July 2017 Inside this issue: Reset, Plan, Repeat Member Spotlight Events Review Signature Event Meet the New Board Things to Improve Your Business Get Involved
CHAMBER at a glance
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a publication of the Brandon Chamber of Commerce
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
A New Year
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s I write my first article as President of the Brandon Chamber, it is with eagerness and enthusiasm that I look forward to the 2017/2018 Chamber year. We will continue to build on the legacy and tradition of the Chamber in working for the businesses of Brandon but also continue to push for strong advocacy, collaboration and policy development that we have become known for.
our core values, we will continue to grow and prosper. We need to continue to question our high taxes and low deliverables from the Brandon School Board, and keep the city accountable to continue the reduction of red tape. As members, you have spoken, and we are listening. That being said, we need to realize that these issues are not easy to fix, and we need to stay open and work collaboratively with the City and School Board, to work together to find a solution that meets all parties’ needs.
Entering into my third year on the board, I have come to appreciate all of the hard work and time that goes into making the Brandon Chamber a “as long as we stay strong focused and stay supporter for true to our core economic values, we will growth and business continue to grow development.
Another conversation that is amongst our members, is the ability to attract highly-skilled labour. Our Workforce Development and prosper “ committee will There will be continue to work challenges ahead for Brandon, as we hard at understanding the needs of have seen over the years, but as long our business members and as we stay focused and stay true to communicating this to our
Tami-Rae Rourke Chamber President
educational community leaders. We will continue to bring new ideas to our membership in regard to business networking and professional development, and we have some new and exciting plans to change up our business networking to entice more of our amazing membership to attend! Our amazing and busy Events Committee will continue to organize our enormously popular Annual Dinner and Golf Tournament while they continue to work on an exciting list of Luncheon speakers to entertain and educate attendees on issues/opportunities important to Brandon Business. If you have any speakers that may assist us in the (Continued on page 6)
GM REPORT
GM REPORT
Reset, Plan, Repeat “Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice and most of all, love of what you are doing or learning to do.” Pele
Campaign. We worked to increase member outreach and connection with members with continuation of our large industry tours, stakeholder roundtables, member profiles and At the Chamber, June marks the start of Thank You calls. This is in addition to a new presidential year with new faces, the staple of ongoing Chamber new ideas, and new plans. As we break programming. for summer from our regular calendar of events and programs, planning for a Our events calendar was full with new season begins. signature events like our monthly luncheon series, Annual Awards Gala, Looking back over the past year, it has Business After 5’s and our Annual Golf been another busy and successful time Tournament. In addition, we co-hosted for the Chamber. While I will defer our second Annual Westman HR details for you to read in our upcoming Conference, as well as holding special Annual Report, it has been an active events like our PC Caucus luncheon and year of advocacy and policy Past President’s Dinner. development, membership initiatives, and events and programming. Over the next several months we will be planning for another successful year, as Our advocacy work saw continued we develop and revamp our programs focus on red tape reduction and and services. Keep an eye open for encouraging efficient use of tax dollars some new events and initiatives in the at all levels of government. We fall! developed three policies on hog supply, First Nation Urban development areas Thank you and changes for the Manitoba Planning Our success is fueled by the expertise, Act, which were all adopted by the dedication and hard work of our board, Manitoba Chambers of Commerce. We staff, and many volunteers, and I am brought together stakeholders to always humbled by the strength and discuss proposed development charges caliber of the people that step up to and advocate for fair and transparent help move our Chamber forward. funding of much needed infrastructure investment. This of course in addition It is with those thoughts that I wish to to the meetings with all levels of thank our retiring directors Frank Arndt, government. Karen McDonald and Rosa Villamizar for their contributions during their term(s) Our program highlights include an on the board and their leadership on extensive list of continuing and new committees. I would also like to extend initiatives. Our Thank You Thursdays a special thank you to outgoing Past remain a popular video series to show President Jordan Ludwig, and a big appreciation to our members. We thank you and congratulations to encouraged members to share outgoing President, Terry Burgess for shopping local success stories in our another fantastic year. One of the real Support Local – Pay it Forward Video pleasures of my position, is the
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opportunity I get to work with a new President each year. Always an eternal student, I enjoy the chance to learn from new leadership styles and from the vast experience and skills each person brings. The President role takes an additional level of commitment and I am thankful for the support and guidance that they have provided. Under the leadership of new president, Tami Rourke, and with the addition of newly elected directors Spencer Day, Tanya LaBuick, Scott Norosky, and Jill Watts, I look forward to working with all of our 2017-2018 Board of Directors for what I know will be an exciting and full year! Lastly, thank you to all the committees and volunteers that make the work of the Chamber possible! Committees are the membership in action and they carry out the ideas, programs and initiatives that make us so successful we thrive on your talent, energy and enthusiasm! We will look for continued contributions in the year ahead, and encourage all members to add your voice and skills. Please contact us to learn more about joining a Chamber committee. Have a great summer!
Carolynn Cancade General Manager If you have ideas on how we can provide more value for your membership, please let us know! Carolynn can be reached at gm@brandonchamber.ca.
www.brandonchamber.ca
MEMBERSHIP ZONE
member
SPOT LIGHT
How many years have you been in business? Less than one. What are the goals of your business? Our vision is to be a dynamic, innovative, and collaborative team working together to bring the easiest and most excellent technology support to all of Canada. We work primarily remote, and have a few key impressive offices in large centers where we welcome and educate anyone who needs us. What services do you offer? Technology Solve offers four main services: Cloud Services, Home Support, Business Support and Website Development. Where is your business located? We are a remote business – but if we need to come to you we will! What are your business hours? Monday to Saturday 8am – 8pm Sunday 10am – 6pm
“We want to raise the bar on technology service and management for customers.”
204-730-3032 hello@technologysolve.com www.technologysolve.com
July 2017
WELCOME NEW MEMBERS Alair Homes 100-1300 18th St, Suite 320 Brandon, MB R7A 6X7 204-813-6953 Mike.peters@alairhomes.com www.alairhomes.ca/brandon Direct Liquidation 205 16th St North Brandon, MB R7A 6X6 204-717-7467 Darcy@liquidated.ca www.liquidated.ca
Dr. Robert Ward 1100 Richmond Ave, Unit B Brandon ,MB 204-727-6453 lhersak@wcgwave.ca www.bracesbybales.com Voom Elite Cleaning Services 100-1300 18th St, Unit 177 Brandon, MB R7A 6X7 204-720-0456 Brittany@voomelite.com www.voomelite.com
Thank you to all of our volunteers! A big thank you to our committee members for their time and dedication!
Cathy Snelgrove Tami-Rae Rourke Terry Burgess Trent Sholdice Shep Kaastra Jordan Ludwig Dr. Gervan Fearon Jason Roblin Derek Radics Jeff Hood Neil Cristall Jordan Trotter Jason Thorpe Sandy Trudel Steve McMillan Stan Chorney Bonnie Nay Draper Greg Crisanti Frank Arndt Michelle Atamanchuk Michelle Budiwski Brad Danielson Meredyth Leech Sheila Gonty Sharon Shepherd Katrina Sigurdson Robbie Zetariuk
Donna Sagin Tayona Johnas Rosa Villamizar James Montgomery Oeloff DeMeyer John Sparrow Gail Freeman-Campbell Sheila Cooper Brian Barnes Marty Minshull John Zeke Dean Jago Sara Grexton Cam Toews Bryan Tannahill Karen MacDonald Luka Amona Bobbi Mawson Pritchard Robyne Frederiksen Eric Sefton Lindsay Gilon Stephanie Cruickshanks Wade Winmill Doug Pople Dara Black Nikolene Day Dale Mckay
Kelly Mathison Craig Senchuk Ray Redfern Derrick Turner Aaron Hargreaves Justin Jenner Dan Fontaine Barry Cooper Wendy Bulloch Dan Mazier Cora Champion
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EVENTS
Luncheon Series: YES! Winnipeg May 18th
Frank Arndt, Karen MacDonald and Rosa Villamizar were thanked for their time and dedication to the Chamber.
Season Seating
Thank you to our Booth Sponsor: Habitat for Humanity
Vince Barletta of YES! Winnipeg came out to address the crowd and talk about the Thank you to our Luncheon Sponsor: organization and what it brings to the city of Winnipeg’s business community. He showed a video that showcased a sample of their success stories featuring businesses that they have helped set up shop in Winnipeg. Thank you to our Luncheon Sponsor:
Friday Coffee @ the Chamber Last Call for Coffee June 23rd President’s Luncheon and Changeover Ceremony June 8th We thanked our outgoing President, Terry Burgess and welcomed our new President, Tami-Rae Rourke. The new executive was sworn in with Jeff Hood as Vice President and Cathy Snelgrove as Secretary/ Treasurer. The outgoing Past President, Jordan Ludwig along with retiring directors
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Chamber Coffees promote the exchange of ideas and discussion. On June 23rd, we had a full house as we celebrated our last Coffee event before summer. See you in the fall for another round of Friday Coffee @ the Chamber! Coffee and treats provided by our sponsor:
Call 204-571-5340 or email info@brandonchamber.ca for more information on how to get your Season Seats for the 2017-2018 Luncheon Season!
www.brandonchamber.ca
SIGNATURE EVENT
28th Annual Chamber Golf Tournament A big thank you to all of our sponsors who made the Annual Golf Tournament a success!! The weather was not on our side this year but it was still a great afternoon at the Shilo Country Club. Thank you to all who participated in this fun event!
MAJOR SPONSOR
Congratulations to our Championship Flight winners from R.P. Robinson & Associates Private Wealth Management and McDonalds!
BUS
CART
FLIGHT
HOLE SPONSORS
ACC Foundation Bell-MTS Corral Centre Brandon University Cell Mechanics FYidoctors HUB International STRATA Leech Printing Maple Leaf Foods Murray Auto Centre Myphone.ca
NetSet Communications RBC Royal Bank Reesor’s Jewellery Sargent Lock & Safe Vanguard Credit Union Westman Communications Group Western Financial Group Westman Courier Westoba Credit Union
LUNCH SPONSORS
CHARITY ACTIVITY SPONSORS
Blue Moon Water Frito-Lay Canada
Subway Tim Hortons
Robertson College
PRIZE & GIFT BAG SPONSORS
Benmarks Bromley’s Menswear Budiwski Holdings CENTUM Mortgage Choice DEL Communications
July 2017
Joe Beeverz Leech Printing Manitoba Chamber of Commerce NetSet Communications
Oak Island Golf Course Shilo Country Club Siere Sunrise Credit Union Vector Promotions
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CHAMBER NEWS President’s Message (Cont’d from page 1) 2017/2018 agenda year, we ask that you send us an email. To follow up from my incoming President speech: for us to a make a difference, we need to work together, as I have come to learn over the last three years on the board that the Chamber does have a voice and can make a difference. Whether you have an idea or some time, we, the Brandon Chamber, invite you to get involved and be a part of making Brandon an even better place to live and work. I am very excited by this opportunity to work on your behalf and remain open to any feedback or suggestions. Thanks again for your support and encouragement.
Tami-Rae Rourke, President Tami can be reached at president@brandonchamber.ca
Meet the 2017-2018 Board of Directors
The Chamber is pleased to announce the members of the 2017-2018 Board of Directors. Representing a broad range of industries and business size, they will bring a diverse perspective and skill set. Back row from left: Spencer Day* (Progressive Sanitation), Greg Crisanti (Tim Hortons), Tayona Johnas (Sunrise Credit Union), Scott Norosky* (South End Lumber Ltd.), Tanya LaBuick* (LaBuick & Co.), Steve McMillan (VJB Developments), Jordan Trotter (C&C Rentals). Front row from left: Terry Burgess (RBC Royal Bank), Jeff Hood (MNP), Tami- Rae Rourke (NetSet Communications), Cathy Snelgrove (Siere). Missing: Trent Sholdice (Meighen Haddad), Jason Thorpe (Thorpe Construction), Jill Watt* (Cando Rail Services Ltd.). *New Directors elected this year
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www.brandonchamber.ca
Resources
7 Things You Can Do to Improve Your Business Over Your Lunch Hour
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ajor overhauls of a business take time, buy-in, and frankly, they can be a little frightening. Not so of these mini tweaks. These seven things can help you move the meter in your business in less time than it takes to wolf down a sandwich and check your voice mails.
rals were what you were after, give them an incentive to do so or surprise them with a discount later.
content.
Share the Love - Go through your customer files and pull out your most loyal. Reach Out to a Complementary BusiNow make sure you follow them on ness for a Special Program - Another social media and share their content, way to get more interest in your busiwhere appropriate. Add in flattering ness is to offer something your comcomments like “Good advice” and “Love petitors aren’t. A simple way to do that this perspective.” This will make them Find Out What They Like - Your cusis to partner with a complementary feel good and people will be more likely tomers are more valuable to your busi- business for a special offering. For into click on the links and share if they ness than from just a revenue perspec- stance, if you’re a health food store you know why you like it. tive. Knowing what they respond to can could partner with a local caterer to help you shape services and products, host a “healthy meals in minutes” pro- Small business owners are busy people create more meaningful content, and gram in your store. This could attract and because of that, often digital marengage them more on social media. So, new business for both of you. keting falls to the wayside. But you don’t be afraid to ask them what they don’t need much time to make a little like. Create a short survey and email it Rework Your Social Media Cover Improgress every day. Make a list of things to them or “hang” it on your website if ages - With the help of easy to use tem- you can do that only take a few minyou get a lot of traffic. The key here is plates on Canva, you can now redesign utes. Then when you have a moment short but there are a few other things your cover image on your social media before a meeting or while you’re eating to keep in mind. profiles during your lunch hour. Keeping lunch, you can make the most of your them fresh will help attract more eyes Ask for Reviews - Depending on the and give consistent visitors something most valuable resource – your time. type of business you have, spend a few new to look at. Christina R. Green minutes reaching out to satisfied cusChristina R. Green is a regular blogger at tomers for reviews, referrals, or testiGo Live on Facebook - If you have your monials. It may feel awkward at first phone with you, you can go Live on Frankjkenny.com, a Chamber consultant but these types of social proof go a long Facebook during your lunch hour. Not providing training, content and best way for potential customers. Think of it sure what to talk about? Think about a practices. as giving people an opportunity (and a question you’re often asked at your gentle reminder) to share something business and answer it. Encourage peowith their tribe that will be of value to ple to ask questions of you as well. You them. Doesn’t everyone need a good can broadcast for up to 90 minutes but plumber or hairstylist? Of course they keeping it between 15-20 minutes is do. Now give your customers a way to probably sufficient. You’ll get more help their tribe. views if you remain live for at least 15 minutes. Then save the video and post In your communication to them explain it to your site. why reviews are so important to the We are looking for a business for our new I success of your business. If you’re ask- Figure Out Your Most Popular Posts Am A Member Campaign! ing for reviews, make it easy for them Look at the data and figure out what hit to respond by inserting URLs to the re- home with your audience then do more Watch our Facebook Page for contest view site in your email request. If you of it. If you notice image quotes make details! Win movie passes and a chance are asking for testimonials, post them up most of your engagement on Twitfor your business to be the face of our next campaign! to your site when you get them. If refer- ter, keep that in mind when creating
We Want You!
July 2017
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Chamber at a Glance is published six times per year by the Brandon Chamber of Commerce 1043 Rosser Avenue | Brandon, MB R7A 0L5 Phone: (204) 571-5340 | Fax: (204) 571-5347
info@brandonchamber.ca www.brandonchamber.ca
EDITING & DESIGN Krista Powell
Get Involved Join a committee! The Chamber committees are really the membership in action. Working with Chamber staff, our volunteers help facilitate programs and services that enhance our membership. Committees are also a great way to network with others on a more personal level and participate in issues or areas that interest you. If you are interested in joining one of the following committees: Events, Government Relations, Membership, Business Development or Workforce Development contact our office at info@brandonchambner.ca. Make your membership rewarding for you!
PRINTING Leech Printing Ltd.
2017-2018 BOARD OF DIRECTORS Tami Rae Rourke—President NetSet Communications & I-Netlink Wireless Jeff Hood —Vice President MNP LLP
Cathy Snelgrove —Secretary/Treasurer Siere
Terry Burgess— Past President RBC Royal Bank
Greg Crisanti Tim Hortons
Spencer Day Progressive Sanitation
Tayona Jonas Sunrise Credit Union
Tanya LaBuick LaBuick & Co.
Steve McMillan VBJ Developments
Scott Norosky South End Lumber Ltd.
Trent Sholdice Meighen Haddad LLP
Jason Thorpe Thorpe Construction Ltd.
Jordan Trotter
It’s Membership Renewal Season! Pay your renewal fee by August 1st and you could win Bomber tickets!
C & C Rentals
Jill Watt Cando Rail Services Ltd.
CHAMBER STAFF
Continue to get access to all the great resources the Chamber has!
Carolynn Cancade General Manager
Krista Powell Events & Communications Coordinator
Kristina Timmer Membership Relations & Sales Coordinator
Tanya Lysack Office Administration Coordinator
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Who we are: The Brandon Chamber of Commerce is an independent, membership funded, non-profit organization that represents Brandon business from the grassroots level.
Our Mission: To encourage growth in the Brandon community by fostering a progressive business environment favorable to enhancing existing and attracting new business.
www.brandonchamber.ca