Chamber News - June 24, 2015

In This Issue

LEGISLATORS WELCOMED ATJUNE STRATEGIC LUNCHEON

CENTRAL LOUISIANA CHAMBER KICKS OFF FIRST SUMMER RAFFLE

UTLX RECEIVES 2015 LANTERN AWARD FOR CENTRAL REGION

CENTRAL LOUISIANA'S FINEST HONORED AT THIRD ANNUAL BIZZY AWARDS

TIMELESS MED SPA SPONSORS CHAMBER BUSINESS AFTER OURS TO SHOWCASE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY'S ANNUAL GALA

BAKER MANUFACTURING EARNS NATIONAL RECOGNITION FOR INNOVATION IN OFFICE FURNITURE FOR THE FORTH STRAIGHT YEAR

QUICK LINKS

UPCOMING EVENTS

RIBBON CUTTINGS

MOST OF YOUR

Please join us for the Central Louisiana Chamber of Commerce's July Strategic Luncheon featuring Brigadier General Timothy P. McGuire, Commanding General of the Joint Readiness Training Center in Fort Polk.

Brig. Gen. McGuire took command of the Joint Readiness Training Center on March 27. However, he is not new to Fort Polk. As a colonel he served as deputy commander of the JRTC's operations group in a tour that ended in January 2008, when he was named commanding officer of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, at Fort Bragg.

Brig. Gen. McGuire graduated from the United States Military Academy and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army in 1987. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Diplomatic and Strategic History from West Point, a Master's in International Relations as an Olmstead Scholar from the University of Chile, and a Master's in National Security and Strategic Studies from the United States Naval War College.

This luncheon is an excellent opportunity for both Brig. Gen. McGuire and the community to become better acquainted. The Chamber looks forward to seeing you at this fun, July event.

Friday, July 31, 2015

11:30 AM to 1:00 PM

Sai Convention Center

2301 North MacArthur Drive, Alexandria

$20 for Members - $25 for Non-members

$300 Table Sponsor

Sponsorship includes lunch for 10, reserved,

front seating & logo displayed at event & in promotional materials.

Registration closes on

Thursday, July 23 at 5:00PM.
No shows at the event, or cancellations after the registration deadline are responsible for payment.

LEGISLATORS WELCOMED AT
JUNE STRATEGIC LUNCHEON

Suspensions of tax exemptions for business and industry, funding for higher education, and health care, and expanding the boundaries of the Alexandria Port were just a few of the many issues considered during the recent fiscal legislative session. The common opinion expressed by legislators was that they did the best with what they were given. On June 17, the Chamber hosted a Legislative Appreciation Luncheon, offering Chamber members the opportunity to thank area lawmakers for their leadership and support and give legislators a chance to discuss outcomes and take questions regarding the recent session.

Thanks to our event sponsors:

Alexandria-Pineville Area Convention & Visitors Bureau

CLECO

Families Helping Families

Louisiana Campaign for Tobacco Free Living

LSU of Alexandria

Rapides Regional Medical Center

CENTRAL LOUISIANA CHAMBER KICKS OFF
FIRST SUMMER RAFFLE

UTLX RECEIVES

2015 LANTERN AWARD FOR

CENTRAL REGION

Companies from eight Louisiana regions earn honors for quality and community service. Louisiana Economic Development honored the 2015 Lantern Award winners during a private reception held at the Louisiana Governor's Mansion. Lantern Award winners demonstrate excellence in manufacturing and outstanding service to their communities through the involvement of their businesses and employees.

"It is a pleasure every year to celebrate Louisiana-based manufacturers who demonstrate quality in their work processes and a commitment to their local communities," LED Secretary Steven Grissom said. "With their focus on improvement, growth and innovation, these Lantern Award winners exemplify what is best about our state's manufacturing sector. These companies embody quality in their work processes while making significant contributions to the quality of life in Louisiana's communities. We congratulate them on their accomplishments and are grateful for the career opportunities they provide to the people of our state."

Lantern Award winners are selected by Louisiana's eight Regional Planning and Development Districts, with selection based on the contributions of the manufacturers to their communities, including investments in employment growth and facility expansion. Each business also must demonstrate sustainability by remaining in operation at least three years prior to the nomination. This year, UTLX is the recipient for the Central Region.

Click here or on the LEL logo below read the complete media release.

You are receiving this email because you are a member of the Central Louisiana Chamber of Commerce. Don't forget to add [email protected] to your address book so we'll be sure to land in your inbox!

Sincerely,

The Central LA Chamber of Commerce

CENTRAL LOUISIANA'S FINEST HONORED AT THIRD ANNUAL BIZZY AWARDS

The Winners of the 2015 Central Louisiana

Chamber of Commerce Business Awards are:

RoyOMartin Best Overall Business Award

Crest/DIS-TRAN

Best Large Business

CLECO

Best Medium Business

Jeffrey Carbo Landscape Architects

Best Small Business

A tie between Timeless Med Spa and Good People Kitchen

Best New Business

The Geo Group

Best Non-Profit Organization

Alexandria Museum of Art

Best Business Curb Appeal of a Business

Heart of Louisiana Credit Union - Pineville

Best Interior Design of a Business

Honey Brake Lodge

Best Business Website of a Business

Robin Ewing Pools

Best Business Logo

Alexandria River Fete

Best Marketing Campaign

CHRISTUS St. Frances Cabrini Hospital

Best Green Business

Environmental Resource Management

Emerging Leader Award

Bill Wallace

Samuel R. Dunbar Distinguished Service Awards

Harry Silver/Sponsored by Joy Nalty Hodges

Click here to see all of the photos from the 2015 Bizzy Awards!

Special thanks to our sponsors:

Presenting Sponsor

Joy Hodges

Underwritten by

Alexandria Eye & Laser Center
Alexandria-Pineville Area Convention & Visitors Bureau

City of Alexandria CLECO

Crest/DIS-TRAN Diamond B Construction

Echo Powerline LLC Eclectic Products

Environmental Resource Management Heart of Louisiana Credit Union

KALB Kinetix

KLAX-TV Lagniappe Homecare

Louisiana Occupational Health Services LLC Louisiana State University of Alexandria

Mirror Image Salon Inc Premier Urgent Care

Rapides Regional Medical Center
RoyOMartin

The Geo Group

The Rapides Foundation

Timeless MedSpa

Turner Teleco-Alexandria

United Way of Central Louisiana
UTLX

Young Professionals Group of Central Louisiana

YWCA

TIMELESS MED SPA SPONSORS
CHAMBER BUSINESS AFTER OURS TO SHOWCASE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY'S ANNUAL GALA

What better way to begin winding down the work week than with a Chamber Business After Ours. The Mirror Room at the Hotel Bentley set the scene for the June 18 Chamber event, sponsored by Timeless Med Spa on behalf of the American Cancer Society to help showcase the ACS's annual Gala.

YOUR OPINION MATTERS! FILL OUT THIS QUICK, EASY CHAMBER MINI SURVEY & YOU COULD WIN A PRIZE!

The Central Louisiana Chamber of Commerce & Central Louisiana Area Health Education Center are collaborating to assess the interest in launching a regional workforce health/wellness initiative during 2016 - 2018.

The program would provide resources to help businesses & industries to establish new, or to enhance existing onsite health & wellness programs for their employees.

Please click here to provide your feedback to 12 easy questions about your workplace & workforce. The survey will take about 5 minutes. We request your response by JUNE 26, 2015.

The first 200 surveys received will be entered into a drawing for a Summer Party Fun Pack!

Thank you for helping to create a healthier Central Louisiana!

Click HERE to take the survey or click on the image.

BAKER MANUFACTURING EARNS NATIONAL RECOGNITION FOR INNOVATION IN OFFICE FURNITURE FOR THE FORTH STRAIGHT YEAR

JRB Studio, Baker Manufacturing's commercial furniture brand, today announced it has received a Best of NeoCon Silver Award at NeoCon 2015. NeoCon is North America's largest interior design and commercial furniture showcase. This is the fourth consecutive year the company, whose products are manufactured locally in Pineville, Louisiana, has been recognized nationally for its innovation in the design and production of height-adjustable furniture.

JRB Studio was awarded Best of NeoCon in the Systems Furniture Enhancement category for its Animate+SC product line. Animate+SC is a storage-centric, open plan furniture product line with fully integrated height-adjustability. JRB Studio won Best of NeoCon for the incorporation of a new spacer cabinet that enables a worksurface to fully extend above adjacent and perpendicular storage thereby maximizing work space while meeting all relevant BIFMA requirements. In addition to added functionality, the spacer cabinet allows for a more fluid design aesthetic by seamlessly integrating height adjustability.

"Having Animate +SC selected for Best of NeoCon recognition validates the innovation of the ergonomic solutions we continue to bring to market and is a wonderful acknowledgement for the work of Tom Newhouse and the Baker design and production teams," stated Charles E. Martin, CEO of Baker Manufacturing Company, Inc.