As a Chamber, we are only as successful as our members. Our responsibility is to provide the services and programming that provide tremendous value to our membership. Often, our programming is developed in conjunction with our membership, and we pride ourselves on responding to our members' needs. Our Emerging Business Leaders are an example of our younger chamber members working with our Chamber office to create a professional development program that strengthened their skills and also provided a greater connection to the community and its business leaders.
Over the past year, the Amherst Chamber of Commerce has been developing its LIFT (Leadership and Inspiration for Trailblazers) Council to provide another avenue for our female members to gather, educate, empower, and inspire each other. Bernie Aja from Employer Services Corporation chairs the LIFT Council. It comprises women from various fields, such as legal, higher education, banking, not-for-profit, construction, and hospitality, to name a few. The Council is working diligently to develop upcoming programming in response to our female members' needs. While they have had many meetings and even hosted an informal event this past spring at the Golf Dojo, where over 70 women attended, at the end of this month, they will host their inaugural event on September 24th at Park Country Club from 5:30-7:30pm with over 125 women present to hear from a panel of distinguished female professionals about their careers. With its promising lineup and anticipation of future LIFT council events, this event will serve as a catalyst for more exciting opportunities. Please visit here to learn more.
As we transition into Fall, we are very excited to accept nominations for our biggest event of the year, The Event-Celebrating Business Excellence 2024. Each year, the Chamber honors those large businesses in our area that have made a tremendous impact on the Western New York economy and are experiencing tremendous growth. Also, each year, we honor a Woman of Distinction who has had a trailblazing effect on our community. To submit a nomination, please click here -OR- email memberservices@amherst.org.
Business After Hours this month will take place Tuesday, September 17th , at Hover Networks when we celebrate their fifteenth anniversary. Hover has been a longtime Chamber member and a former Small Business of the Year award recipient, and we couldn't be prouder to call them our friends. Hover is pulling out all the stops to celebrate this tremendous milestone, and we are thrilled to partner with them for what could be the most prominent Business After Hours event of the year. Click here to register. Following Business After Hours on Wednesday, September 18th, the Chamber will officially cut the ribbon and celebrate with Share Kitchen and Bar Room, who recently expanded their business in the village of Williamsville. This ribbon cutting will also serve as our September Lunch Mob and you can click here for registration. This is our first Ribbon Cutting/Lunch Mob combination, and I can't wait to show our support for a longtime Chamber member.
The Chamber has two other ribbon cuttings that are open to our membership. A new jewelry business has come to town:
- Joseph and Company Jewelry in the village of Williamsville is hosting its grand opening on Friday, September 13th at 5pm
- Wednesday, September 25th, Reimer Heating and Cooling is cutting the ribbon on its new location in Cheektowaga at 4:30pm
- Please check our events calendar for more information
The Chamber remains active for September, and we are thrilled to engage with our membership. If there is more programming that you would like to see or to learn more about our various networking groups, please do not hesitate to reach out. Remember, my door is always open.
Upcoming Suicide Prevention QPR & Mental Health Adult First Aid Training
