Lander Chamber of Commerce September 2024 Newsletter by Lander Chamber of Commerce

Photo:DavidRule

POINTS to PONDER

Keeping You Connected -- Keeping You Informed

A top priority of the Lander Chamber of Commerce is keeping our members and the broader community connected and informed about issues and policies that can impact your business -- for good or for ill. An important part of this process is connecting you to the people who consider and vote on these issues and policies, namely our current and would-be elected officials.

Meet the Candidates Evening Socials and Legislative Preview Luncheon

In recent years we have introduced two new events to which our members and the public have responded enthusiastically: our annual Legislative Session Preview Luncheon, held in December or January, and, in election years, our Meet the Candidates Evening Social, held a month before the general election.

Two Meet the Candidates Evening Socials in Lander and Riverton

The Meet the Candidates Evening Social is not a debate or a forum, but rather an intentionally relaxed meet-and-greet designed to give both candidates and constituents the opportunity to converse in a more intimate setting. This year we will be hosting two such socials, one in Lander and a second in Riverton. (See page 3 for all the details.)

As we've done previously, we'll give each candidate three minutes at the mic and, once have finished, open the event for one-on-one and small group conversations. Candidates running in the general election for the state legislature, Lander and Riverton city councils, county commission, and FCSD’s #1 and #25 will be invited.

Save the Date: Legislative Session Preview Luncheon - Dec. 10

The Wyoming State Legislature is scheduled to convene its 2025 General Session in Cheyenne on Tuesday, January 10. Join us on Tuesday, December 10th at the Lander Community & Convention

Center to hear from Fremont County’s senators and representatives.

Owen Sweeney CEO

Lander Chamber of Commerce

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

President

Chris VonHoltum Central Bank & Trust

Vice President Tom Davis Fremont Therapy Group

Treasurer

Jennifer Hamilton SageWest Healthcare

Past President

Eric Andrews Summit West CPA Group

DIRECTORS

Jenna Ackerman

Associate Real Estate Broker

Brian Rohrbacher

Atlantic City Federal Credit Union

Joseph Susanka Wyoming Catholic College

Ryan Preston Hampton Inn & Suites ~ Riverton

PROFESSIONAL STAFF CEO

Owen Sweeney

Associate Director Carol King

Program & Event Coord. Meghan Manning

Graphic Design & Social Media

Caeli Sweeney

½-CENT TAX UPDATE

Chamber Members Split: Renew or Repeal?

Voters across Fremont County first approved a ½-Cent Economic Development Tax in November 2020. In the nearly four years since, a negative perception has grown among approximately half of them (according to a recent Forward Fremont PAC poll) regarding how the county and six municipal governments have distributed the proceeds to businesses. In a survey conducted earlier this year by the Lander Chamber, 51% of our members supported renewal of the tax, 34% were opposed, while 15% said they weren’t sure.

Local Governments Respond to Concerns, Make Several Changes to Distribution Agreement

The Fremont County Association of Governments (FCAG), to alleviate the aforementioned concerns, voted 5-2 in early August (the County and Dubois opposing) to adopt several changes to its Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that governs what percentage, for what purpose, and to which entities the proceeds of the would be distributed.

More to Air and Bus Transportation, Less to Businesses, Ambulance Service Would Be Included

The amended MOU significantly reduces the percentage of the tax that would go to businesses while increasing the percentage allocated to air and bus transportation; it also would add a new allocation for ambulance service This new distribution breaks down as follows:

Award Criteria would be Tightened, Standardized across County and Municipal Governments

Changes also were made to the criteria by which applicants for economic development funding would be judged, including: clear criteria must be established for evaluating such projects; a thoroughly evaluated and transparent review process must be adopted prior to approval; funds must be allocated exclusively within the community and only for the designated purpose of the tax; and collaboration with the County and other municipalities for joint programs that benefit greater Fremont County.

“Claw Back” Provisions Favored by Most Chamber Members not Included, but also not Prohibited

Not included among the changes were “claw back” provisions that would require tax funds to be paid back by awardees if criteria for spending were not met. A large percentage of Chamber members (66%) prefers BOTH tightened up award criteria AND claw back provisions. It is important to note, however, that this would not necessarily prevent the governments from including such provisions in their finalized distribution agreement.

Wherever you stand on this issue, remember to vote on November 5th!

MEET THE CANDIDATES

You are invited to join the Lander Chamber of Commerce at two Meet the Candidates Evening Socials we will be hosting in Lander and Riverton. The offices open for election are Lander and Riverton City Councils, School Boards #1 and #25, County Commission, and the State Legislature.

MEETTHECANDIDATES

EVENINGSOCIALS

Riverton

Friday,September27,2024

5:00-7:00PM

307Bar&Grill

4275CountryClubDrive Tickets:$15(members)

$20(non-members)

Friday,October4,2024

5:00-7:00PM

InnatLander

260GrandviewDrive Tickets:$15(members) $20(non-members)

Join us at The Rock Shop Inn, September 12, to enjoy an evening of connecting over refreshments and hors d’oeuvres.

September 12, 2024

5:30 - 7:00 PM

Looking for a brighter, roomier, more professional and technologically advanced place to host a meeting?

The Chamber's got you covered! Contact us today!

FULL ZOOM ROOM FUNCTIONALITY

Our two DTEN video conferencing boards offer a simplified, professional meeting experience. The dual setup provides a multi-touch video display alongside a digital whiteboard that allows live on-screen annotation and content sharing.

ZOOM LICENSE NOT REQUIRED -- USE OURS!

Use our Zoom license to host meetings with unlimited minutes for up to 100 participants. Member-only pricing makes this an affordable benefit for your business, and conference room use is included in some memberships. Host Your Next Meeting

BUSINESS EDUCATION

Here are summaries from a few of the posts from our blog Be sure to visit landerchamber org/blog for these and other topics touching on public policy, economic development, networking and business education opportunities, upcoming events, and success stories from our community

The Importance of Emotional Intelligence in Leadership

In today’s accelerated and ever-evolving workplace, the role of dynamic leadership is critical. A key quality that sets apart successful leaders is emotional intelligence (EQ). Emotional intelligence is about understanding and managing your own emotions and those of others. Leaders with high EQ can manage relationships and team dynamics better, fostering a culture of trust and teamwork In so doing, these leaders excel in adapting their style to meet diverse team needs, resolve conflicts, and promote an inclusive environment. Consequently, the workplace is enhanced to where employees feel valued, which, in turn, leads to boosted engagement, productivity, and retention. Looking ahead, it’s important for leaders to focus on developing their emotional intelligence to succeed in the fast-paced world of business.

Unleashing Your Brand’s Personality in the Age of AI

In today’s crowded digital landscape, defining a brand’s personality is crucial for standing out. To create a unique identity, you want to go beyond simply describing your brand with a few adjectives; instead, search for the essence of what makes your brand relatable and human. This can be done using frameworks such as Carl Jung’s archetypes and Sally Hogshead’s fascination triggers. Carl Jung’s archetypes such as the Hero, the Caregiver, the Rebel, and the Creator serve as guiding personas that brands can adopt to forge meaningful connections with their customers. Sally Hogshead’s fascination system uses seven triggers–passion, innovation, trust, mystique, alertness, power, and prestige–to engage consumers and influence their buying decisions. Implementing brand personality across a company requires creating a messaging playbook, conducting training sessions, and integrating AI content creation for consistency and authenticity. Applying these strategies throughout the organization ensures a consistent brand experience that builds loyalty and boosts engagement.

The Power of Behind-the-Scenes Videos: Boosting Your Brand and Sales

In the ever-evolving landscape of digital marketing, small business owners are constantly on the lookout for innovative ways to engage their audience, grow their following, and ultimately, increase sales. One trend that has been gaining significant traction is the creation of behindthe-scenes (BTS) videos. These videos offer a glimpse into the inner workings of your business, providing authenticity and transparency that resonate with consumers. BTS content exposes your brand, can increase social media followers, and build trust with consumers. All of the above benefits contribute to one ultimate goal: increased sales. When your brand exposure rises, your social media following grows, and consumer trust is established, the likelihood of converting followers into paying customers improves significantly. By providing a transparent look into your operations, you can enhance your brand’s authenticity and create lasting relationships with your customers.