Your Weekly Chamber Connection

CHAMBER CONNECTION

August 7, 2019

FEATURED EVENT:

YoPros Free August Mixer

Light appetizers, cash bar, and networking!

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 14, 2019

Johnny Blacks, Sterling Heights

MORE INFO

Upcoming Events | AUGUST 2019

AUG. 7

Network & Learn

5:30 - 8 p.m.

Infinity Hall & Sidebar

Fraser

AUG. 16

Breakfast & Business

7:30 - 9:30 a.m.

MOD Pizza

Shelby Township

AUG.20

Amplified After 5

5 - 8 p.m.

Freddy's

Clinton Township

FULL CALENDAR

For sponsorship opportunities, contact Gina Rieck

at 586.731.5400 x 15 or grieck@shrcci.com

CHAMBER CHAMPION

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MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

Company: Infinity Hall & Sidebar

Main Contact: James A. Walsh

Category: Restaurants, Food & Beverage

Member Since: 2018

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MEMBER TIP

Six Common Sense Website Design Tips

By: Doug Kelly, 5by5 Design

When it comes to creating websites it is important to embrace some basic design practices.

Use good visual design techniques

"A picture tells a thousand words." Pictures can convey the real value of the content, grab the user's attention and also explain complicated concepts.

Make sure it is mobile friendly

We are now living in a society that can't be without mobile devices. When a client browses your website on a mobile device, they expect to see the content look just like they would see it on a desktop.

Employ interactive design

Interactive website design can bring enjoyment to users and improve the user experience. 5by5 Design LLC always strives to make your website design more attractive, and usable to visitors.

To view more member tips and Chamber blog posts, click below!

CHAMBER BOARD 2019 ELECTIONS

The Sterling Heights Regional Chamber of Commerce is looking for potential candidates for our open board of directors positions. We are currently seeking board seat nominations for three-year terms covering 2020 - 2022, and we invite members to run for a seat on our board of directors. Serving on the Chamber's board of directors is a great way to become more engaged with the organization, connect with the regional business community and stand out as a leader among your peers.

Current Directors whose terms expire in 2019 are David Beran, Mike Weatherly, Tony Licata, Nate Tallman, Frank Barnard and Jim Gianakopoulos. We currently have one vacant seat as well, so we will be filling seven (7) spots for three-year terms.

Members with an interest in serving on our board can submit nominations for consideration by our Nominating Committee.

Please contact Patty Le Duc at 586.731.5400 x 21 or email , for more information and to obtain the required application.

Click here for more information.

MEMBER NEWS

CREATIVE BENEFITS & INSURANCE SOLUTIONS ARE HERE TO HELP WITH RISK MANAGEMENT

Contractors, Creative Benefits & Insurance Solutions is here to help with Risk Management.

No GL Audits, General Contractors accepted, Experience Modification Factors Redeveloped, No charge for blanket additional insureds and so many more benefits.

For more information please contact Creative Benefits & Insurance solutions, call 586.992.0404 or click here .

THE COUNTY CUP KICKBALL CHARITY TOURNAMENT

The County Cup Kickball Charity Tournament will take place on Sunday, September 15 at Kyte Monroe Park in St. Clair Shores, 32701 Harper Ave., 48042.

Proceeds support St. Clair Shores Special Needs and Sterling Heights Regional Chamber of Commerce Foundation.

Team registration $450 (only $30 per player). Over 21 Co-ed Kick ball for Business & Networking groups in Macomb County.

Prizes to best costume and best team uniform.

SENATOR MACDONALD SMALL BUSINESS ROUND TABLE

Senator MacDonald will host a Small Business Round Table event on Thursday, August 15 at the Clinton-Macomb Main Library, 40900 Romeo Plank, from 12 to 1 p.m.

The Round Table will focus on:

Legislative updates - focusing on laws that impact small businesses and a question and answer portion.

RSVP to The Office of Senator MacDonald, 517.373.7315.

XENITH PREP KICKOFF CLASSIC

Chippewa Valley and Utica Eisenhower will be participating in the Xenith Prep Kickoff Classic on Thursday, August 29. The Xenith Prep Kickoff Classic is the premier season-opening high school football showcase in Michigan organized by the Detroit Sports Commission and hosted at Wayne State University. Below is the schedule for both teams:

Birmingham Brother Rice vs. Utica Eisenhower, 4 p.m.

Chippewa Valley vs. Saline, 7 p.m.

Tickets can be bought online here for $9 or at the gate for $10. For more information please visit Xenith Prep Kickoff Classic Website.

MANUFACTURING DAY IN MACOMB COUNTY LOOKING FOR HOST SITES AND SPONSORS

We are ready to celebrate the 6th annual countywide celebration of MFG Day on Friday, October 4.

We are looking for host sites and sponsors to get involved in this great opportunity.

Information can be found here .

REVERSE JOB FAIR - TALENT TO MEET YOUR NEEDS

Join Michigan Rehabilitation Services (MRS) for this one-day event to meet talented, job-ready candidates who are eager to showcase the skills & abilities necessary to grow your workforce and help to address your business needs. Following the job fair, attend break-out sessions tailored to enhance your understanding of Disability Awareness and the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The Reverse Job Fair will take place on September 18 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the MISD Building - Huron Room, 44001 Garfield Road, Clinton Twp.

Registration required. Please contact Lisa Brohl at 586.412.1510 or email .

How to be featured in upcoming Chamber Connections:

To have your message included (four are complimentary annually with your paid membership), they should include a contact name and phone number, not be longer than 100 words, and emailed to Ashley Edwards by Thursday at 5 pm for inclusion in the next week's edition.

The Chamber Connection is our weekly newsletter that is emailed to more than 4,000 emails of members and associates each Wednesday morning!

Purchase your Reverse Raffle Ticket before 9.27 to be entered into the Early Bird Drawing!

Stop into the Chamber Office to purchase your ticket!

MEMBER BENEFIT OF THE WEEK

Health Insurance Programs -

Offers multiple options with deductibles and co-pays.

MORE INFO

Networking Opportunities

Why BRAG™??

What is it that drives business to join a Chamber of Commerce? The answers to that question for many business owners is "Exposure" for their services. Chambers specialize in organizing events that highlight the services of their members, and share these services within their membership.

The Sterling Heights Regional Chamber offers a trademarked service which is available for their members called B.R.A.G. or Business Resource Alliance Groups. These groups meet weekly and use networking techniques that help develop professional relationships that turn into warm referrals. There can be many different strategies to networking, and BRAG can be a tool utilized in your strategies.

Statistics show that the average person knows 250 people. That translates into 250 possible referrals per member in a group. Apply the math and the results will give a BRAG member exposure to 5,750 possible customers from members of their BRAG group, and this number doesn't include other contacts with other groups the member will meet.

According to "Network Statistics," nearly 60% of all new contacts are found through networking. Referrals generated from networking are 80% more effective than "cold calls." Networking can be extremely successful if you allow it to be, and is a learned skill that needs to be developed. In order to optimize networking skills, an individual must approach the opportunities with the right attitude.

Utilizing BRAG can be an extremely useful way to improve your business exposure and generate more business for you and the other members of the BRAG group.

For more information on how to take advantage of this Chamber benefit, please contact Patty Le Duc, BRAG administrator, at 586.731.5400 x 21 or email .