April Chamber Events

March 1: 1st Friday Coffee Connect at Cutting Edge Countertop

Our 1st Friday Coffee Connect event at Cutting Edge Countertops was a smashing success!

We had a fantastic turnout, with longtime members and some new and friendly faces joining us for a morning of networking, education and delicious treats.

David Schwartz - Director of B2B Sales, Camille Isaacs - Territory Representative, and Mark Williams - Design Consultant, were fantastic hosts offering a great breakfast, information about CEC and their services along with several raffle card drawings!

March 6: Ribbon Cutting for Milford Independent Cinema

We had an incredible time at the Milford Independent Cinema ribbon-cutting event!

Here are some highlights that made the day truly special:

• It was heartwarming to see several dedicated board members join us for this momentous occasion. Their commitment to the cinema’s mission is truly commendable.
• Attendees had the chance to win tickets to watch a movie at the cinema!
• A heartfelt thank you to Teresa Renaud for providing a moving tribute from Senator Jim Runestad’s office. Your words resonated with everyone present.
• The aroma of freshly popped popcorn filled the air, taking us back to the golden days of cinema. The perfect snack to enjoy while reminiscing about classic films and as we learned about the cinema’s exciting events, including the Dinner and a Movie program. PLUS, we discovered local businesses can host employee trainings at the cinema.
• Lastly, we discussed ways in which the community and our members can sponsor the cinema. Together, we can keep the magic of film alive in Milford!

Join us in celebrating the Milford Independent Cinema—a place where art, culture, and community converge.

March 7: Healthcare Network Group at Open Arms Hospice

We extend our heartfelt thanks to CEO/Administrator Dan Cleminte and the entire team at Open Arms Hospice for graciously hosting our recent Healthcare Network Group meeting.

Special acknowledgments go to:

Marketing Manager Lidia Clemente, whose facilitation made the event seamless.

Director of Nursing Tracy Abbo, who shared invaluable insights into the facility’s services and unwavering commitment to quality care.

March 13: Spotlight Lunch at Dickey's Barbeque Commerce

A big shout-out to Joe and Peggy Anicka from Dickey’s Barbecue of Commerce for hosting our fantastic spotlight lunch!



Here’s what made it special:

• Insightful Conversation: Joe shared valuable insights into the exciting happenings at the restaurant. From mouthwatering menu updates to behind-the-scenes magic, we got an exclusive peek into Dickey’s world! 🤩
• Generous Raffle Prizes: Thanks to Joe, we had three raffle basket gift card prizes up for grabs! 🎁🎉 Our lucky winners are in for some finger-lickin’ good times at Dickey’s!
• Great Turnout: It was heartwarming to see so many familiar faces and new friends joining us. The community spirit was alive and sizzling! 🔥
• Networking Bliss: As everyone savored their delicious lunches, our members connected, shared stories, and built lasting relationships. 🤝

March 17: Winter Wonder Bowl

Guests enjoyed a great time at Wonderland Lanes during our annual Winter Wonder Bowl event!

Thanks to our Committee Chair, Cara Gardner and Committee Member, Steve Betel along with our appreciation to event volunteer Holly Gerdom.

Special Thanks to Our Pot of Gold Exhibitors:

Doug Browne provided delightful goodie bags for each bowler to take home and The Lebowski Law Firm, P.C., their coin guessing game added an extra twist of fun!

Lucky Charms Sponsors:Basements Plus, Northcoast Wealth Management, Steven Betel Mortgage, Huron Valley State Bank and Urban Air Adventure Park .

The event was filled with festive St. Patrick’s Day vibes! A backdrop adorned with shamrocks, green cupcakes, temporary tattoos, and hidden pins. Every child who discovered one of the secret pins won a prize! And let’s not forget the joy of knocking down those orange pins to pick goodies from the prize basket!



Thank you to everyone who made this Winter Wonder Bowl magical! 

March 20: Ribbon Cutting for ShelfGenie

Members gathered to celebrate the ShelfGenie Ribbon Cutting event and learn more about getting and staying organized. Keeping things tidy can sometimes feel like climbing Mount Everest! Whether it’s your bathroom, home office, or kitchen pantry, organization matters. That’s where ShelfGenie steps in!

Welcome to the Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce - wishing you all the best and great success!!

March 21: 3rd Thursday Coffee Connect at The Red Poppy

Members of the Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce and the Highland-White Lake Business Association met for a Multi-Chamber Networking Breakfast at The Red Poppy - Bed and Breakfast Center for Renewal. Thank you to the owner, Lynne Johnson-Benaglio for the delicious breakfast spread and hosting at her beautiful facility. It was evident the impact Lynne and The Red Poppy have on the community by the number of participants that joined our gathering.

Thank you to all that joined us including several board members from the LACC, board members from HWLBA, and those in highland that wear several community focused hats in the DDA and township including Highland Supervisor Rick Hamill.

If you're looking for a place to host your event or a retreat for family and friends when visiting, please share with them how to contact The Red Poppy. To learn more about our host, visit www.theredpoppycenter.com.

March 21: Ribbon Cutting for TOCA Wixom

The Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce and Wixom, MI - Government joined together to extend a warm welcome to TOCA Wixom, a new indoor soccer center. Guests had the opportunity to explore the renovated facility. A fresh and inviting space can make a significant difference in creating a positive experience for visitors and participants.

Distinguished guests included State Representative Ann Bollin and Dr. Ajay Raman - Oakland County Commissioner, District 14 joined the celebration. City of Wixom guests included Mayor Patrick Beagle, City Manager Steven Brown and Assistant City Manager Drew Benson just to name a few.

Adam Meldrum, the General Manager, shared valuable information about the facility as we learned more about TOCA’s offerings, training programs, and coaching expertise was enlightening for attendees.

Once again, congratulations to the entire TOCA Wixom team! Their hospitality and commitment to fostering sports and community engagement are commendable. For more information about the facility, visit www.tocafootball.com

March 22: Young Professionals Group March Madness Networking

We’re thrilled to share that the Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce and the Novi Chamber of Commerce recently co-hosted an unforgettable March Madness evening at The-Hub Stadium Novi !

Sponsor Shout-Out: A huge shout-out to Special shout out to Twelve Mile Crossing at Fountain Walk for sponsoring this fantastic event!

Special thanks to our 2024 LACC YPG Sponsors, Ever Studios - SEO & Websites and LaFontaine Automotive Group, for their continued support!

  Event Highlights:

Curling Fun: Our guests had a blast trying their hand at curling, many experiencing this unique sport for the very first time!

Final Four Festivities: The cool upstairs bar and curling area provided the perfect backdrop for some March Madness Festivities too.

Stay tuned for more exciting events and community gatherings. Let’s keep the spirit of camaraderie alive!

#LakesAreaChamber #NoviChamber #MarchMadness #CommunityEvents #BetterTogether

March 27: Ambassador "We Thank You Wednesday" visit

Our Ambassadors met for their monthly meeting and We Thank You Wednesday visit. For this visit, we had the pleasure of visiting Roof-Rite, Inc., in Walled Lake. We brought along some delicious Cinnamon buns to share with the team! It was incredible to chat with this wonderful family-owned business and meet their adorable team mascot, Hannah, who even starred in one of their commercials! Thank you, Roof Rite, Inc., for welcoming us with open arms!

#WeThankYouWednesday #BetterTogether #Ambassadors

Advertising Alternatives

Lou Goutman – 248.363.8994

Valued Member Since 2005

Canine to Five

Liz Blondy – 248.246.6646

Valued Member Since 2021

Cutting Edge Countertops

Cindy Rae – 248-926-8000

Valued Member Since 2023

E&M Consulting, Inc.

Gabe Brunick – 800-572-0011

Valued Member Since 2023

Easterseals Michigan

Heidi Ret – 248.313.2900

Valued Member Since 2014

Five Points of Hope

Erin Welsh- 248.496.8499

Valued Member Since 2019

HAP- Health Alliance Plan of MI

Kyle Ingraham – 248.826.6097

Valued Member Since 2021

Keaton Publications Group - RELOCATE

Larry Ribits – 231.537.3330

Valued Member Since 2010

Michigan Orthopedic Rehabilitation Specialists

Jamie Davey – 248.550.2047

Valued Member Since 2023

NLB Corporation

Jayne Davis – 248.624.5555

Valued Member Since 1993

Pontiac Trail Pharmacy

Carl Hendricks –248.669.2776

Valued Member Since 1991

RE/MAX Classic

Jennifer Egan – 248.396.4814

Valued Member Since 2023

Roof-Rite, Inc.

Jim Brown – 248.668.9151

Valued Member Since 2004

T&M Lawn Maintenance

Terry McNeil – 313.320.5665

Valued Member Since 2014

The Red Poppy

Lynne Johnson-Benaglio – 248.714.6042

Valued Member Since 2018

Viewpoint Psychology & Wellness LLC

Glen Schwartz – 248.669.9500

Valued Member Since 2018

Western Oakland Transportation Authority

Amy Grzymkowski – 248.887.4979

Valued Member Since 2020

White Lake Township Library

April Stevenson – 248.698.4942

Valued Member Since 2021

Wright Renovations

Jeff Wright – 248.396.8885

Valued Member Since 2010

Three-Session Grant-Writing Strategies Course for Individuals and Non-Profits Begins April 3

OCC’s popular community grant writing course provides insights, tools to secure financial support 

Whether you are someone seeking funding for personal projects or as part of a non-profit organization trying to secure financial support, understanding all aspects of grant writing is vital. The Funding Futures: Grant Writing Strategies for Success course offered by OCC’s Continuing Education program is designed to provide participants with the knowledge and confidence to pursue and manage successful grant

opportunities.  

The three-session grant-writing course will be held on Wednesdays April 3, 10 and

17 from 6-8 p.m. on OCC’s Auburn Hills campus. The three sessions include: 

·       Session 1: Funding sources and essentials of crafting impactful proposals 

Session 2: Grant lifecycle and tailoring proposals on content and context  

Session 3: Develop and refine an individual grant proposal with assistance from grant writing experts 

"Successful grant writing doesn't just boil down to being a strong writer; it involves

being a researcher, an evaluator, and ultimately knowing how to craft a compelling narrative that resonates with funders,” said Halie Black, Economic and Workforce Development grants manager at OCC.  “In the Funding Futures course, we equip participants with the skills to find funding opportunities and empower them with the confidence to tell their stories effectively, whether it's for personal projects or organizational goals." 

The cost for the three-session course is $220. For more information and to register,

visit https://www.oaklandcc.edu/ce/grant-writing.   

We are pleased to announce that MiCareerQuest SE 2024 will be back again on November 19, 2024, at the Suburban Collection Showplace – Novi. We are expecting 7,000+ high school students from the six-county region to attend and experience over 200 hands-on, interactive career exhibits in Advanced Manufacturing, Construction, Health Sciences, and Technology.

If you haven’t seen the video from our 2023 event, here is a link to the YouTube video. As you can see, the event provides an excellent opportunity for area high school students to experience a vast number of career options in a short time.

We are asking if you know of any companies who would be interested in providing a hands-on career exploration exhibit, have expertise in a particular field, or have contacts who might be interested in participating, we hope you would be willing to share this extraordinary opportunity with them.

Interested exhibitors and/or sponsors may request to be placed on the mailing list for this event. They will need to fill out the interest form located here: https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=LFnZbWL6UkySDsaYFJSkQ2WR2KzoC4dGs2txj01HqUxUM1lCSlU2S1pZRUZDOTlBWTlXUTRaVUFWVS4u

At The Learning Experience, we are dedicated to providing a platform for showcasing talents, sharing ideas, and advancing careers in Early Childhood Education.



We are currently seeking a passionate individual with daycare or preschool experience to join our team as a Preschool Center Director.

Learn more here

OCC Launches Supply Chain Management Program Beginning Fall 2024 

OAKLAND COUNTY, Mich. – March 13, 2024 – From grocery shortages to issues securing computer chips for new cars, appliances and more, supply chain issues have been at the forefront over the past few years. Manufacturers, retailers and consumers are all experiencing the impact and high costs.

The news is not all bad. These challenges have also highlighted growing opportunities in supply chain careers.

Oakland Community College (OCC) will launch an associate degree in Supply Chain Management to meet the needs of the field’s growing job demand.

The online degree program is tailored to break down the complicated systems of delivering products and services around the globe. Students will learn all aspects of supply chain management including working with data, logic, economic trends, contracts and business practices.

"Supply Chain Management is more than a degree; it’s the backbone of global commerce,” explains program director Eboni Mathis, PhD. "OCC’s program is designed to prepare students for real-world business operations.”

A Booming Job Market with Rewarding Salaries

The average salary for supply chain jobs in Oakland County is $62,161, with a profitable career path. Jobs include industrial production managers; transportation, storage and distribution managers; and logisticians.

“The need for skilled supply chain professionals spans across all industries from technology to agriculture,” said Mathis. “These careers are pivotal in ensuring the smooth transit of goods across the globe.”  

Students in OCC’s new 60-credit program will learn from industry professionals. The programs covers core subjects such as Supply Chain Fundamentals, Introduction to Logistics, Manufacturing Theory, and Purchasing and Procurement. Classroom learning is complemented by a practical internship, offering invaluable industry connections.

For more information on OCC’s Supply Chain Management degree, visit oaklandcc.edu/academics/supply-chain. To apply to OCC, visit oaklandcc.edu/admissions.