Current Business Plan

Mission: To represent the interests of the business community and its membership by advancing community development, promoting the business and economic environment, and improving the welfare of the community by enhancing the quality of life in the region.


2006-07 Major Objectives
• Enhance Chamber’s business advocacy initiatives.
• Revitalize the Chamber’s Image and Communication’s Initiatives.
• Developed focused initiatives on member retention.


MEMBERSHIP SERVICES
NEW MEMBER RECRUITMENT & RETENTION
Retain 80% of existing membership base.
• Continue to promote members via web, newsletter, and other promotions.
• Maintain consistent communications with members on upcoming events and news of interest.
• Conduct surveys of non-renewing members and utilize feedback to refine recruitment & retention efforts.

Recruit at least 300 new members to the Chamber of Commerce
• Maintain staff driven sales through the employment of full-time sales executive.
• Work with membership committee to identify those business sectors that under-represented within the membership.

Host 2 Prospective Member Mixers annually, and tie the event in to Business After Hours.


EVENTS & NETWORKING
Utilize Chamber Ambassadors to gather feedback and promote Chamber activity through member outreach and participation at events.
• Utilize the points system to recognize Ambassadors of the Quarter & Ambassador of the Year.

Host Business After Hours at least 12 times during the year.

Conduct at least 4 Power Breakfasts with average attendance of 100 members.
• Recruit highly recognizable speakers to address topics of general and/or professional interest to the membership.
• Recruit at least one paid sponsor per event.

Organize, market and host a series of seminars of concern to the business membership.

Host at least two (2) Table Top Expos, providing an opportunity for Chamber members to promote their business in a high traffic, low cost environment.

Host the Cingular Golf Tournament in September 2007.
• Revamp the existing sponsor structure and number of sponsor opportunities that are available.
• Recruit at least 125 players.

Conduct the “101st Chamber Annual Dinner”.
• Exceed 300 attendees for the extravaganza.

MEMBER PROMOTION
Complete implementation of the CertifiChecks program, promoting business to business activity within the membership.

Provide on-line promotion opportunities for members via the new Chamber website.

Track and communicate electronic referrals to the membership.

Distribute the “Just thought you would like to know” member patronage cards through Board, Committee Members, Ambassadors, and staff when visiting a member business.

COMMUNICATION & MARKETING
All events will be promoted via the web, e-mail, direct marketing pieces, and in some cases with paid advertising.

Develop a “Welcome to the Business Community” direct marketing campaign to develop prospective membership leads.

Complete survey of membership to identify critical issues and utilize data to develop potential chamber initiatives.

Enhance the Chamber’s primary publications: ChamberWorks, Chamber Journal, and Fast Fax.

Recognize & promote Chamber Member “Milestone Anniversaries.”

Continue to enhance and promote the Chamber Directory.

Continue to enhance new Chamber website.
• Begin building and promoting member testimonials
• Develop enhanced listings for Chamber members.
• Develop a flash survey tool, to gauge membership opinions on key issues within the community.

RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Recruit and promote annual and event specific sponsors for all Chamber programs, and ensure that sponsors receive exposure/promotion prior to, during, and after events.

Actively sell and promote web advertising opportunities, whether they are ads or enhanced web listings in the directory.

Identify additional member advertising opportunities with the Chamber.

PUBLIC & COMMUNITY AFFAIRS
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Continue volunteer support for the following:
• Community Wide Clean Up Day
• Plant the Campus Red
• Rivers & Spires
• Leadership Development
• APSU Move in Day

GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS & ADVOCACY
Adopt, promote and track a legislative business agenda
• Conduct flash surveys, via the website, with the business community to identify central issues that are a broad based concern to the membership.
• Examine potential use of software to track legislation central to the business community, and develop membership “Calls to Action” via the website.

Work with the City, County, Board of Education, Austin Peay State University to adopt a common, community-based, legislative agenda.

Participate in a Washington Fly In activities with Tennessee’s other Metro Chambers of Commerce.

Work with other partners to revamp the Day on the Hill.

Complete implementation of the Transportation Committee to educate and promote road and highway improvements in Clarksville and Montgomery County.

EDUCATION & WORKFORCE INITIATIVES
Continue to enhance and promote the Partners in Education program.

Continue the Excel Awards, recognizing outstanding student achievement.

Continue to promote the Imagination Library and raise the necessary funds for the first year.

Work with Montgomery County School System to identify common message regarding student achievement and program delivery.

Formalize a strategic partnership with Workforce Essentials.
• Explore and develop workforce development partnerships that enhance recruitment of new business and facilitate the growth of existing industry.

EMERGING LEADERS
Create opportunities to identify and link emerging leaders into issues that are central to the Chamber and the business community.

MILITARY AFFAIRS
Host a briefing for the business community on the impending deployment of military personnel back to Iraq.

Conduct an economic impact study on the impact of deployment on Clarksville and the region.

Organize and host the Citizens for Ft. Campbell program in early Spring of 2007, to education the Tennessee Congressional Delegation on the issues and priorities for Ft. Campbell.

Continue to support and promote endeavors that support soldiers and their families.

Due to the deployment, develop and implement the “Clarksville Casualty Response System” to provide a network of local support and service of impacted military families.

Promote active and visible participation of Clarksville leadership at events on post, such as Change of Command, Hail & Farewell, and other significant ceremonies.

Work with the Montgomery County Legislative Delegation and other State leaders to revitalize the Tennessee Military Affairs Commission.

Coordinate welcome letters to members of Command Group and to new Brigade Commanders.

Coordinate all introductory visits with new members of various Command Groups.

Develop fund raising initiatives for military related events (to include OEN).


BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
ENTREPRENEUR & SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

Survey the needs of the small business community to identify critical issues impacting their growth, and develop initiatives to address their needs.

Maintain and promote the Chamber Training Network partnership with Tennessee Small Business Development Center.

Host Small Business Lunch & Learn’s (using a similar format as the Women in Business Series) once per quarter.


EXECUTIVE WOMEN & MINORITY ENTERPRISE
Continue to host the Women in Business Programs once per quarter.

Bring together the City, County, Montgomery County Schools, Austin Peay and Ft. Campbell leadership to develop an initiative that promotes the contracting opportunities that are available to area minority owned enterprise.

Continue to grow and define the partnership with the Tennessee Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

Organize a trade show to showcase minority owned enterprise and those local, state and federal agencies will provide contracting opportunities during the year.


AGRIBUSINESS
Organize and host the “Jr. Better Beef Show.”

Award the “Farm Family of the Year Award.”

Work with the Montgomery County Extension Service to identify other potential opportunities to work with and support area farmers.


EXISTING INDUSTRY
Conducts at least two (2) headquarter visits in the next year.

Conduct at least 10 local site visits with area industry and major employers.

Continue to support the Human Resources Roundtable.

BUSINESS RESOURCE CENTER
Develop and promote the “Decision Data Center,” providing site specific data for established businesses, and for those considering a business start-up in Montgomery County.

Maintain and available properties data base, promoting the properties (land & buildings) of Chamber members.

Redevelop and distribute the “Steps to Success…Starting a Business in Montgomery County” piece, and make the information available via the web.

Complete an annual comprehensive wage and benefits survey.

Track and promote government contracting opportunities to Chamber members via the Chamber website.


FINANCE & ADMINISTRATION

FINANCE COMMITTEE

Utilize the Chamber Finance Committee to:
• Adopt and adhere to an annual budget.
• Review actual vs. budget revenue and expenses.
• Review audit findings and present recommendations to the Chamber Executive Board.



SPECIAL PROJECTS & INITIATIVES
Complete the Chamber of Commerce Accreditation process through the US Chamber of Commerce.

Reinstitute the Intercity Visit initiative, carrying business and community leaders to another benchmark community by late Spring 2007.

 

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