Samantha Bishop, interim director of the Southeast Volusia Chamber of Commerce, will write a weekly blog for NSBNEWS.net on the relevant issues of business and commerce in the cities of New Smyrna Beach, Edgewater and Oak Hill, and the chamber's efforts to encourage and enhance economic development and vitality for the betterment of businesses and the public. Her blog is called "Chamber Change." Here is the first installment:
The past week has been filled with two very helpful business seminars. As you know the Chamber is the resource to help businesses network so they can grow their business and we are also the conduit to push economic development. Economic Development doesn’t just mean bringing in new business but includes helping our existing businesses stay competitive and thrive.
The Lunch & Learn last Wednesday, coordinated by Co-Chair Tracey Barlow, City of Edgewater and Co-Chair Debora Schmeltz, Bayview Insurance Specialists, featured Rick Fraser, president of the Workforce Development Board of Flagler/Volusia-Center for Business Excellence and Kathie Senft, business services representative of The Center for Business Excellence.
The Center for Business Excellence provides Workforce services with Work Opportunity Tax Credit Programs, Recruitment-related services, Lay-off Services, On The Job Training Programs, and Employed Worker Training Programs. CBE services are funded through various public and private sources.
Their job is to help our business community reduce recruitment costs, and provide the information and resources they need to attain and maintain qualified employees at no additional cost to the business and job seekers. Please make sure you get your paperwork to Kathie Serift prior to the scheduled training so you can take advantage of the reimbursement programs.
For more information, please call her at 386-323-7084 or visit their web site www.centerforbusinessexcellence.net.
Tuesday, Sept. 21, was the Business Assistance Seminar coordinated by Mike Funaro, Small Pond Media. It featured Ned Harper with the Small Business Development Center at Daytona State College. Mr. Harper gave us a brief overview on one of the Training Programs he offers titled “How to Stay Focused on the Big Picture – Achieve Your Personal and Professional Goals."
We learned how to identify and focus on our top priorities; how to get more of the right things done in less time; how to set guiding goals; how to manage information better; how to overcome procrastination; how to take control of incoming information; how to renew our own enthusiasm and how to energize and control our days.
The SBCD offers many helpful training and seminars to help businesses start, grow and succeed. There are also scholarships available. Please call Ned Harper at 386-506-4723 or visit the web site at www.sbcdaytona.com.
The Chamber’s next networking event is 7:30 a.m. Friday, at 115 Canal Street, “Coffee with the President” sponsored by Kim Lawler, Berlin & Denys. The Speaker will be Donna Thompson with Volusia County Schools, who will discuss the need for mentors in the schools.
Business After Hours will be 7 p.m. Tuesday, at Smyrna West, 301 Milford Place, New Smyrna Beach. The cost is $5 for Chamber members and $10 for those who mat be interested in joining the Chamber.