President's Commentary

February 27, 2011
By: Bay Area Chamber of Commerce

The goal of Your Bay Area Chamber of Commerce Business Assistance and Activities Division is to provide high quality Chamber activities and events designed to: (1) increase new business contacts and opportunities for involvement, and (2) increase assistance programs for small businesses.

As part of this effort, your Bay Area Chamber hosts monthly Eye Opener Breakfasts, featuring leading business, community and governmental speakers. The Dow Chemical Company Vice President, Earl Shipp is the speaker at our March 1st breakfast and Joe Mazzeo, General Manager at G.M. Powertrain-Bay City, will speak at our April 5th Eye Opener at Bay Valley Resort.

The Chamber also conducts monthly Business After Hours receptions to provide networking opportunities and new business contacts. Our March 17th Business After Hours is hosted by Thumb National Bank & Trust Co. and our April 21st program is hosted by Krzysiak's.

The Chamber's March 23rd Annual Meeting allows us to showcase excellence in the local business community to the more than 500 local business leaders and guests who will attend.
Small business seminars, workshops and forums are held throughout the year to assist and promote this very important group of local businesses.

Likewise, the Bay Area Chamber Agribusiness Council works hard to support the interests of this business segment.
Other efforts of the Business Assistance & Activities Division include: Support & promote community events such as Chamber Night at the Pig Gig, 50th Anniversary with Delta College and other community oriented events; Enhance the opportunities available at our two Sales Leads Roundtables; and Promote the Great Lakes Bay Regional Business Expo to showcase products and services of Bay Area businesses.

These are just a few of the programs presented by the six councils and work groups that make up the Business Assistance & Activities Division, which is led by Chris Monk, Citadel Broadcasting Company.