CHAMBER CONNECTION - March 21, 2018
FEATURED EVENT 
l
LAST CHANCE TO REGISTER! You won't want to miss out on this opportunity to learn about the many ways you can improve your sales and marketing strategies from experts in the field. Register NOW!
k
l
 
Upcoming Events:
Friday, March 23, 8 am
CHEMICAL BANK SALES & MARKETING CONFERENCE
Vintage House, Fraser
Friday, March 23, 2 pm
#YOPROS SALES & MARKETING CONFERENCE BONUS SESSION
Vintage House, Fraser

Thursday, March 29, 8:30 am
MDOT BRIEFING ON I-696
Warren Civic Center, Warren

Friday, April 13, 7:30 am
BREAKFAST OF NATIONS
Carpathia Club, Sterling Heights
Wednesday, April 18, 11:45 am
MEMBER ORIENTATION/REFRESH
UHY Innovation Lab, Sterling Heights

Thursday, April 19, 5:30 pm
4TH ANNUAL CHAMBER CARES
Parkway Christian School, Sterling Heights

Friday, April 20, 8 am
BRAG RECRUITING EVENT
Wyndham Garden, Sterling Heights

Friday, May 11, 11 am
GOVERNOR'S LUNCHEON
MacRay Banquet Center, Harrison Twp.


CHEMICAL BANK SALES & MARKETING CONFERENCE SPEAKER LINEUP ANNOUNCED

Our second annual conference is designed to help small- and medium-sized business owners, operators and managers take their business to the next level by amplifying their brand in the marketplace, elevating their digital marketing and increasing their income through improved sales. Join us for an event packed with sessions covering everything from using social media as a prospecting tool to techniques proven to increase your sales conversions and optimizing your online presence. If you want to grow your bottom line, you need to attend. Your registration includes breakfast, lunch, six short but powerful sessions full of ideas you can use immediately to jump-start your business growth and a special keynote presentation by Blaine Fowler, host of the Blaine Fowler Morning Show on 96.3 WDVD. D on't miss our bonus session for young professionals -- for just $10 more, you can learn about promoting your personal and professional brand, network, and enjoy appetizers and a couple drink tickets. Bonus Session Details.


MDOT BRIEFING ANNOUNCEMENT

Constructed in three phases from 1961
 to 1989, the Walter P. Reuther Freeway-696 has reached its maximum life cycle. Due to the poor condition of the roadway, the Michigan Department of Transportation is planning a major construction project starting Spring 2018, and invites you to learn about its scope, which includes:
  • Replacing all pavement in both directions from 75 to 94.
  • Closing the westbound direction completely and keeping the eastbound direction open throughout construction from 75 to 94.
  • Night and weekend pavement repairs on eastbound and westbound 275 to 75.
The meeting will take place:
March 29, 8:30 - 10 am
Warren Civic Center
1 City Square, Warren, MI 48093
 
For more information, contact Melanie Davis at 586.731.5400 or [email protected].
 
This meeting is sponsored by the Sterling Heights Regional and Macomb County Chambers.

CHAMBER CHAMPION
 
MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

Company: Northpoint Village of Utica
Mai n Contact: Rosemary Gibbs 
Category: Assisted Living Services
Member Since: 2005

MEMBER TIP: 
Considering Wealth Transfers
By UHY LLP

Under the newly enacted Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, the Federal estate, gift and generation-skipping tax (GST) lifetime exemption amounts have now increased to $11.2 million for individuals and $22.4 million for married couples. After increasing with inflation each year through 2025, the exemption amounts will revert back to the 2017 levels ($5,490,000 and $10,980,000) on Jan. 1, 2026. These substantial, yet temporary, increases in the exemption amounts present a unique opportunity for the implementation of various estate planning techniques that will allow the transfer of wealth to future generations.


MEMBER BENEFIT OF THE WEEK:  
CONSTANT CONTACT: Email Marketing  - Connect with your customers and receive up to 25% off with our exclusive Chamber Member discount.

MEMBER NEWS
2018 STERLING EDGE AWARDS NOMINATIONS

The city of Sterling Heights and the Sterling Heights Regional Chamber of Commerce are seeking nominations for the seventh-annual Michigan Week & Sterling Edge Awards luncheon featuring the outstanding businesses in Sterling Heights.
 
Nomination applications, due Friday, March 23, 2018 can be submitted online at shrcci.com. The Sterling Edge Awards seek to recognize Sterling Heights area companies that have demonstrated best business practices that can be adopted and emulated by other businesses.  Any outstanding Sterling Heights business, whether an inspiring start-up, a long-standing corporate entity, a great place to work or other, is eligible to win one of this year's five awards.  



THE WARMTH OF MUSIC BENEFIT CONCERT 

Local independent musicians and community leaders come together to invite you to a special benefit concert in vibrant downtown Mount Clemens, to support the Macomb County Warming Center. The Center needs your support to continue providing shelter, food and sundries to the homeless in our community. Buffet food service included with admission, door prizes and raffle drawings also available.



UCS MST PROGRAM SEEKING MENTORS

The Utica Center for Math, Science and Technology is looking for mentors for their Junior Internship Program. They are looking to begin a partnership with businesses and professionals to provide their junior students with an "out of the classroom" learning experience in a professional setting. This year's junior class is full of highly talented, driven young people interested in various professions, including the many different pathways in the medical, engineering, research, business, and other related STEM fields. If you think you might be able to help mentor one of their juniors (or know someone who could), please contact David Ersig at [email protected]. A few quick details about this year's internship program:
  • Unpaid, on-site, career exploration experience over a 3-week window
  • Dates:  May 29, 2018 - June 15, 2018
  • Students attend their internship experience approximately 10-15 hours/week.
  • Students schedule is flexible.  Students are not required to attend every day, although they are available to (depending on mentor's schedule)
  • In lieu of attending their afternoon classes, students will be released to participate in their professional internship.  They will be available to report to their internship as early as 11/11:30 am.
 

SPRING SPECIAL FROM HAIR MAGIC  

Spring is right around the corner! Schedule a hair appointment with Alicen and enjoy a Chamber member only special for a haircut, all over color and style for $50!!! You can contact Alicen, book your appointment online, and view before and after photos on our Facebook page at the link below! If you are looking for a new hairstylist that specializes in cuts, color, color corrections, balayage techniques, and makeup you won't be disappointed! 


Find more "Member News" on the Chamber website!

TOURISM & HOSPITALITY COMMITTEE

Our Tourism & Hospitality Committee meets every other month and works successfully to promote both tourism and hospitality in our county, especially as these two important industries relate to our members. Supporting the "Blue Economy" initiative is a key part of our agenda for this group.
 
Currently chaired by Warren's Parks & Recreation Director Henry Bowman, this vibrant group includes regular appearances by representatives of our partners at the Detroit Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau (DMCVB) along with officials from a number of our Macomb communities.
 
Our next meeting will be held at the Morley Candy Factory - Sanders on Tuesday, April 3 at 9 am. Please RSVP to our committee liaison Patty Le Duc at 586.731.5400 x21.



M-59 RECONSTRUCTION PROJECT UPDATE FROM MDOT:

The first full week of construction is behind us and MDOT was able to complete a lot of work despite the cooler temperatures. In addition to preparing the widening on the outside of both bounds, they were able to make repairs to the roadway, which will make it safer for traffic during construction. This week, MDOT will continue to prepare the widening and by the weekend. They hope to be placing temporary pavement on the outside of the roadway. 
 
As a reminder, we encourage you to contact MDOT if you have any questions or feel that they can better serve you in any way. In an effort to provide as much information as possible, travel times through the work zone and surrounding areas is live on their website.  Once on the main page, you can click on the Current Travel Time link in the middle of the page. 


Like us on Facebook      Follow us on Twitter
MEMBER ANNIVERSARIES
30 Years
Ford Motor, Sterling Axle
Ford Motor, Van Dyke

28 Years
Rotary Club of Utica - Shelby Twp.

23 Years
Northern Metalcraft, Inc.

18 Years
Jeffery Tool & Mfg

15 Years
All Around Pools

13 Years
English Gardens

12 Years
Sherwood Brewing Company

11 Years
Macomb Tutoring

8 Years
Malibu Homes, Inc.
6 Years
Macomb Literacy Partners

5 Years
Michigan Lottery Ampitheatre at 
   Freedom Hill
Sterling Lanes

4 Years
Courtyard by Marriott, Warren
Elwood Staffing

3 Years
Allure Medical Spa, Warren
Arbonne International / Cindy Miller
Blessings in a Backpack - Utica

2 Years
Hair Magic by Alicen
Joseph's Auto Body, Inc.
Kosch - Bravado Hospitality

1 Year
Matick Toyota
Top Quality Home Solutions
For sponsorship opportunities, contact
Gina Rieck at 586.731.5400, x15 or [email protected].