Chamber Recognizes “All-Stars” for August
Business Hall of Fame Orientation Scheduled for Wednesday
Young Professionals to Hold Kickoff Event at the Heidelberg Club
Sponsorships Available for Issues” Program on Hotels
Small Business Partners Set Next Speed Networking Date
Local Contractor to Speak at WE-LEaD Lunch’N’Learn
Chamber Opens Registration for 2016 China Trip
Young Professionals Invited to Join Contact List
Instructions Provided for Posting Events on Community Calendar
Safety Committee Seeking Additional Members
Chamber’s “Five Rivers” Cruise Taking Final Reservations
Congratulations . . .
Blue Card Discounts
Chamber Recognizes “All-Stars” for August
The Blair County Chamber’s ability to offer quality programming, events, recognition and advocacy efforts depends largely on the willingness of sponsors to step up to help underwrite the costs associated those efforts. So at the end of each month, we publish a list of businesses or individuals who sponsored anything Chamber-related during the month. They have helped us to make a difference in the business community. For August, those sponsors were: A&A Insurance, Altoona-Blair County Airport, Amber Terrace, Ameriserv Bank, Angelo Pacifico & Sons, AnswerLinks, Atlas Therapy, CTR Supply, Catanese Group, CCS Custom Builders, Cristi Lynn Waltz, LLC, CrossRoads Physical Therapy, Drill Baby Drill Staffing, Epic Pyrotechnics, Irwin Financial, J&P Auto Mart, Jaffa Shrine, JMG Systems, Keystone Payroll, McCartney’s Business Products, Michelle Barnes Optometry, Mountain Side Supply, New Look Uniform Shop, PC Works Plus, Press Box Printing Company, PSECU, Salon Professionals Academy, Seltzer Financial, Steve “That DJ Guy,” Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, The UPS Store, The Winds at Mattern Orchard, Top Hat Chimney Sweeps, Warner’s Landscaping, and Yellow Cab & Transfer Company.
Business Hall of Fame Orientation Scheduled for Wednesday
All businesses and organizations that will be honored at the 2015 Business Hall of Fame Dinner in October will attend an orientation session this Wednesday beginning at 9:00 a.m. at the Devorris Center for Business Development. “This gives us a chance to explain the specifics of the event to the honorees so that there are no glitches on that big night,” explained Lisa Michelone of Reliance Bank, who chairs the Business Hall of Fame Committee. This year’s dinner is set for October 19th at the Blair County Convention Center. For sponsorship information, contact Jessie Covert at (814) 943-8151.
Young Professionals to Hold Kickoff Event at the Heidelberg Club
Following several months of organizing, preparing and prioritizing, the Young Professionals of Blair County are ready to launch a kickoff event. That event will take place on September 23rd from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Heidelberg Country Club in Altoona. The kickoff event will include a picnic/tailgate style buffet, a cash bar and an opportunity to play a variety of games on the Heidelberg’s outside patio. The cost to attend is $15/person for Chamber Members and $20 for non-members. Sponsors for the Kickoff event are: Fiore Brother, Inc.; Home Instead Senior Care; P. Joseph Lehman, Inc.; Mountain Research; and Ward Transport and Logistics. For more information on the YP Kickoff event or to register to attend, contact The Chamber at 943-8151. You can also register online.
Sponsorships Available for Issues” Program on Hotels
On September 30th, the Blair County Chamber will tape an “Issues” program at the Altoona Public Access Studio entitled, “Blair County’s Hotel Dilemma: Too Many or Too Few?” The program will be a 45 minute panel discussion moderated by WTAJ’s Carolyn Donaldson. There will be five panelists from the hotel industry. Sponsorship of the program is just $150. Those sponsorships include several marketing opportunities. For more information, contact Jessie Covert at (814) 943-8151 or email her at jcovert@blairchamber.com.
Small Business Partners Set Next Speed Networking Date
The Blair County Chamber’s Small Business Partners will hold a Speed Networking program on September 22nd from 8:30 to 10:00 at the Devorris Center for Business Development. Registration and continental breakfast begin at 8:00. The cost to participate is just $10 for Chamber members and $20 for non-members. “The previous programs that we’ve held have generated a great deal of interest and have allowed small business people to make a significant number of connections,” explained Partner’s co-chair Tom Duvall. “People who have attended one time are generally excited to come back. We’re expecting a good turnout.” To register for Speed Networking, call The Chamber at 943-8151 or register online.
Local Contractor to Speak at WE-LEaD Lunch 'n' Learn
Jayme Orr Rhodes, founder of Serviam Construction, LLC in Duncansville, will be the keynote speaker at the Blair County Chamber’s next WE-LEaD Lunch 'n' Learn, set for September 24th from noon to 1:30 p.m. at Park Hills Golf Club. Rhodes presentation will be entitled, “Building a Leadership Path: One Woman’s Journey.” Rhodes is a military veteran, born and raised in Altoona, who went on to graduate from the United States Military Academy at West Point with a degree in Operations Research. She served five years as a Captain in the United States Army as an Engineer Officer and served a 15-month deployment to Afghanistan. She was awarded the Bronze Star. After leaving the service, Rhodes worked for the APi Group, a specialty contractor in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She started Serviam Construction in 2012. She completed her post graduate work in 2014, graduating from Penn State’s Smeal Business School’s Executive Masters of Business Administration program. In her spare time, Rhodes enjoys running and recently completed her seventh marathon. The WE-LEaD Lunch 'n' Learn will be sponsored by the Altoona Mirror. The cost to attend is $25 for Chamber Members and $35 for non-members. To register, contact The Chamber at (814) 943-8151 or register online. WE-LEaD is an acronym for Women Encouraging: Leadership, Education and Development.
Chamber Opens Registration for 2016 China Trip
Last Wednesday’s informational session of the 2016 China Trip, sponsored by the Blair County Chamber, drew an overflow crowd at the Devorris Center. Already many of those who attended the meeting have placed deposits. “We’ve had a limited block of tickets available so it’s important that people register quickly to insure that they are able to travel with our group,” explained Chamber President Joe Hurd. “Otherwise, they will be placed with a group that travels either on a different date or from a different airport. The nine-day excursion will take place from April 7-16, 2016 and will once again be conducted through Citslinc. The price remains incredible at $2199 (including flights, meals and all accommodations at 5-star hotels.) The only significant change from the three previous Chamber trips is that the flight originates at Dulles Airport instead of JFK – a real plus to local travelers. Travel to Dulles from Altoona and back are included as part of the trip. For more information, call The Chamber at (814) 943-8151.
Young Professionals Invited to Join Contact List
Now that the Young Professionals of Blair County has put together a Steering Committee to guide its fortunes for the immediate future, it is now hoping to assemble a list of 21-35 year olds to be part of the YP program. A list will be compiled of interested young professionals so that information about upcoming programs and events can be promoted. Anyone interested in joining that list should send contact information to Joe Hurd at jhurd@blairchamber.com. Information can also be accessed on Facebook at Facebook.com/YoungProfessionalsBlairCounty.
Instructions Provided for Posting Events on Community Calendar
The recent partnership between the Blair County Chamber and WTAJ Your News Leader to promote the station’s Community Calendar as a preferred destination for those organizations planning programs and events is now in place and ready for use. “We’re hoping that we can avoid a lot of the scheduling conflicts that create problems for everyone involved,” noted Chamber President Joe Hurd. “We’re happy to be able to post our own events and programs on that calendar and we encourage others to do so as well. It’s convenient and it’s free. That’s a tough combination to beat.” To access the instructions on how to post an event or program, click here.
Safety Committee Seeking Additional Members
The Blair County Chamber’s Safety Committee is looking to expand its ranks as it gears-up for a new season of educational programming. The committee has been effective for many years in helping businesses to look at issues of safety and security. “There are a number of important safety-related things that will challenge both large and small businesses within the next several months and we’d like to get some additional people involved to allow us to better address those things,” explained Barbara Hoover of Teeter Group, who chairs the committee. Anyone interested in joining the committee should contact Stacy Hoover at 943-8151 or email her at shoover@blairchamber.com.
Chamber’s “Five Rivers” Cruise Taking Final Reservations
The Blair County Chamber is heading to Europe in late Fall for its first-ever river cruise. The cruise is being done in cooperation with Heritage Travel. The special wine-themed “5-River European Cruise” will depart from the Chamber Office in the Devorris Center for Business Development on November 3rd, will fly from Dulles International Airport for an overnight flight to Prague and will return on November 13th from Paris. The trip will include one-night sightseeing stays at 5-star hotels in both Prague and Paris with the river cruise in-between. The Chamber trip will feature excursions on the Vistava, Main, Rhine, Moselle and Seine rivers via Avalon Waterways “Visionary,” considered the finest river vessel in Europe. The Visionary accommodates just 128 guests. Brochures on the 5-River European Cruise are available at the Chamber Office and at Heritage Travel. Call (814) 946-1600 for more information.
Congratulations . . .
. . . to Mount Aloysius College’s American Sign Language Interpreter bachelor’s program which is one of only twelve nationally to have achieved its accreditation and the only CCIE accredited in Pennsylvania and the Mid-Atlantic Region.
Blue Card Discounts
To see a complete listing of the Blue Card discounts available, please click here. To have an offer listed, contact The Chamber at 943-8151. There is no fee to offer and have a discount listed.
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August 31, 2015
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Upcoming Events
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Joint Celebration Pinecroft Medical Center
Wednesday, September 9
5:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Pinecroft Medical Center
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Breakfast Club
Thursday, September 10
7:45 - 9:00 a.m.
The Casino at Lakemont Park
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Business BEFORE Hours
Friday, September 11
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Home Nursing Agency Healing Patch
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Business After Hours
Thursday, September 17
5:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Holiday Inn Express
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Speed Networking
Tuesday, September 22
8:00 - 10:00 a.m.
Blair County Chamber of Commerce
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Young Professionals of Blair County
Kick-off Event
Wednesday, September 23
5:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Heidelberg Country Club
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WE-LEaD Lunch 'n' Learn
Thursday, September 24
Noon - 1:30 p.m.
Park Hills Golf Club
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Upcoming Committee Meetings
Week of 8/31/2015
Young Professionals Steering Committee
Wednesday, September 2, 8:30 a.m.
ABCD Conference Room
Legislative Action Committee
Thursday, September 3, 8:00 a.m.
Devorris Center
BASICS Early Childhood Subcommittee
Thursday, September 3, 10:00 a.m.
Devorris Center
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