Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce Presentation

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VISION FOR BUSINESS IN NIAGARA

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Transcript of Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce Presentation

Page 1: Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce Presentation

VISION FOR BUSINESS IN NIAGARAVISION FOR BUSINESS IN NIAGARA

Page 2: Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce Presentation

VISION FOR BUSINESS IN NIAGARAVISION FOR BUSINESS IN NIAGARA

• Niagara’s economy is facing many challenges.• Businesses in Niagara are finding it increasingly difficult in

the current economic climate.• Niagara’s unemployment rates is the second highest in

Ontario.• There is a labour skills gap that is growing quickly in

Niagara. • Niagara’s young professionals and skilled trades are

leaving the region.• Poverty in Niagara is well above the provincial average.• Niagara lacks an advocacy infrastructure that represents

businesses at the regional level.

Page 3: Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce Presentation

VISION FOR BUSINESS IN NIAGARAVISION FOR BUSINESS IN NIAGARA

• Businesses in Niagara are looking for leadership to address the real issues that are facing businesses and communities in Niagara.

• After extensive discussion and research the decision was made by a group of business people to create the Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce. The goal is that this organization can bring together business leaders who are ready to help position Niagara’s economy for the 21st Century.

• Over the past year, members of the Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce (GNCC) steering committee have established a set of by-laws, core values, mission, vision and goals as a means to set in motion the creation of a powerful new business organization in Niagara.

• A rock solid framework has been created by the steering committee and now the participants and Board of Directors will begin solidifying the structure of the GNCC around that framework.

Page 4: Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce Presentation

VISION FOR BUSINESS IN NIAGARAVISION FOR BUSINESS IN NIAGARA

Member Profession OrganizationAl Simpson Partner Partridge Iggulden

Damian Goulbourne Business Professor Niagara CollegeDave DiFelice Associate Vice President Canadian Tire Financial Services

Dave Shaw Managing Partner Advanced Office Solutions (AOS)Gay Douglas Broerse Owner Gay Douglas & Associates

Ian Kowalchuk Estimator Merit ContractorsKeith Cumming President Primeway Group of Companies

Liz Isaak Senior Tax Manager DeloitteLiz Palmieri Executive Director Niagara Community FoundationMike Watt Vice President Walker Industries

Neil Thornton President The Thornton Group

Page 5: Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce Presentation

VISION FOR BUSINESS IN NIAGARAVISION FOR BUSINESS IN NIAGARA

Leadership• Move forward with a clear sense of direction and a strong

vision of the future. Focus• Set an agenda of regional priorities and actions. • Provide a forum for business to discover common

interests, and inspire and establish mutually supportive policies and programs.

Innovation• Promote innovation and creativity.  Recognize that the old

ways may still have value, we strive to find a better solution

Page 6: Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce Presentation

VISION FOR BUSINESS IN NIAGARAVISION FOR BUSINESS IN NIAGARA

Optimism

• Face the future with confidence.

• Expect the best in people.

Integrity

• Honor reliability.

• Act with respect, honesty, decency and commitment.

Courage

• Directly face obstacles, difficulties and uncertainties.

Page 7: Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce Presentation

VISION FOR BUSINESS IN NIAGARAVISION FOR BUSINESS IN NIAGARA

The Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce is a non-partisan, non-sectarian association of businesses, groups and individuals who support business growth and effective government fostering a sustainable and vibrant Niagara.

Page 8: Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce Presentation

VISION FOR BUSINESS IN NIAGARAVISION FOR BUSINESS IN NIAGARA

The Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce will be the champion for the Niagara business community.

Page 9: Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce Presentation

VISION FOR BUSINESS IN NIAGARAVISION FOR BUSINESS IN NIAGARA

• To foster a successful business climate in Niagara

• To influence government and public institutions on behalf of business in a positive, visible, and proactive manner

• To strengthen business networks in Niagara

Page 10: Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce Presentation

VISION FOR BUSINESS IN NIAGARAVISION FOR BUSINESS IN NIAGARA

• The Steering Committee has reviewed regionally based models across North America, and a common development has been the establishment of strategically located and sectorally-based business councils as part of regional chambers of commerce.

• Based on the research and Niagara’s unique

geographical nature the Committee recommended that Business Councils be a fundamental part of the GNCC infrastructure.

Page 11: Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce Presentation

VISION FOR BUSINESS IN NIAGARAVISION FOR BUSINESS IN NIAGARA

• Local/sectoral networking and events (BA5, community awards, golf tournaments, etc.)

• Local/sectoral membership support• Providing local services and points of contact• Development of municipal/sectoral policy issues • Develop budget and business plan for local Business

Council• Provide input regarding staff direction assigned to

Business Councils

Page 12: Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce Presentation

VISION FOR BUSINESS IN NIAGARAVISION FOR BUSINESS IN NIAGARA

1. BC will be formed in areas in which a chamber’s membership has voted to join the GNCC.

2. BCs will be located strategically and based on geographical area, sector, and membership size as determined by the GNCC Board of Directors in consultation with the membership.

3. BC will be formed by those businesses within its geographical or sectoral area with volunteers from the chamber membership.

4. Areas, which are not specifically represented by a BC, can have committees struck by the GNCC to assist with local issues/events affecting a municipality, area and/or its members

Page 13: Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce Presentation

VISION FOR BUSINESS IN NIAGARAVISION FOR BUSINESS IN NIAGARA

5. BCs can form sub-committees to address issues related to the area/sector serviced by the Council.

6. BCs can be formed to represent sector-based industries in Niagara.

Page 14: Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce Presentation

VISION FOR BUSINESS IN NIAGARAVISION FOR BUSINESS IN NIAGARA

• Elected Board of Directors by the membership at large• Development of Regional Advocacy Plan• Development of Strategic Plan• Development of Annual Budget/Business Plan• Approve Business Council Budgets and Plans• Focus on organizational governance• Provide professional development for business• Large scale/regional networking/events• Human resources/management• Providing increased regional benefits/services to membership• Manage support for the local Business Councils• Membership Administration• Represent Niagara business interests at conferences, events at a

provincial, national and international level.

Page 15: Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce Presentation

VISION FOR BUSINESS IN NIAGARAVISION FOR BUSINESS IN NIAGARA

The inaugural Board of Directors of the GNCC will be appointed. Future Boards will be elected by the membership at large

The composition of this board will fluctuate. Each of the existing Niagara Business Organizations that decides to participate and become a Business Council of the GNCC will be entitled to assign members to this inaugural board in the amount of 1 per every 400 members they have in their organization.

Page 16: Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce Presentation

VISION FOR BUSINESS IN NIAGARAVISION FOR BUSINESS IN NIAGARA

To date, this is the composition of the Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.

Member Role Profession OrganizationDamian Goulbourne Director Business Professor Niagara College

Dave DiFelice Director Associate Vice President Canadian Tire Financial CorporationDr. Andrew Panko Director President Associated BrownfieldDr. Barry Wright Director Associate Professor, Faculty of Business Brock University

Gay Douglas Broerse Director Owner Gay Douglas & AssociatesJoe McCallum Honourary Solicitor Partner Heelis, Williams, Little & Almas

Keith Cumming Vice Chair President Primeway Group of CompaniesLiz Issak Honourary Treasurer Senior Tax Manager Deloitte

Liz Palmieri Director Executive Director Niagara Community FoundationMike Watt Chair Vice President Walker IndustriesRon Hurst Director President Nitec Energy Services

Steven Megannety 1st Vice Chair President Margin DevelopmentsWade Stayzer Director Vice President Meridian Credit Union

Page 17: Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce Presentation

VISION FOR BUSINESS IN NIAGARAVISION FOR BUSINESS IN NIAGARA

Based on the proposed model, a “bridge-building” model, the GNCC is committed to working with local chambers and other existing business organizations to negotiate joint agreements that will create the GNCC: a regional chamber organization with recognized local points of contact.

1.Protection of local chamber charter by GNCC

2.Establishment of a restricted fund

3.Development of an employment strategy

4.Development of Business Councils

5.Board composition

6.Membership dues

7.Local points of contact

Page 18: Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce Presentation

VISION FOR BUSINESS IN NIAGARAVISION FOR BUSINESS IN NIAGARA

1. Members of the Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce steering committee are meeting with any and all existing business organizations within the Niagara Region ie) Chambers of Commerce, business clubs, etc. to fully engage and demonstrate the flexibility of the framework created to enable their de-risked participation in the Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce.

2. Once these organizations have had a chance to learn and present options to their own memberships, the inaugural membership of the GNCC will be formed.

3. Once the inaugural membership of the GNCC and full board of directors has been named, the GNCC will begin formal operations and general memberships will be made available to those businesses that are a part of organizations that declined to participate at the outset.

4. The Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce steering committee is working towards processing the matter with all existing organizations by years end 2011 with a targeted full services launch by the end of the first quarter, 2012.

Page 19: Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce Presentation

VISION FOR BUSINESS IN NIAGARAVISION FOR BUSINESS IN NIAGARA

Our goal is not to create a mega-chamber. Our goal is to create a unified and regionally cohesive voice of business in Niagara. That naturally leads to bridge-building conversations and the simplicity that would come from having existing organizations merge into the new unified and cohesive GNCC.

We are facing some small challenges. With such an incredible amount of work invested from such a diverse and knowledgeable group of people the framework created to conceive the GNCC is virtually bulletproof and essentially derisks the proposition for all of the regions Chambers of Commerce and other business organizations.

Based on that framework and the built-in flexibility, there are only two reasons why an organization would choose not to participate:

1. The Vision is wrong

2. There are self interests in the decision making process

The business community is confirming in an overwhelming manner that the vision is solid. With that support we will continue unbowed in the creation of the GNCC and furthering the Niagara community by communicating openly, honestly, transparently and effectively.

These transparent conversations with the business community will make this a wildly successful endeavor and we cherish the coming progress!

Page 20: Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce Presentation

VISION FOR BUSINESS IN NIAGARAVISION FOR BUSINESS IN NIAGARA

1. Join the conversation and encourage others to do the same, this is an exciting time!

1. Engage with us on Twitter: @NiagaraCoC

2. Engage with us on Facebook: facebook.com/NiagaraChamber

3. Engage with us on our blog: http://NiagaraChamber.Worpress.Com

2. Do you share the vision? Make sure you communicate that with the Board of Directors of any existing business organization you are a member of. They are making GNCC related decisions on behalf of their memberships and their members need to communicate their wishes to them.