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Insights

Growing Together

Alex Ogburn

Chairman of the Board, Cape Chamber


Colleagues,


Madelyn Ringwald joined the Cape Chamber as the Membership Engagement Specialist in June. In her role, she is responsible for recruiting and engaging members. This month, she has led the effort to formalize a program for the Chamber to connect with membership more directly. You can expect to hear from staff or a member of our Board of Directors a couple of times in the year. The strength of the Chamber comes through membership, and we expect these touchpoints will ensure the Chamber receives your feedback and ensures members are aware of Chamber programs and benefits.  


The Cape Chamber continues to grow. Did you know we currently have over 800 members? Our size places us among the largest Chambers of Commerce in the eastern half of Missouri, and our collective efforts impact regional businesses and our community. Please take the time to respond or speak with your representatives. Let us be intentional in sharing our opinions and ideas to further our efforts.


Alex Ogburn, Saint Francis Medical Center

Chamber Chat

Rob Gilligan

President & CEO, Cape Chamber


Elevating our Programming:


In 2024, the Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce announced a featured lineup of programs we have termed our Signature Events for the year. A mix of traditional programs like our Annual Dinner that we have hosted for decades, to a revamped Young Professionals Summit, to new events and partnerships that have come together over the last year. The first two events of this year had great engagement from our members, and we are excited as we shift to the second half of 2024 and continue with a lineup of three great events over the next 12 weeks that we hope you will be able to join us for.


Tomorrow, the Cape Chamber is excited to host our first State of the Community luncheon, a brand-new Signature Event for 2024. Designed to support our strategic objective of enhanced Business Advocacy, this event offers our members an opportunity to hear directly from the leaders of key governmental partners with Dr. Carlos Vargas, President of SEMO, City of Cape Girardeau Mayor Stacy Kinder, and our keynote presentation from Governor Mike Parson offering us a State of the State. We are excited to see our membership embrace this new program so strongly, making it another sell-out event and we look forward to hosting everyone for what is sure to be the first of a great recurring annual program.


On Friday, September 20th, the Cape Chamber Women’s Network Committee is excited to host our second annual Women in Business: At the Heart of It All celebration as we celebrate American Business Women’s Day. A luncheon, networking, and learning event featuring two incredible businesswomen as our event speakers: Maxine Clark, Founder of Build-A-Bear Workshop, and Meredith Knopp, President & CEO of St. Louis Area Foodbank. Join us to hear their inspirational stories which aim to embody the spirit of women breaking through and rising above!

Registration for Women in Business: At the Heart of It All is live and will surely be another sold out event so get your tickets now!


Our final signature event in 2024 is our partnership with the Harrison College of Business and Computing at SEMO to host the Southeast Entrepreneurship and Economic Development Symposium or SEEDS. A collaboration that began in 2023 to grow and expand a great program that began five years earlier at SEMO, the new partnership allowed us to bring in additional resources and presenters to expand the event into a full day of programing. The 2024 event is shaping up to be another engaging program featuring an update from Economist at the St. Louis Federal Reserve Bank, a panel discussion around the economic importance of natural resources in Southeast Missouri, and an afternoon focused on entrepreneurship featuring Mo Collins, Director of Entrepreneurship for the International Economic Development Council. This year’s event will take place on Thursday, November 14th at the Drury Plaza Conference Center and tickets will be available soon.


Let's Grow!

Spotlights

Leading Partner Spotlight

Developing Partner Spotlight

Welcome, New Members!

1st Choice Roofing & Construction

Carlos Diaz

1925 William Street, Cape Girardeau, MO


Roofing



Learn more

Down Syndrome Association of Greater St. Louis

Maria Marzuco

1300 Strassner Drive, Brentwood, MO


Charitable & Non-Profit Organization


Learn more

Edward Jones - Travis Walter

Travis Walter

1749 Independence Street, Independence Square Ste 1, Cape Girardeau, MO


Financial Planner


Learn more

Moore Mechanical Contracting

Graeme Moore

4542 Nash Road, Scott City, MO


General Contractor



Learn more

Prodigy Leadership Academy

Rob Mehner

232 Sierra Ridge Lane, Cape Girardeau, MO


Private Education


Learn more

Southern Sunless Tanning

Morgan Frederick

827 Broadway Street, Cape Girardeau, MO


Beauty


Learn more

Wish Boutique

Deena Ring

430 Julie Drive Cape Girardeau, MO


Clothing


Learn more


Welcome, New Representatives!

1st Choice Roofing & Construction

Carlos Diaz

1st Choice Roofing & Construction

Dustin Baker

1st Choice Roofing & Construction

Lachelle Diaz

Alzheimer's Association - Greater Missouri Chapter

Madeline Erwin

Banterra Bank

Eli Bowen

Bob Adams, County Assessor

Chris Hartlein

City of Cape Girardeau

Brenda Newbern

Coalter Insurance Group

Kaitlyn Drum

Down Syndrome Association of Greater St. Louis

Erin Suelmann

Down Syndrome Association of Greater St. Louis

Maria Marzuco

Edward Jones - Travis Walter

Travis Walter

KBSI FOX23

Alan Muster

Moore Mechanical Contracting

Graeme Moore

Prodigy Leadership Academy

Rob Mehner

Saint Francis Healthcare System

Matthew Ewasko

SOTO Property Solutions

Stephany Sullinger

Southern Sunless Tanning

Morgan Frederick

The Broadway Theater

Salina Silkwood

Wish Boutique

Deena Ring


Ribbon Cuttings

Principal Financial Group

Grand Opening

CarsForLife.com

Grand Opening

PORCH Initiative

Second Residential Renovation

Ritter Real Estate

10th Anniversary

Counseling to Change

Grand Opening

Dawn of Life Aesthetics & Wellness

New Location

Habitat for Humanity - Restore

New Location

Southern Sunless Tanning

New Location

Upcoming Events

State of the Community Luncheon

August 22, 11:00 AM

@ Drury Plaza Event Center


Join the Cape Chamber, Southeast Missouri State University, and the City of Cape Girardeau for our first State of the Community Luncheon! This event will provide a valuable opportunity to gain insight and information about the upcoming year from three key leaders: Dr. Carlos Vargas, President of SEMO University, Mayor Stacy Kinder of Cape Girardeau, and Governor Mike Parson of Missouri.



Learn more and register

Chamber 101

August 26, 1:30 PM

@ Cape Chamber Regional Development Center


We invite all new members and new representatives to attend Chamber 101 alongside Chamber staff and Ambassadors. This meeting will allow you to interact with some of our most engaged members, share information about yourself and your business, and will provide you with the tools to get the most out of your annual membership. 


Learn more and register

First Friday Coffee

September 6, 7:00 doors open, 7:40 program begins

@ Century Casino Event Center


Sponsored by: Bug Zero | C.P.U., Inc.

Program: People and Talent - Leadership Cape Project Presentations



Join approximately 200 Cape Chamber Members at First Friday Coffee, an early morning networking opportunity featuring a short program. Doors will open at 7:00 a.m. with the program beginning at 7:40 a.m., continental breakfast provided. 

Sponsor comments and the program will be visible on Facebook Live for those unable to attend in person - please tune-in!


Learn more and register

YPC Trivia Night

September 12, 5:30 PM

@ Scout Hall


Title Sponsor: KRCU Public Radio | Sponsorships Available!


Join us for a fun and engaging 'Generations' Trivia Night for all ages of professionals, hosted by YPC! Form multi-generational teams to enhance your chances of winning as we test your knowledge across different eras. Don't miss out on this exciting opportunity to connect and compete across generations!



Learn more and register

Business After Hours

September 19, 4:00 PM

@ Premier Physical Therapy, LLC


Sponsored by: Premier Physical Therapy, LLC | AVAILABLE


Business After Hours is a classic, casual business networking and relationship building event that helps our members wind down with some interaction in a fun atmosphere. 





Learn more and register

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