In the beginning

Welcome to my blog. 

Since I started working at the Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce my role has changed quite a bit.  Starting off at first being Office Manager, then to Membership & Events Manager, and currently Marketing & Membership Director. Well cross pollinated if you ask me. But that's what's exciting about working for the Chamber. There is never the same day twice. Shortly after I started working at the Chamber I realized what a great membership we have.  Everyone is so friendly and approachable.  There were real relationships being built here.  I quickly fell in love with the membership.  One person that stuck out of the crowd was Youssef Fadel, New England Promotional Marketing. Youssef's involvement in the Chamber was so significant - Board of Director - Golf Tournament Committee -Taste of Amherst Committee - WinterFest Committee - Program Committee and giving referral after referral - whenever in conversation.  His involvement is so intense that after remarking on his passion within the Chamber that conversation had lead him to becoming the MVP Award recipient aka (youssef fadel award) of the 2012 Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce's Annual Awards Dinner.  Way to set the bar Youssef! 

Through the years I've been trying to think of ways to add more benefits to being a member of the Chamber with little to no cost to its member. I noticed that we have had many businesses start-up in the Amherst Area so I started thinking how can we celebrate this milestone?  That's when the Ribbon Cutting Ceremonies came to be.  Since 2012 we have celebrated over 10 Ribbon Cuttings.  Seeing as the Ribbon Cutting Celebrations proved to be successful I've started thinking whats next?  Now I can focus on coming up with another benefit.  Something the Chamber tried to launch in 2006, prior to my coming on board, was the Chamber Gift Card Program.  I figured I'd take a crack at it. Kristine Cole, Manager of Operations, Greater Northampton Chamber of Commerce and Larry Rubin, SwipeIt Technology came to mind.  Kristin had already launched the Northampton Gift Card using SwipeIt Technology's services.  Kristin was a huge help in this process.  She's already done the hard work and passed on all the details to me.  Larry was great too.  I'm pretty sure I blew up his phone and email box.  We ended up launching the the Amherst Area Gift Card just in time for the Holiday Season in 2012.  Since then we have sold over $11,000 in gift card sales!  Big win for our participants.

If you have a benefit in mind that you would like to see, I'm open to suggestions. 

We have had a few transitions here at the Chamber and now things are starting to gel.  Executive Director, Don Courtemanche and Administrative Assistant, Carrie Carbone feel like family and we are ready to bring in the "New Year".  What's it going to bring?  Health, prosperity, new friendships?  Either way it's going to be new and exciting!  

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What's on the horizon ~ Membership outreach