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August 2016
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Beachwood Buzz
29
Dynamics
Online
Beachwood Convention
& Visitors Bureau
Beachwood
Buzz
PNC Bank
Wednesday
September 14, 2016
From 3pm to 6:30pm
PREMIER Sponsor
MEDIA Sponsor
TECHNOLOGY Sponsor
Exhibitor & Attendee Pre-Registration at Beachwood.org
Discovery
Photo
Embassy Suites
3775 Park East Drive
near I-271
Leverity
Insurance
Huntington
Bank
Beachwood Chamber of Commerce Celebrates 25th Anniversary
Strong Partners: Strong Community
Congratulations to the Beach-
wood Chamber of Commerce
(BCC) on celebrating its 25th
anniversary. Established on July
12, 1991, the Chamber held an
official birthday celebration on
July 13 at its monthly luncheon,
at which attendees heard from
ESPN's Mark "Munch" Bishop
about the impact of sports in
Cleveland and how our sports
teams are perceived outside
of Cleveland. Birthday cake
was served and Mayor Merle S.
Gorden presented a proclama-
tion recognizing the Chamber
and its accomplishments over
the past 25 years.
The BCC, originally housed in
the basement of a city-owned
historical building, was founded
by Richard Adler, Paul Schiffer
and Herb Greenwald to promote
business opportunities and
community partnerships that
stimulate economic vitality. A
non-profit organization, the
BCC is dedicated to enhancing
business opportunities, promot-
ing economic development and
encouraging community-better-
ment activities through innova-
tive programming.
Cindy Caldwell, BCC executive
director, said, "In the Chamber's
25 years, we have never strayed
from the mission of serving our
area businesses. Over the years,
we continue to introduce new
programs and services aimed at
bringing businesses together."
She then answered the
following questions to provide
insight of the value of Chamber
membership:
Q. How do you describe the
chamber to potential members?
A. The Beachwood Chamber
of Commerce is a leading voice
for the business community. We
connect member businesses
to the community and other
businesses through network-
ing events, seminars, monthly
luncheons, business shows and
major events ­ all designed to
grow business.
Q. How can a Chamber mem-
bership help an area business?
A. Whether you are the owner
or decision maker of a small
business, a local representative
of a large corporation, or public
liaison of a non-profit, member-
ship shows an individual's invest-
ment in Beachwood's business
community, which can improve
its bottom line. Members are
provided with various opportu-
nities to meet business decision
makers, which increase their
networks. Significant savings
opportunities are also available.
Q. Can you expand on the
savings opportunities?
A. Members can take advan-
tage of savings on health insur-
ance, workers compensation,
member-to-member discounts,
office supplies, background
screenings, telecommunications
and much more. Additionally, in
1995, the BCC was instrumental
in bringing together other area
chambers to create NOACC
(Northern Ohio Area Chambers
of Commerce), which provides
group buying power for health-
care, worker's compensation and
more, which is passed along to
Chamber members.
Q. What are some upcoming
programs?
A. On August 11, the Cham-
ber is hosting a Multi-Chamber
Speed Networking event from
4-7 pm at Embassy Suites Beach-
wood. Members from seven
area chambers will be attending,
providing an opportunity for
participants to broaden their
business networks. Space is
limited, and we're excited to host
this first-time event.
Our 2016 Chamber B2B (Busi-
ness-2-Business) Show will take
place on Wednesday, September
14, from 3-6:30 pm at Embassy
Suites. More than 70 businesses
will be showcasing their products
and services in the technolo-
gy, financial services, food and
beverage, education and culture,
media, lifestyle, and health and
wellness industries. There is no
charge or pre-registration required
to attend the show. Your business
card admits you to the event and
we invite businesses to exhibit
or attend. This show provides
an opportunity to interact with
exhibitors from multiple industries
in and around Beachwood.
Our next monthly luncheon
will take place on September
21st at which City of Beachwood
officials will talk about the City's
Master Plan, and our next Net-
working After 5 event will take
place on August 3rd at University
Hospitals Ahuja Medical Center.
Caldwell also explained that
Chamber members each have
their own web page on the
Chamber's website, making it
easier for fellow members to
navigate and obtain information.
"Over the past 25 years, the
Chamber has built a strong foun-
dation, currently has about 400
members, and continues to grow
because it successfully brings
businesses together by develop-
ing programs to meet their needs
and foster their growth while pro-
moting the City of Beachwood as
the place to live, work, shop and
visit," said BCC president Donna
Cook. "The many committees and
events hosted by the Chamber
have grown significantly. Our
annual Fitness Challenge boosts
team building and healthy habits,
thus reducing employer health-
care costs. Our annual B2B Show
offers great opportunities for net-
working and fostering business
relationships. Additional activities
include Taste of Beachwood,
an annual golf outing, monthly
Networking After 5 events and
monthly luncheons that feature
notable speakers."
"We listen to our members,"
Cook added. "New programs
and services are continually
added to meet the needs of the
membership."
Among the many successes of
the BCC, the most notable is the
relationship that the Chamber
has with the City of Beach-
wood and the Beachwood City
Schools, a partnership referred
to as the "Golden Triangle
Partnership." The collaboration
of these three entities ensures
long-term stability and coopera-
tive strategic planning.
In recognition of the Cham-
ber's 25th anniversary, Mayor
Merle S. Gorden and City Council
proclaimed Wednesday, July 13,
2016 as "Beachwood Chamber
of Commerce Day" in the City of
Beachwood.
For more information, call
216.831.0003 or visit www.
beachwood.org.
"We listen to our
members," Cook added.
"New programs and
services are continually
added to meet the needs
of the membership."
Pictured: Mayor Merle S. Gorden
presents a proclamation to
BCC executive director Cindy
Caldwell.