Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce Blog - Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce

Western Lehigh Chamber- January 2020 Connections Article

1/25/2020

Jennifer Alderfer
Zator Law
Western Lehigh Chamber Chair

First, thanks to Santa, meLVin from the Phantoms and Radley from the Lehigh Valley Zoo, and to all of you who came to our holiday luncheon at Brookside Country Club. There was an abundance of raffle prizes donated by our generous volunteers and businesses, which helped us raise money for the East Penn scholarship fund and the Western Le- high Community Grant fund. Hopefully, you came away with one of the great prizes! As always, the Emmaus High School Chorale did a tremendous job and put everyone in the holiday spirit.

The South Whitehall Township Tree and Bridge Lighting Ceremony in early December was a spectacular community event to kick off the holiday season, and we hope you were able to stop by Covered Bridge Park for pictures with Santa, live music, hot cocoa and every- thing else that the event offered. The Township Department of Parks and Recreation does a really tremendous job with that event every year, and we are thankful to have it in our community!

Now that January is here, we start to think about our goals for the coming year. Whether it’s a desire to grow your team, delegate more, be a better communicator, improve your digital presence, create a succession plan or any number of other possible goals for your business, it is true that a goal without a plan is just a wish. If there is anything that we can do as volunteers with the Chamber to help you formulate a plan to reach those goals, please contact us. It is possible through the vast number of Chamber connections, that we may be able to connect you with someone or something that can provide you exactly what you need. As an example, if you are looking to recruit and add to your team, you might consider the Parkland High School job fair coming up on Thursday, February 27, 2020. If your business is interested in setting up a booth to edu- cate and recruit students, contact Alison McPeek at McPeekA@ParklandSD.org.
Wishing you a happy and successful 2020!

Southern Lehigh Chamber- January 2020 Connections Article

1/24/2020

Mike Damweber
Penn State Lehigh Valley
Southern Lehigh Chamber Chair

Happy New Year!

The Southern Lehigh Chamber is planning several exciting events for 2020! To kick off this year, the Southern Lehigh Chamber is organizing a joint mixer with the Hellertown Chamber at TAPS Tavern on January 23 beginning at 5 p.m. We will be collecting note- books, toothbrushes, toothpaste, and/ or monetary donations to benefit Betty Lou’s Pantry. A percentage of food & drink purchases will go to the same beneficiary, courtesy of TAPS Tavern!

There is still time to register for the annual Southern Lehigh Municipal Update. This event will be held at Penn State Lehigh Valley on Wednesday, February 26 from 7:30 to 9am. This program offers an insider’s look at the Southern Lehigh Municipalities’ plans for 2020. Registration, networking and breakfast begins at 7:30 and the cost to attend is $20 for chamber members, $40 for future chamber members. Sponsorship opportunities are still available!

For more details about sponsoring either or both events or to RSVP, please contact Ashley Lorah at Ashleyl@lehighvalleychamber.org. Lastly, make sure to ‘Like’ our Facebook page to stay up-to-date on events and member deals happening in our communities! We hope you have a happy holiday and look forward to seeing you throughout the new year.

Pocono Chamber- January 2020 Connections Article

1/23/2020

Chris Barrett
Pocono Mountain Visitors Bureau
Pocono Area Chamber Chair

Happy New Year

With the flip of the calendar to 2020, the Pocono Mountains continues to gain momentum in respect to growth and collaboration that keeps increasing the appeal for those of us who live here and the millions of visitors each year.

To that end, we have a great deal to celebrate in this coming year including the expansions, renovations and new building projects that improve the Poconos lifestyle we’ve come to love. For instance, it wasn’t but a handful of years ago that Kalahari Resorts & Conventions made its grand arrival and now, the property has doubled its convention space to 205,000 square feet! That should pay dividends for years to come as another world class destination for family vacations as well as association and corporate meetings of all sizes.
Then there are the new investments in two ski resorts, Camelback and Jack Frost/Big Boulder, thanks to new ownership and a commitment to providing the best facilities and experiences anywhere. This year, our area is also fortunate to see the opening of Pocono Mountain Harley Davidson, a huge destination in its own right for Harley owners around the globe. The massive facility towers over Interstate 80 in Tannersville and will be yet another example of the continued growth in our region now and in the future.

2020 may have just begun, but the Pocono Mountains success story is still being written and I thank everyone for playing a role in it.

Phillipsburg Area Chamber- January 2020 Connections Article

1/22/2020

Diana Schipani
Budd Agency
Phillipsburg Area Chamber Chair

We hope everyone enjoyed a safe happy holiday, and a happy & healthy New Year!

As we closed out 2019, our Thanksgiving Charity Night at Quaker Steak & Lube in Phillipsburg, NJ was a great success. Donations totaled in at nearly $500 for the Norwescap Food Bank Turkey Drive, where every dollar leveraged provided 14 pounds of food to a family in need!
Our Annual Tree Lighting Celebration & Santa Visit was rescheduled for Monday December 9th due to inclement weather. As the new date approached, Mother Nature was still not cooperating and with heavy rain, we needed to move the tree lighting indoors. Thankfully, the local St. Phillips and St. James church graciously allowed us to use Mercy Hall. Despite all the changes, we had a tremendous turn out. Kids of all ages enjoy hot chocolate and hot dogs while waiting for their picture with Santa, and free toys were given. We are greatly appreciative of our sponsors for helping make this event happen.

2019 was a very exciting and productive year for The Phillipsburg Area Chamber of Commerce, and we are looking forward to 2020!

Northampton Area Chamber- January 2020 Connections Article

1/20/2020

Mark Haldaman, Embassy Bank Northampton Area Chamber Chai

Well, here we are at the beginning of a new year and a new decade. We all take this time early in the year to assess where we have been and where we are going. I hope you’ll all take a moment to appreciate how much we all have done as a community here in this little valley. We have each played a small part in transforming a pocket of communities, largely driven by a handful of companies into a thriving metropolis. A mix of manufacturing, retail and services have replaced a handful of plants and mills. The diversity of industry has made our home more stable and growing at a rate exceeding national and state averages.

Last month was a busy month for all of us active with the chamber. In Northampton had the annual tree lighting, our Roxy holiday mixer and the ribbon cutting for a new restaurant. Northampton Borough always puts on a great show at the annual tree lighting. This year the Northampton Chamber was there to hand out treats to the kids
while they listen to carolers and waited for Santa to stop by. Out Annual Roxy movie night mixer was also a great time. We especially want to thank all our sponsors who made the event possible. Our guest got to mingle and catch up over some fantastic food and afterwards watch the Christmas classic White Christmas in a theatre that was there to show its initial 1954 showing. At this event we presented Richard Wolfe, owner of The Roxy Theatre with the Northampton Area Chamber’s Lifetime Achievement Award, for his lifelong passion, commitment and dedication to the Northampton area and surrounding communities. Congratulations again Richard!

All in all, 2019 flew by us at a break neck pace and 2020 doesn’t appear to be moving any slower. We are excited to have had such a productive year last year and looking forward to one even better than the last.

Nazareth Business Council- January 2020 Connections Article

1/19/2020

Michael Woodland
Dan’s Camera City
Nazareth Business Council Chair

Members of the Nazareth Business Council we are looking for your input as we close out 2019 and enter 2020. NBC had many firsts and great successes in 2019. Our end of year events continue to support businesses and the community. We held our first Small Business and Community Roundtable at the Nazareth Library with the four local Police Chiefs, our first Restaurant Week, and our first Nazareth Fall Festival – all of which were very successful. Finishing out the year we have our Coat Drive in partnership with Audiology Services, taking place Thursday 12/12 at Martin Guitar. A wonderful venue to bring a donation and support a worthy cause. Our signature holiday event is Saturday 12/14 – Christmas in Nazareth, from 12-4. This event is also growing in scope as we’re adding more to an already at- tractive schedule of free events for the entire family.

In 2020 we will build on these great programs, including two more Small Business and Community Roundtables. One featuring the Fire Chiefs and a second with Borough Managers. Thanks to our partnership with the Nazareth Area School District we will soon have the opportunity for you to engage with parents who are enrolling their child in the district. Yet another great benefit NBC will be providing. Our program- ming will continue to expand, providing more resources to our members and the community.

This is where we need your help and participation. NBC members are encouraged to attend a board meeting to hear more about the items we’re considering and provide input on how we can best serve you. If your business is located in Nazareth Borough, Upper Nazareth, Lower Nazareth or Bushkill Township we want to hear from you. Whatever your business type – professional services, retail, manufacturing, personal services, warehousing, etc – I hope you’ll engage the Board so we can benefit from your input. Please send me an email for information on attending one of our meetings – michael.wood- land@fastsigns.com

Again, thank you to everyone for supporting NBC, and know that 2020 will be another record setter!

Hellertown-Lower Saucon Chamber- January 2020 Connections Article

1/19/2020

Mark P. Albright
Law Offices Of Mark P. Albright
Hellertown-Lower Saucon Chamber Chair

Happy new year, everyone! The Hellertown-Lower Saucon Chamber rang out 2019 with a delightful holiday mixer hosted by BB&T at the bank’s 741 Main Street branch in Hellertown. What’s not to love about music, beverages by Lost Tavern Brewing, holiday bites provided by Limon Authentic Turkish Kebap House and Springtown Inn and mingling?

We’re starting this year off on a high note with Hellertown-Lower Saucon Chamber’s popular Winter Restaurant Week, running from January 12th through the 18th. A host of local favorite dining spots will be participating and are hard at work putting together taste-tempting specials for the occasion.

Also on the agenda this month is our next Business Round Table, open to all local businesses, both current and prospective Chamber members. Slated for Monday, January 13th, from 5:30-6:30 pm, in the Lower Saucon Township Municipal Building, this Round Table will focus on local first responders. We look forward to interacting with EMS and firefighter representatives to learn about what they do, what challenges they face, and how local businesses can support their efforts in the community.

Regardless of the season, Hellertown-Lower Saucon is always the place to be if you, your friends and family are looking for fun, food, fellowship and recreation. The next time you find yourself on Route 412, whether you’re head- ing north toward Bethlehem or south toward Bucks County, be sure to slow down and look around. There’s a lot to see and do in and around Hellertown!

Greater Bath Area Chamber- January 2020 Connections Article

1/18/2020

Ann Flood
Lauren’s Hope Foundation Greater
Bath Area Chamber Chair

We did it! We have arrived at the end of another year. Good or bad, we made it. What I love so much about this moment in time is that it’s a great opportunity to take a moment and reflect over the past year. Take notice of your personal growth. Whether you cinched that promotion, started your own business or even navigated through disappointment, we all grow from these experiences. Some have grown with more character, compassion, patience and perseverance. Everything we experience and learn through success and failure is meant to bring you to this very moment. Everything happens for a reason and we learn what we are made of. We build on our life experiences; good or bad. It is what you choose to do with your experiences that can change everything. So, take a moment grab some grit and set your goals for this upcoming year. Make a personal vision board, even if it’s just in your mind and hit the ground running. You can accomplish anything you want. You have the Chamber behind you with professional and networking opportunities and everyone who is part of the Chamber wants to see you rise to the top. Together, we can do anything. So, my wish for you this New Year is for you to dare to be brave. Think outside the box. Take that next step forward toward your next goal. Stay focused, be optimistic and trust in yourself because I know there are great things on the horizon for you and the Greater Bath Chamber will be right there cheering you on. Some of our upcoming events that we would love to see everyone at are: Annual Chocolate and Wine Pairing on Monday, February 10th, 2020 and our Moola for our Main Streets on Wednesday, March 25th, 2020. Wishing you all a very Happy and Healthy New Year!

Emmaus Main Street Partners- January 2020 Connections Article

1/17/2020

Michael Irwin
Vinyl Press and JABOA Enterprises
Emmaus Main Street Partners Chair

Happy New Year! I hope everybody had a wonderful Holiday and are ready to welcome 2020, joining me with hopes for another successful year, growing and celebrating the Emmaus Business Community!
With 2019 behind us, we reflect back to what a great year it was. So many events with old friends and new faces as well, whether volunteering or attending our EMSP events, it is great to be part of this organization and the positive spirit it brings. From our outstanding Emmaus Main Street Golf Tournament in the spring, the Farewell to Summer Festival, our Old Fashioned Christmas, the ribbon-cuttings with all the new businesses that came to grow and thrive in Emmaus, our monthly small business round tables, I just enjoy this EMSP group so much.

2020 seems like it’s shaping up to be a banner year as well. We have some new energetic people on our board, bringing new steam and drive, also helping to chair or serve on our event committees. We will have some new events and businesses popping up in Emmaus this year also, so keep an eye on the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber’s Events calendar on the web so you not miss out on anything and follow don’t forget to follow Emmaus Main Street Partners on Facebook.
Well, I’m anxious for the year to get started, and I know the Spring will be here before we know it and I will be making a trove of new memories.

Until then, see ya on the Triangle where I will be EmmaUs proud and supporting local!

East Penn Chamber- 2020 Connections Article

1/16/2020

Jeff Mcelhaney, Edward Jones
East Penn Chamber Chair

Welcome to the roaring 20’s! That’s going to be our theme in East Penn. As 2020 has arrived, our vision is clear, and our community is thriving. We want to build on that momentum and continue to enhance our ability as an organization to build partnerships, sup- port local businesses, non-profits, and municipalities.

One great example of building networks and partnerships comes from our friends and owners of EBC Printing, Murtaza and Mustafa. They, and their staff, have been strong supporters of local business and wonderful supporters of the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber as a whole. They recently have renovated and will be moving to a new enhanced facility to serve their clients on Hamilton Blvd. In their process of growing their business they partnered 100% with local businesses that are GLV Chamber members! They see the value of partnership and community and I simply wanted to say thank you and congratulations on your new location! And thank you for your commitment to the East Penn Community.

January brings a fresh start for many, as resolutions are made and often new business plans kick into gear. In either case I encourage you to have a process when it comes to creating and executing your plan; in business, or personally.

All good plans start with a strong vision. This should be inward facing. Where you see yourself in a year, 3, 5, or ten years, depending on the scope. Make this motivating to you. What makes you want to get out of bed everyday and drives you to success?

The second step is SMART objectives. That is, Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant and Time Bound Goals. This should NOT be all encompassing. You should not list every daily activity you do here, but simply one or two objectives that you want to accomplish this year (ie. X to Y by when).

The third step is more important than step 2. Create a few, one to three actionable strategies, that if executed will get you closer to achieving your objective. If you have a team, make sure that everyone on the team has a strategy to help achieve the objective.

You all probably do the first three steps in some form or fashion, but the fourth step is where the magic happens. In fact, research finds that only 25% of us actively complete step 4. The secret to getting results and achieving your objectives is actively measuring your progress!

Peter Drucker, one of the greatest business guru’s of our time, said, “What gets measured, gets improved”. Take time each week, or every other week, to review whether you’ve been executing on your strategies. If you have great and keep track/keep score. If not, ask your- self why, and adjust your plan, or your strategies to lead you to success!

From the East Penn Chamber, we wish you a Happy New Year and much success in the roaring 20’s!