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. Continue reading “HR Chamber and BRCC sponsor Making the Most of Brief Contacts” »
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.”
Chamber hosts Regional Job Fair
The Harrisonburg-Rockingham Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with the Daily News-Record, is hosting its Regional Job Fair on Thursday, March 17, noon to 6 p.m. at the Harrisonburg First Church of the Nazarene, 1871 Boyers Road in Harrisonburg. This event is brought to you by the Shenandoah Valley Energy Partnership and the Workforce Investment Board.
The Chamber invites local businesses that are planning to hire in 2011 to exhibit at the event. Employers will have the opportunity to recruit from a large pool of qualified applicants.
“Attendance at the fair has grown every year,” says Frank Tamberrino, Chamber President and CEO. “With the unemployment rate holding steady at 6.7% in Harrisonburg and 5.4% in Rockingham County, we anticipate the trend will continue this year. In 2010, more than 1000 jobseekers took advantage of the Regional Job Fair.
The Chamber will offer a new service to attendees at the event this year. Career coaches will be available to provide guidance that will help jobseekers make a great personal impression and job connection. A free shuttle service, sponsored by The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) and National College will also be available, making it even more convenient for jobseekers to attend. Stops will include the National College and the Virginia Employment Commission.
Booth space at the Job Fair includes an 8″ x 10″ space, one table, and two chairs. The cost to exhibit is $100 for non-members and $50 for Chamber members. Admission to this event is free and open to the public. For more information or to register as an exhibitor, visit the Chamber’s website at www.hrchamber.org or call 540.434.3862.
H-R Chamber presents Economic Forecast
The Harrisonburg-Rockingham Chamber of Commerce will host its Annual Economic Forecast on Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2011, from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. in the Grace Street Building, fourth floor conference room, at the former RMH campus, Harrisonburg.
The Chamber’s Economic Forecast is becoming one of most comprehensive economic outlook events in the region. Consumers, businesses, and economists are all debating the same question – when will the economy bounce back? Presenters at the event will offer insight into our economy, including local, regional, state, and southeast U.S. economic trends, along with predictions for the coming year.
Ann Battle Macheras, the regional research vice president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, will kick off the event with a state and southeast economic analysis. Macheras oversees a professional staff engaged in research and analysis of regional economic conditions, and advises internal Bank leadership in this area as well. In addition to tracking the regional economy, her research interests include regional industry specialization and determinants of growth at the regional level.
The Economic Forecast is a popular event each year, given the interest in local trends. “This year, we are looking at the bigger economic picture, and the Federal Reserve Bank is a leading and credible source of economic information and analysis,” says Frank Tamberrino, president of the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Chamber of Commerce. “We are fortunate to have Ann Macheras with us in February”.
Billy Vaughn, Rockingham County director of economic development and Brian Shull, Harrisonburg’s economic development director will also deliver an assessment of local economic indicators, including employment, real estate market trends, housing, and more.
The Chamber hosts this event each year in hopes of broadening our members’ understanding of the local, regional and state economies and the trends that impact our community. The Chamber’s Annual Economic Forecast is open to the public; however, registration is required. Admission includes breakfast, and is $20 for the general public and $10 for Chamber members.
For more information and to register, visit www.hrchamber.org.
Harrisonburg Chamber honors community business leaders
The Harrisonburg-Rockingham Chamber of Commerce hosted its annual membership meeting and awards ceremony Thursday at the JMU Festival Conference & Student Center. During the ceremony, the Chamber honored two restaurateurs, and a local farm family that is dedicated to sustainable farming practices.
2010 Entrepreneur of the Year
Aaron Ludwig, owner of Jack Brown’s Beer & Burger Joint, was the recipient of the Chamber’s 2010 Entrepreneur of the Year award. Jack Brown’s opened in downtown Harrisonburg in April 2009 and has become one of Harrisonburg’s most popular hotspots.
Ludwig has a great understanding and appreciation for his customer base, and he reaches out to them through social media. “His unique approach to marketing has helped Aaron create a fun and vibrant dining destination downtown,” said Josh Hale, 2011 Chair of the HR Chamber of Commerce. “Urged by his customers to expand, Aaron will open a new eatery downtown called Billy Jack’s Wing & Draft Shack.” It is scheduled to open in April 2011.
2010 Business Person of the Year
“The Chamber honored Dave Miller, owner of Dave’s Downtown Taverna for his efforts to promote downtown Harrisonburg as a dining destination,” said Tom Mendez, Past Chair of the Chamber of Commerce. Miller is the first person in the history of the Chamber to receive this award after previously receiving the Chamber’s Entrepreneur of the Year award in 2004.
The Business Person of the Year is someone who has grown his or her company and also given back to the community. Dave has been in the restaurant business for more than 30 years. He has built a locally recognized and appreciated brand. Yet, he strives for even more – success for his business partners, neighboring eateries, and for the opportunity to put downtown Harrisonburg on the map.
2010 Farm Family Stewardship Award
Agriculture is the number one industry in Rockingham based on gross sales. The Chamber recognizes the role that agriculture plays in our community by honoring a family that is dedicated to taking care of their farm and the environment.
This year’s winner of the Farm Family Stewardship award is the Witmer Family of Grazeland Dairy. “Their unique farming methods combined with environmental stewardship has enabled Grazeland Dairy to be a viable family business,” said Scot Lilly, representative of Farm Credit of the Virginias.
Grazeland Dairy, located in Ottobine, has been in the Witmer family for more than 40 years. In 2008, the farm became a certified organic dairy. “We use rotational grazing, which allows the cattle to harvest their own feed rather than using equipment and additional labor,” said Philip Witmer, owner of the farm. “What led us to consider organic production was the understanding that consumers are seeking organic products,” he continued.
The Witmer family is currently in Colombia on a two-year church mission trip. Duane Witmer, farm manager of Grazeland Dairy, accepted the award on the family’s behalf.
In addition to these awards, the Chamber also awarded Janice “Bonnie” Moyers an honorary lifetime membership in the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Chamber of Commerce. Bonnie has been involved in the Chamber for more than 30 years. She has served on various committees, sub-committees and task forces throughout the years, and most recently served as the Chamber’s 2009 Chair of its Board of Directors.
“Bonnie has more than demonstrated her commitment to the Chamber of Commerce and the greater community through her professional and personal actions,” said Frank Tamberrino, president of the HR Chamber of Commerce. “We are proud to have her as a lifetime member that we can learn and grow from.”
Edited by Chris Graham. Chris can be reached at freepress2@ntelos.net.
Harrisonburg Chamber encourages local spending
The Harrisonburg-Rockingham Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce the launch of a new Member-2-Member (M2M) program. The program encourages Chamber members to save money and help support our local economy by choosing Chamber members for their business and personal needs.
Since the beginning of August, the Member-2-Member campaign has attracted more than 30 businesses that are offering valuable discounts to Chamber members, from local restaurants and accommodations to attractions and services.
“The Member-2-Member program encourages residents and businesses to support our local business community through their consumer habits,” said Steve Turner, vice chair of member services at the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Chamber of Commerce.
The program is an effort to get Chamber members and the local community thinking about where they spend their dollars and the fact that it does make a difference.
“Money spent at local businesses is reinvested in our community,” said Frank Tamberrino, president of the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Chamber of Commerce. An upward mark of a few percentage points in how much is spent locally can make a big difference in the economy.
Although the program reminds everyone to shop local, the discounts are designed exclusively for Harrisonburg-Rockingham Chamber of Commerce members and their employees. The M2M Program has its own branded look, making it easy for businesses and consumers to recognize. At the launch of the program, Chamber members and their employees were given an M2M card that must be presented at the time of purchase in order to receive the discounts. Chamber members also display a small plaque in their business location to identify their participation in the program.
For more information about the Member-2-Member program, including a list of participating businesses, visit the Chamber’s website at http://hrchamber.org/v.php?pg=120.
Edited by Chris Graham. Chris can be reached at freepress2@ntelos.net.
Harrisonburg-Rockingham Chamber leads community visioning effort
The Harrisonburg-Rockingham Chamber of Commerce is challenging community members to envision an ideal place where they want to live, work, and play.
Over the past 13 months, a diverse group of Harrisonburg and Rockingham County residents have been working together to imagine and describe the community that we aspire to become by the year 2020. Although the Chamber of Commerce provided the leadership to begin what has been labeled Vision2020, the initiative has evolved into a community-wide process that includes representatives from agriculture, transportation, education, health care, nonprofit services and business sectors.
“The goal of Vision2020 has been to create a unified and shared vision for our community – one that will encourage collaboration in the planning and use of public and private resources,” said Frank Tamberrino, president of the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Chamber of Commerce.
Throughout the visioning process, the Chamber hosted events for attendees to learn from industry leaders about the current and future challenges and opportunities facing our community. Additionally, round table discussions enabled community leaders to gain a better understanding of the values we share as neighbors. As a result of these discussions, we’ve drafted a Vision Statement that communicates the Harrisonburg and Rockingham County of the future.
The Vision Statement emphasizes a community where natural beauty, friendly interdependent relationships and diverse cultural, economic and educational opportunities create an unparalleled quality of life.
“This is a really powerful statement about what our values are, and it’s representative of the community and the aspirations we have for ourselves,” said Tom Mendez, chair of the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Chamber of Commerce’s Board of Directors.
The next step in the process will be an extensive outreach to the public.
“In an effort to create a vision that is comprehensive and embraced by our families, neighbors, businesses, governing leaders, students and the community as a whole, the Chamber is seeking the community’s feedback,” said Mendez.
The Chamber invites everyone with a vested interest in our community to complete a brief, four-question survey online that will allow participants to comment on the Vision2020 working document and share their vision for our community. A complete draft of the Vision Statement, including the survey, can be found online at www.hrchamber.org.
Edited by Chris Graham. Chris can be reached at freepress2@ntelos.net.
Chamber looks for leaders
The Harrisonburg-Rockingham Chamber of Commerce is taking applications for its 2010 Community Leadership Program through Aug. 13.
The program is designed as an avenue for the development of tomorrow’s community leaders. Since its inception in 1979, the program has graduated more than 800 community leaders.
Each year, individuals from all business sectors, identified as having outstanding potential for community leadership development, are selected by sponsoring companies and organizations and offered a dynamic leadership experience. The leadership program is an excellent opportunity for a new employee, or one who is moving up the company ladder, to make valuable contacts while building lifelong relationships with other business people in the community.
“The Chamber Community Leadership Program is a great way to get connected and involved,” said Cory Davies of Rockingham Memorial Hospital, a member of last year’s CLP Class. “My experience in the program has helped me build a much deeper understanding of the many organizations, industries, and services that come together to form our great community.”
The leadership program brings together participants once a month, beginning in August 2010 through May 2011 for half-day sessions. Participants typically come from diverse backgrounds and varying perspectives to learn more about themselves and the opportunities and challenges facing our community and the surrounding areas. In the Leadership Program, people share their ideas and experiences with each other, gain new skills and knowledge that can be applied in their personal and professional lives, and develop plans and for implementing a community betterment project.
The Chamber’s Community Leadership Program includes ten engaging sessions that provide everyone who participates with a foundation of basic leadership skills and knowledge fine-tuned to Harrisonburg and Rockingham County’s needs. The curriculum includes:
1. Teambuilding – (September)
2. Workplace Communication – (September)
3. Public Safety – (October)
4. Education – (November)
5. Local Non-Profits – (December)
6. Community Sustainability – (January)
7. Community Development – (February)
8. Local Government & Legislative Affairs – (March)
9. Arts – (April)
10. Group Project – Project Management (ongoing)
“The Chamber’s Community Leadership Program is designed to cultivate new local leaders for the benefit of Harrisonburg and Rockingham County’s future,” said Frank Tamberrino, President of the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Chamber of Commerce. “We invite businesses to invest in your community and in your employees’ professional success by signing them up for the Chamber’s Community Leadership Program.”
The class size is limited to encourage interaction and leadership skills development so register early. Applications are reviewed upon submission.
For more information or to apply, visit www.hrchamber.org. The application deadline for the Community Leadership Program is Monday Aug. 13.
Edited by Chris Graham. Chris can be reached at freepress2@ntelos.net.
