Business Hall of Fame Honorees Announced
Chamber Executive Committee Approves Six New Members
“Backbone  Bash”  Set for August 1st at Buccinese Society
Chamber Seeking Fall Intern
GRYP Collecting Donations for “Stuff the Bus”
Barneywood to Host GRYP Summer Bash
Sponsorships Available for Farm-City Dinner
Next Speed Networking Set for August 19th
Chamber Announces Trip to Thailand/Hong Kong in 2015
Coalition on Sustainability to Rebuild Momentum
Reminder: Membership Recruitment Can Yield Great Rewards
Low-Cost Healthcare:  The Chamber Makes It Happen
Save the Date: WE-LEaD Programs
Congratulations . . .
Blue Card Discounts

Business Hall of Fame Honorees Announced
Although the Blair County Chamber’s Business Hall of Fame Dinner isn’t until October 20th, the businesses that will be honored that night have been selected by a panel of judges from outside Blair County.  Entering the Hall of Fame that night will be four outstanding businesses: Holiday Inn Express, Homewood at Martinsburg, J.C. Orr & Son, Inc., and James E. Van Zandt VA Medical Center.  In the category of Young Emerging Business, the honorees are: Bill Sell’s Bold, Diversity Salon & Spa Learning Center and Fox Trot Runners, Inc.  The Arc of Blair County, Bee Line Wholesalers, Inc. and Canary Labs will be honored for Excellence in Small Business.  Nason Hospital will receive the Community Service Award, Ward Transport & Logistics the Safety Excellence Award and Allegheny Lutheran Social Ministries the Technology Award.  The Committee Choice honoree will be “The Door.”  For more information on the Business Hall of Fame, contact Judy Juda at 943-8151 or email her at jjuda@blairchamber.com. 
 
Chamber Executive Committee Approves Six New Members
At its July 17th meeting, The Chamber’s Executive Committee approved the following new members to the organization: Bellwood-Antis Public Library; Bloom Yoga & Wellness; LR. Assist, LLC; Messner Plumbing & Heating; The UPS Store; and Wohler Construction, Inc.

“Backbone  Bash”  Set for August 1st at Buccinese Society
The much-anticipated “Backbone Bash,” sponsored by The Chamber’s Small Business Partners, will be held on Friday, August 1st at the Buccinese Society beginning at 5:30 p.m. The event gives representatives from small businesses the opportunity to network and, in general, have a fun and relaxing time. The cost to attend, which includes food and adult beverages is just $10/person. Door prizes are accepted. Contact Rachel Litzinger at 943-8151 or email her at rlitzinger@blairchamber.com. Host sponsor for the Backbone Bash is JMG Systems. To make reservations for the Backbone Bash, click here.

Chamber Seeking Fall Intern
The Blair County Chamber has an opening for a Fall intern.  Any college student majoring in Business Administration, Business Management, Marketing or Journalism should send a resume to Linda Stotler at lstotler@blairchamber.com.  
 
GRYP Collecting Donations for “Stuff the Bus”
Budget cutbacks have made it almost impossible for schools to provide school supplies to kids who may not be able to afford the tools they need for their education. The Blair County Chamber of Commerce Growth & Relationships of Young Professionals (GRYP) has teamed up with the United Way of Blair County and other area businesses to “Stuff the School Bus” to help get kids the materials they need to succeed. School supplies can be dropped off at the Chamber office, located at 3900 Industrial Park Drive, Suite 12, Altoona, PA, now until July 30.  For more information contact the Blair County Chamber of Commerce at (814) 943-8151.

Barneywood to Host GRYP Summer Bash
The Backbone Bash isn’t the only Chamber “bash” taking place this summer. The Chamber’s Growth and Relationships of Young Professionals (GRYP) will hold its Summer Bash on August 22nd at Barneywood (327 Tee Box Road in Duncansville). The event will begin at 6:00 p.m. and will end at 9:00 p.m. There is also a golf component that will begin at 3:00 that day with prizes for the winning team. The cost to attend the Bash is $10 for members and $20 for non-members.  It includes food, drinks, and all activities (including golf). Door prizes will be drawn. Entertainment will be provided by Nashville recording artist Eric Husick. To register, contact The Chamber at 943-8151 or register online.

Sponsorships Available for Farm-City Dinner
The Blair County Chamber’s Annual Farm-City Dinner will be held at The Park at Morrisons Cove on November 6th.  The highlight of that event will be the presentation of the Agricultural Community Excellence Award to retiring State Representative Jerry Stern. Although the dinner is still a few months away, sponsorship sales have already begun which will provide Chamber Members with an inexpensive opportunity to feature their business or organization. For sponsorship information, contact Rachel Litzinger at 943-8151 or email her at rlitzinger@blairchamber.com. 
 
Next Speed Networking Set for August 19th
The Small Business Partners Committee has scheduled its next Speed Networking event for Tuesday, August 19, from 8:00 to 9:30 a.m. (please note the time is slightly different than the previous ones) in the board room of the Devorris Center. The cost will be $10 for Chamber Members and $20 for non-members. There will be a light breakfast provided. For more information or to register, contact The Chamber at 943-8151, you can also register online.

Chamber Announces Trip to Thailand/Hong Kong in 2015
The success relationship between the Blair County Chamber and Citslinc, Inc. will continue in 2015 with a trip to Thailand and Hong Kong, set for October 30th to November 7th. “The three China trips that we’ve taken with Citslinc have all been first class,” explained Chamber President Joe Hurd. “From talking to some other chambers who have done the Thailand/Hong Kong tour, we have a great experience to look forward to next October.” The Chamber will issue an RFP to its member travel agencies to determine where it will travel in the Spring of 2015. “We’re hoping to be able to offer a great Spring tour as well,” Hurd noted. For more information on the Thailand/Hong Kong tour, call The Chamber at 943-8151.

Coalition on Sustainability to Rebuild Momentum
The Blair County Chamber’s Coalition on Sustainability took an unplanned hiatus this Spring and it intends to make up for lost time. The Coalition, which encourages businesses and schools to take more active roles in preserving the environment and working to educate consumers on the benefits of “going green,” will meet in late August to look at possible projects. The Coalition is also hoping to recruit new members. For more information or to sign-up to be on the Coalition, contact Joe Hurd at 943-8151 or email him.
 
Reminder: Membership Recruitment Can Yield Great Rewards
Despite the best efforts of The Chamber’s dedicated staff, it’s been proven time-and-again that the best recruiters of new members to the organization are other members. “Business people want to hear the message from someone who has already invested in the organization,” reported Doug Mingle of Roaring Spring Department Store, The Chamber’s Board Chair. “It just resonates better.” There’s also a financial incentive for members who get others to join. Bring a completed membership application and a form of payment to the Chamber Office and you’ll earn a $25 gift card to the Chamber-business of your choice. “Too hard to pass-up,” Mingle pointed out. For more information on how to be a Chamber recruiter, contact Joe Hurd at 943-8151.

Low-Cost Healthcare:  The Chamber Makes It Happen
The Blair County Chamber has partnered with Empower3 Center for Health to offer Chamber-Member employers an affordable community-based health plan for their employees. The plan features level group rates, no deductibles, no pre-existing condition exclusions, substantial prescription drug coverage with co-pays of $10 or less and the opportunity to add dental and vision coverage. Call Maureen Frucella for details. Her number is (814) 317-5063.

Save the Date: WE-LEaD Programs
The Chamber’s WE-LEaD Steering Committee has announced two upcoming events.  A WE-LEaD Networking program will be held on September 8th from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Marzoni’s in Duncansville.  A WE-LEaD “Lunch & Learn” will be held on October 10th from Noon to 1:30 p.m. at Park Hills.  More details soon!

Congratulations . . .
. . . to WPS Solutions of Altoona which was recognized by Photizo Group as a leader in managed print services (MPS).  WPS was one of 13 independent providers that Photizo Group selected to participate in the 2014 Leaders Index for MPS Channel Providers, based on demonstrated leadership in MPS.  Photizo Group is a leading transformation firm that assists clients in transforming their businesses from product-centric to services-centric companies.
. . . to Allstate exclusive agency owners Josh Gibson of the Gibson Agency and Cullen Sheehan of Sheehan Insurance Agency whose agencies have been designated Allstate Premier Agencies for 2014.
. . . to Stephen and Kathy McCullough, owners of Servpro of Altoona, who were honored for outstanding revenue performance during the company’s 45th annual convention in Nashville, Tennessee.
. . . to Altoona Beauty School, which was featured in this month’s issue of Seventeen Magazine.

Blue Card Discounts
Here are a few of the discounts you can receive with your Chamber Blue Card. Click here to see the full list of Blue Card Discounts. To have an offer listed contact The Chamber at 943-8151.    

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