Chamber to host Regional Job Fair on March 15th
The Harrisonburg-Rockingham Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with the Daily News-Record, will host its Regional Job Fair on Thursday, March 15, 2012, noon to 6 p.m. at the Harrisonburg First Church of the Nazarene, 1871 Boyers Road, on the corner of Port Republic Road, in Harrisonburg.
“We have a diverse representation of area employers, as we have in past years. Our local economy remains strong and vibrant, and companies have been hiring this year,” says Frank Tamberrino, President of the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Chamber of Commerce. Employers already committed to attend include Truck Enterprises, Dynamic Aviation, Home Instead Senior Care, Adecco, Kelly Services and a dozen others. “There were thirty-five employers and seven support services represented last year, and we expect to equal or exceed that number this year,” remarked Tamberrino. Read more
HR Chamber and BRCC sponsor Making the Most of Brief Contacts
“Most business happens in the frame of a brief contact, and your success correlates with your ability to make the most of those brief contacts.” So says Frank Patterson Jr., who will be in Harrisonburg on March 5th and 6th to conduct his Making the Most of Brief Contacts program under the sponsorship of the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Chamber of Commerce and Blue Ridge Community College.
The program will be held at the Festival Conference and Student Center at JMU. Read more
Vision 2020 announces board
Creating a shared, unified vision for the future of Harrisonburg and Rockingham County has been an on-going process for the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Chamber of Commerce and hundreds of community leaders. Since 2009, three leadership workshops or forums have been held every six months, Harrisonburg-Rockingham Chamber of Commerce members have been surveyed to collect the business community’s opinions on our community and the general public has participated through an open survey process last year. A vision statement, four cornerstones and accompanying strategies were drafted and Vision 2020 representatives shared the plan with every local government in the area.
Last Thursday, the process took a more formal step by bringing together twenty-four community leaders to serve as the Vision 2020 Leadership Board. This group began working on specific actions that will help fulfill the vision – A community of unparallel quality of life, where natural beauty, friendly interdependent relationships and diverse cultural, economic and educational opportunities exist.
The Vision 2020 Leadership Board met for the first time, breaking into four “Cornerstone Working Groups” – Comprehensive Community Planning; Business Vitality and Entrepreneurship; World Class Education and Workforce; and Community Leadership and Mentorship Development. Each working group will be doing resource assessment, establishing short-range action steps, developing long-range benchmarks for success and integrating the body of work into the goals of Vision 2020. For example, one of the well recognized strengths of our economy is the diversity of the business base, but that makes the educators’ and trainers’ jobs of identifying common job skills and projecting workforce needs somewhat elusive. One immediate action step may be to create a stronger link between businesses and education, which may also lead to a more efficient allocation of resources in the future.
“Whatever develops from the Leadership Board will include input from many others” according to Chairman Tom Mendez. “The plan has always been to develop and adopt a community-wide Vision that everyone can embrace and recognize as the future we want for Harrisonburg and Rockingham County”. An interim report is expected in December from the working groups and a community event is being scheduled for the spring.
Members of the Vision2020 Leadership Board include:
Community Planning Cornerstone Focus
1. Mensel Dean, Principal – PBGH
2. Joe Paxton, Rockingham County Administrator
3. Kurt Hodgen, Harrisonburg City Manager
4. Daniel Michael, Principal – Valley Engineering
5. Austin Garber, Town Manager –Timberville
6. Jim Mason, President – Virginia Poultry Growers Cooperative
7. Frank Tamberrino, President/CEO HR Chamber
Business Vitality & Entrepreneur Focus
1. John Hall, CEO – Camp Horizons/Horizons Youth
2. Tony Biller, CEO -Nielsen Builders
3. Ron Yoder, CEO – Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community
4. Keith May, CEO – Cottonwood Realty
5. Dr. Krishna Kodukula, Executive Director – SRI International/CADRE
6. Tim Heydon, CEO Shenandoah Growers
7. Frank Tamberrino, President/CEO HR Chamber
World-Class Education & Workforce Focus
1. Dr. John Downey, President – Blue Ridge Community College
2. Dr. Loren Swartzendruber, President – Eastern Mennonite University
3. Dr. Mark Warner, Vice President – James Madison University
4. Dr. Carol Fenn , Superintendent – Rockingham County Schools
5. Alysia Davis, Executive Director – Smart Beginnings
6. Dr. Scott Kizner, Superintendent – Harrisonburg City Public Schools
7. Tom Mendez, Vice President – BB&T
Community Leadership Development Focus
1. John Neff – Community Champion; Chairman –Nielsen Builders
2. Dennis Zimmerman, CEO – Comsonics
3. Cathy Welsh, Attorney -Lenhart Obenshain
4.Tracey Jones, General Manager -WHSV
5. Laurie Deavers, Executive Director – Generations Crossing
6. Dixie Garber, United Bank
7. Tom Mendez, Vice President – BB&T
Two Chamber members receive awards for environmental excellence
The Harrisonburg-Rockingham Chamber of Commerce is proud to announce that MillerCoors Shenandoah Brewery and Dave’s Downtown Taverna are winners of the Governor’s Environmental Excellence Awards. The awards were presented last week at the 2011 Environment Virginia Symposium in Lexington.
MillerCoors received a Gold Medal for its outstanding recycling and sustainability program. Virginia Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling presented the Governor’s Environmental Excellence Award to the brewery for its use of innovative programs designed to educate employees about recycling and to promote an increased focus on sustainability initiatives. The programs have resulted in the achievement of “Zero to Landfill” with 100% recycling reached during 2010.
“The Green Team has truly led the way by taking a hands-on approach and elevating our focus on recycling and the environment,” said Amy Michtich, Shenandoah Brewery Vice-President. “This award represents not only their passion for environmental stewardship, but all of our team members’ commitment to ensure we are a responsible corporate citizen in the local community.”
Examples of the recycling and sustainability initiatives at the brewery during 2010 include:
Recycling blitzes held across the brewery with a focus in reducing cross-contamination
Development of a chemical handling guide; new employee training plan and a new score card to measure results
Employee Awareness and Education Campaigns
Development and installation of new can-densified pallet guides
Modification of two choppers through the addition of plexi-glass to prevent contamination and encourage desired behaviors
New labeling of hoppers throughout packaging to reduce instances of cross contamination
Shenandoah Green Team Member Lesa Duncan indicated the team will continue to pursue additional opportunities for improvement during 2011.
Dave’s Taverna was honored with a bronze award for its innovative waste oil reuse. The popular restaurant is a renovated Civil War era building with seating for 425 patrons. In keeping with previous environmentally conscious efforts, owner Dave Miller initiated a project to determine whether used fryer oil could be used to heat and provide hot water for his home. Existing technology used for burning used motor oil was adapted for the used fryer oil. The project involved experimenting with different types of vegetable oils, modifying a commercial boiler for use in a home, and developing a system for filtering, storing and transferring the fryer oil.
Results from the project include reducing waste vegetable oil by 2,600 gallons per year and the corresponding elimination for 2,600 gallons of fuel oil per year, as well as reductions in greenhouse gas emissions of 20 metric tons per year. Annual cost savings are estimated at $8,500 per year.
“The Chamber is very proud that two of our member businesses were singled out by the Governor’s office for leading edge environmental programs, “says Frank Tamberrino, president of the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Chamber of Commerce. “These awards show that environmental stewardship and business success can be achieved at the same time.”
AFP Business News
Augusta Free Press LLC joins H-R Chamber
Augusta Free Press LLC has joined as a new member of the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Chamber of Commerce.
The Harrisonburg-Rockingham Chamber of Commerce, founded in 1917, works to influence public policy and partners with groups in tourism, the arts, economic development, workforce, technology, downtown revitalization, higher education and law enforcement on behalf of the local business community.
Augusta Free Press LLC, founded in 2002, offers a wide range of media services including web and graphic design, social-media implementation and management, and marketing and public-relations strategy services to clients in the Shenandoah Valley, Central Virginia and Washington, D.C.
Graham to co-star in murder mystery
AugustaFreePress.com editor Chris Graham will be among the suspects in a Murder Mystery Dinner benefitting the Waynesboro Senior Center on Saturday, April 2.
Tickets for the 6 p.m. event – featuring a spaghetti dinner – are $15 and can be purchased at the Waynesboro Senior Center, 325 Pine Ave., Waynesboro, by calling 540.942.1838 or by e-mailing Senior Center director Janice Gentry at janice@vpas.info.
Kathy Johnson of Murder is a Game will serve as the host and inspector for the murder mystery.
The list of suspects also includes Gentry representing the Senior Center, former Waynesboro Disability Services Board chair Charlie Downs, News Virginian features editor Gina Farthing and Augusta County Board of Supervisors member Nancy Sorrells.
Harrisonburg Chamber hosts Military Support Fair
The Harrisonburg-Rockingham Chamber of Commerce is hosting its second annual Military Support Fair on Wednesday, March 23, from 4-7 p.m.
The Fair will be held at the JMU Festival Conference & Student Center located on 1301 Carrier Drive in Harrisonburg.This event is brought to you by the Shenandoah Valley Energy Partnership and JMU Outreach & Engagement.
“The overwhelming and positive response from our Military Support Fair in 2010 has set stage for our second annual event,” says Frank Tamberrino, president of the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Chamber of Commerce.
The Military Support Fair brings together more than 45 organizations from federal, statewide and local agencies that provide programs and services to active and retired military personnel and their families. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn about resources that are available to them, including financial assistance, medical claim services, Veteran entrepreneurial opportunities and more.
Booth space sold out early! Some of our 2011 exhibitors include The Department of Veteran Affairs, Virginia Wounded Warriors, The Salem Medical Mobile Unit, JMU-ROTC, RMH Healthcare, and many more!
“The Military Support Fair is an initiative of the Chamber’s Military Affairs Committee,” says Dr. James Shaeffer of James Madison University, Chamber board member, and Chair of the Military Affairs Committee. “The purpose of this event is to thank the brave men and women who have or who are currently serving our country in uniform.”
Admission to this event is free and open to the public. For more information, including a complete list of exhibitors, go online to www.hrchamber.org or call 540.434.3862.
Two HR Chamber members receive Blue Ribbon Small Business Award
The Harrisonburg-Rockingham Chamber of Commerce announced today that Fine Earth LLC and Dave’s Downtown Taverna have been recognized by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce as two of the top 75 businesses nationally.
Both of these local businesses have significantly contributed to the economic growth in our community, and as a result, are recipients of the Blue Ribbon Small Business Award®.
The Blue Ribbon Small Business Award® honors businesses that demonstrate excellent business practices in several areas, including strategy, employee development, community involvement, and customer service.
“Six Virginia businesses were chosen as U.S. Chamber of Commerce Blue Ribbon Small Business Award® winners,” says Frank Tamberrino, president of the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Chamber of Commerce. “The fact that two of these businesses are from the Harrisonburg-Rockingham area speaks highly of our community and the contributions that these businesses are making to our local economy.”
“”Fine Earth is extremely honored to be named a U.S. Chamber of Commerce Blue Ribbon Award Winner for the third year in a row,” says Chad Layman, owner of Fine Earth LLC. “For two businesses from Harrisonburg to be honored is incredible considering that only 75 businesses are recognized across the country. We have a lot to be thankful for and are greatly humbled to represent our local community and Chamber of Commerce on this national level.”
“We have understood the importance of belonging to the Harrisonburg business community for some time,” says Dave Miller, owner of Dave’s Downtown Taverna. “It looks like our secret is starting to get out on both a state and national level. Such recognition can only mean great things for our community, especially for people opening more businesses and visiting our beautiful Shenandoah Valley.”
