertisements around the country. You get to see it first!

Presenting Sponsor: 
Chamber Tech Tuesday
Synergistic Marketing: The Traditional to Digital Evolution
Tuesday, February 25
Presented by Ryan Lockhart, Expanding Profits 
12:00-1:00 p.m. 
Chamber Headquarters 

 

Join our Tech Tuesday roundtable, focused on finding technology solutions for your business needs. This year-long series of classes is free and open to the public. Our guest educators cover everything from cybersecurity to website performance.

 

Join us for our next Tech Tuesday with Ryan Lockhart of Expanding Profits as he talks about "Synergistic Marketing: The Traditional to Digital Evolution."  

 

Come find out  why your website should be the center of all marketing efforts and what it should be doing for you company.  Whether you're in real estate, medicine, hospitality or countless others - marketing is essential to grow your business!

 
Sponsored by the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce, Small Business Council. 
RSVP to Hannah Horne at [email protected] 

Explore the French Riviera

Special Member Tour

Plan Your 2014 Vacation Now!  

April 24-May

 

Ready to explore the French Riviera? Here's your chance!  Join your fellow chamber members for a fabulous 9-day getaway in the famed French Riviera, filled with history, art and culture. 
Highlights include the Nice Cours Saleya Flower Market, Rothschild Villa and Gardens, Monaco, Roman Arena and more with an optional 3-Night Paris post-tour extension.

Plan your 2014 vacation now! Don't miss this great opportunity, offered in partnership with
Island Travel and Collette Vacations.  For more information contact Cathy Havens at [email protected]
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Advocacy in Action

This week your chamber will be attending the
following meetings on behalf of our members:

 

Monday, February 3

 

Town of Hilton Head Island  

Public Safety Committee

10:00-11:00 a.m.

Click here for full agenda

 

Beaufort County

Finance Committee

1:00-2:00 p.m.

Click here for full agenda

 

Beaufort County

Natural Resources Committee

2:00-3:00 p.m.

Click here for full agenda

 

Beaufort County

Governmental Committee   

4:00-5:00 p.m.

Click here  for full agenda

 

Beaufort County

Planning Commission

6:00-7:00 p.m.

  

Tuesday, February 4

 

Town of Hilton Head Island  

Public Facilities Committee

2:00-3:00 p.m.

Click here for full agenda

 

Town of Hilton Head Island   

 Town Council

4:00-5:00 p.m.

Click here  for full agenda

 

Beaufort County

Beaufort County School Board

6:00-7:00 p.m.

 

Wednesday, February 5

 

Town of Hilton Head Island     

Planning Commission

9:00-10:00 a.m.

Click here for full agenda

 

Town of Hilton Head Island

LMO Rewrite Committee

2:00-4:00 p.m.

Click here for full agenda

 

 

Thursday, February 6

 

Town of Bluffton

Public Development Corp. Bd.

5:30-6:30 p.m.

Click here for agenda

 


Meetings are subject to change. 

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BUSINESS EXPO
New Date!
February 13, 2014
Westin Hilton Head
Island Resort & Spa
One-Day MEGA Event
Networking, Seminars & More!

     

 

 

Chamber Calendar


February 4
Business Education
Partnership Committee
Speaker: Steven Roth, SCORE
Chamber Headquarters
8:30 a.m.

February 5
Groundhog Job Shadow Day
Sponsored by
Business Education
Partnership Committee

February 7
Government Affairs
Committee Meeting
Speaker: Craig Forrest
Commissioner, SC
Dept. of Transportation
Chamber Headquarters
8:00 a.m.

February 13 

Business EXPO
One-Day MEGA Event
Westin Hilton Head Island
Resort & Spa
11:00-5:00 pm EXPO
5:00-7:00 p.m. After Hours

February 19
Bluffton Regional Business
Council Luncheon
Bluffton Branding Reveal
Oscar Frazier Park, Bluffton
11:30 a.m. Registration
 Noon Luncheon
Register Here

February 25
Tech Tuesday
Speaker: Ryan Lockhart
Expanding Profits
Topic: "Synergistic Marketing:
Traditional to Digital Evolution"
12:00-1:00 p.m
Chamber Headquarters

February 26
Chamber Young
Professionals Group
Corks, Bluffton

Did you know...  

on the chamber website:  
You can link to the
Career Resources Center
for the latest job openings

New Members

Richardson Consulting
Scott Richardson
P. O. Box 6290
Hilton Head Island

Diane H. Bartlett
26 Oyster Shell Lane
Hilton Head Island 

Ribbon-Cuttings

Thursday, February 6 
5:00 p.m. Ribbon Cutting
Reception 5:00-8:00 p.m.
 Hilton Head Plastic Surgery, LLC
36 Bill Fries Drive Building E
Hilton Head Island

Monday, February 17
5:00 p.m. Ribbon-Cutting
Society of Bluffton Artists
SOBA
6 Church Street at
corner of Calhoun St., Bluffton 

Wednesday, February 19

5:00 p.m. Ribbon Cutting
Open House 4:00-5:30 p.m.
First Federal, A Division of
SCBT Wealth Management
9 Oak Forest Drive
Bluffton 

Around Town...

Community Calendar

 

Community Calendar Highlights  

 

  "Don't Dress for Dinner" at
Arts Center of Coastal Carolina
Hilton Head Island Marathon
Headliners Benefit Concert & Dance
SOBA "Everyday Moments" Exhibit
Hampton Lake lecture series with photographer Robert Rommel
Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra presents "German Romantics"
"Island Vibes" Quilt Exhibit

Click Here for a full listing  

of what's happening this week

in the community:

 

Click Here to submit

your event to the Chamber Community Calendar:

 

Click Here to submit

your event to the  

Visitor & Convention

Bureau Calendar 


Reach Your Audience:

The Chamber Monday Morning Briefing and our
Chamber Business Monthly publication offer business members a great opportunity to reach their core audience. Sponsorship and advertising rates for these outlets are very reasonable.

If you'd like to find out more,
please contact Anne Feldman at