World Class Connectors for Our Members

World Class Connectors for Our Members

By Jacki Dezelski, IOM, President | CEO

For businesses and non-profits to thrive, we need connections - connections to trusted sources of information, knowledge and expertise to overcome challenges, resources that move us forward, connections to colleagues and partners, and to customers, too. Your Chamber is proud to be a "World Class Connector" for you and your team.

But, connections don't only mean networking. Your Chamber membership investment absolutely comes with plenty of opportunities to grow your network, but the Chamber provides "World Class Connections" in many other ways that don't require you to ever attend an "event". Your membership provides access to information, credibility in establishing partnerships, a voice on issues that impact our economy and quality of life, and the ability to tap into a network of subject matter experts - your fellow members! - from a wide variety of industries and fields.

And, our team is here to help you make your membership work. I encourage you to pick up the phone, send us an email, connect with us on social media, or stop by the Chamber offices and let us know how the Chamber can help. Often, that help results in a connection - to a person or to information, a process, a program, or a resource.

Here's a direct ask for how YOU can be a connector: in March we need at least 150 Chamber members to serve as a business community connection for local students through our annual Project TEACH program. For more than 30 years, the Chamber has presented this career awareness activity in 4th grade classrooms across Manatee County. If you can give us three hours (that includes travel time!), you can broaden the horizons for a classroom full of kids by helping them learn more about careers and imagine what they might want to be when they grow up. Check out page 9 for more information - thank you!