Member Success Guide
Welcome Welcome to the Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce. We are honored to serve as your source for information, connectivity, advocacy, and a wide range of resources our members need. Now, more than ever, the relationships that exist throughout the Rochester Chamber network are invaluable. This is why membership matters. We are a family and you are now a part of it. This membership belongs to your entire team. We encourage you and your staff to get engaged. Take advantage of our many events and business services, but most importantly, let us know how we can help you specifically. We are grateful for your investment and are looking forward to serving you. For more info on any of our services or to schedule an in-depth overview, please contact Kevin Donahue at kevin.donahue@greaterrochesterchamber.com.
Sincerely, Kevin Donahue Membership Director Kevin.Donahue@GreaterRochesterChamber.com (585) 256-4651
New Member Checklist Here are a few suggestions on how to start taking advantage of your new membership.
Stay Informed Make sure you are receiving our weekly e-newsletter every Tuesday morning. Send us a list of any additional staff members you’d like to receive our communications. This is our main method of communicating news, compliance information and upcoming events.
Register for an Event We have a wide variety of networking and informational events for you and your team to take advantage of. Visit our online calendar of events to see what’s coming up.
Get Social Connect with us on our various social media platforms: Follow us on Twitter, Like us on Facebook and join our members-only LinkedIn group. Follow us on Instagram and YouTube, too for live event updates and video recaps. Quick links for all can be found at the bottom of our home page.
Schedule an Orientation Meeting The best way to kick off your membership is to make sure you know everything available to you. Schedule some time for our Membership Director, Kevin Donahue, to stop out and meet with you and your staff to provide a thorough overview.
Show your Chamber Pride Add our Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce member logo or Partner member logo to your website. Contact Kevin.Donahue@GreaterRochesterChamber.com to request.
Share your Good News Did your company recently win an award? Did someone on the staff get promoted? Please share your good news with us and we will help promote it. Visit www.GreaterRochesterChamber.com and look for the and look for the “Submit Company News” button.
How We Can Help Advocating on Your Behalf When you’re a member of Rochester Chamber, we have your back. Our goal is to advocate for an environment that promotes the success of our members and of our local economy. If there’s an issue that affects you, it affects us.
Human Resource Services HR Helpline, Salary & Benefits Benchmarking Data, Peer Networking, and Compliance Update Meetings.
Making Connections Rochester TRENDS Featured Speaker Series, Chamber Business Rounds, and Chamber Impact are just a few of the events we offer.
Getting The Word Out Reach 10,000 business professionals in the Greater Rochester area with one of our affordable email options. Our designers are happy to assist you for no additional fee!
Saving Money Participate in our office supplies buying group or take advantage of any of our various discounted services.
Training Your Staff Rochester Chamber offers a range of professional development, supervisory, management and human resources training opportunities.
Recruiting Talent Looking to fill an open position or need a temp? Rochester Chamber has a full service staffing business to assist you.
Qualifying Potential Hires Customized background, reference and applicant screening services.
MEMBERSHIP LEVELS Open to companies with:
Basic 1 - 5 employees
Business Builder
Corporate
Partner
1 - 25 employees
Any number of employees
Any number of employees
Four calls per year
Unlimited
Unlimited
Friday HR Briefings ThinkHR Comply Access Labor Law Poster Discount Public Policy / Advocacy Online Networking Hard Copy / Online Membership Directory Listing Member-to-Member Discount Listing Member Discounts-Staples Office Supplies Voice of Business Newsletter Weekly email update biz. Exchange: Professional Development Series Chamber Member SPOTlight Events Chamber Business Rounds Business Made Social Chamber Impact Rochester Trends: Chamber Featured Speaker Series #ROC Chamber Future Leaders Events Ribbon Cutting Celebrations Policy Matters: Legislative Events Community Calendar Posting Member News Submission NYS Labor Law Guide (electronic version) Human Resource Helpline Email Advertising (Highlighted) Email Advertising (Dedicated) Preferred Rates for Staffing Preferred Rates-Reference / Background Checking Access to HR Forums Survey Participation (wage, salary, health benefits, etc.) Local Wage and Salary Survey Viewing Option National Salary and Benefits Survey Viewing Option Displayed on Signage in Our Lobby Highlighted in Membership Directory Highlighted on Social Media Platforms Dedicated Section on Our Website
One call per year
Advocacy Efforts Your membership dues at work.
Your dues dollars mean a lot to us, and we know they mean a lot to you as well. Your support allows the Rochester Chamber to advocate at the local, state, and national levels on your behalf. We have made it a priority to support proactive measures which save you time and money, and to oppose harmful policies which do not take your needs and goals into account. The following are a handful of these efforts which have and will continue to benefit our members financially and otherwise.
Issue: Permanent Property Tax Cap Proposed Legislation Overview: Proposed that NYS make permanent a 2% property tax cap which would force local governments to control spending and make NY more affordable for families and businesses. Rochester Chamber stance: Rochester Chamber CEO Bob Duffy co-chaired the Tax Cap Commission and we got it done. What this means to you: Since its proposal and temporary passage under Governor Cuomo, NYS taxpayers have saved $24.4 billion. Finger Lakes region tax payers have saved $2 billion. These savings will continue and increase.
Issue: Small Business Regulatory Cures Bill Proposed Legislation Overview: To help combat a climate of overly aggressive enforcement and lack of regulatory guidance and education for small businesses that unintentionally violate certain regulations. Rochester Chamber stance: Rochester Chamber worked hard with our partners to secure passage by both houses of the State Legislature What this means to you: Thanks to Governor Cuomo’s signature on this bill, small businesses now have a cure period for small businesses to correct the first-time violation, rather than be required to pay a substantial fine. Additionally, state agencies would be required to consider the practical, financial, and legal constraints of new policies for small businesses, and describe how they intend to communicate the new requirements.
Issue: Predictive Scheduling Proposed Legislation Overview: The proposed regulations would have required employers to provide “call-in pay” if they did not provide non-exempt employees with several weeks of advanced notice in changes to their work shift. This would have cost member businesses from thousands of dollars to hundreds of thousands of dollars depending on their size. Rochester Chamber stance: Rochester Chamber opposed the implementation of these policies and advocated at the highest levels to ensure they were not implemented. What this means to you: Factors out of your control, like changes in weather, will not cost you even more money by adding to personnel expenses.
Issue: COVID-19 Overview: An ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‑19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‑CoV‑2). Government and public health officials responded to this deadly threat by implementing travel restrictions, lockdowns, workplace hazard controls, and facility closures. Rochester Chamber stance: Rochester Chamber supported funding for businesses, non-profits, and individuals to mitigate the economic impact of this crisis. We continue to serve as a resource for information and services to assist with operations and recovery. What this means to you: While nearly every organization in Rochester/the Finger Lakes suffered a negative impact as a result of this crisis, the region was able to “re-open” in an expedient and safe manner due to the tireless work of our staff, and the support of our members. We will continue to guide our community on the path to economic recovery and eradication of this virus.
HR Services Rochester Chamber’s Human Resource Services department offers the data, information, and programs your business needs to compete in today’s marketplace.
Competitive Local Surveys
Professional/Managerial - Over 120 positions for finance, HR, engineering, IT, marketing, purchasing, legal, sales, etc. Nonexempt - Close to 95 office/clerical, finance, maintenance, technical and warehouse positions. Manufacturing - Over 40 (industry specific) positions including assemblers, skilled trades and machine operators. Health and Human Services - More than 50 (industry specific) nonexempt and exempt positions. Custom Surveys - Using our extensive survey experience, we will design and conduct custom wage, benefit, and employee opinion surveys to meet the needs of your business.
Research Reports • Health Benefits Survey • Holiday Closing Survey • Turnover/Absenteeism Survey • Pay Trends Survey
Consulting
For those HR projects and services we are unable to provide in-house, our network of experienced consulting professionals can help provide solutions to your HR challenges at competitive rates
National Surveys
Rochester Chamber, in conjunction with employers’ associations nationwide, conducts surveys to provide employers with a national benchmark. National Executive Compensation Survey Results include wage and benefits data for 48 key executives; includes Rochester breakout data. Policies & Benefits Survey - A comprehensive biennial survey with over 300 questions on HR policies and benefits, with both national and Rochester data
Compliant Member HR Helpline
Each year, the HR Services department responds to more than 1,300 requests for information and questions on a variety of topics such as state and federal employment law, employee issues, best practices, and more. Access level varies by membership level.
ThinkHR Workplace / Comply
An online HR knowledge solution included with all tiers of membership. It contains Q&As on thousands of trending HR questions, a federal + one state employee handbook builder, salary benchmarking tool, performance reviews and job descriptions, plus downloadable sample notices, forms, policies, and checklists.
Discounted Labor Law Posters
are available through GovDocs. Members at all tiers of Rochester Chamber membership receive a 10% discount on labor law posters and other items purchased (contact Kathy or Jennifer for discount code).
Safety Solutions Guide
contains the tools and information needed to educate your workforce and manage your daily safety processes including guidance, best practices, procedures, training outlines, and more.
Employer’s Guide to New York State Labor Laws
is provided in PDF format to Business Builder, Corporate and Partner members and contains explanations of NYS labor laws in an easy-to-read format. Updated annually by Nixon Peabody LLP.
Connected HR Networking Forums
Other Meetings and Seminars
• Small Company Senior Human Resource Executive Forum • Large Company Senior Human Resource Executive Forum • Benefits Forum • HR Professional Forum
Seminars - Rochester Chamber hosts HR-specific workshops and seminars each year with guest speakers, consultants, or/and attorneys, to help members get a better grasp of a topic.
Rochester Chamber offers four different HR forums each year to Corporate and Partner members. These forums connect you with your peers from local member organizations, allowing you to share best practices and discuss critical topics that affect the success of your company.
Friday HR Briefings - These complimentary meetings are open to all tiers of membership and feature presentations from HR consultants or attorneys, who provide information on timely human resource issues.
Advertising Opportunities Have your organization, products, services, or events be seen by thousands of leading business professionals and community members in the Rochester/Finger Lakes Region.
Single Message Member Email • $600 A dedicated, custom-designed email to promote your company, an event, or offer to approximately 10,000 business contacts. Open to members at the Partner, Corporate, & Business Builder levels
Group Message Member Email • $400 Our monthly Highlighted Members campaign can promote your company, an event, or extend a special offer. Ad placement is determined by the order in which the ad requests are received. Open to members at all levels
News and Events Weekly Email Banner Ad • $800 (Monthly rate)
We offer a banner ad at the top of our highest- performing email, the weekly News & Events email update, sent to approximately 10,000 members each week. Whether you want to run the same banner ad all calendar month or switch it up every week, it’s up to you on how you want to use this exclusive spot. One advertiser per calendar month. Open to members at the Partner, Corporate, & Business Builder levels
Programs & Events Success in business is no accident, that’s why we offer a wide variety of programs, seminars, workshops, and social events designed with your business success in mind. As a Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce member, you’ll have advance notice— and often exclusive access—to these programs and events, providing you with up-tothe-minute information and valuable business insights. For information on sponsoring any events or for presentation opportunities, please click here or contact Susan George at Susan.George@GreaterRochesterChamber.com
Rochester Chamber Programs and Events biz. Exchange: Professional Development Series
Policy Matters casual, interactive sessions with legislators and policy experts
interactive workshops bringing business expertise to a diverse audience
Business Made Social
Rochester TRENDS: Chamber Featured Speaker Series
a relaxed, casual atmosphere to unwind with fellow Rochester Chamber members
presentations by well-known leaders in their field
Chamber Business Rounds where members meet, build relationships, and
Workforce Training and Professional Development
Rochester Chamber
make connections
programs on leadership, supervision, and HR management
Chamber Member SPOTlight: FLX Success Stories
Future Leaders
tours, visits, and conversations with some of the region’s top companies
Chamber IMPACT volunteerism and community service programs
CLIMB a yearlong leadership development program for young professionals
Successful Supervision
Leadership for Managers
HR Management
helping young professionals build relationships and advance their goals
Chamber Counsel focused on how to enhance the growth of small to mid-size businesses through informed analysis and management of legal issues
Small Business Council An affiliate of Rochester Chamber, offering programs to help small businesses succeed
Signature Events
ROC
TECH CONFERENCE
ROC Tech Conference
A virtual online experience exploring the changing landscape of technology. Hit the refresh button and start transforming how you do business!
Annual Rochester Chamber IGNITE Award
Rochester Chamber Top 100 Awards Celebrating the fastest-growing privately owned companies in the Greater Rochester region.
Annual ATHENA Awards
IGNITE ROCHESTER CHAMBER AWA R D
An awards program that honors young professionals between the ages of 21 to 40 years for leadership, community service, and personal and professional achievements.
Recognizing women who demonstrate excellence, creativity, and initiative in their business or profession.
Staffing & Background Screening Services Staffing for Rochester Hire Service For over 30 years, we have helped local businesses make strategic employment decisions —with the confidence of knowing that their investment is protected by an experienced team that exceeds standards of excellence and trust in the industry. We have helped local businesses make strategic employment decisions with confidence. Our in-depth consultation and understanding of your hiring needs allows us to match you with high quality talent that will drive your business success.
Design Hiring RBA Staffing provides employers with customizable hiring services that not only bring in the best candidates, but also streamline the processes a company uses to hire in the future.
The RBA Staffing Advantage: Staffing Specialization and Flexibility • Temp/Temp to Hire Services • Direct Hire Services • Employee Payrolling Services • Onsite Management Programs • Onboarding Solutions
Background Screening Full Service Background screening is an essential component to reducing your business risk. When you need the screening services that go beyond the typical criminal search, turn to your local screening specialists, RBA Staffing Background Screening services. We have all the necessary products and over 25 years of experience. The Background Checking industry is constantly changing as new laws pertaining to hiring evolve. This constant flux can be a legal trap for companies who are not current with hiring laws. A good screening partner is needed. Choosing the right screening partner is crucial to smoothout the hiring process and minimize the legal risk.
Background Screening Platform Highlights • We are partnered with the #1 background screening platform in the industry. This allows us to turn around our criminal results extremely fast. • Our system allows you to send your applicants an email/text link to begin the background screening process • Full on-site/online platform training programs for HR staff • Fully customizable platform with unlimited available seats for large companies with many recruiters • Free demo of our platform to all potential new customers
Thank You For more information on our services, please contact the appropriate departments below: Membership
Kevin Donahue | Membership Director (585) 256-4651 | Kevin.Donahue@GreaterRochesterChamber.com
Advocacy
Marc Cohen | Chief of Staff (585) 244-1800 | Marc.Cohen@GreaterRochesterChamber.com
Human Resources
Kathy Richmond | Sr. Director, Human Resource Services (585) 256-4618 | Kathy.Richmond@GreaterRochesterChamber.com
Advertising
Shannon Ealy | Director of Communications & Marketing (585) 256-4658 | Advertising@GreaterRochesterChamber.com
Programs & Events
Susan George | Director, Events and Affiliate Relations (585) 256-4612 | Susan.George@GreaterRochesterChamber.com
RBA Staffing & Screening
Ferah Roman | Director of Business Services (585) 256-4611 | Ferah.Roman@RBAStaffing.com Dominic Oliveri | Manager, Background Screening Services (585) 256-4628 | Dominic.Oliveri@RBAStaffing.com
GreaterRochesterChamber.com