NOVEMBER 2021
Chamber News THE VOICE OF BUSINESS & INDUSTRY
We Love Small Business
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
FEATURES 07 | MarketSpace Relaunches with More Vendors 08 | Come In, We’re Awesome 11 | How to Use MarketSpace as a Chamber Member 12 | Weight of the World
Chair John Fox GreenSen, LLC Chair-Elect Scott Harvard First Bank Vice Chair Charles Daniels Integrus Holdings, Inc. Treasurer Adrian Taylor YHB
DEPARTMENTS
Immediate Past Chair Tracy Vosika George Mason Mortgage, LLC
04 | Letter from CEO 04 | New Members
At Large Member Patti Solenberger Solenberger’s True Value Hardware
05 | TVRC News and Events
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Images courtesy of Winchester-Frederick County Convention and Visitors Bureau
Emily Burner Shenandoah University
Top of Virginia Regional Chamber Sponsors Chamber Elite
Jenny Grooms WMC Foundation Jim Guisewhite Sperry Van Ness James Imoh Edward Jones Investments
Chairman’s Level
Kevin McKannan GlenLoch Legal P.L.C.
President’s Level
Katrina Meade City National Bank Cary Nelson H.N. Funkhouser Nadine Pottinga United Way NSV
Media Sponsors
Kristy Powers Navy Federal Credit Union James Stewart Grafton Integrated Health
Letter From Cynthia Schneider CEO, Top of Virginia Regional Chamber
CHAMBER STAFF
All of our Chamber members are integral to the success of our region and our Chamber. Still, we would not be prosperous in the Top of Virginia without our small businesses providing support to the community and the larger firms who have relocated to Virginia as CNBC’s top state to do business. We saw in our October issue the amount of manufacturing that is done globally out of our region and how large some of our Chamber members are, but this month we will shift our focus to those lifeline small businesses that keep the others afloat. Just recently, a large manufacturer had a line go down due to a broken machine part. That business contacted Barrett Machine, who fabricated the needed part to get the manufacturing line back up and operational quickly. Our technology businesses do this all the time. Sure, that IT company may have 5-10 employees, but I guarantee that they are servicing tens of thousands of employees at other companies. I think of all the businesses that our financial sector members touch. At some point, nearly everyone in this community is propelled forward by our Chamber members. I want to encourage and even challenge you a bit this holiday season. Shop small, shop Chamber members. Businesses on our MarketSpace or in our directory (available online or in print at Chamber offices) have already taken steps to ensure the success of this region, committing time and resources to build the community around their extraordinary accomplishments every day. When you support a Chamber member, you support the City of Winchester, Clarke County, and Frederick County, Virginia.
Cynthia Schneider | CEO Top of Virginia Regional Chamber
Welcome
New Members
Cynthia Schneider, CEO
cschneider@regionalchamber.biz
Danita Roble Director, Membership Development
droble@regionalchamber.biz
Dan Hitchcock Membership Development Specialist
dhitchcock@regionalchamber.biz
Julie Shaffer Director, Legislative Affairs
jshaffer@regionalchamber.biz
Vanessa McAllister Director, Programs & Events
vmcallister@regionalchamber.biz
Kory Campbell Director, Marketing & Communications
kcampbell@regionalchamber.biz
Thanks to our new members who joined the Chamber between October 1 and October 31. To learn more about membership benefits, call 540-662-4118.
Winchester Flooring, Inc. (540) 667-2882 winchesterflooring.com
Picadilly Place, LLC (866) 316-2122
Money Pages (540) 546-1664 moneypages.com
A1 Solutions Group (703) 232-1523 a1solutionsgroup.com
Wholesome Media (540) 247-7427 wholesomedia.com
RWB Disposal (540) 837-5593 rwbdisposal.com
Alta Effect Productions (540) 486-8859 altaeffectproductions.com
Victory Industrial Construction (540) 313-4959 Get Connected! Get Informed!
OUR PURPOSE Connect business and community resources for mutual success. OUR VISION Be the voice of business for Frederick & Clarke Counties and the City of Winchester, Virginia.
PiccadillyPlace.com
OUR MISSION Provide programs and services to meet the business and professional needs of our members.
Get Involved! Be Seen!
407 S. Loudoun Street Winchester, VA 22601 540-662-4118 regionalchamber.biz
TVRC NEWS & EVENTS Apply Now:
Save the Date:
Business Leadership Program 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Wednesdays in January and February The George Washington Hotel
Business After Hours 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. November 17, 2021 Winchester Country Club
Apply Here
Register Here
The Business Leadership Program (BLP) provides an opportunity for mid-level managers up to senior leaders as well as small business owners to connect, learn, and grow with those in similar positions.
After-hours networking events are designed for members to meet and build relationships with business people from small, mid-size and large companies and organizations representing a variety of industries.
The Business Leadership Program Pilot Course – Life Leader 360, will be presented by former American Woodmark CEO, Cary Dunston. Life Leader 360 will challenge you to understand your choices in life and how your life stories are being written.
A 10% early bird registration discount is available if your application is received no later than November 24, 2021. Application deadline is December 1. Please register at regionalchamber.biz
Save the Date:
Please register at regionalchamber.biz
Lunch & Learn 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. November 23, 2021 Virtual At today’s Lunch & Learn we will hear from Leslie Hicks - Cardinal Technology
Register Here
Topics: Cybersecurity Dangers | Counter Measures | What is a Cyber Security Audit | Is there a Legal aspect if you get hacked? | Does my Insurance cover me and my clients? | WHATS IN YOUR WAR BOX? Please register at regionalchamber.biz
MarketSpace Relaunches with More Vendors Written by: Top of Virginia Regional Chamber Shaffer’s BBQ and Market have also been an early adopter with the MarketSpace program to offer holiday meals to those who like to keep meal preparation simple and efficient. Consumers can pick various meat options to dine on for the holidays or pick up a gift card for someone to enjoy lunchtime offerings. Solenberger’s Hardware has used the space to double down on local products available in their store. Shoppers can find the “Winchester Tales” series by local author Mike Robinson, Sweet to the Soul Honey from Meadowbrook Farms, and the Monastery Fruit Cakes out of Berryville, Virginia. These holiday items are unique gifts that are sure to please. MarketSpace is an excellent way to bolster your online products, as $861 billion was spent online last year. Our region produced an overall total $7.9 billion in gross metropolitan product. That means that online sales were the equivalent of almost 109 areas, just like ours. The reach is The Top of Virginia Regional Chamber is committed to our members’ mutu- undeniable. al success. The relaunched MarketSpace on regionalchamber.biz looks to While we want to make it as easy for you to connect trusted Chamber member products and services to shoppers looking to invest their holiday spending in local businesses. Your dollar goes fur- shop Chamber members as possible, we still ther when reinvested in the community by a small business owner than own- ask that you stop into their stores or markets to ers large online retailers. Local owners tend to shop other local businesses. see what else they have to offer and get to know They gather their resources to invest in our local non-profit missions. In fact, them a bit if you have not connected with them 85 percent of TVRC members are small businesses. If the community uses at a Chamber event. Experience the warmth and charm they weave into our region. this resource, they will be ensuring that an additional 30 percent of dollars spent in the area stay in our community. Kimberly’s boutique was one of the first businesses to get items on the relaunched MarketSpace, offering a wide variety of local and custom gifts. Kevin, a visitor from Harrisonburg, summed up the Winchester, Virginia boutique when he said, “When I think of Christmas, I think of Kimberly’s! The old mansion sparkles with Christmas cheer with every nook and cranny full of excitement.” Kimberly’s has been a Winchester business for 32 years now. They offer customizable gifts on top of the quality brands they carry in-store throughout the year. Chamber Members: Find out how you can use the MarketSpace on Page 11
Come In, We’re Awesome Written by: Top of Virginia Regional Chamber
While many small businesses were forced to close their doors at this time last year, we are glad to see many Open signs dangling from small boutiques and vibrant businesses in the Top of Virginia. We would all like to move on from a year that brought movement to a standstill for many Chamber member businesses that employ area residents while supporting other local businesses through the collaboration of goods and services. According to the Small Business Administration, small businesses generate 44 percent of U.S. economic output and account for two-thirds of new hiring. Unfortunately, roughly 20 percent of these small businesses closed in 2020. It took a decade for small businesses to recover from the 2008 recession, only for the cycle to collapse again amidst fear and shutdown. A backlog in grant funding
throughout Virginia has impacted these businesses the most, and hiring has been difficult nationwide. Winchester, Virginia ranked ninth overall in the 2019 Forbes Best Small Places for Business and Careers. Now that many owners have reopened their doors to welcome shoppers into their stores, diners into their restaurants, and volunteers into non-profit organizations, business is prepared to thrive again, and area residents are eager to get back to work. As a result, area employment has grown 1.7 percent since April of 2021. Our favorite stat that we found was from Red Egg Marketing. They determined 83 percent of consumers support local over corporate and 84 percent of those consumers are willing to pay a little more to support their local market.
This is a year-round movement. We see a push around the holidays to support your local shops and restaurants, but they need this support throughout the year to provide a more stable base for our community to flourish. Stronger communities develop around the businesses that create a culture. Small businesses are the threads that weave the fabric that we show to the world. Each business may feel like a strand individually, but when they come together to form a community, the final tapestry shows beauty and resiliency. The Top of Virginia Regional Chamber gets to admire this tapestry daily.
Shop Local Shopping local is the easiest thing that you can do. Look for a local farm market, try the coffee at a place that isn’t blocking traffic for overpriced milk with a hint of coffee, or support the artist in the storefront down the street instead of the latest internet find. Online retailers are looking to find ways to loosen the stagnant trade in our inland shipping ports, but we implore you to purchase products and services that have only crossed local winding creeks or traveled nearby historic battlefields instead of sailing the ocean blue. These vendors live, work, and play in your community. They may even support your own business.
Celebrate the Holidays Consider using a local caterer for your company’s holiday party and move to a venue that supports prosperity in our region. This valley is rich in quality agriculture that meets the highest of standards. Choose to feature locally sourced foods from a catering company that can elevate any corporate holiday gathering in a location that showcases the Top of Virginia. We have toured many gorgeous venues recently, planning for TVRC events in 2022, showcasing the fabric that brings this community to life, from rich farming culture to scenic valley views.
How to Use MarketSpace as a Chamber Member Written by: Top of Virginia Regional Chamber
The Top of Virginia Regional Chamber has relaunched the MarketSpace as a valuable benefit of Chamber membership. Members are able to post items they have for purchase in a collective place with other member wares to make holiday shopping easy and local. The MarketSpace is designed for items to sell at their respective retail pricing. Consumers can route directly to your website to purchase the item or stop into your location to finalize the sale. Hot Deals are available to drive sales on discounted items. Both are available option in the Member information Center. Posting an item on the MarketSpace is fast and efficient. Contact TVRC for any assistance.
• Log in to your Member Information Center If you need help, please reach out to the
TVRC Membership Department
• Select MarketSpace • Add yourMarketSpace Item • Be sure to add a title, image, description, and any categories the item may fit into • Offer URL - This will route consumers directly to your website when the item is clicked
Weight of the World Written by: Top of Virginia Regional Chamber
Small businesses are tasked with a huge responsibility. As the engine of the economy, they drive our region’s growth. Two-thirds of newly hired employees work in a small business and live within an average twenty-three-minute radius of their job. “The multiplier effect created by shopping locally generates lasting impact on the prosperity of local organizations and residents. Local spending ensures that your sales taxes are reinvested in your community, which may lead to better schools, city services, infrastructure, and more.” Christine Kriz, Director of the Lord Fairfax Small Business Development Center, recently said in an article by Matt Welch in the Winchester Star. We know the impact that small businesses have; now, how can we immediately use our impact as a community on their business? The National Federation of Independent Businesses (NFIB) reports that more than 40 percent of jobs are not being filled as 56 percent of American workers are working from home, according to a Gallup poll. Businesses have had to refine their hiring approach as workers look for remote options, higher wages, and flexible working hours. We have this in our own region. Stores have shifted hours. Staffing is often a skeleton crew. Wages have increased. It can be difficult for a local service-based company to compete with salaries offered at an industry giant, even one from a different industry. Trades had seen this decline for several years but experienced a bump up during the pandemic. “The skilled trades don’t just hold strong in an economic downturn—but they are
among the rare sectors that continue to experience significant growth in an unpredictable job market,” said Jill Quinn. For example, electricians and carpenters jumped by 10.4 percent and 8 percent, respectively, according to the Center for Employment Training. One area small businesses can learn from a industry giants is the data analytics generated by those more prominent corporations. Smaller companies can use the data to make data-driven decisions for their business, which improves profitability and outcomes. This helps owners decide what products and services provide the most value at the best price point. Marketers can construct campaigns that focus on attentive target audiences. New staff members can be better selected through hiring processes. Employment may be the most troubling barrier for small businesses currently. It costs quite a bit to onboard a new employee under traditional circumstances while the scope of expectations has changed drastically. Marketers have to increase budgets to attract incoming talent in a growing sea of needs. Hiring managers face new expectations from potential new staff from competing for available jobs and requests for increased flexibility. Often, we see one single person wear all these hats. So how can you help? Small businesses need employees. Desperately! If you know someone looking for work or are thinking about picking up some extra hours, point them in the direction of your favorite shop, restaurant, or trade. Word of mouth is inexpensive for owners and provides powerful referrals. Job Postings available at regionalchamber.biz
Fun with Membership
Ribbon Cuttings
Jerry Hickman of Shared Knowledge Technical Solutions celebrates his new location at 1521 Martinsburg Pike with a ribbon cutting on October 27, 2021. Congratulations Shared Knowledge Technical Solutions!
Fun with Membership
Business After Hours at Winchester Regional Airport
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1. Nick Sabo, Executive Director of the Winchester Regional Airport reveals exciting news on the progress of expansion plans and unveils projections for what renovations will look like at Business After Hours in October. 2. A sign of the times as David Richmond of Heart of the Home gives an elbow bump to say hello to Rachel Rivera of the Winchester Rescue Mission. 3. Hugh Jean of Apple Federal Credit Union listens to Rebecca Taylor of Aikens Group Hotels. 4. Bill Pifer, Vice-Chair of the Winchester Regional Airport Board, speaks to members before Nick Sabo takes the stage. 5. Nick Sabo greets Wayne McEachern of Get Well Now LLC and Jeff Hinson of Rappahannock Electric Cooperative as they enter the terminal and grab a bite to eat from caterer, Honey Baked Hams. 6. Carly Walker, Director of Development of STEM Flights, is recognized for her work as Nadine Pottinga, Chief Executive Officer at United Way of the Northern Shenandoah Valley, listens on. 7. Jasmine Frye, Coordinator, Oncology Outreach Services of Valley Health System and Winchester Medical Center, pauses for a quick picture with Lauren of Trex.
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