MEQUON — Each September, Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce, which is the state chamber, along with local chambers celebrate Chamber of Commerce Month to highlight the crucial role these organizations play in comm unities across the state. The News Graphic spoke with Mequon-Thiensville Chamber Executive Director Tina Schwantes about the many advantages a business can enjoy by being a part of this community.
Q. What are three benefits of joining the chamber?
Three benefits of joining the Chamber are networking opportunities, an increase in visibility for businesses and education.
The Chamber offers networking programs to connect with other business representatives and community leaders. These connections establish valued relationships, resources, collaborations, community engagement and business growth. It’s always rewarding to see the camaraderie that develops between members in the organization.
Chambers increase the visibility of businesses through directory listings, newsletter and website ads and posts, sponsorship opportunities and various marketing programs and ribbon-cutting events.
Another benefit includes educational opportunities. Seminars are offered on a variety of business and professional development topics.
Q. What are some events chamber members can enjoy?
Exciting events the Chamber hosts every year are Annual Sporting Clays, our Annual Awards Dinner, Annual Holiday Celebration and our popular M-T Chamber Golf Classic, which sells out every year.
We also offer engaging luncheons throughout the year as well as Face2Face networking events. Members frequently comment how uplifted they feel after the sessions after spending quality time with other members. Together with the other Ozaukee Chambers and Ozaukee Economic Development, we offer ONCE (Ozaukee Networking Chamber Exchange) and educational series.
In addition, multiple programs are offered by our MT Chamber Young Professional group.
Q. Can you talk about the Young Professionals Program and the events and activities offered?
The M-T Chamber Young Professionals is a self-directed group providing programs for professional peers age 40 and under. The programming they provide includes a mix of networking, educational and service-oriented events. The consistent successful events they plan and their strong engagement is very impressive.
Examples of some of their programs would include an annual summer picnic or evening outing at Village Park, their annual happy hour trivia night in the fall, and other fun events such as learning to make homemade pasta or craft cocktails together and enjoying a meal afterward.
For service, they volunteer time for projects at the Mequon Nature Preserve and Thiensville Village Park. The Young Professionals also host mentorship events and educational sessions on such topics as professional development, coping with stress in the workplace and entrepreneurship.
It is also noteworthy that this past year the M-T Young Professionals funded a scholarship for a graduating Homestead High School student.