The Amherst Chamber of Commerce is gearing up for its highly anticipated Annual Meeting and State of the Town Address on January 30, 2026. This event promises to be a pivotal gathering for local business, governmental, and civic leaders in our Western New York region. Held at Jazzboline located at the Reikart House, the meeting will include the Installation of our Board of Directors led by Board Chair Peter Petrella, the unveiling of the Chamber’s Public Policy Agenda, and feature newly inaugurated Town Supervisor Shawn Lavin as the Keynote Speaker. He will deliver his inaugural State of the Town Address. This marks a significant moment as Supervisor Lavin steps into this role, offering insights into the town’s economic direction, priorities for the year ahead, and the overall impact on our Western New York region. For more information, and to register, please click here.
This annual meeting aligns perfectly with the broader theme of businesses starting 2026 on the right foot. As companies reset after the holidays, experts recommend a structured approach to ensure sustained success. While many of us chart out our goals at the end of the prior year, it’s never too late. Begin with a comprehensive business audit, review financial statements, assess operational efficiencies, and identify areas for cost savings or revenue growth. For instance, revamping digital marketing strategies, such as optimizing search engine optimization, leveraging social media analytics, and integrating AI tools, can drive customer engagement without a costly investment.
Setting clear, achievable goals is another cornerstone. Business coaches advise reflecting on 2025’s performance to inform 2026 objectives, using frameworks like SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) goals. This might include expanding into emerging markets, such as AI-driven services or sustainable practices, which are projected to boom. Gratitude practices also play a role; expressing thanks to clients, partners, and employees through personalized outreach can strengthen relationships and boost loyalty.
When you’re through assessing your business, it is essential to be clear with your team about your goals. Hold an off-site meeting in a different setting to promote positive interaction among participants. As a Chamber member, one of the biggest perks we saw utilized this past year was the use of our conference room and training space for those types of team-building exercises. Your membership includes up to four hours of conference room space. When we renovated our offices, we expanded our conference room to provide advanced technology resources, designed to empower our members without the overhead of maintaining their own facilities. If you would like to utilize our space, please email us at memberservices@amherst.org.
As an organization, we are here for our members and are working tirelessly to help push the Western New York economy forward. If there is anything you need, please remember my door is always open.