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In this June Issue...
- Message from the President
- Message from the Chair
- Upcoming Events
- All About the Chamber's Councils & Committees
- New Members
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Message from the President
Colleen discusses the Chamber's new website and the complimentary tools that are available now, or will be coming soon to better serve our members. She also gives an update on the Chamber's member committees and councils, and what they are currently tackling to continue to better the Chamber's Circle of Influence.
To read Colleen's message, click here.
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Earl shares about addition of new committees, task forces and councils made up of the over 40 individuals that sit on the Chamber's Board of Directors. For the first time in Chamber history, every Board member sits on one of these bodies and many serve on more than one.
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Opening Networking Breakfast
A NEW chamber pilot program, this open networking breakfast is open to all Amherst Chamber of Commerce members and their guests. Each meeting will feature a different member of the Chamber's Board of Directors. June's meeting will spotlight Amherst Chamber of Commerce President and CEO, Colleen DiPirro. The first breakfast will be Wednesday, June 14th, 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. at Staybridge Suites. Cost is $5 per participant and includes breakfast. Click here to register.
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Business Before Hours - A free networking event!
Join us Tuesday, June 20th from 7:30 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. for our June Business Before Hours hosted by Badding Bros. Farm Market. Click here to register.
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Business Resource Council Business Valuation Lunch
Join us Wednesday, June 21st from 12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. as Thomas Schwartz of Lougen Valenti Bookbinder and Weintraub, LLP provides an introduction to business valuation; what your company is worth; as well as transition and succession planning. Tickets are $10 and include lunch. Click here to register.
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Emerging Business Leaders Summer ProMix
Young professionals, don't miss EBL's signature summer event, Thursday, June 22nd from 5:30pm-8:00pm on the fantail of the USS Little Rock at Canalside. The event welcomes the region's young professionals (21-40ish) for an evening of enjoying the background music of the Canalside Concert Series while dining, drinking and creating new professional connections. Tickets are $40 and may be purchased here.
If you are not a member of the EBL demographic, we encourage you to share this event with your employees and associates who are!
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All About the Chamber's Councils & Committees
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The Amherst Chamber of Commerce prides itself on being an inclusive organization. We strive to continuously offer our members an opportunity to get involved, affect change, and mobilize action. The Chamber currently operates five working councils and committees: Public Policy, Business Resource Council, Economic Development, Membership Services, and Emerging Business Leaders.
Membership in each is on a voluntary basis, and open to active Amherst Chamber members. If you would like to get involved call the Chamber at 632.6905 or email the corresponding chamber staff contact listed under each council or committee below.
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Business Resource Council
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Economic Development Council
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The economic landscape of our region is changing. Amherst and other first ring suburbs are experiencing a shift to a preference for work environments among office tenants and workers to our urban core. As a Suburban Chamber with a Regional Vision, we are committed to creating a Community Development Plan that will provide a blueprint for adaptive re-use of underutilized or outdated properties.
The goals and objectives for the Economic Development Committee are:
- To review current status of the town’s economic status as it relates to employment, building vacancies
and job creation.
- To develop consensus for need for in-fill projects that may increase parcel density.
- To discuss and decide upon reasonable incentive policies to reach goals.
- To work with regional economic development agencies to promote our findings and instigate
investment.
For more information on how to get involved contact Colleen at [email protected].
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Emerging Business Leaders
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Emerging Business Leaders (EBL) consists of young professionals, under the age of 40, who convene to increase their network, expand their leadership skills and support local philanthropic causes. Y
oung professional communities are a powerful tool to build social currency and further professional goals.
The goals and objectives for EBL are:
- To provide forums for young professionals to interface and build their networks.
- To access Leadership Training to assist them in growing professionally.
- To interface with current regional leadership via the Matchmaker Program
EBL's Board of Directors have recently put together its own Strategic Planning Committee that will be creating a strategic plan specifically for EBL. The final plan will guide the council's future projects, events, and programming.
For more information on how to get involved contact Kaitlin at [email protected].
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Member Services Council is charged with auditing current member offerings; evaluating their utilization and profitability and making recommendations for additions and deletions. These efforts will aide in growing and sustaining membership.
The goals and objectives for the Membership Services Council are:
- To launch market driven programs and services.
- To maintain 85% membership renewal annually.
- To grow membership by 10% annually
- To grow Investor commitments by $50,000 per year for three years
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The Public Policy Council regularly reviews issues of commonality with the business community and, after careful vetting, takes a position if appropriate.
The goals and objectives for the Public Policy Council are:
- To interface with the membership to solicit policy issues at all
levels of government for our consideration.
- To host Public Officials Briefings with our elected officials, on
both sides of the aisle at all levels of government, for the
purpose of nurturing relationships and communicating our
positions.
- To develop an Annual Public Policy Agenda that identifies the
issues we will be supporting.
For more information on how to get involved contact Colleen at [email protected].
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Christopher Mikulec
Ellie Grenauer
Elisabeth Carlson
Lisa Derrett
Joan Seamens
Cheryl Lickfeld
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Ask the Expert -- with Rich Argentieri, VP of Sales
at Independent Health
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Q: What does the term "coordination of benefits" mean?
A: Coordination of benefits (COB) is a process that helps ensure individuals covered by two health insurance plans receive the benefits they are entitled to while avoiding overpayment by either plan. When a member is covered by multiple health plans (e.g. insured under their employer's health plan, but also covered under their spouse's health plan), one plan is considered to be the primary carrier and the other is considered to be the secondary carrier. The primary carrier covers the major potion of a claim according to plan allowances, while the secondary carrier covers any remaining allowable expenses. Benefits are coordinated between both plans to ensure that payments do no exceed 100% of charges for the covered series.
By having your benefits coordinated correctly, you are able to get the most out of your coverage, which can ultimately lead to lower out-of-pocket costs. To learn more about coordination of benefits,
click here.
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University at Buffalo News
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UB eLab helps launch five new Buffalo startups
Five University at Buffalo startups were selected to receive the Student Entrepreneur Fellowship after pitching their ideas to a panel of judges at the UB School of Management on May 12.
The Student Entrepreneur Fellowship Competition is the culmination of the Entrepreneurship Lab (eLab), a boot-camp-style business course that gives students from any academic discipline the skills to develop and manage a successful new venture. Continue reading...
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Thank You to Our Investors
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Amherst Chamber of Commerce | (P) 716.632.6905 | (F) 716.632.0548 | www.amherst.org
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