Chamber Office Closed for Presidents’ Day Holiday
Retailers Invited to Fact-Finding Meeting
Chamber Board to Continue Look at Strategic Planning Options
ALSM to Host Friday’s “Business Before Hours”
Small Business Partners to Hold Workshop on Personal Branding
Representative Ward to Speak at WE-LEaD Lunch ‘n’ Learn
Safety Program to Focus on Digital Self-Defense
Deadline Approaching for Business Excellence Nominations
Chamber Golf Classic Registrations Being Accepted
Have You Picked-Up Your “Power Cards” Yet?
Congratulations . . .
Chamber Office Closed for Presidents’ Day Holiday
The Blair County Chamber Office will be closed on Monday in recognition of the birthday of Presidents’ Day. The office will re-open on Tuesday at 8:30 a.m. To access Chamber information or to register for a program or event, visit the Chamber Website.
Retailers Invited to Fact-Finding Meeting
Retail businesses that are members of the Blair County Chamber are invited to participate in a special meeting to determine ways that the organization can better serve the needs of Blair County retail. The meeting will take place this Wednesday, February 17th from 8:15 to 9:30 a.m. at the Devorris Center for Business Development. “We’re hoping to get feedback from retailers regarding what they’d like to see happen to make retail in this county all that it can be,” explained Neal Waldron of Home Depot, who chairs The Chamber’s Retail Roundtable. Any retailer planning to attend should call The Chamber at 943-8151 “or just show up,” Waldron noted. “Small or large retailers are both encouraged to attend.”
Chamber Board to Continue Look at Strategic Planning Options
Strategic Planning appears to be a priority for the Blair County Chamber’s Board of Directors during 2016. How that process is initiated and in what form are questions that the Board will discuss this Thursday at the monthly board meeting, set for the Devorris Center at 7:30 a.m. Any Chamber Member wanting to address the Board should contact Joe Hurd at 943-8151 by noon Tuesday.
ALSM to Host Friday’s “Business Before Hours”
The next Blair County Chamber “Business Before Hours” will be held this Friday, February 19th, from 7:30 to 9:00 a.m. at the new corporate headquarters of Allegheny Lutheran Social Ministries, located at 998 Logan Blvd. in Altoona. The event will include tours of the facility and information about ALSM’s array of programs offered for children and older adults. Attendees will also be treated to a light breakfast, featuring scones, fruit, coffee and juice. There is no cost to attend for Chamber members. Non-members may attend for a $10 fee. Pre-registration is strongly encouraged. To register, call The Chamber at 943-8151 or register online.
Small Business Partners to Hold Workshop on Personal Branding
The Blair County Chamber’s Small Business Partners will hold a workshop on Friday, February 19th from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m. at the Devorris Center for Business Development. The title of the workshop will be: “Personal Branding: Finding Your Voice in a Digital World.” The presenter is Laura Chapman, Director of Commercial Insurance with Lacher & Associates. The cost to attend is $10 for Chamber Members and $20 for non-members. To register, call The Chamber at 943-8151 or register online.
Representative Ward to speak at WE-LEaD Lunch ‘n’ Learn
Representative Judy Ward of the 80th Legislative District will be the keynote speaker at the WE-LEaD “Lunch ‘n’ Learn” program, set for February 25th from noon to 1:30 p.m. at Park Hills Golf Club. WE-LEaD, Women Encouraging – Leadership Education and Development, is a program of the Blair County Chamber of Commerce. The title of Ward’s presentation will be, “Breaking Ground: An Open Discussion on the Reality of Women in Politics.” She will discuss her experience in her first year in office, the realities of the job, the level of acceptance by her colleagues and the challenges of balancing family life with work. The cost to attend Lunch ‘n’ Learn is $25 for Chamber Members and $40 for non-members. The cost includes lunch. To register, contact The Chamber at 943-8151 or register online. Corporate sponsor of the Lunch ‘n’ Learn is Seltzer Financial Strategies.
Safety Program to Focus on Digital Self-Defense
The digital world is full of amazing tools, information, and benefits. At the same time, dangers to you, your data, and your business can lurk around every corner. What are some of the best ways to protect yourself and your business from these dangers? What do technologies like WiFi, firewalls, and web browsers even mean to your safety? The Blair County Chamber’s Safety Committee will host a presentation that will examine historical technical security failures, look at special use technology, and share real world examples from local industry experts. “Internet, Computer and Data Security: Self-Defense in the Digital World” will be the program on February 26th from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. at Hoss’s in Duncansville. The presenters will be Jeffrey Sernell, Associate Vice-President for Information Technology at the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown, and Matthew Sernell, President of Eagles Ridge Industries. The cost to attend is $20 for Chamber Members and $30 for non-members. To register, call The Chamber at 943-8151 or register online. Corporate sponosor of the Safety Program is PSECU.
Deadline Approaching for Business Excellence Nominations
The nomination period for one of the Blair County Chamber’s most prestigious awards ends on February 26th. The Lifetime Achievement Award for Business Excellence will be presented at the Annual Business Excellence Dinner on June 13th at The Casino at Lakemont Park. The award recognizes a Blair County businessperson who enjoyed an outstanding business career and who made a positive impact on the community. Previous recipients of the Lifetime Achievement Award are: Ernie Wissinger (2002), G. William Ward (2003), Stephen Sheetz (2004), Donald Devorris (2005), Willard Campbell (2006), John Wolf (2007), Lee Hite (2008), Donald Detwiler (2009), Michael McLanahan (2010), Barry Smith (2011), Fred Imler (2012), Ben Stapelfeld (2013), William Thompson, Jr. (2014) and Timothy Sissler (2015). Nomination forms are available at the Chamber Office or can be downloaded by clicking here. Reservations are also being accepted for the Business Excellence Dinner. Call The Chamber at 943-8151 to make those reservations or register online at www.blairchamber.com. Dinner sponsorships can also be secured by calling Jessie Covert at the Chamber Office or by emailing her at jcovert@blairchamber.com.
Chamber Golf Classic Registrations Being Accepted
Registration is now open for the Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Chamber Golf Classic. The Classic will be held on Monday, May 9 at Iron Masters Country Club with a lunch/registration at 11:00 and tee off at Noon. If you are interested, simply complete the registration form and return to The Chamber! Any questions, please contact Stacy Hoover at The Chamber, 943-8151.
Have You Picked-Up Your “Power Cards” Yet?
The Blair County Chamber’s new “Power Card” is generating an incredible amount of enthusiasm within the Chamber Membership and outside it as well. The biggest challenge: Getting the Power Cards to Chamber members. “We’re trying to avoid the cost of mailing them,” acknowledged Jessie Covert, The Chamber’s Vice-President of Sales & Membership Development. “So we’re hoping that our members are willing to stop-in to the office to pick them up. Otherwise, we’ll hope to get some of our committee volunteers to deliver them. Mailing is our last option.” Any Chamber-Member business willing to pick up their Power Cards can do so on Monday thru Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Limited Booth Space Available for 2016 Blair County Home & Garden Show
The Blair County Chamber of Commerce and the Blair Bedford Builders Association are still accepting vendor booth reservations for the 46th annual Blair County Home & Garden Show to be held March 4, 5 & 6, 2016 at the Jaffa Shrine in Altoona. Exhibitor booth space is open for home and garden-related businesses interested in showcasing their products or services. The show is also accepting vendor applications for the Home Treasures section. Home Treasures offers a boutique-style setting that features home interior items, candles, spices, hand-crafted items, and much more. To reserve a booth or for more information, call Stacy Hoover at the Blair County Chamber of Commerce at 814-943-8151.
Congratulations . . .
. . . to Timothy Harclerode, who was recently named Chief Executive Officer of Nason Hospital in Roaring Spring.
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February 15, 2016
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Upcoming Events
Register online
Business BEFORE Hours
Friday, February 19
7:30 - 9:00 a.m.
Allegheny Lutheran Social Ministries
Corporate Office
Register Here
Small Business Partners Workshop
Friday, February 19
1:00 - 2:30 p.m.
Devorris Center for Business Development
Register Here
WE-LEaD Lunch 'n' Learn
Thursday, February 25
Noon - 1:30 p.m.
Park Hills Golf Club
Register Here
Business After Hours
Thursday, February 25
5:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Catalyst Space
Register Here
Safety Program
Friday, February 26
7:30 - 9:30 a.m.
Hoss's - Duncansville
Register Here
Blair County Home & Garden Show
Friday, March 4 - 1:00 - 9:00 p.m.
Saturday, March 5 - 10:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Sunday, March 6 - Noon - 5:00 p.m.
Jaffa Shrine, Altoona
Upcoming Committee Meetings
Week of 2/15/2016
Chamber Ambassadors
Tuesday, February 16, 8:00 a.m.
Devorris Center
Chamber Foundation Board
Wednesday, February 17, 8:00 a.m.
ABCD Board Room
Retail Roundtable
Wednesday, February 17, 8:15 a.m.
Devorris Center
LBC Youth Committee
Wednesday, February 17, 3:30 p.m.
Devorris Center
Small Business Partners
Wednesday, February 17, 3:30 p.m.
The Chamber
Chamber Board of Directors
Thursday, February 18, 7:30 a.m.
Devorris Center
Young Entrepreneurs Academy Steering Committee
Thursday, February 18, 8:30 a.m.
Devorris Center
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