A Few Great Workshops Coming Up...

One of our goals here at the Chamber is provide business and professional development opportunities for our members. One of the ways we accomplish this is through our Chamber Academy and Business Brown Bag workshop series'! 

Wednesday,  September 8 - One Hour, More Power: 7 Secrets to Strengthening Your Email Writing Skills
Well-written email messages save time, facilitate communication and enhance your company’s image. Join writing pro Susan Sigworth of Brand Innovation Group to learn the top seven secrets to more powerful email, and leave with highly practical tips and techniques to implement the minute you return to the office. You will leave with the tools to write better, faster and with more confidence.

Thursday, September 23 - The Future of FundraisingIn this four-hour workshop presented by Wes Rediger and Howard Taylor of the Rediger Taylor Group, attendees will discover the principles and practices that maximize donor involvement and giving. You will walk away with a better understanding of how to communicate your case for new funding, as well as how to cultivate high-capacity donors and prospects successfully.

Happy Birthday, Chamber!

The Chamber officially turned 135 years old on Saturday, August 28. Since 1875 the Chamber has been addressing the needs of local businesses. Our foundation was established 135 years ago by a group of like-minded merchants who began meeting to share challenges and solutions. Eventually those merchant groups merged to officially form the Chamber, which became the heart of the business community.

Now we serve a membership of over 1,700 local businesses, and we're inviting you to help celebrate the Chamber's history as well as look ahead to new endeavors! We'll be throwing the Chamber a huge birthday bash on November 4, 2010 at the new Courtyard by Marriott Downtown. Please save the date!

Join us for the Courtyard by Marriott Grand Opening!

Put this date on your calendars: Wednesday, September 1, Noon.

That's the date and time that the new Courtyard by Marriott Downtown will be opening! The Marriott will celebrate it's official grand opening with a Chamber ribbon cutting ceremony. The Mayor will participate, as well as many other officials from throughout the community. 

The ceremony is open to the public, so if you'd like to see a giant ribbon and one pair of giant scissors, please come! Help us congratulate the Marriott on their opening and officially welcome them to the Fort Wayne community. The Champions Sports Bar & Grill (pictured here) and Courtyard Bistro (Proudly Brewing Starbucks Coffee) will be open for visitors, and Marriott staff will be available to provide tours of the facility. Later in the afternoon, the Courtyard by Marriott will welcome its first guest. 

To learn more about the new Marriott, see our latest issue of Emphasis magazine! 

Learn How to Sell in Any Market

Have you registered yet for this Thursday's Chamber Academy? Dick Read of SalesPartners Worldwide will take us into the sales world with secrets to move business from average to world class. This session is called "Cash Flow Explosion: How to Sell in Any Market." SalesPartners wants to help you increase your sales by as high as fifteen percent, and give you the tools to manage your team without complicated politics. Chamber Academy will take place Thursday, August 26 from 8 to 11 a..m. here at the Chamber. Cost is $19 for members, and $39 for non-members. RSVP is required, so be sure to register! 

P.S. Another great workshop we have coming up - "7 Secrets to Strengthen Your Email Skills" on September 8. Susan Sigworth of Brand Innovation Group will share highly practical tips and techniques to implement the minute you return to the office - write better, faster, and with more confidence. 

Have You Registered for Chamber Golf?

Have you signed up for the Chamber Golf Outing? We're gearing up for one of our biggest events of the year! The Golf Outing will take place Thursday, September 16, 2010 at Brookwood Golf Club. You can register as an individual or in teams of four for a morning or afternoon flight. Just a few of the things we'll have: games, good food, great company, and of course - golf. We'll also have a silent auction, and we'll close the day out in style with a special Meet Me @ 5 (hors d'oeuvres provided by Mad Anthony's - yum!). 

This year's theme is "Fort Wayne Famous: People, Places and Things that Put Fort Wayne on the Map." Keep your eyes open for some interesting trivia throughout the Golf Outing. And in that spirit... did you know that in the movie The Rocker (starring Rainn Wilson), the band booked it's first gig at The Tiger Room in Fort Wayne?

P.S. Special thanks to our sponsors - Silver Sponsor Lutheran Health Network, Bronze Sponsor Glenbrook Square, and Beverage Cart Sponsor Mad Anthony Brewing Co.!

Melissa's Musings (a sneak peek into Government Affairs)

By Melissa Beber, Government Affairs Coordinator

Rather than focus on government today, I wanted to take a moment to acknowledge my fellow Chamber staffers for a job well done. Last week, the Chamber staff participated in United Way’s Day of Caring. It was a hot, hot day with lots of work to be done. Our project consisted of painting and landscaping at Memorial Park Middle School. I have to give it up to the Chamber team and our co-team, ITT Communications, because they accomplished a lot in a day. 

The front was landscaped (including pulling out poison ivy!) and trees were given fresh mulch around the trunk. The awning and front sign were given a face lift of red paint (one of the school’s colors). Safety wasn’t far from our minds with four great ladies painting the front and back curbs with bright yellow paint! The school looks amazing and the teachers were impressed. The dedication and enthusiasm from all those who participated is what made me sit back and say wow!

Mark Your Calendars...

We have two great events coming up this Thursday, August 19, and I hope you will be able to attend both! 

First, we have a Business Brown Bag workshop with Elizabeth Nulf MacDonald, owner of The Verbal Edge. From Noon to 1 p.m. she will present "Sharpening Your Professional Communication Skills." Communication skills are vital in all facets of business - from employer/employee interactions to making a sale with your biggest client. Elizabeth will share how to communicate so that your listeners and readers will be captured by your message. You will walk away with enhanced presentation skills, the ability to recognize and eliminate verbal pauses, common grammatical errors, phrases that clutter conversation, and more. Click here to register.

That takes care of your lunch - now how about some hors d'oeuvres and a cash bar in the evening? Join us August 19 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Hoosier Sports & Chiropractic right here in downtown Fort Wayne (122 W. Wayne St.). Hoosier Sports & Chiropractic is hosting a Meet Me @ 5 fresh off their grand opening. Make some new friends in the business community and practice your swing with a state-of-the-art professional golf simulator along with helpful tips from resident golf pro Tony James. You can also enjoy a free mini-massage from Vital Living Therapeutic Massage, and register to win golf lessons, nine-hold rounds with Tony James, Titleist golf balls, golf gloves, massages, and more! Admission is $5 for members, $10 for non-members. See you Thursday!

Tee Up for Chamber Golf 2010!

Get ready to grab your clubs and head to the green for "Fort Wayne Famous: People, Places and Things that Put Fort Wayne on the Map." What's that, you say? That's the theme for the 2010 Golf Outing, and we're more than a little excited about it. The Golf Outing will take place Thursday, September 16, 2010 at Brookwood Golf Club. Golfers can register as individuals or in teams of four ($150 per person, $600 per team) for a morning or afternoon flight.

Also, this is your last chance to take advantage of sponsorship opportunities - it's a great way to gain exposure for your business! We have a range (no pun intended) of options available. You can also make in-kind donations for our silent auction! For more on that contact Laureen Voirol at (260) 424-1435.

Click here to register to golf. Special thanks to Silver Sponsor Lutheran Health Network, Bronze Sponsor Glenbrook Square, and Beverage Cart Sponsor Mad Anthony Brewing Co.!

P.S. Did you know: Tony winner Heather Headley (star of original Broadway musical Aida, among others) graduated from Fort Wayne's Northrop High School. 

Service, Communication, Sales, Email Skills...

...Those are just a few of the topics we will be focusing on at upcoming Chamber workshops. Be sure to mark your calendars for these vents presented by other Chamber members. If you have any questions, contact Laureen Voirol at (260) 424-1435, and be sure to register online for the events you want to attend. 

Wednesday, August 11 - Finding Passion for Service
The quality of our communication with others directly impacts our quality of life. Our attitudes contribute to how others see and think about us and the value we bring to our organizations. Michelle Gladieux of Gladieux Consulting will help you define who you serve and what impression you want to project to those constituents. 

Thursday, August 19 - Sharpening Your Professional Communication Skills
Join us as Elizabeth Nulf MacDonald of The Verbal Edge shares how to communicate so your listeners and readers will be captured by your message. You will walk away with enhanced presentation skills, the ability to recognize and eliminate verbal pauses, common grammatical errors, phrases that clutter conversation, and much more. 

Thursday, August 26 - Cash Flow Explosion: How to Sell in Any Market
How would you like to increase your sales between 15 and 85 percent? How about having your team function like a championship team – without the politics? Join us as industry expert Dick Read of SalesPartners Worldwide takes us into the sales world with secrets to move your business from average to world class. 

Wednesday, September 8 - One Hour, More Power: 7 Secrets to Strengthening Your Email Writing Skills
Well-written email messages save time, facilitate communication and enhance your company’s image. Join writing pro Susan Sigworth of Brand Innovation Group to learn the top seven secrets to more powerful email, and leave with highly practical tips and techniques to implement the minute you return to the office. You will leave with the tools to write better, faster and with more confidence.

Longest Drive Proceeds for United Way

Dave Young, Chamber VP of Air Service Development, presents proceeds from the Longest Drive competition to Ron Turpin, United Way of Allen County Board President. Proceeds from the event were split between Riley Children's Hospital and the United Way. 

How Does the New Energy Code Impact You?

By Melissa Beber, Government Affairs Coordinator


The Chamber is hosting an issue forum on the impact the new Indiana Energy Code has on business. Dan Gagen of Project Design & Management will present an overview of the new code, explain how it is applied to efforts on existing buildings, and identify specific areas that will impact the design, construction, and cost of new facilities.


The new regulations could increase the cost of a project by requiring new windows and doors, replacing the heating/air system, new ducting, and possibly a new roof. Anyone constructing a new building, adding on to an existing facility, or renovating a building needs to hear how the new regulations could affect their project. 


The issue forum is on Tuesday, August 3rd from 8:00 to 10:30 a.m. at the Fort Wayne Chamber. The cost is only $10 for members and $15 for non-members. This issue forum is too important to miss! So register today at fwchamber.org or contact me for more information.

Let's Get Back to the Basics

Of Chamber membership, that is. 

All new and current Chamber members are invited to Chamber 101 – a free breakfast event designed to present the basics of Chamber membership. Join us tomorrow -- Thursday, July 29 from 8 to 10 a.m. at the Chamber of Commerce. We will review the benefits of Chamber membership and help you discover how you can utilize your benefits fully – we guarantee you will learn something new about your Chamber membership!

You will meet other Chamber members, Chamber Staff, and Chamber Ambassadors. Each member will have the opportunity to present their thirty-second “elevator speech” to all the other members in the room – an excellent exposure opportunity for your business. Also, bring plenty of business cards and sales material for display.

Physicians Health Plan and Office Depot will both be present to share about the substantial discounts they offer to all Chamber members – not only that, but Office Depot will be offering giveaways! 

RSVP is required, and we want to be sure to have enough breakfast for everyone, so please respond today. RSVP online now! 

What is a Salesperson to Do?

These are not easy times for the sales professional. Understandably, businesses are having to tighten their budgets and spend on only that which is essential to them. It becomes even more important to convey the value and return on what you have to offer them.

One of our members, SalesPartners of Indiana Northeast, is part of a network that provides business mentoring services around the world (10 countries). Our SalesPartners provide business performance reviews, business mentoring programs, Rent-A-Sales-Manager, strategic planning, Sales Master University (a three-month program focused on building core sales and marketing skills and systems), and Sales Drill and Grill (bring your team once a month for a drill in  sales, presentation, and objection handling skills).

I encourage you to check out the  SalesPartners Web site and see the variety of services they offer. They also hold events, and in fact, they will be holding a one-hour sales training event right here at the Chamber this Wednesday. Remember that tough market we were talking about? Well Dick Read of SalesPartners is going to talk about just that - how to sell in a tough market, and create a Cash Flow Explosion. Now who doesn't want that? You will learn how to control your #1 asset, build power and lasting confidence, and gain market share while others retreat. This relaxed bring-your-own-lunch workshop takes place from Noon to 1 p.m. on Wednesday, July 27, and registration is available online.

Magazine Editor to Visit, Present

Don't forget about our special workshop next Thursday, July 29 from Noon to 1 p.m. with Chris Delporte, Group Editor of Orthopedic Design & Technology magazine. Chris will lead an interactive discussion on orthopedic design and technology called "Today's Orthopedic Device Manufacturing Topics Roundtable.” Chris has a wealth of experience to draw from with well over a decade of reporting and journalism experience, and 10 of those years in the healthcare and medical technology sectors. 

This luncheon is a precursor to a global event that Orthopedic Design & Technology magazine is bringing to Fort Wayne this fall. Orthopedic Design & Technology magazine will hold their fifth annual Orthopedic Design & Technology (ODT) Conference & Exhibition September 22-23 right here in Fort Wayne at the Grand Wayne Convention Center.

Learn more about Chris and RSVP for this luncheon here. Cost is $10 for Chamber members and $15 for non-members, and lunch is provided.  

See You Tomorrow @ Club Soda!

We hope to see you tomorrow for some of the best drinks in town at Club Soda! Join us for our monthly Meet Me @ 5 social event from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday evening. This is a relaxed setting for you to catch up with your business pals, and make some new friends too. Enjoy complimentary hors d'oeuvres and a cash bar.

Admission is $5 for Chamber members and $10 for non-members. If you have any questions, contact Laureen Voirol at (260) 424-1435. See you there!

Workshop Opportunities Coming Up

One of our efforts here at the Chamber is to provide members with learning opportunities for business or professional development. We have a variety of great workshop's coming up that we don't want you to miss. Be sure to mark your calendars for these upcoming events presented by other Chamber members. If you have any questions, contact Laureen Voirol at (260) 424-1435, and be sure to register online for the events you want to attend. 


Wednesday, July 21 - Six Business Killers
Join Joe Gass and Kevin Glasen of WestPoint Financial Group for a special Chamber Academy called Six Business Killers. They will highlight the most common mistakes made by business owners and how you can prevent them from impacting the life of your business.


Wednesday, July 28 - Cash Flow Explosion 
Industry expert Dick Read of Sales Partners Worldwide will share how to sell in any market. Learn how to control your #1 asset, build power and lasting confidence, gain market share while others retreat, and create a cash flow explosion. 


Thursday, July 29 - Orthopedic Design & Technology: Ask the Editor Luncheon
Chris Delporte, Group Editor of Orthopedic Design & Technology magazine will lead an interactive discussion on orthopedic design and technology. Chris has well over a decade of reporting and journalism experience, and 10 of those years in the healthcare and medical technology sectors. 


Tuesday, August 3 - Indiana Energy Code: The Impact on Business
Dan Gagen of Project Design & Management will present an overview of the new Indiana Energy Conservation Code, explain how it is applied to efforts on existing buildings, and identify specific areas that will impact the design, construction, and cost of new facilities, renovations, and maintenance of buildings.


Wednesday, August 11 - Finding Passion for Service
Michelle Gladieux of Gladieux Consulting will help you define who you serve and what impression you want to project to your constituents. Michelle will also take a look at how you interact with co-workers and provide instruction on how to project a professional image in speech, communication, behavior, dress and attitude.

Meet Us @ Club Soda Next Week

Some people call it networking, but we like to think of it as building real, valuable relationships. That's what we do at Meet Me @ 5, and we hope to see you at our next event, next Thursday, July 22 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Club Soda!

Meet Me @ 5 events are designed to provide you with a laid back, casual atmosphere for getting to know other Fort Wayne business professionals. Enjoy an evening of mixing and mingling, as well as a cash bar and hors d'oeuvres provided by Club Soda.

Admission is $5 for Chamber members and $10 for non-members. If you have any questions, contact Laureen Voirol at (260) 424-1435. See you then!

Results for Riley... Proceeds from Long Drive Contest Benefit Hospital

Barb Richards, Program Director of WAJI MAJIC 95.1FM holds a check made out to Riley Children's Hospital with Dave Young, Chamber V.P. of Air Service Development. The check was a result of Fort Wayne International Airport's Longest Drive Competition held earlier this year.

Live, Learn & Intern Hits the Sand

If you host any college or graduate interns at your business, please let them know about our summer event series - Live, Learn & Intern. (Or, as we like to call it, LLI.) LLI was created to provide interns throughout the region with a variety of free, fun events that allows them to get to know other interns in similar positions, and also demonstrates the great characteristics of the Northeast Indiana community and the variety of activities we have to offer.

The LLI series is facilitated by our Graduate Retention team. Their mission is to connect employers with students for meaningful internships and to create partnerships and connections between industry and education - the end goal is to retain highly-skilled graduates to our region so they can live, work, and contribute to our community, workforce, and economy.

The next LLI event takes place this Friday - they are playing sand volleyball at the River City Complex. Students must register ahead of time, and they can do so here. If you have any questions, be sure to let us know. Contact Andy Schemm at (260) 424-1435.

P.S. Interns are an excellent way to provide quality help to your business! If you would like to learn more, contact Kelly Arnold.

Orthopedic Design & Technology Editor to Present Chamber Workshop

We're excited about a special workshop we are having here at the end of the month. On Thursday, July 29 from Noon to 1 p.m. we will be hosting Chris Delporte, Group Editor of Orthopedic Design & Technology magazine. Chris will lead an interactive discussion on orthopedic design and technology called "Today's Orthopedic Device Manufacturing Topics Roundtable.” We're calling it "Ask the Editor" for short. Chris has an impressive resume, with well over a decade of reporting and journalism experience, and 10 of those years in the healthcare and medical technology sectors. 


This luncheon is a precursor to a global event that Orthopedic Design & Technology magazine is bringing to Fort Wayne this fall. Orthopedic Design & Technology magazine will hold their fifth annual Orthopedic Design & Technology (ODT) Conference & Exhibition September 22-23 right here in Fort Wayne at the Grand Wayne Convention Center.


Learn more about Chris and RSVP for this luncheon here. Cost is $10 for Chamber members and $15 for non-members, and lunch is provided.