2003 Highlights Pocono Mountains Chamber of Commerce
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Pocono Mountains Chamber of Commerce Stroudsburg, PA Executive Committee Bruce Denlinger - Chairman of the Board Matthew Connell - First Vice Chairman December 2003 VOL. 31, NO. 12 John Casella - Second Vice Chairman Bob Hay - Treasurer Denise Manhart - Secretary Joseph McDonald - Assistant Secretary Jamie Keener - Assistant Treasurer 2003 Highlights Pocono Mountains Chamber of Commerce Barbara Samet - Past Chairman The Pocono Mountains Chamber of Commerce, through its Resource Center and the Vice President, Business Development/Government Affairs, has added strength and stability to the business landscape of Monroe County. Staff Since January of this year, your Chamber has served over 350 individuals who desired to open a new business or Robert Phillips - President/CEO Patricia Metzgar - Office Administrator purchase an existing business through one-on-one counseling and group workshops. Forty-three individuals – a Parviz Alasty - Vice President, Business Development/Government Affairs rate of over twelve percent – have succeeded in opening or purchasing a business and eleven more individuals Miriam Conway - Office Assistant are in the process of doing so. The Vice President has also worked closely with over 55 existing businesses, Debbie Burke - Communications/Special Events Coordinator helping them to survive, expand, grow, refinance and connect to the right resources to achieve these goals. The Resource Center provides workshops and seminars to help entrepreneurs with their start-ups. With our help, more Board of Directors than 36 new businesses have started this year, creating over 100 new jobs. Kristina Anzini Karen Goumakos Kathleen Mullins Linda Seliger Major highlights of 2003 include: CEO Reception EXPO 2003 Paul Canevari Donald S. Hannig Charles Niclaus Jack Wallie This event took place at the Stroudsmoor ESSA was the major sponsor of the Expo, which Denise Cebular Gary Hazen Jane Niering Gail Warner Annual Awards Country Inn, honoring new CEOs Scott Fainor, took place at East Stroudsburg University’s Larry Crimi Robert Hillman Nancy V. Perretta Bill Wells Awardees for 2003 included William Cramer President and CEO of Nazareth National Bank; Koehler Field House. More than 160 exhibitors Gene Dickison Donna Houser Ann Pilcher Frank Wirth (Frank Schoelch Community Commitment participated in the two-day event. Robert Dillman Tim Kelly William Prall Damian Braga, President of Aventis Pasteur Award), Steven Jakubowitz (Citizen of the Year US; and Dr. Art Scott, President of Frank Epifano Chris Kurtz Lynn Price Award), Eugene Leblond (Businessperson of Kim Filipkowski Eugene Leblond Frank Revitt Northampton Community College. Governor Rendell’s Andy Forte Victoria Mavis Michael Riley the Year Award), Father Thomas McLaughlin Economic Summit Daisy Gallagher Gregory Menio Isaac Sanders (Humanitarian of the Year Award), and Coral Culinary Celebration of the The Chamber participated in this event held at John Gerlach Chuck Motson Paul Schuchman Washburn (Gray Chevrolet Oldsmobile Poconos East Stroudsburg University, where Gov. Ed Cadillac of the Poconos ATHENA Award). About 300 people attended this event featuring Rendell met with about 150 business leaders, Design and On-Demand Full Color Digital Printing by JENAGRAPHICS more than 20 Chamber-member eating elected officials, economic developers, Balloon Festival establishments, wineries and bakeries. academic leaders and representatives from The 19th Annual Shawnee’s Pocono faith-based organizations to discuss economic PERIODICALS Mountains Balloon Festival was a three-day Environmental Committee: Save development goals for the region. POSTAGE PAID AT event seeing crowds totaling about 20,000 who Our Planet Awards STROUDSBURG, PA 18360 enjoyed balloon launches, fireworks displays, These awards acknowledge outstanding or Health Care Task Force food and craft vendors and rock, soul and innovative environmental contributions in This group was created to identify the (USPS 380-890) country music. categories including businesses, institutions, problems and possible solutions to the rising Pocono Mountains Chamber of Commerce non-profits, government, travel and tourism, cost of health care, which has replaced taxes 556 Main Street volunteer organizations and individuals. as the number one concern of business Stroudsburg, PA 18360-2093 In This Issue owners. (Continued on page 3) Phone: (570) 421-4433 From the Chairman……....…...Pg. 2 FAX: (570) 424-7281 Crescent Lodge, Holiday Mixer Route To: E-Mail: [email protected] Restaurant of the Month ❄ __________ URL: http://www.poconochamber.net …………………..………....Pg. 4 Date Change! __________ Printed on recycled paper. Welcome New Members……...Pg. 5 For more information❅ please see flyer “Promoting Prosperity in the Poconos” Membership Anniversaries…...Pg. 7 inside this edition❅ of Impact. __________ Is your address correct? If not, please change on label and return to Pocono Mountains Chamber of Commerce. Pocono Mountains Chamber of Commerce IMPACT December 2003 Pocono Mountains Chamber of Commerce IMPACT December 2003 From the Chairman of the Board November 2003 Seeking Monthly Breakfast Ertle Suzuki-Auto.Pace.com Calendar of Events December 2.......Women in Business Steering Committee Sponsors Hosts Business Card Exchange 12 noon – PMCC If you are interested in becoming a sponsor for our Monthly Approximately 100 Chamber members and their guests gathered at December 3.......New Member Breakfast Breakfasts, we are currently booking for 2004. These events provide Ertle Suzuki-AutoPace.com. for the November Business Card Exchange. 8 a.m. – PMCC a great way to expose other members to your business in a fun and In addition to the networking opportunities, attendees enjoyed great .............................Membership Committee informal setting. Please call Pat at 421-4433 for more information. food and a chance to view Ertle’s new facility. 4 p.m. – Nazareth National Bank The December Holiday Mixer is scheduled from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. December 5.......Legislative Committee on December 10 at Great Bear Country Club. For more information or 8 a.m. – PMCC to make reservations, see the flyer in this issue of Impact. December 8.......Education Committee Noon – Monroe County CareerLink December 9.......Leadership Pocono Steering Committee For Members Only Mailings- 8 a.m. – PMCC ............................Women in Business Luncheon A Great Chamber Benefit Noon – Stroudsmoor Country Inn Just a reminder that our “For Members Only” mailers are a great ............................Culinary Committee way to introduce others to your business. If you provide the flyers, 4 p.m. – PMCC we do the rest. Flyers must be on an unfolded 8 ½ x 11” sheet, can December 10.....Economic Development Committee be printed on both sides, and should be delivered to our office by 5 As my term as Chairman comes to a close, I cannot help but reflect 8 a.m. – PMCC p.m. on the first Friday of the month to be included in that month’s on what a great year it has been. We are well on our way to achieving ............................Executive Committee mailing. The best part is this is a great marketing tool that helps you our strategic plan’s goals and every special event we sponsored has Noon – PMCC been a success. ............................Holiday Mixer reach 1600 Chamber members. Book three consecutive months None of this could have been accomplished without the teamwork 5 to 8 p.m. – Great Bear Country Club and pay in advance and the cost is a discounted $100 per month. and dedication of our staff and members. I would again like to December 11.....Pocono Plateau Committee For more information contact the Chamber at 421-4433. thank Pat, Angela, Peter and Miriam for all they do. Their 8 a.m. – Mt. Pocono Municipal Building outstanding work ethic has made this another banner year for the December 15.....Quality of Life Committee Pocono Mountains Chamber of Commerce. 8 a.m. – JR’s Green Scene Our President and CEO Bob Phillips is a valuable asset to the December 16.....Board of Directors Chamber. He was always available when needed and we should be HR Committee New Member Welcome Packet proud to have someone like Bob representing the Chamber. 11 a.m. – Best Western Pocono Inn The HR Committee has already begun to plan 2004’s HR In 2004 the Chamber will be creating New Member Welcome No one person makes an organization successful. Teamwork is .............................Small Business Development Committee the key to our success and it starts with the Executive Committee, Noon – PMCC Conference, scheduled for September 21, 2004 at a location to be Packets designed to offer new Chamber members discounts on working its way down to the Board of Directors and the various December 19 ...Monthly Breakfast announced. The committee is seeking volunteers to help identify goods and services of Chamber member businesses. This one-time committees that make the Chamber the great organization it is 7:30 a.m. – Best Western Pocono Inn issues that HR professionals and business owners are interested in, marketing tool is a great way to offer coupons and other types of today. December 22.....West End Committee in order to plan seminars for this event. Also upcoming for 2004 discounts while getting the word out about your business. Those This year’s Executive Committee was just one example of 8 a.m. – Western Pocono Library are the monthly committee meetings, which will concern HIPAA interested in participating in this special New Member Welcome teamwork at its best. No matter what the issue or event that came December 26.....Environmental Committee regulations and controlling unemployment costs. For more Packet can contact the Chamber at 421-4433. before the committee, everyone was willing to work together to do 8 a.m. – PMCC information contact Vickie Mavis at 610-588-0128. what was best for the Chamber and the community we serve. This was also true of the Board of Directors. They did not rubber-stamp every Executive Committee decision but were willing to listen and ❅ work towards the Chamber’s best interests. Winter Festival Last but certainly not least the teamwork exhibited by the various ❄ Deadline Extended for Nominations for committees is what really makes the Chamber function.