Chamber Executive Michigan Intelligence Report January 5, 2015
Doug Luciani: Thanks for listening to Northern Michigan
Political observers documented well Michigan’s draw-down in political muscle through pending Congressional departures. Less is said about the Northern Michigan impact, but the region is sure to see the ripples.
Grand Traverse is fortunate for its federal lawmakers’ attentiveness over the years in an area hundreds of miles from their backyards, political bases and constituencies. It wasn’t unusual to see U.S. Senator Carl Levin — an authoritative figure in Washington — quietly slip in the Chamber building on an early Friday morning for coffee with local business men and women. He was a regular at the Chamber’s Annual Celebration, which comes up Jan. 23. His capable staff frequently reached out for input through the Chamber to the region’s business community. The defense contract and supply work done by Northern Michigan manufacturers expanded significantly in recent years, whether or not related to his long-time chairmanship of the Senate Armed Services Committee. Read more: Traverse City Record Eagle - Doug Luciani is President and CEO of the Traverse City Area Chamber of Commerce.
The Outlook: Three Michigan chambers expect increased capital investment, new projects leading 2015
While talent development and some legislative reforms may prove to be challenges, West Michigan chambers of commerce executives feel confident looking ahead to 2015 as they project increased business investment in their individual communities.
For Muskegon, leaders are optimistic about “a lot of strategic growth” among member businesses “that’s a little different than in the past,” said Cindy Larsen, president of the Muskegon Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce.
“People are being very thoughtful with investment,” she said. Whereas companies have been slow to invest during the recovery, some businesses are now beginning to spend with more confidence by making strategic investments in facilities, technology and talent, Larsen said. See more at: MI BIZ
Chamber initiative: Emerge West Michigan Launches Online Business Resources
West Michigan is blessed with a wide variety of organizations and business working to assist entrepreneurs and the business community. Now, thanks to a regional collaboration led in part by the Grand Rapids Area Chamber, there is a new one-stop-shop online resource designed to make it easier to find and tap into the area’s strong network of support for business startup and growth.Launched in October 2014, the Emerge West Michigan website – www.emergewm.com – provides a central hub of regional information and business trends as well as a growing source for business events and workshops. Read more: Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce
Governor appoints Rich Studley to Central Michigan University board
The Central Michigan University Board of Trustees will see the reappointment of a familiar face and the induction of a new one at its next meeting.
Gov. Rick Snyder has announced the appointment of Michigan Chamber president Rich Studley, of Grand Ledge, and the reappointment of Robert Wardrop II, of Grand Rapids, to the Central Michigan University board of trustees. The eight-person board is the governing body of the University.
“Rich and Robert bring valuable leadership experience to the board and I am confident they will do great work for the CMU community,” Snyder said. Read more: The Morning Sun
Chamber news: Shoppers turn out for mid-Michigan small businesses
Holly Dunne brought her daughter and niece to shop for gerbil and guinea pig supplies Saturday morning at Preuss Pets in Old Town.
They were among a throng of shoppers who turned out nationwide for so-called "Small Business Saturday," a shopping day to support local and independent businesses.
"We knew today was Small Business Saturday," said Dunne, of Dimondale, who was with her 9-year-old Addison and niece Kristi Detar, 13.
As they looked at gerbil toys and accessories displayed on a wall near the front door, a steady stream of other customers came and went at Preuss. Dunne said their path would likely include a stop at Cravings Gourmet Popcorn and perhaps other stores. Lansing State Journal
Famous Chamber of Commerce Quotations: (Leadership)
“The secret of leadership is simple: Do what you believe in. Paint a picture of the future. Go there. People will follow.” ~ Seth Godin
Chamber Executive Ongoing Education Weekly New Idea: The Magicians of Main Street - by Chris Mead, ACCE
A new book, the first-ever full-length history of chambers of commerce in the United States, describes how voluntary groups of business people, even before the American Revolution, changed not only their local economies but often their society. The Magicians of Main Street indicates, in considerable detail, how chambers of commerce affected the nation’s finance and currency, public health, transportation, public works, local government, education, and even cultural life. The traces of these organizations’ activities remain with us in countless ways, from Washington’s Cherry Blossom Festival to New York City’s subway to Chicago’s Board of Trade to the gaming industry of Las Vegas and the stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
The author, Chris Mead, argues that these chambers have grown out of the natural tendency of Americans to form associations. As the political commentator Michael Barone has pointed out:
“Alexis de Tocqueville in his classic Democracy in America expressed wonderment at the proliferation of voluntary associations in the United States. Among them were chambers of commerce, the first of which was founded in New York in 1768, before the American Revolution. In The Magicians of Main Street, Chris Mead tells how chambers of commerce across the nation shaped America from colonial times to the end of World War II. This is a story, previously untold, essential to understanding how America became what it is.”
Why has there been no such book up to now? Mead thinks people have overlooked chambers of commerce in favor primarily of individuals with specific legal powers or well-known talents or obvious achievements. The idea that a group of people can change the world or a community is one that our individualistic society sometimes passes over. He devotes a full appendix to 13 reasons that the chamber of commerce story has been missed by most historians, journalists, and the general public.
In 2012, when the book was far from finished, a Wall Street Journal reporter learned about the project and put Mead and the book on the cover of the newspaper, with an article entitled, “Don’t Yawn: Chambers of Commerce are Really Quite a Kick.” And in fact, they are. Historian Kevin Starr describes the book:
“Long before the enfranchisement of municipal governments, chambers of commerce or their equivalents ran the show. In many ways, they still do. In this never-a-dull-moment contribution to the re-emergent field of American business history, Chris Mead presents an action-packed narrative of high-mindedness, enlightened self-interest, and, now and then, chicanery.”
Among the most colorful business organizations in the nation’s history were those of Chicago: the Chicago Board of Trade (originally an ordinary chamber of commerce that invented modern agricultural product trading and morphed into the world’s leading commodities exchange), the Commercial Club, and the Capone-hunting Chicago Association of Commerce. Yet there were other interesting chamber activities across the land. Mead traces their examples – good and bad -- across the 50 states and weaves them into a narrative that becomes, almost imperceptibly at first for the reader, an alternative history of the United States. To a far greater extent than anyone realized before the publication of this book, our country has been shaped by pickup teams of business people who paid their dues and built up their communities.
The book is available from John Cruger Press via Amazon at the hard-copy price of $29.95. It is 517 pages long including footnotes and bibliography. More information: Magicians of Main Street
Chamber economic news: Klohs drives economic development through strategic planning, rigorous measurement
Birgit Klohs’ career has been full of many firsts.
Before ever joining The Right Place Inc., Klohs led a team of West Michigan executives on the first organized foreign trade mission to her native Germany, which landed a commitment from Behr Industries to invest in building a plant on 7 Mile Road in Comstock Park.
When Klohs excitedly agreed to serve as president and CEO of The Right Place in 1987, she effectively became the first woman executive to lead an economic development organization in the state of Michigan, and one of only a handful to do so across the country at that time.
She continues to add to the ever-growing list of firsts as Klohs was selected by a panel of judges to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award as part of the inaugural MiBiz Best-Managed Nonprofit Awards program.
For people who’ve known and worked with Klohs over the years, her career feats come as no surprise.
“She’s established herself as the dean of economic development officials,” said Milton Rohwer, the former president of the Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce, the founding executive leader of The Right Place and one of Klohs’ closest mentors.
- See more at: MI BIZ
Chamber Tweet of the Month: Detroit Chamber
Detroit Chamber @DetroitChamber
With the new year approaching, take a look back at 2014. Download our Year in Review here: http://ow.ly/FNtmL
Muskegon Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce, Michigan Works! promote 'Hot Jobs' list
The Muskegon Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce is helping to get the word out about where jobs are in West Michigan.
The chamber recently announced Downtown Muskegon Now and it would help to promote Hot Jobs, a twice-a-year publication of Michigan Works! Muskegon-Oceana.
The list -- which the local Michigan Works! Office has been quietly publishing for a few years -- summarizes the number of job postings, average hourly wage, required education and projected job growth for hot jobs.
"Even though we've made great economic strides over the last few years, there's still a belief out there that there aren't jobs in Muskegon," said Brittany Lenertz, spokeswoman for Michigan Works! Muskegon-Oceana. "The truth is that there are a lot of great skilled jobs that employers are looking to fill." Read more: M Live
Grand Rapids chamber Diversity Visionary Awards Celebration
The Diversity Visionary Awards recognizes individuals and organizations for their exemplary efforts, advancements and contributions to ensure diversity, inclusion and equity within their own institution or community. The celebration also includes a keynote address on diversity, inclusion, and economic prosperity.
2015 Event Information
The nominations are in and the selection process has begun for the 2015 Diversity Visionary Award and new Change Agent Award! These prestigious honors will go to a person or organization deserving of recognition for their outstanding efforts to foster a more diverse and inclusive community.
Set your sights on our March 5 lunch celebration of our 2015 recipients and their exemplary efforts, advancements, and contributions to ensure diversity, inclusion, and equity. Get moe information: Grand Rapids Area Chamber
Famous Chamber of Commerce Quotation: Bill Bailey
"May 2015 be the best year of your life!" --- Bill Bailey, President Emeritus, Greater Seymour Chamber of Commerce
Last Month’s Stories:
Michigan West Coast Chamber of Commerce earns top rating in U.S. Holland Sentinel
Dearborn Chamber President Jackie Lovejoy appointed to Henry Ford College Foundation board of directors Press & Guide
Chamber news: Economists predict continued Michigan job growth Lansing State Journal
Saginaw Chamber CEO Receives award from Central Michigan University Midland Daily News
Michigan Chamber Of Commerce Elects Officers For 2015 Michigan Chamber
Dow Chemical employee honored with Bay Area (Michigan) Chamber of Commerce education award M Live
Chamber Executive Ongoing Education Weekly New Idea - Zero to One: Notes on Startups, or How to Build the Future By Peter Thiel Zero-to-One book
Chamber Award: MSU to be honored for Bio Engineering Facility Michigan State University Today
Chamber Tweet of the Month: @Detroit Chamber Want to help build the @M1RAIL? The project is looking for subcontractors to help construct the Penske Tech Center: http://ow.ly/Fi8RQ
Chamber weather: Northern Michigan Businesses Excited to See Snow 9and10news.com
Guest column: Michigan must invest more money in transit, or pay the price for inaction M LIVE
Famous Chamber of Commerce Quotations: (Happy holidays!!) "Volunteers are not paid - not because they are worthless, but because they are priceless." (anonymous)