Message from A.J. Baynes: July 2024

Summer is officially here, and I hope everyone had a wonderful Fourth of July and could take advantage of the incredible weather throughout the holiday weekend. The Chamber is readily preparing for one of our largest events of the year, our Small Business Awards Luncheon and Showcase! We have very few seats left and expect another sellout event as we honor the following businesses:

• Community Stewardship Award: The Tool Library
• At Your Service Award: Fat Bob's Smokehouse
• Friend of the Chamber Award: Eric Conrad, Owner of The Junkluggers of Buffalo
• Family-Owned Business Award: WNY Metro Roberts Realty
• KeyBank Sponsor's Award: WNY Medical PC
• Small Business of the Year: Rolly Pollies

There is still time to reserve your seat and join over 300 community leaders and business owners. Those arriving before 11 am will be eligible for a $200 Wegmans gift card and two club-level tickets for a 2024 Buffalo Bills game donated by Hover Networks.

While preparing for our Awards Luncheon and Showcase, we have still been extremely busy supporting our local businesses. The Chamber has been cutting ribbons on new businesses throughout the community, and we have a full calendar of new announcements coming up. On Tuesday, July 9, we will be at Pierogi Pete's in East Amherst for our July Lunch Mob. Pierogi Pete's is another extension of Ania Duchon's brands. Her original business, Chrusciki Bakery, led to Sto Lat Bar, Events by Sto Lat, and now Pierogi Pete's. Ania is a past Small Business Award recipient. Please join us for Lunch Mob by registering here.

Our next Business After Hours is Tuesday, July 16, downtown at Serendipity Labs and PCI, located on the 29th and 30th floors of Seneca One. They are planning a popcorn bar with What's Pop-in, a 716 Day raffle (716 day), and some assorted drinks. See some of Western New York's most unique spaces with picturesque views of our incredible city. It will be an evening you will not want to miss, so please register for the July Business After Hours here. We will remain downtown for our August Business After Hours event at one of Buffalo's newest restaurants, Prova, at Fountain Plaza. Chamber Investor Harter Secrest and Emery LLP are hosting our Business After Hours event at Prova, located on the ground floor. For more information about the August Business After Hours, please click here.

The Chamber is constantly evolving its services and offerings to its members. We recognize that, as business owners, your teams are evolving as well. On Thursday, August 8, we will be hosting our third New Member Orientation & Open House of the year in our newly renovated offices and upgraded conference room space. If you are a new member or even a long-time member who would like a refresher on our services, please join us on Thursday, August 8 at 8 am by registering here.

The Chamber has hosted Speed Networking and "open" ProNet over the last few months. These events have received tremendously positive feedback and engagement from many newer members of the Chamber. If you are interested in making meaningful connections for your business, please register for our next Open ProNet happening Thursday, July 25 here or August 22 Open Pronet here.

While we all take some time to enjoy the summer, please remember my door is always open.