January Newsletter 2018

THE BEDFORD BANNER

January 2018

In This Issue

Preparing for Success

Directors Spotlight

A Mindful Workplace

Business Development Minutes

What the Chamber Did in December?

SEEKING CHAMBER AWARD NOMINATIONS

Who Wants to Be on TV?

Chamber Calendar

Follow us on Facebook

Preparing For Success

We are looking forward to a prosperous 2018 here at the Bedford Chamber of Commerce, this month's newsletter titled "PREPARING FOR SUCCESS!" gives us a brief look back at some of the activities the Chamber has been involved in over the past year. The Bedford Chamber of Commerce experienced a memorable 2017. Not only did we accomplish membership growth, with the addition of Membership Director Jane Patterson, but members saw the value of being connected and being part of an organization that contributes to the good of the community.

"In Business, for Business" is our tag line no matter the size of your business or location. I encourage you all to enjoy the Chamber and to get involved !

Maureen Sullivan

Executive Director

Chamber Events & Initiatives

6 Catch the Net After Hours

4 Ribbon Cuttings

4 Multi- Chamber Networking Events

8 Businesses filmed on Chamber Connections

Summer & Winter Walk About

5 Leadership Luncheons

Work Place Safety Summit

Women in Business

Summer and Holiday Celebrations

Flavors of Bedford

Goddard School Trunk or Treat

Sotheby's Senior Prom Stroll

Suzanne & Co. House Tour

Annual Dinner & Chamber Awards

12 Bedford Banner Publications

Business Development Highlights

Great Road Retail Market Survey - Great feedback for what town residents and people who work in town would like to see.
Sign Illumination Improvements in Industrial Districts (Passed at Fall Town Meeting)
New Business Permitting Guide - assisted town in developing this guide
Flyer for Small Business Recruitment in Bedford - assisted town in developing this guide

Director Spotlight

The 2018 Board of Directors

Adam Schwartz ~ Couponsurfer

Erin Sandler ~ Qunistance

Josh Franklin~ Merrill Lynch,

Chuck Duran ~ Carlton & Duran, CPAs

Maria Porto ~ Hanscom Federal Credit Union

Dave Adams ~ AFC Urgent Care

Sheena Santos ~ Barrett Sotheby's Inter Realty

Danielle Beck ~ Danielle Beck, MSN, RN, NP-C

Pamela Brown ~ Brown & Brown, P.C.

Ethan Wagner ~ Elite Freestyle Karate

Caitlin Campopiano ~Middlesex Community College

Daisy Girifalco ~ The Bedford Childrens Center

Sonia LaRock ~Cambridge Savings Bank

Rob Look ~ Middlesex Savings Bank

Jim Sullivan ~ DSA Printing

Amy Castrello ~ Doubletree Bedford Glen Hotel
Steve Taylor ~ ServPro Lexington/Bedford
Alan Shoemaker ~ MITRE

Bud Koor ~ Great Road Gallery & Framing

Richard Fields ~ Lexington Symphony

Laura Hatziandreou ~ Express Pizza

Lauren Derse ~ Learning Express & Playof Bedford

President Adam Schwartz has been a Bedford Resident since 1996 and has a degree in Meteorology. He is a co-founder and the CEO of CouponSurfer, Inc. which is based in Bedford. Adam has over 20 years experience in the E-comme rce and software industries.

President Adam Schwartz

He has personally created marketing campaigns for hundreds of retailers. Prior to founding CouponSurfer, Adam developed
partnerships with companies including Microsoft, Oracle and CNET.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

1st Vice President

Erin Sandler is the owner of Quinstance, a boutique carrying American-made and fair trade goods and gifts. She founded the shop in Burlington in 2015 and moved it to Lynnfield at the end of 2017. Prior to Quinstance, she pursued a PhD in English Literature at Tufts University, taught college English for 7 years and worked in a variety of administrative roles in both higher education and at e-commerce start-ups. She lives in Bedford with a menagerie of family and pets.

A Mindful Workplace

Kick off the new year by attending our first leadership luncheon,

"A Mindful Workplace"

with Laurel Kilbourne

January 17, 2018

Waxy O'Connor's

84 Hartwell Road

Lexington , MA

11:30 AM -1 :00PM

$20.00 includes lunch

Optimizing the workplace dynamic, one OM at a time. Yoga instructor, Laurel Kilbourne specializes in collaborating with corporate team leaders to optimize organizational culture, improving productivity and retention of valuable talent.

She will offer an inter-active presentation on the beneﬁts of mindfulness in the workplace through fun, easily assimilated and accessible yoga and meditation programs in the workplace for both employers and their employees.

Click here to register

Business Development Minutes

1. Jeff Cohen gave an update from Planning Board on the Great Road Rezoning Project.
Their next public meeting is January 16th where final edits to the proposed business zoning regulations will be made. The first public hearing on the proposed zoning regulations is scheduled for January 23. The Board plans to present the amendments at Annual Town Meeting in March. For information about the rezoning, please visit: bedfordma.gov/great-road-zoning-project

2. Great Road Rezoning Project FAQ/Outreach. The group came up with 26 questions. The initial feedback from planning board is positive. The next step is for planning board to come up with answers to these questions. They will also organize/combine some of the questions.

The group had a brief discussion on outreach to businesses and residents and had several ideas:

A. Setting up a "Great Road" business group meeting (similar to what is currently done with Crosby Drive and Wiggins Avenue districts) in order to provide information about the proposed new zoning.
B. Chamber Meeting. Jeff Cohen is planning to attend the next Chamber Board meeting and plans to give an overview/summary of the zoning changes.
C. Chamber Networking Event. The group discussed combining an upcoming Chamber networking event with information about the rezoning - i.e. "Come learn more about the proposed zoning changes on Great Road and network with other businesses". This should be open to all businesses in and around the Great Road and can also be used as a recruiting opportunity for the Chamber.
D. Chamber Outreach. This would be a great opportunity for a Chamber to take on as one of their 2018 tasks in reaching out to businesses. This would involve the Great Road Rezoning project up until town meeting in the Spring and could include additional projects (i.e. sign bylaw changes) in the future.

3. Business Survey. The group had a short discussion about what would have the biggest impact and came up with the following;
Signs, Permitting and understanding the Code Enforcement process.

What the Chamber Did in December

Winter Walk About

Suzanne & Co. Holiday Hou se Tour

Board of Directors Meeting

Chamber Holiday Celebration

SEEKING CHAMBER AWARD NOMINATIONS

Bedford citizens, business owners and community leaders are invited to submit nominations to the Chamber for several prestigious awards to be given in February to honor local business representatives.

Each year the Chamber names a Business Person of the Year, Business of the Year, Diversity Award, Ray of Hope and Outstanding Service to the Chamber Award.

Business Person of the Year: Conducts their business and themselves with regard to their business dealings in a highly ethical and exemplary manner. Is a good citizen within the community, taking time and effort to serve the community in productive and volunteer efforts.

Business of the Year: The business is conducted in a highly ethical and exemplary manner. The business is a good citizen to the town by financial and/or resource support to community activities and operations.

Diversity Award: Has significantly contributed to the diversity awareness in the town. Demonstrates an attentiveness and a willingness to continually improve the atmosphere to work, shop and live in Bedford.

Ray of Hope:H igh school age young people who have performed outstanding service to the Bedford community and/or who by their actions are excellent role models for their peers.

Anyone wishing to make a nomination for any of these awards is encouraged to send the name, address and a brief one page description of the nominee to the Chamber. Deadline for all nominations is January 15 2018. Awards will be presented at the Chambers' Dinner in February.

WHO WANTS TO BE ON TV?

We are so excited to offer our members another new FREE benefit! We are partnering with o ur friends at Bedford TV to produce a monthly show called CHAMBER CONNECTIONS . In addition to promoting our events/activities, Chamber members will be interviewed providing great exposure for their business. The show will be broadcast on Public channel and also through their website. Contact the Chamber if you are interested in learning more.

Check out your fellow Chamber members

Barre 3

Callahan's Karate

Express Pizza

Bedford TV

The Bedford Rotary

Dr. Dianne Bridgeman

AFC Urgent Care

Chestnut Dental

The Learning Express Toys & Play

The Bedford Citizen

Mindy Polak-Fusi ~ A Place for Words

Dr. Hesby

Friends for Matty

Erin Sandler ~ Quinstance

Donna Bruno ~ Uvisualize