8 tips for holiday travel 5

Help your employees quit smoking 6

Chamber events calendar 14

M O N T H LY
December 2 0 11

emphasis

Meet Us @ 5!
The Tower Bank Meet Me @ 5 Dec. 15 PLUS: The 2012 Meet Me @ 5 schedule See Page 14

1 Annual R eport

2010 -1

E Excerpts from our 2011-12 A Annual Report. Pages 8-9

T H E G R E AT E R F O R T WAYN E C H A M B E R O F CO M M E R C E

f wc h am b e r.o rg/emph a si s

Is your organization running on empty?

The Graduate Retention Program can help!

Expert training for your staff!

Supervisor Boot Camp Managing Millennials Survive and Thrive in a Multi-Generational Workforce Professional Skills for Interns The Art of Interviewing for the Non-HR Person Personalized training to meet your needs
Great topic matter and very well presented. Fun, fast-paced, applicable, and eye-opening!

Internship program development

Let Graduate Retention help you develop a strong internship program that not only benefits your organization, but also develops your future workforce. Plus free resources to help you find your next superstar intern!
Your service has been very instrumental in the success of our internship program.

Connect with Educators and Career Services to inspire future leaders!

Programs like Industry to Educator, TechFEST, TechCAMP, and Educator Consortiums allow you to interact with teachers and students in a unique environment.

Free resources and expert advice to help you succeed!

www.fwchamber.org/grad 260-424-1435

LETTER

FROM

THE

PRESIDENT

Mike Landram CEO and President The Chamber mlandram@fwchamber.org

Chamber members and friends, With just days until the annual Taste of the Chamber, our team is certainly in the holiday spirit. The Chamber building is beautifully decorated thanks to the hard work of several dedicated volunteers and team members. Soon the building will be buzzing with the best restaurants and caterers Fort Wayne has to offer. Id like to take a moment to thank each of you who participated in this years annual meeting. This sold-out event was extra special this year thanks to the great people who attended. We were thrilled to have so many exceptional Chamber members present in our building for this event. Id like to personally thank our sponsors: STAR Bank, Indiana Tech, Frontier Communications, and Parkview Health. Well be celebrating with our members at the annual Tower Bank Holiday Meet Me @ 5. Flip to Page 14 for info on the celebration and get the 2012 schedule of Meet Me @ 5 events. Inside this months pages youll also find ideas on last-minute gifts for your employees from

Office Depot along with Dave Youngs advice on happier holiday travel. In addition, there are tips for keeping your upcoming New Years resolutions from Buy With PQC and PHP. This months feature article is a look back on our past year at The Chamber. As I look back, Im reminded that we didnt do these things alone. It was with your support that we were able to accomplish so much for the Greater Fort Wayne business community. Im also reminded of the exceptional team of people serving our members at The Chamber. In the words of Ray Kroc, Youre only as good as the people you hire. Luckily for our members and for me, Ive hired some really great people. I often hear about the great service our team provides and let me tell you, our accomplishments could not have been reached without them. Wishing you the best and brightest holiday season!

emphasis
Volume 21, Issue 12 Mike Landram President/CEO Michelle Merritt Vice President of Membership and Communications Deb Boyd Controller Jennifer Fisher Graduate Retention Program Manager Katy StaffordCunningham Director of Government Affairs Dave Young Vice President of Air Service Development

M O N T H LY

INSIDE

THIS

ISSUE

Jon Swerens Director of Communications and Emphasis Editor Lauren Richwine Communications Specialist and Photographer
Emphasis Monthly is a publication of The Greater Fort Wayne Chamber of Commerce. 826 Ewing Street Fort Wayne, IN 46802 (260) 424-1435 www.fwchamber.org communications@fwchamber.org Printed by KPC Media Group Inc., publishers of the Greater Fort Wayne Business Weekly

A limited amount of advertising in Emphasis Monthly is available exclusively to Greater Fort Wayne Chamber of Commerce members. For rates and information, contact KPC Media Group: Lynn Sroufe Fort Wayne general manager lsroufe@kpcnews.net (260) 426-2640 ext. 304 Lynette Donley Fort Wayne advertising sales manager lynetted@kpcnews.net (260) 426-2640 ext. 305 Or visit the web site: fwbusiness.com/emphasis

4 The ins and outs of the city budget 4 Last-minute gift ideas for the workplace 5 8 tips for happier holiday travel 6 Help your employees kick the smoking habit 7 Will Millennials be better off than their parents? 8 Excerpts from The Chambers 2010-11 annual report 9 Your Chamber discount guide 11 The real power of Leads Groups 11 New and renewing members 12 Spending tips for businesses before the new year comes 13 Ribbon cuttings 14 Chamber Calendar of Events

CO V E R P H OTO B Y L AU R E N R I C H W I N E

The mission of the Greater Fort Wayne Chamber of Commerce is to create a vibrant economic environment by supporting business, advocating on behalf of the business community, and fostering community partnerships to advance a common economic vision.

WEB

SITE

SPONSORS

DECEMBER 2011

E M P H A S I S M O N T H LY

GOVERNMENT

AFFAIRS

The ins and outs of city budget

Melissa Beber Government Affairs Coordinator The Chamber mbeber@fwchamber.org fwchamber.org/gov

Follow us on Twitter
Find us on Twitter at @FWGovConnect

The Fort Wayne City Council has approved the budget for this upcoming year. But you might be asking yourself, How does the city create and adopt a budget? I am here to give you the inside information. How is the budget created? The Fort Wayne city budget process begins with city departments preparing and submitting draft budgets to the mayor. Once approved, the proposed budget ordinance is offered to city council for introduction. Departments can be asked to come before city council to discuss their budgets in greater detail. How is the budget adopted? City council must introduce the budget ordinance, hold a public hearing, pass it through committee session, and vote for final approval in regular session. During committee session, the proposed budget is discussed by city council members who can offer amendments to cut the budget, but not to increase it. The final step is for the Department

of Local Government Finance to review and certify the budget and tax rate. How did this years budget turn out? About the same as 2011. The mayor proposed an $180.4 million budget, up slightly from the 2011 budget of $183.7 million, which included a 2.9 percent property tax increase to raise an additional $3 million in revenue. Members of City Council filed 30 amendments totaling about $4.7 million in cuts. Proposed cuts included $200,000 from Parking Enforcement to eliminate 3 staff positions, $1.1 million from the Fleet Department, and $300,000 for consultants. The Council voted to eliminate the property tax increase, but did not pass any budget cutting amendments. The City Council, in a 6-2 vote, approved the budget. What does this all mean? The City has an approved balanced budget. However, the City will need to spend about $3 million from the cash reserves to balance the budget if all approved expenditures are made.

With PHP, the dollars we spend here stay here.

www.p hp ni .com

Don Hunter General Manager Sycamore Hills Golf Club

PHP Covered Group Since 1995
Last year more than 500,000 passengers made Fort Wayne International Airport their first stop...traveling coast to coast and around the world. Serving you is our business. Were always ready to see you off safely and welcome you home. Thank you.
SM FWA, serving you at a whole new altitude.

E M P H A S I S M O N T H LY

DECEMBER 2011

AIR

SERVICE

DEVELOPMENT

Dave Young Vice President of Air Service Development The Chamber dyoung@fwchamber.org fwchamber.org/air

A plane takes off from Fort Wayne International Airport in this file photo.

8 tips for happier holiday travel

The holiday season brings with it the desire to see friends and family, and for a large portion of us, that means taking a flight somewhere. Some of us fly quite a bit, while others do not, but whatever your frequent flyer status is, its always good from time to time to do a mental check down of those things that will make the experience better. So heres a list of tips that Jessica Miller from Fort Wayne International Airport has put together, for rookies and veteran flyers alike, to help keep you moving during your holiday travels: Do the research Research your trip well in advance to secure the lowest-priced flights, rental cars and hotel stays all of which sell out quickly during the holidays. Check-in online Use your airlines online check-in feature to check into your flight up to 24 hours in advance. Check for delays Its best to check online for possible flight delays before you even leave your home. Up-to-date FWA flight information can be found online at www.flyfwa.com. Tag your bag Make sure that all checked and carry-on bags are properly tagged, inside and out. Arrive early Airlines recommend that you arrive at the airport 1 hours before your flight. Remember, the ticket counters close 30 minutes before each flight if you arent checked in by then, you may have a problem. Know the rules at TSA Youll need your boarding pass and a government-issued photo ID (drivers license, social security card, birth certificate, etc.) to get through security. Also, know the rules of 3-1-1: All liquids, gels and aerosols must be 3.4 ounces or less in 1 quartsized, clear plastic bag, 1 bag per passenger. For a complete list of TSA policies and prohibited items, visit www.tsa.gov. Dont wrap gifts Dont bring wrapped gifts on board the plane, keep them in checked bags or wrap them upon arrival. Be prepared Although the airlines do their best to keep flights on time, delays do happen. So bring some music, snacks, a pillow or a good book to pass the time or stop by FWAs new Samuel Adams Brewhouse and Seattles Best Coffee for dinner and a cold brew. Holiday travel can be stressful, but the more you know, the better youll survive any mishaps. Feel free to call the Fort Wayne-Allen County Airport Authority at (260) 747-4146 with any other questions you might have regarding your holiday air travel plans. Happy travels and happy holidays!

DECEMBER 2011

E M P H A S I S M O N T H LY

CHAMBER

PARTNERS

The Chamber discount

If your business has 2 to 50 employees, you qualify for a discount of up to five percent on your small business insurance premiums from PHP. Average annual savings is $3,500. To receive a free quote, call PHP at (800) 9826257 or visit www. phpni.com and click on the Chamber Discount Program link.

How to help your employees kick the smoking habit

Smoking and tobacco use cost U.S. employers between $97 and $125 billion every year through increased medical expenses, higher insurance rates, added maintenance expenses, lower productivity and higher rates of absenteeism. Most smokers want to quit smoking, so how can employers help employees kick the habit? Here are a few tips: Make your workplace tobacco free If you still allow tobacco use at your workplace, look to institute a policy that would eliminate tobacco use on your campus. A tobacco free policy will not only help tobacco users quit, but will protect the health of all your employees. Get connected with Quit Now Indiana Contact them at www.quitnowindiana.com or 1-800-QUITNOW. Heres what you can do: Become a Quit Now Preferred Employer. This free program provides access to great resources for employers wanting to help their employees kick the habit.

How much does smoking cost your business?

Complete the following formula: Number of employees: Indianas smoking prevalence Addl. health costs (per year) Extra expense per year: ______ 0.23 $3,391 $_________

Refer employees that want to quit to Quit Now Indiana. Those looking to quit can receive: free information on quitting tobacco use, one-onone telephone counseling, and referrals to local quit programs located within their community. There is also a limited supply of stop smoking medication available. Offer free or reduced-cost smoking cessation pharmacotherapy A multi-faceted approach to quitting smoking will increase cessation success rates significantly. Work with your health insurance provider to see which medications your plan covers and learn more about your options. Contact Tobacco Free Allen County A local resource that will help you with smoking cessation and other tobacco control programs. Contact them at (260) 420-7484. The most important thing that an employer can do to help their employees kick the habit is to show support. Providing resources and opportunities to those that would like to quit smoking will result in a healthier workforce, ultimately reducing future health care expense from smoking-related conditions. Sources: Indiana Department of Health: www.in.gov Quit Now Indiana: www.quitnowindiana.com

E M P H A S I S M O N T H LY

DECEMBER 2011

G R A D U AT E

RETENTION

Will Millennials be better off than their parents were?

Jennifer Fisher Graduate Retention Program Manager The Chamber jfisher@fwchamber.org fwchamber.org/grad Follow us on Twitter: @gradretention

Every generation has the same pressure: Do better than their parents did. We place expectations about job security, financial success, and multiple other factors on up-and-coming generations. For Millennials, who started with these same expectations, the ability to do better than their parents may not be within their reach. Things looked bright until the recession Leading up to the recession, Millennials had high hopes, big dreams, and huge expectations. As they entered the workforce, they made ripples that created interesting perceptions about their generation, some of which are probably true, many of which are not. Their generation has been like no other. Highly entrepreneurial, many of them started their own businesses and found a great deal of success. Their sense of community and volunteerism is unmatched. Times were good for the early Millennials. Then the recession hit. Deemed one of the worst financial crises since the Great Depression, young adults have been hit the hardest by the recession. 18- to 25-year-olds have the highest rate of unemployment. A third are underemployed. Many moved back home with their parents. Research indicates that a large number of them are delaying adulthood activities like buying a house, getting married, and starting a family. While the cultural implications of the recession will be unknown for many years to come, the financial impact has had a detrimental impact on young adults trying to get their careers off the ground. Years of recovery What may be the most unfortunate side effect of the recession for Millennials is the amount of time it may take many of them to recover financially from it. Lower starting salaries can often take decades to overcome, and for those Millennials taking any job they can get, their careers may never fully recover. Even those Millennials who were lucky enough to get jobs at the beginning of the recession arent making much more money now than when they

started. The financial impact of this may be felt for many years to come as Millennials work to pay off debt with little left over to save for retirement. One of the biggest problems for Millennials in this economy is they are no longer competing against other young adults for entry-level positions. They are competing against professionals with far more experience who are willing to take any position just to keep food on the table. For a young person straight out of college with very little experience, the prospects may seem very grim, and for those who bypass college altogether, well, the question is, what prospects? No easy answer I wish I had an answer for this problem. The issues with the economy are much bigger than I can solve in a one-page article. What I do know is we need these young people in our workforce. Eventually, baby boomers will retire, even if they dont want to. If no plan is place to get young adults into a company and get them trained, the problems of the recession may grow even bigger. I truly believe our business community needs to be involved now with our colleges and high schools to help students be prepared for the workforce. That means getting students immersed in organizations throughout Northeast Indiana. If local organizations are not working with educators to provide young people with skills to help them be successful, then we will continue to see young adults struggling in this economy. So how can you help? Offer an internship, externship, job shadow, or class tour at your company. Volunteer to speak at local high schools and colleges. Get involved with local Career Services offices for mock interviewing, professional skills training, and other events. Connecting now may help you get your next superstar in the future! For more details on how to get involved with our local high schools and colleges, contact me at jfisher@fwchamber.org. We have an opportunity to make a difference here but it takes all of us willing to step up to create change!

Upcoming events
December 14 High School Educator Consortium, Fort Wayne Airport: Open to all High School educators. Please visit www.fwchamber. org/grad for more details or contact Jules Overby at joverby@fwchamber. org to sign up. March 10, 2012 TechFest12: Interested in being a sponsor? Contact Jules Overby at joverby@fwchamber.org. Get your company in front of high school students, educators, and parents from all over Northeast Indiana at this one day gaming event.

DECEMBER 2011

E M P H A S I S M O N T H LY

CHAMBER

NEWS

Excerpts from The Chambers

2010-11 Annual Report

For the first time in many years, The Chamber is producing an annual report. Here are portions from the report, which can be downloaded at www.fwchamber.org/annualreport.
In the 2010-2011 fiscal year, The Chamber approached its programming, projects, and finances conservatively but with great optimism and dedication to serving our members. Membership has grown to 1,650 organizations, making The Chamber the second-largest metro Chamber in Indiana. The Chamber also maintained more than 86 percent of its membership through services, programs, and opportunities for involvement not found in other organizations.

Graduate Retention
The goal of the Graduate Retention Program is to attract and retain high school and college graduates through programs designed to connect young people to internships in our region. Over the course of the year, Graduate Retention staff helped to create and advertise more than 400 internships on IndianaINTERN.net from Northeast Indiana, and worked with 72 new companies who registered on the web site. GRP Field Reps logged more than 1,700 contacts with employers throughout Northeast Indiana, up almost 25 percent over last year. A newly updated IndianaINTERN.net was launched in the spring with helpful features and a complete matching component to assist employers and interns with their search. Graduate Retention will continue to be a leading expert in internship creation in the Northeast Indiana area, working with local companies to develop solid programs to create new opportunity for high school and college graduates in our region.

Government Affairs
The Greater Fort Wayne Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs Department took the 20102011 fiscal year to focus more on local government. In addition to being engaged on state and federal issues, the local government issues have a great impact on our members. As a result, we have been engaged with such issues as the co-location of the city of Fort Wayne and Allen County. The 2011 Indiana General Assembly Session was not without excitement. We were successful on 84 percent of our legislative agenda issues. Overall, we successfully advocated for Two percent decrease of Indianas corporate income tax Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund reform Unemployment Insurance Tax relief for employers Expansion of the Venture Capital Investment tax credit Helped a Fortune 500 member with a property tax issue Support funding for our areas higher education institutions

Air Service Development

As with prior years in the airline/aviation industry, this last year has been full of challenges and issues, changes that have reduced flights ,increased air fares, decreased competition, and has seen the continuation of the overall degradation of the air transportation system in the United Sates. The impact of the economy continued to force capacity reductions, and retirement of inefficient aircraft, have had an impact operations at FWA and elsewhere. Fortunately, the schedule restructuring that has occurred at FWA appears to have

E M P H A S I S M O N T H LY

DECEMBER 2011

DISCOUNT GUIDE
PHP member discount If your business has 2 to 50 employees, you qualify for a discount of up to five percent on your small business insurance premiums from PHP. Average annual savings is $2,500. To receive a quote, call PHP at (800) 982-6257 or visit phpni.com and click on the Chamber Discount Program link. Office Depot savings Chamber members can save 60 percent on core catalog items and four percent off retail catalog purchases. Contact Chris Michaels at (260) 249-3977. PCQ Group Purchasing Organization Prairie Quests GPO provides Chamber members with the opportunity to purchase products and services at prices typically only available to large companies. Info at buywithpqc.com. Cirrus ABS eBusiness Suite for the Web The Cirrus ABS eBusiness Suite provides web site services for members seeking more affordable alternatives to traditional web site designs and set up. Read more at fwchamber.org/cirrus. Comcast Business Class This program provides Chamber members with exceptional Internet services at a substantial discount of up to $29.95 per month. Info: fwchamber.org/comcast. Sams Club savings Chamber members receive a $25 gift card for a Plus membership or a $10 for a Business membership. Info at samsclub.com/membership.

Annual R eport
Download and read the complete annual report
Go to fwchamber.org/annualreport.

2010 -11

Event discounts and admittance Every employee of each of our members receives the member price for Chamber events. Also, all employees of members can attend member-only events, such as the Third House Forums. Meeting rooms Members get free usage of meeting rooms large and small in the Chamber building during business hours. Call 424-1435 for details. Promotion and referrals Members can create and offer member-to-member coupons on the web site. Members also get free promotion to a readership of 24,000 through Emphasis and free phone and web referrals. Notarization and certification of origin Free for members by our front desk staff.

resulted in a more cost- effective operation for all the airlines that serve FWA, and with fuel prices somewhat stabilized, the financial health of all the airlines has markedly improved this year. FWA has been fortunate during this past year as non-stop service to Minneapolis/St. Paul was reinstated, a third non-stop Atlanta flight was added by Delta, as well as a third non-stop Dallas/Fort Worth by American, and Allegiants resumption of its popular, seasonal Myrtle Beach flights. The upcoming year looks to be a challenging as the past; therefore, we will continue to push forward to promote the desires of the region for an increase in non-stop destinations, affordable fares and for the continued success of our local airport, Fort Wayne International.

Get complete details online at fwchamber.org/getsaving

DECEMBER 2011 E M P H A S I S M O N T H LY 9

CHAMBER

PARTNERS

Human

Last-minute gift ideas for the workplace

Now that we are well into the holiday season, Im sure youve completed all of your shopping, right? If youre like me, you still The Chamber have several people you need to get something for. discount Nothing says thanks better than giving your best customers Chamber members can and employees something spesave 60 percent on core cial. I would like to share with you catalog items and four some items its not too late to get percent off retail catabefore the holidays. log purchases. Monitor Add your logo and make sure expenses with monthly they will be thinking of you for a reporting, and order online, via phone or fax, and long time to come. For your customers, think through retail stores. simple with cups, mugs or water For more info, contact bottles. If youre giving these to Chris Michaels at (260) someone that sits at a desk all day, 249-3977. you can brighten up their life with something they will use regularly. The New Year is approaching and why not stay top of mind for the entire year with a desk calendar, weekly planner, hanging wall calendar or my personal favorite, a keyboard calendar. Candy dishes and candy with your logo are awesome, because you can continuously replenish their dishes throughout the year. Your customers will begin to associate those delicious candies with your business and will look forward to your arrival. Other ideas include plaques, trophies, certificates, calculators, pencil cups, or desk pads. Any of which they will love, just because you thought of them. What about your employees? Apparel is always great. They will feel proud to work for you when they are sporting their polos, Sweatshirts, or Dress Shirts. Briefcases or Computer Bags are also great ways to show your appreciation to your hard working salespeople. Offering Candy, Soda, or coffee is another easy way to build moral and show your people youre thinking of them. All of these are great ideas, but the most important thing is that you were thinking of them and they will appreciate and remember that the most. For more ideas or how to fill your last minute orders, give me a call. I would glad to help. Happy Holidays!

Interaction

Professional Collaborations & Partnerships Amenities

Developers & Creatives

Cool Environment

Like-Minded Community

Shared Workspace

Gulya Alexander, Operations Manager, Destination: Your Future

FLEXIBLE COWORKING & PERSONAL OFFICE SPACE

Just the space you want, whenever.
Interested? Contact Gulya Alexander @ 260-407-6450 or galexander@niic.net
10

In Innovation Park, directly adjacent to IPFW and Ivy Tech North Free parking E M P H A S I S M O N T H LY DEC www.destinationyourfuture.com E M B E R 2 0 1 1

CHAMBER

INSIDER

E-billing rolls out at The Chamber

If youve renewed your Chamber membership in the last three months, you might have noticed something different. The Chamber has switched to e-billing. The Chamber is sending all invoices to members via email with information on how to login to your account and pay the bill online. Other Chamber services, such as ribbon cuttings and ground breakings, have either switched over to e-billing or are in the planning stages. By using e-billing, The Chamber makes better NEW AND RENEWING MEMBERS
Elvis Services, Inc. Elwood Staffing Endodontic Associates, Inc. Fort Wayne-Allen County Economic Development Alliance Fort Wayne Community Schools G & L Corporation Georgetown Bowl Girl Scouts of Northern IndianaMichiana Glenbrook Square Goegleins Catering Grinsfelder Associates Architects, Inc. H & W Tool Machine Repair & Rebuilding, Inc. Harlow Enterprises, Inc. Harrison College Health Insurance Inc. Holley Management, Inc. Hoosier Sports & Chiropractic Hunt Club IKON Office Solutions ITT Communications Systems ITT Technical Institute Indiana Refractories, Inc. International Business College Invisible Fence of Fort Wayne JAM Impressions Michael Kinder & Sons, Inc. Kingston at Dupont Kingston Care Center Lawn & Turf Landscaping, Inc. Laws Country Kennel Lebamoff Cap-N-Cork Leepoxy Plastics, Inc. Lincoln Coders Corp. R. Gregory Lowe, Ph.D., P.C. M & S Electric Manchester College School of Pharmacy Markeys Rental & Staging Master Spas McDonalds (South Anthony Boulevard) Medical & Dental Business Bureau Norfolk-Southern Corp. Northeast Allen Veterinary Services, Inc. ODaniel Automotive, Inc. Orthopaedics Northeast (ONE) Paragon Tube Corp. Parkview Hospital Power Plant Service Premier Glass, Inc. Primco, Inc. Protechs, Inc. Quadrant, EPP Raytheon Company Right Relations, Inc. ScreenCheck North America, LLC Shelton Financial Group, Inc. Snyder Distributing, Inc. SourceOne Group, Inc. Stewart Richardson & Associates Summit City Radio Group Three Rivers Apartments Tinkels, Inc. Trelan Nursery, Inc. Tuthill Transfer Systems United Way of Allen County Volunteer Lawyer Program of Northeast Indiana WAJI-FM & WLDE-FM Wayne Pipe & Supply Inc Willows of Coventry YMCA of Greater Fort Wayne YWCA

use of each member dollar. Such a green business practices cuts down on excess waste. Were excited to put technology to use for our members in a way that supports efficiencies for all of us, said Deb Boyd, Greater Fort Wayne Chamber of Commerce Controller. Of course, if you prefer to receive your invoice the old-fashioned way, all you have to do is call The Chambers Karen Patterson at (260) 4241435 and shell be sure its mailed to you.

Renewing members

More online
Find more about these businesses and all of our members in our online business directory at fwchamber.org/ directory.
New members October 2011 ADT Security CVC Communications The Cellular Connection #412 Freedom Academy Graebel Indianapolis Movers, Inc. Indiana Society of Chicago Foundation Island Club Apartments The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society The Medical Spa/Indiana Vein & Laser Center Northeast Indiana Public Radio Patriot Tire Play It Again Sports Qdoba Mexican Grill QMAP Solutions, LLC The Reserve at Dawsons Creek Apartments The Shiloh Hall Sikich LLP Stuart Manufacturing Summit City Chorus Summit Hearing Solutions, Inc.

Renewing members October 2011 Abacus Child Care & Early Learning Center Accu-Label, Inc. All Occasion Party Rental Leonard J. Andorfer & Co., LLP Anthony Wayne Business Exchange Anthony Wayne Credit Adjusters, Inc. Aptimise Asher Agency, Inc. Avery Dennison B2B CFO Baden Retirement Plan Services Baden, Gage & Schroeder, LLC Dave Bennett Electric, Inc. G. W. Berkheimer Company Best Buy Mobile-Glenbrook Square Brotherhood Mutual Insurance Company Roy Buskirk Real Estate Catholic Charities Christen Souers, LLC Classic Cafe, Inc. Clinkenbeard Dentistry Colligan & Company, Inc. Community Harvest Food Bank Connollys Do It Best Hardware Consumer Credit Counseling Service Copper River Cabinet Co. Custom Engineering & Fabrication, Inc. Dantzer Heating & Cooling, Inc. Digital Communication Products, Inc. Early Childhood Alliance, Inc. East Allen County Schools Eddie Merlots

DECEMBER 2011

E M P H A S I S M O N T H LY

11

CHAMBER

PARTNERS

Spending tips for businesses before the new year comes

Find out more
Visit buywithpqc.com or call the office at 260-420-7374 for more information.

Christmas shopping. Holiday parties. Snow delays. Corporate budgets? Yes, budgets! 2012 may still be a few weeks off, but there are plenty of things entrepreneurs should be doing now to ease the pain. Prepare for what next year may bring especially if those books arent exactly in order. Many entrepreneurs have a visceral reaction when it comes to budgeting and record-keeping, but they need to get caught up to figure out how to stay ahead in 2012. According to the IUs annual Business Outlook Panel, the economy will expand by 2.5 percent to 3 percent next year. So, every dollar continues to count! Maximize your expenses and get the best out of every purchase. This needs to be a high priority for small and mid-size business. So put down that turkey sandwich and get to work. Here are a few tips: Tip No. 1: Check Industry Standards Not all businesses are alike, but there are similarities. Therefore, do some homework and peruse the local library for information about your industry, speak with local business owners, talk to the

local SCORE advisors, or visit the Indiana SBDC. Small businesses can be extremely volatile as they are more susceptible to industry downturns than larger, more diversified competitors. You only need to look for an average here, not specifics. Tip No. 2: Look To Cut Costs If times are tight and money must be found somewhere in order to pay a bill, advertise, or capitalize on an opportunity, consider cost cutting. One tip is to wait to make purchases until the start of a new billing cycle, or to take full advantage of payment terms offered by suppliers and creditors. Some thoughtful maneuvering here could provide the business owner with relief and expansion room. Specifically, take a look at items that are a controlled cost option. Consider joining the BuyWithPQC GPO, where weve done this work for you! Tip No. 3: Shop Around for Services/Suppliers Dont be afraid to shop around for new suppliers or to save money on other services being performed for your business. This can be done at various stages, including when purchasing or starting up a business, when setting annual or monthly budgets, and during periodic business reviews. At the BuyWithPQC GPO, we reach out quarterly to evaluate our vendors and get best pricing. Our prices are set for a year, which helps your budget by reducing market fluctuations that you can never plan for on your own. Tip No. 4: Review the Business Periodically While many firms draft a budget yearly, small business owners should do so more often. In fact, many small business owners find themselves planning just a month or two ahead because business can be inconsistent and unexpected expenses can throw off revenue assumptions. Whatever you do, be vigilant. 2012 looks to be another challenging year for small and mid-size businesses.

12

E M P H A S I S M O N T H LY

DECEMBER 2011

RIBBON

CUTTINGS

Christopher James Menswear: Participating in the Oct. 6 ribbon cutting ceremony at 6410 W. Jefferson Blvd. were Chamber member representative Linda Skaggs, Bob Hatcher, Vince Speciale, Max Isroff, owner Chris Lambert, Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Mike Landram, Cathy Schueler, Sherill Handy, and VP of Air Service Development Dave Young.

P H OTO S B Y L AU R E N R I C H W I N E

The Cellular Connection: Participating in the Oct. 14 ribbon cutting, from left, are regional assistant Amanda Loche, Chamber member representative Linda Skaggs,regional accounting representative Rachel Villenueva, store manager Josh Amsden, sales representative Nick Berkshire, sales representative Gina Anabatwi, American Cancer Society community representative Melissa Stephens, Chamber communications director Jon Swerens, and regional manager Nichole Anderson.

Let us host your ribbon cutting or groundbreaking! Details: www.fwchamber.org/openings

DECEMBER 2011

E M P H A S I S M O N T H LY

13

CHAMBER

CALENDAR

OF

EVENTS

DEC

Taste of The Chamber

Bigger. Better. Tastier! Join the Fort Wayne Chamber of Commerce for the community holiday party of the year! Three floors of networking, food, and beverages, plus a cash bar on all three floors. Cost: $10 in advance, $15 at the door Thursday, Dec. 1 | 5-8 p.m. The Chamber building, 826 Ewing St.

DEC

Presidents Lunch with Joe Dorko

Every month, meet a local business leader Chamber President and CEO Mike Landram hosts this lunch with Joe Dorko, President and CEO of Lutheran Health Network. Cost: $25, including meal | Limited to the first 10 Chamber members to sign up Tuesday, Dec. 6 | noon-1 p.m. Chops Wine Bar, 6421 W. Jefferson Blvd.

DEC

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Tower Bank opens its lobby for annual Chamber event
The annual Meet Me @ 5 at Tower Bank on East Berry Street has become a holiday tradition. The event in the decorated lobby in the Lincoln Tower is one of the highlights of the Meet Me @ 5 schedule and of downtown Fort Wayne. Dont miss any of our 2012 Meet Me @ 5 events. Heres the schedule: Jan. 19: Calhoun Street Soups, Salads & Spirits, 1915 S. Calhoun St. Feb. 16: Rothberg, Logan & Warsco and Landquest Title Group, 505 E. Washington Blvd. March 15: TinCaps, Parkview Field Apr. 19: IPFW Alumni Association, 1528 E. California Road (across from Memorial Coliseum) May 17: Indiana Stamp, 1319 Production Road June 21: Catalyst Marketing Design, 930 S. Calhoun St. July 19: Lutheran Life Villages and Holiday Inn Fort Wayne, 4111 Paul Shaffer Drive Aug. 16: Club Soda, 235 E. Superior St. Sept. 20: Easter Seals ARC, 4919 Coldwater Road Oct. 18: WFWA, 2501 E. Coliseum Blvd. Nov. 15: Lake City Bank, 6851 W. Jefferson Blvd. Dec. 13: Tower Bank, 116 E. Berry St.

Cirrus ABS Info Session

A new Chamber member benefit Thinking of launching a web site or the web site you have needs changes? Hear the Cirrus ABS team describe the benefits of their eBusiness Suite. Cost: Free Tuesday, Dec. 13 | 7:30-8:30 a.m. The Chamber building, 826 Ewing St.

DEC

Meet Me @ 5: Tower Bank

Enjoy an evening of networking with hors doeuvres and a cash bar Cost: Member: $5 | Nonmember: $10 Thursday, Dec. 15 | 5-7 p.m. Tower Bank, 116 E. Berry St.

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Sign up for our events!

Go to our web site at www.fwchamber.org/events to get more details and register.

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E M P H A S I S M O N T H LY

DECEMBER 2011

Thank you to

for its generous sponsorship of The Chambers web site

See Parkview Healths member page on The Chambers web site at www.fwchamber.org/parkview

www.fwchamber.org

TASTE
OF THE CHAMBER
Three floors of networking and delicious food and beverages

The holiday party of the year!

Thursday, December 1st 5-8 p.m.

The Chamber, 826 Ewing St. Advance tickets: $10 at fwchamber.org/taste or at The Chamber At the door: $15

fwchamber.org/taste