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Chamber Programs & Services
PROGRAMS & SERVICES
AN OVERVIEW
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The Kenosha Area Chamber of Commerce is where people and business succeed. We’re celebrating over 100 years of service to the business community. Our Chamber is a membership-based business and community resource organization with a mission to provide opportunities to engage and connect our Members with the greater community. The Chamber provides long-established business events like Business After 5 networking, the Kenosha Expo, Business To Business Expo, and Regional Connections. In addition, the Chamber provides services such as the Local Business Guide and Kenosha County map, online Business Directory, Certificates of Origin, and referrals, as well as many others.
EVENTS
Your Chamber membership carries many benefits exclusive only to Chamber members. No matter your business model or marketing plan, your membership provides you the opportunity to participate in a variety of business-building programs and events.
KENOSHA EXPO HEALTH & HOME SHOW
March Kenosha Expo is the Chamber’s premier consumer event to showcase our members. Over 5,000 people attend this two-day business-to-consumer event. The Kenosha Expo also features the Family Activity Area showcasing our civic and nonprofit organizations that serve and strengthen families, the Kenosha Health Fair with free screenings and services, and the Great Kenosha Raffle to raise funds for college scholarships.
BUSINESS TO BUSINESS EXPO
November The Business to Business Expo showcases our Members that have other businesses as clients and who market, service, and sell to businesses. The Expo runs from 10:00am to 2:00pm and is ideal for Office Managers, General Managers, and Procurement Specialists, in addition to the general business community. Entry to the Business to Business Expo is free and includes lunch, giveaways, and door prizes.
ANNUAL MEETING
October Our Annual Meeting is where we honor worthy individuals and businesses and conduct Chamber business including induction of new Directors to our Board, Bylaw changes, and other business needing the attention of the full membership. College scholarships are awarded through the Kenosha Area Chamber of Commerce Foundation and our Members are recognized with the Best Place To Work Award, Community Partner Award, Beautification Awards, Chairman’s Award, and Ambassador of the Year.
SCHOLARSHIP GOLF CLASSIC
August All proceeds from the Scholarship Golf Classic benefit the Chamber Scholarship Foundation. The event includes 18 holes of golf, lunch, contests, awards, and dinner reception.
MINI GOLF CLASSIC
September The Mini Golf Classic includes 18 holes of miniature golf, a box lunch, and dinner reception with awards. This is a perfect opportunity for non-golfers to experience the fun of a Golf Outing!
SCHOLARSHIP CHARTER FISHING OUTING
July Proceeds from the Scholarship Charter Fishing Outing benefit the scholarship program of the Kenosha Area Chamber of Commerce Foundation. This event features Lake Michigan charter boat fishing for individuals and groups, contests, awards, and dinner reception.
MEMBER RECOGNITION MONTH
annual The Chamber will spotlight one region of Kenosha County per week for a month, including the Village of Pleasant Prairie, the towns and villages west of I-94, the Village & Town of Somers, and the City of Kenosha. Our respective Members in each region will be highlighted on social media and our website.
NETWORKING
Our mission is to provide opportunities to engage and connect our Members with the greater business community. Offering networking groups and networking events are at the core of that mission to help you and your business prosper.
BUSINESS AFTER FIVE & BUSINESS BEFORE NINE
monthly A two-hour networking event open to the business community. Business After Five (evening) & Business Before Nine (morning) features open, social networking in a casual atmosphere. Events are held at Member businesses throughout the Kenosha area and our Members offer refreshments, light hors d’oeuvres, and door prizes. Contact the Chamber if you are interested in showcasing your business to the community!
NETWORKING GROUPS
continuous Chamber networking groups are a free tool available to our Members to help expand their personal network, gain recognition for their products or services, and build business. Being part of a dedicated networking group creates awareness of you and your business, helps you build useful contacts, and polishes your presentation skills.
REGIONAL CONNECTIONS & MULTI-CHAMBER NETWORKING
biannual Regional Connections is a multi-Chamber networking luncheon designed to connect our Members with regional business professionals from Southeastern Wisconsin and Northern Illinois. We also participate in and promote multi-Chamber events hosted by other Chambers in our region to broaden our Members’ contacts.
PUBLICATIONS
We’re passionate about promoting your business. The Chamber prints a yearly directory of our Members, maintains an online directory, and publishes emails to keep your business up-to-date and well informed.
LOCAL BUSINESS GUIDE
published yearly Each year the Chamber publishes the Local Business Guide, a directory of our entire membership and their advertisements, as well as community and Chamber information. 4,000 copies are distributed including over 750 guides sent directly to Chamber Members and local officials.
CHAMBER PLANNER
Wednesdays The Chamber Planner is an email newsletter mailed out every Wednesday which chronicles all of the events happening at the Chamber— all of the events listed in this guide are promoted extensively in the Chamber Planner.
Want to stay up-to-date with everything that’s going on at the Chamber? Sign up for our email list at kenoshaareachamber.com!
WEBSITE
Ongoing The Chamber website is another way for us to promote our Members and their events on our blog and events calendar. Kenoshaareachamber.com is one of the ways we market our Members and it also contains Chamber information, a variety of useful links, and business resources.
ONLINE JOB BOARD
The Chamber Job Board features career opportunities at member businesses. Members are encouraged to submit their job openings to the Chamber, free of charge. View the full list at kenoshaareachamber.com/jobs
PROGRAMS & SERVICES
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
We don’t just help your business grow; we help you grow as well. The Chamber works in conjunction with local groups and organizations that offer a variety of professional guidance courses to help you develop as a leader and to help your business thrive in the community.
LEADERSHIP KENOSHA
Leadership Kenosha is a 9-month professional development program whose participants focus on personal and interpersonal skills, team building, conflict management, and communication and presentation skills to enhance our emerging and existing community leaders. Chamber members receive a discount on tuition. Leadership Kenosha graduates are emerging leaders who serve as catalysts for positive change for the quality of life in our community.
BUSINESS & EDUCATION PARTNERS PROGRAM (BEPP)
BEPP creates collaboration between the Kenosha Unified School District, Gateway Technical College, UW-Parkside, Carthage College, Herzing University, and Member manufacturing businesses. The goal of the program is to allow High School students to gather experience and information to assist them in making career and education plans.
WISCONSIN WOMEN’S BUSINESS INITIATIVE CORPORATION
The Wisconsin Women’s Business Initiative Corporation (WWBIC) is an economic development corporation providing quality business education, technical assistance, and access to capital for entrepreneurs. WWBIC consults, educates, and mentors owners of small and micro businesses throughout Wisconsin. Although they concentrate their efforts with women, people of color, and those of lower incomes, WWBIC services are available to any business.
ONLINE LEARNING SEMINARS
Are you looking to get more involved in the Chamber? Programs like Maximizing Your Membership and MidDay Learning Moment help you learn how to get the most out of your membership and grow your business and as a professional through the Chamber.
CHAMBER BENEFITS
In addition to marketing our Members on our website Business Directory and in the printed Local Business Guide, Chamber Membership also includes a variety of perks beneficial to you and your business, such as grand opening celebrations, college scholarships, referrals, and even a morning radio show!
NEW BUSINESS RECOGNITION
Opening a new business? The Chamber holds Ground Breaking, Grand Opening, and Ribbon Cutting ceremonies to introduce your new business to the community! Those events are marketed in our weekly Chamber Planner, on our web calendar, and afterward shared on social media and on our blog.
Each spring, $10,000 in college scholarships are awarded through the Chamber Foundation to Kenosha County High School students that display positive character, leadership skills, academic excellence, community involvement, and future aspirations. Among other qualifications, applicants must have a connection to the Chamber either through an employer or a parent/guardian’s employer. Adult learner scholarships are also available through partnerships with Herzing University and Tempo Kenosha.
DID YOU KNOW? All employees of a Chamber member are eligible to take part in the programs and services (scholarships included!) that the Chamber offers.
SPOTLIGHT ON KENOSHA COUNTY BUSINESS
Spotlight is the Chamber’s twice-monthly radio program that promotes businesses in Kenosha County. The program is hosted by Bill Lawrence and Chamber President Dave Strash on AM 1050 WLIP. Sponsorship is only $210 and includes 24 30-second on-air promotions during the week plus 15 minutes of live interview time.
ELECTRONIC CERTIFICATES OF ORIGIN
The Chamber now processes Certificates of Origin electronically with an easy-to-use program that allows businesses to continue using their own software. Turnaround is almost immediate during regular business hours. The cost is $20 per Certificate with a tiered pricing advantage for volume exporters.
RELOCATION PACKETS
Relocation packets include the Local Business Guide, which contains the Kenosha County Map and community information. They are distributed upon request to new residents and employees.
RECIPROCAL MEMBERSHIPS
Are you already a member of a local Chamber of Commerce? The Milwaukee-Chicago corridor is full of opportunity, and we want you to take advantage of everything the Chamber has to offer! If you’re a member of the Antioch, Lake County, or Twin Lakes Chambers, you are eligible to receive a discount on your Membership!
BUSINESS REFERRALS
The Chamber fosters a culture of doing business with its Members and regularly makes Member referrals.
CONNECT WITH THE CHAMBER! Stay up to date with everything happening at the Chamber by visiting our website and following us on social media.
kenoshaareachamber.com kenoshachamber @kenoshachamber kenoshachamber /company/kenoshachamber
CONTACT INFORMATION
Visit our convenient lakefront location to learn about the Member businesses and organizations that are part of the Chamber and support our community. The Chamber has a variety of area information for newcomers and those seeking to relocate to or visit our community such as maps, Local Business Guide, and other resources.
ADDRESS
Kenosha Area Chamber of Commerce 600 52nd Street, Suite 130 Kenosha, WI 53140
DIRECTIONS
The Kenosha Area Chamber of Commerce is located across from the Kenosha Municipal Building on 52nd Street, between 6th and 7th Avenue. Take Sheridan Road or Green Bay Road to 52nd Street (Highway 158) and head east to the lakefront. The Harborview Office Building is on the north side of the street. The Chamber offices are on the first floor (first door on the left).
HOURS
Monday through Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm
STAFF DIRECTORY
Dave Strash President/CEO (262) 654-1234, ext. 160 dave@kenoshaareachamber.com
Rachel Skowronski Membership & Event Coordinator (262) 654-1234 ext. 163 rachel@kenoshaareachamber.com
Michael Mertz Digital Marketing & Graphic Design Specialist (262) 654-1234, ext. 161 mike@kenoshaareachamber.com
Stefanie Hansen Administrative Assistant (262) 654-1234 ext. 162 stefanie@kenoshaareachamber.com
