Chamber Welcomes 136 New Members

November 25, 2009
By: Bay Area Chamber of Commerce

November 17-19 was declared Chamber Community Awareness Week by the Bay Area Chamber of Commerce. During the week, more than 80 volunteers were spreading the chamber word to people they know, discussing the benefits and the value of the Bay Area Chamber membership in the community.

Teams gathered during the week in shifts to place calls to their business associates. A friendly competition ensured, with the top recruiter Chris Girard, winning 4 tickets to a Pistons Game. The top team was captained by David Green. Congratulations!

"People do business with people and the best way isn't with e-mails but with face to face communication. That's what makes Joan's approach so effective, inviting people to join the conversation opportunities that the Chamber provides. We didn't ask businesses to join with us, we asked people.", said Eric Jylha, Chairperson of the Community Awareness Campaign; when asked why the campaign was such a success.

The newest members of the chamber will receive advertising in the e-newsletter, inclusion in a special Directory addendum and will be highlighted on the chamber's website. Please attend the January 12, 2010 Eye Opener Breakfast to welcome the new members.

A HUGE thank you to our Community Awareness Week Participants:

Alesia Schuman, Weinlander Fitzhugh; Keith Birchler,Learman, Sarow, Birchler, Fitzhugh & Purtell;Amy Phillips, Bay Future; Keith Markstrom, Bay Regional Medical Center; Andrea Hales, Wildfire Credit Union; Ken Pawlak, Serenus Johnson Construction; Andrew Kornecky,Redi Med-Euclid Medical Group, P.C.; Kurt Miller, Bay Regional Medical Center; Barb Dinauer, First American / Metropolitan Title Insurance; Larry Arendt, Independent Bank; Barb Engelhardt, Farm Bureau Insurance; Larry Ehrlinger, Citizens Bank - Bay City; Beth Brink, Independent Bank; Laurie Bush, Harris Bush Realty; Bill Gagliardi, IMPACC; Lisa Meylan, Independent Bank; Bill LaMere, Great Lakes Bay Michigan Works!; Luke Russell, Edward Jones; Brad Kessel, Independent Bank; Marianne Huffman, Supreme Floor Covering; Brad Parker, Do-All, Inc.; Mark Delestowicz, Independent Bank; Brent Gettel, Chemical Bank; Martha Hughes, National City, now part of PNC; Carla Hickie, Independent Bank; Matt Reinbold, Independent Bank; Carri Lapka, Yeo & Yeo, P.C., CPAs & Bus. Consultants; Max Holman, Bay Cast Inc.; Cheryl Ratynski, Independent Bank; Maxine Kauffold, Independent Bank; Chris Girard, Do-All, Inc.; Meri Sue Enger, Bailey Insurance; Cindy Miller, United Way Bay County; Mike Assels, AP Sites; Connie Schweitzer, S.V.S.U.; Mike Debo, Chemical Bank; Dale Bash, Dobson Industrial;Mike Hanisko, Weinlander Fitzhugh; Dan Couveau, Independent Bank; Mike Stodolak, Independent Bank; Dan McEvoy,Independent Bank; Mike Thelen, Thelen Auto Group; Dave Duyck, Growers Choice Insurance,Norma Matthews, Choice Office Products; Dave Green, Citizens Bank - Bay City; Norman Moore, National City now a part of PNC; David Clayton, Bay Regional Medical Center; Pat O'Brien, EMCOR, Inc.; Deitra Nowak, Citizens Bank - Bay City; Randy Shelagowski,Rowley Brothers Inc.; Dennis Dobbs, Consumers Energy; Ray VanDriessche, Michigan Sugar Company; Dennis Johnston, Independent Bank; Rob Clark, Citizens Bank; Diane Szczepanski,FinancialEdge Community Credit Union; Robert Dotson, Saginaw Bay Underwriters; Magen Miner, Action Leaders; Ed Keating, Citizens Bank - Bay City; Sandy Loomis, Chemical Bank; Sandy Peariso, Hammer Restoration; Ellen Talbott, Bay Regional Medical Center; Sandy Pope, AAA Michigan; Eric Jylha, WNEM/Bay County History Museum; Sohail Qamar, Carbone of America Corp. - Ultra Carbon Div.; Stephanie Kolomak, Citizens Bank; Heather Jatczak, Citizens Bank - Bay City; Stu Reid, Weinlander Fitzhugh; Jeff Yantz, Edward Jones; Sue Pike, Charter Township of Monitor; Jerri Gavord, New Dimensions, Inc.; Terry King, Action Leaders; Jesse Maldonado, Independent Bank; Tim Dunn, Dunn Right Marketing; Jim Sharrard, Bay Regional Medical Center; Tina Adam, Do-All, Inc.; John Bellsmith, Bellsmith Graphic Design; Tina Kerr, Bangor Township Schools; John Jatczak, Chemical Bank; Tony Hages, NetSource One, Inc.; Julie Green, Citizens Bank - Bay City; Tricia Lathrom, Independent Bank; Kay Burks, Independent Bank