THE

PRESIDENT'S PERSPECTIVE

The Intangibles of Your Membership

Maureen Scallen Failor, DCR Chamber President


The Minnesota State Fair opens today! This signals summer is coming to an end and the fall season is beginning. I hope you can attend the fair as large events are now getting back to normal. It is a tradition for my family to attend the fair, and I look forward to returning after a two-year absence!

 

The President's Prospective continues to be a resource and value to our members. I have heard many positive comments from you about this new communication tool. This brings to mind what the value proposition of the DCR Chamber provides to its members and community partners. There are tangible and intangible outcomes that the Chamber delivers, and I would like to focus on the intangibles.


The intangibles brought to our members and community partners are hard to see as there are not specific metrics that validate the value proposition. When reviewing your annual membership investment, we would like to point out these valuable intangibles:

 

Advocacy work at the city, county, state, and federal levels.

I spend many hours working at the different levels of government to ensure the “voice of business” is being heard and protected, ensuring that a business-friendly environment can be sustained in our communities is one of our top priorities. Over the course of this year, I will spend over 300 hours conducting advocacy work, which is over $15,000 that we save our member businesses. These endeavors alone pay for a chamber membership.

 

Assisting business owners with navigating through the permitting process. 

It can be very stressful as a small business owner navigating through the process of opening or expanding their business. The Chamber helps with this process, so the business owner can keep moving forward and focusing on their business. These hours are invaluable for members and can easily pay for a chamber membership.  


Working closely with City Leadership and Community Development departments.

We meet monthly with city leadership and community development individuals from our official cities. We provide each other timely updates of projects and issues that are happening in our communities. This represents well over 100 hours annually, which again is cost savings to our members for the work done on their behalf.

Place Your Nominations


We are in full gear planning our upcoming Business Excellence Awards Celebration on Friday, October 28, at the Radisson Blu – Mall of America


Please consider nominating your business, a deserving employee, or another member for one of the following awards:


Small Business of the Year (less than 50 employees)


Large Business of the Year (50+ employees)


Nonprofit of the Year Award


Emerging Leader of the Year Award


Legacy Award

 


Nominations due by

5:00 PM on

Friday, September 16.


NOMINATE HERE

Meet A Board Member


Ryan O'Gara

Government Affairs, SKB Environmental


What is one thing you would tell a member about being in the DCR Chamber? 

The DCR Chamber recognizes the importance of having a broad regional voice to support our local communities and businesses, while also providing the critical assistance that only a local chamber can provide. We are always battling other Metro-Area regions for limited resources and attention—DCR Chamber is uniquely poised to keep Dakota County businesses at the table. Dakota County really has a lot to be proud of and a lot to look forward to—DCR Chamber and its members truly make this a great place to live and work.


What is your favorite thing to do in Dakota County?

I love spending time with my family—whether it’s at the Zoo or Lebanon Park or any one of the numerous baseball fields (throwing batting practice to my son).  

DCR Chamber, The President's Perspective


Issue 4

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