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A Message from our President
Spring weather is here and the Chamber office is buzzing with activity to make meaningful connections for our members and to advocate for our business community. With a full slate of opportunities for Chamber members to take advantage of over the month of March, we hope there is something each and every member is able to benefit from in the coming weeks.
First and foremost, the Chamber is working hard to advocate for the business community throughout the 2017 legislative session. We place great importance on connecting directly with our legislators and encourage our members to engage directly in this process. Tomorrow, I invite you to join a bus of business leaders to the capitol for
Connecticut Business Day. We would love to have you come along for this crucial trip to Hartford to represent the greater Waterbury business community.
If Connecticut Business Day can't fit into your calendar, you can still connect with legislators a more locally at our
Legislative Reception and Policy Update on Thursday, March 9th. The evening will feature an address by State Senator Joan V. Hartley and keynote speaker Benjamin Barnes, State Secretary of the Office of Policy & Management. We encourage you to attend this networking reception with legislators that will be an enjoyable and informative evening.
Later on in March, the Chamber will celebrate 127 years with our
Annual Business Meeting and Luncheon on Tuesday, March 28th. We look forward to honoring longstanding members, reviewing the Chamber's progress and challenges over the past year, and hearing from our keynote speaker Leo Tonkin, business consultant on strategic organization and leadership development.
I hope to see you at any of these opportunities, at our
Out for Business event at Sarracco Mechanical Services, or in another capacity during the next month. As always, there is a lot going on behind the scenes at the Chamber to make your membership a true value to your business. Reach out to me if I can be of service at (203) 757-0701 or at
lward@waterburychamber.com.
Best Regards,
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The 2017 Legislative Session is in full swing! We know you're busy running your business- that's why our Public Policy and Economic Development Director Dave Krechevsky strives to keep you updated on the key developments happening in Hartford that could affect your business. Follow Dave's Public Policy Blog to stay in the know and on top of developments in Public Policy.
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Join Us! - Upcoming Chamber Events
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Legislative Reception and Policy Update
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YPOWR Minute to Win It Networking Social
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127th Annual Business Meeting and Luncheon
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Join us at upcoming ribbon cuttings to celebrate your fellow members!
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Thursday, March 9
4:30 PM
775 Main St. South,
Unit 220/230, Southbury
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Wednesday, March 15
11:00 AM
3528 East Main Street, Waterbury
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*To schedule an upcoming ribbon cutting for your business with the Chamber, contact Membership Director Louis Lacman at llacman@waterburychamber.com or at (203) 757-0701 ext. 305.
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Welcome to all of our new members who have joined over the past month*. We encourage you to click on the names below to visit their websites and hope you can connect with them soon.
*New Members from February 1- March 2
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HR Corner: "March Madness"
Following the Dream - Or Not?
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I know many of you are a very large fans of UCONN Basketball, or other teams (are there any other?) and are loving the great winning streak the Women are having - 104 games to date - Wow!
Now the playoffs are going on, and many in their private lives and some at their
workplaces are setting up their "Brackets" and also gambling on the outcome of those playoffs
(both women and men).
Do you believe this is anything for Owners, Managers and HR professionals need to worry about?
You bet there is!
The HR Corner is brought to you by Lois Krause of Kardas Larson - Human Resources Solutions
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Health Care Council - What is the Council?
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Have you heard of the Chamber's Health Care Council, but not quite sure what it does?
The Health Care Council:
- Provides networking opportunities through our Out for Health events
- Educates members within the health care industry with pertinent topics
- Provides a forum for members to exchange information and discuss topics of mutual interest
- Serves as a clearinghouse for health topics that impact the greater Waterbury region's business community
- Identifies issues relevant to health care legislation and supports the Chambers' Public Policy Committee
Don't miss this Spring Edition of our HealthMatters
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a biannual publication featuring a directory of Health Care Council members distributed as a special supplement of the Sunday Republican published on March 19th.
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Exhibitor 'Booth Camp' - Space Filling Up Fast for the Business Expo
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In preparation for the Chamber's biggest networking event of the year, several of our business expo booth participants joined us for our "Exhibitor Booth Camp" on March 1. Joe Bottone of Corporate Display Specialties offered his expertise and shared tips and tricks on increasing booth traffic, accomplishing expo goals, properly utilizing prizes and giveaways, after-event follow up and more. Joe is happy to connect with those who were not able to make it to the "Booth Camp" and are still interested in maximizing their presence at the Expo. Businesses that have not yet reserved their booth space are encouraged to do so soon, as spots for this event fill up quickly. Join in to showcase your business, gain exposure, and make crucial connections!
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Naugatuck Chamber Legislative Breakfast
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The annual Naugatuck Legislative Breakfast featuring elected officials from the Naugatuck region was held on February 28th. Present were State Senators Joan Hartley and George Logan as well as State Representatives David Labriola, Nicole Klarides-Ditria and Rosa Rebimbas. Members had the opportunity to connect with their representatives in government, ask questions and focus on issues that matter most to the business community. Major topics of conversation included the importance of improved railroad services to the Naugatuck Valley and the need for better state fiscal responsibility. Thank you to our elected officials for their time and to our Event Sponsor Ion Bank for their support.
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Young Professionals of Waterbury Region (YPOWR) wrapped up their 4th Annual Influential Business CEO Speaker Series, themed 'The Past, Present and Future of Family Business'. Featured speakers were Frank Monteiro, the Chief Operating Officer of MacDermid Performance Solutions, Virginia O'Rourke-Cookson, owner of O'Rourke and Birch Florist, and Carmen Romeo, President of Fascia's Chocolates. All three speakers gave an insider's look at these businesses founded in family tradition in Waterbury, sharing their personal stories as well as the stories of the businesses they live and breathe every day. YPOWR's next event will be the Minute To Win It Networking Social on March 20th.
View More Event Photos Here - More Info On Minute To Win It |
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Out for Business - DNR Laboratories
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The Chamber's monthly Out for Business networking event was held on February 16th at DNR Laboratories in Watertown. Members learned about the audiovisual installation business and were able to tour the company's workshop area. Attendees enjoyed hors d'ouevres, drinks and swapping business information. Join in at our next
Out for Business event at Sarracco Mechanical Services in Waterbury on February March 22nd! Featuring a Buzz Session by the Chamber Toastmasters called "
Professional Speaking: Make an Impact" covering tips for effective public speaking and networking.
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Waterbury Mayoral Luncheon
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Waterbury Mayor Neil O'Leary addressed Chamber members at the annual Mayoral Luncheon on February 13th to update them on progress, challenges, and future plans for the city. Mayor O'Leary gave a positive outlook for Waterbury, noting significant milestones reached and addressing key issues facing the city including education, transportation, and brownfield remediation. The event was attended by over 200 Chamber members and was supported by Platinum Sponsor KBE Building Corporation, Gold Sponsors: Carmody Torrance Sandak & Hennessey, Green Earth Energy Photovoltaic, MacDermid Performance Solutions, O&G Industries and Secor Cassidy and McPartland PC; Silver Sponsors: AI Engineers, Inc., Civil 1, Pisani Steel Fabrications, Powerstation Events, Synagro Northeast and TBI Construction Company.
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Promote Your Business with Door Prize Donations
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Promote your products and services and get great exposure by donating a gift certificate or item to a Chamber function.
Donated items are drawn as prizes for our monthly Out for Business events, Young Professionals of Waterbury Region networking events, Out for Health events, and more. Donations can also be made specifically to the annual Malcolm Baldrige Awards Dinner silent auction.
When you donate, you can gain a new customer and your business is publicly spotlighted by the Chamber.
Start a Donation Today! - Click Here
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Enhanced Web Listings: Stand out from the Competition
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Members now have the exciting ability to upgrade to an enhanced listing on waterburychamber.com. Our staff is working hard to bring the benefits of these enhanced listings to you. These listings offer members the ability to stand out from their competition with features such as your company logo, a bolder listing, your social media links, videos and photos and a business description. Our goal is to help members generate more online referrals, website clicks, social media interaction and more potential customers. Click here for more details. For questions or to activate your enhanced listing, email Alison at
aamato@waterburychamber.com
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We're working to promote shopping local and shopping Chamber! Our new digital initiative provides the opportunity to promote your business through our e-mail, newsletter, and social media exposure to encourage your fellow members to shop local and utilize your business. Every month, different members will be showcased- and YOU can be a part of it. Click here for further details and consider which month you'd like to sign up for. Contact Julie at
jdonato@waterburychamber.com today!
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