Informational Meeting is Tomorrow for Chamber’s Trip to South Africa
Deadline for YEA! Applications is September 15th
Only Five Exhibitor Booths Remain for First-ever bizX Event
Saint Francis Offering Tuition Discount to Chamber Members
Moore to Offer Workshop on Working a Trade Show
Safety Workshop to Address Opioid Crisis
ACE Award Nomination Period Concludes Friday
Workplace Wellness Committee Seeking Success Stories
Chamber Foundation Funding Benefits Local Young People
Sustainability Certification Survey Can Be Completed Online
“Business After Hours” Re-Scheduled for September 13th
Business After Hours Opportunity Available
Congratulations . . .
Informational Meeting is Tomorrow for Chamber’s Trip to South Africa
The Blair County Chamber will be traveling to South Africa in 2019. The trip will take place from September 13-24, 2019. It will include four game drives as well as tours of Cape Town, Johannesburg and Victoria Falls. There will be an informational meeting held tomorrow, August 21st at 6:00 p.m. at the Devorris Center for Business Development. There is no charge or obligation to attend but registration is encouraged. To register, call the Chamber at (814) 943-8151.
Deadline for YEA! Applications is September 15th
The Blair County Chamber of Commerce is currently accepting applications for the Young Entrepreneurs Academy 2018-19 class. YEA! is a 25 week program that guides middle and high school students through launching and running their own real businesses or social movements! YEA! is open to all Blair County students in grades 6-12. While in the Academy, students will receive all the necessary tools to launch their very own real, legal businesses. This includes access to valuable experts like attorneys, accountants, business mentors, and graphic designers; plus an audience with investors for real start-up cash! Students will also have the opportunity to win college scholarships and earn dual enrollment credits. The YEA! application is available online at yeausa.org. Scholarships are available for students who meet eligibility requirements. Contact Royce Boyd, Program Manager for details at royceboyd@outlook.com. YEA! classes kick off on October 9, 2018 and will conclude in April 2019. Classes meet weekly at the Penn State Altoona Sheetz Center for Entrepreneurial Excellence in downtown Altoona during the school day. Transportation is provided by the school districts.
Only Five Exhibitor Booths Remain for First-ever bizX Event
The first-ever bizX Regional Trade Show will be held on September 26th from 11:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Blair County Convention Center in Altoona. The business-to-business event is being done as a partnership between the Blair County Chamber of Commerce and the Chamber of Business & Industry of Centre County. The bizX show begins with a luncheon from 11:30 to 1:00 featuring keynote speaker Steve Sheetz, chairman of Sheetz Family Council, whose presentation is entitled, “Risks and Opportunities of Growing a Business.” The cost of the luncheon is $25 for members of either chamber and $40 for non-members. The Exhibit Hall for bizX opens at 1:00 p.m. and will remain open until 7:00. Only five available booths remain (as of August 15th). The show will also include several educational seminars as well as a “Corridor Cuisine” which features food samples from ten regional restaurants. The event concludes with a “Business After Hours” from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. There is no cost to attend bizX although there is a cost of $10 to attend the Business After Hours. Exhibitor costs are $250 for businesses with up to 50 employees and $350 for businesses with 51-and-over. To reserve a booth, contact the Chamber at (814) 943-8151.
Saint Francis Offering Tuition Discount to Chamber Members
The Saint Francis University Graduate School of Business and Human Resource Management has announced an exclusive partnership with the Blair County Chamber of Commerce. Chamber Members and employees will receive a special 15% tuition discount for new students enrolling in Fall 2018, Spring 2019, and Summer 2019 semesters. There are six different start dates per year. Applicants must meet the required standards for admission and make steady progress towards a degree. The discount is only applicable to the Master of Business Administration (MBA) and Master of Human Resource Management (MHRM) programs and cannot be combined with or stacked on other special offers or discount programs. Verification of Chamber membership is necessary. Saint Francis University began the MHRM program in the region in 1961. It was the first university to offer a part-time MBA program in Blair County. The Fall 2018 semester begins on August 27, and Module 2 begins on October. 22nd. Please contact Ms. Nicole Bauman, Associate Director of the Graduate Business Programs and Human Resource Management School direct at nbauman@francis.edu or via phone at 814-472-3026. You can also visit St. Francis on the web at https://www.francis.edu/Master-of-Business-Administration/.
Moore to Offer Workshop on Working a Trade Show
John Moore of Moore Power Sales in Altoona will be conducting a workshop for the Blair County Chamber on September 12th from noon to 1:30 p.m. at the Devorris Center for Business Development. Moore’s presentation will be entitled, “Nine Neglects That Kill Sales at Trade Shows.” The timing of the workshop is not coincidental, admits Stacy Hoover, the Chamber’s VP of Events and Technology. “With the bizX trade show just a few weeks later, this workshop is an ideal reminder to exhibitors of how to make the event work in their favor.” The cost to attend is $20 for Chamber Members and $25 for non-members. Lunch is included. To register, contact the Chamber at (814) 943-8151 or register online.
Safety Workshop to Address Opioid Crisis
The Safety Committee of the Blair County Chamber will hold an educational presentation on September 12th at 7:30 a.m. at Hoss’s Steak & Sea House in Duncansville. The title of the presentation is “Opioids in Today’s Workplace.” Keynote speaker will be Peter Kreckel, a pharmacist at Thompson Pharmacy and the Empower3 Clinic who is also a Pharmacology professor at Saint Francis University. The cost to attend is $20 for Chamber Members and $30 for non-members. A full breakfast buffet is included. To register, call the Chamber at (814) 943-8151 or register online.
ACE Award Nomination Period Concludes Friday
The Blair County Chamber of Commerce is now accepting nominations for the Agricultural Community Excellence (ACE) Award. This award will be presented at the annual Farm-City Dinner held November 1st. Simply complete the nomination form. Deadline for nominations is this Friday, August 24, 2018. You can also access a list of past honorees by clicking here.
Workplace Wellness Committee Seeking Success Stories
As the Blair County Chamber’s Workplace Wellness Committee looks for more effective ways to help local businesses create a healthier mindset among employees, the committee is asking any business that is already experiencing some level of success to share information with others. “We know that there are businesses locally that are accomplishing significant things from the health perspective,” acknowledged Coleen Heim, who chairs the Workplace Wellness Committee and also serves as Executive Director of Healthy Blair County Coalition. “We’re hoping that they’re willing to share what they’re doing and how it’s benefitting their workforce.” From the input, the Chamber will schedule a “Wake Up to Wellness” breakfast during the Fall that will focus on best practices. “We invite businesses to volunteer to be presenters,” Heim pointed out. Any businesses willing to be a presenter should contact Joe Hurd at (814) 943-8151 or email him at jhurd@blairchamber.com.
Chamber Foundation Funding Benefits Local Young People
The Blair County Chamber Foundation helps to fund many of the programs that positively impact the lives of Blair County’s young people as they look to gain greater insight into career opportunities. It’s now easier than ever before to make a donation to the Foundation. Simply go to the Chamber Website and under “About,” will have a drop-down list that will include the Foundation. Click on the Foundation to reveal the “Donation Location,” which will explain how to donate. Your support is important to so many young people in our county. Check it out today!
Sustainability Certification Survey Can Be Completed Online
Chamber-member businesses interested in assessing where they are from a sustainability standpoint will have the opportunity to complete a Sustainability Certification Survey. The survey can be completed online and the results will be compiled and the business notified of the results within a two-month period. One of the other benefits of completing the survey is that the committee will then assign a certification level – gold, silver or bronze – which businesses can then use for marketing purposes. While the committee is still working out the details of the certification process, it’s also looking to compile a Resource List to help businesses who will be looking for assistance in raising their scores. Any Chamber-member business interested in accessing the Sustainability Certification Survey should click here.
“Business After Hours” Re-Scheduled for September 13th
The next Blair County Chamber “Business After Hours,” which had been scheduled for August 23rd, has been rescheduled for September 13th. The change was made due to the recent rainfall that has slowed the completion of the host site – NatureWorks Park. The Park is expected to be completed in early September. To register for Business After Hours, contact the Chamber at 814-943-8151 or register online.
Business After Hours Opportunities Available
The Chamber has a few openings available for a member to host a Business After Hours. Those opportunities are for July 2019 and December of 2019. Anyone interested should contact Stacy Hoover at (814) 943-8151 or email her at shoover@blairchamber.com.
Congratulations . . .
. . . to Master Chelsi Tedeschi, owner of Blair School of Martial Arts, who finished 2nd in Masters Weapons and 2nd in Masters Forms – Female Division at the International Tang Soo Do Federation World Championship held in Washington, D.C. in July.
Power Card Offers: They’re Changing Every Day
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August 20, 2018
Upcoming Events
Business Before Hours
Thursday, September 6
7:30 - 9:00 a.m.
TrolleyWorks Business Park
Register Here
Non-Profit Best Practices
Friday, September 7
8:15 - 9:45 a.m.
Devorris Center
Register Here
Safety Workshop
Wednesday, September 12
7:30 - 9:00 a .m.
Hoss's Duncansville
Register Here
Lunch 'n' Learn
Wednesday, September 12
Noon - 1:30 p.m.
Devorris Center for Business Development
Register Here
Breakfast Club
Thursday, September 13
7:45 - 9:00 a.m.
The Casino at Lakemont Park
Register Here
Chamber Check-Up
Thursday, September 13
3:00 - 4:00 p.m.
The Chamber
Register Here
Business After Hours
Thursday, September 13
5:00 - 7 p.m.
NatureWorksPark
Register Here
bizX Kick-Off Luncheon
Wednesday, September 26
11:30 - 1:00 p.m.
Blair County Convention Center
Register Here
bizX Trending in Business Trade Show
Wednesday, September 26
1:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Blair County Convention Center
www.bizxpa.com
bizX Mixer
Wednesday, September 26
5:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Blair County Convention Center
Register Here
Upcoming Committee Meetings Week of 8/20/18
Executive Committee
Tuesday, August 21, 8:30 a.m.
The Chamber
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