Our Year In Review
January 5, 2010

The Huber Heights Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and Staff are constantly working to bring our members top quality benefits that include more than most realize.  Besides the discounts on health insurance, eye care, dental care, workers’ comp, prescription cards, discounts on document shredding and discount on hearing aids we do much more.  We also arrange all the Chamber WINGS and Small Business Group monthly meetings, business after hours Chamber-Net events, seminars, Annual Community Update, Chamber Bowl, Golf Scramble, Business Expo and the Annual Meeting.  When we see a need to inform our members and community on such things as workers’ compensation costs, we make sure we provide that opportunity to them.  At a time when many chambers are loosing members due to the economy I am happy to say we gained 22.  In 2009 we approved 44 new memberships – one business alone with over 100 employees.  Unfortunately we did loose some members (22) due to closings, moving out of the area and the economy.  To increase membership during this economy shows that the Huber Heights Chamber of Commerce has a lot to offer and the businesses realize the value of that membership.

The following is an example of what we accomplished in 2009 and will give you an idea of the great things that you’re Huber Heights Chamber of Commerce does –

The Small Business Group held a seminar on Marketing in a Down Economy and one on Employment Law/FMLA.  They also had several meetings focusing on such topics as medical insurance, city zoning, drug-free workplace and security in the workplace (how to react or avoid an active shooter).                                   

The Business Enrichment Committee organized and scheduled 15 Business After Hours including the Chamber open house in January.   Members have enjoyed business card exchanges, meeting new members and enjoyed refreshments and fellowship.  Many new business relationships have developed from these monthly Chamber Net-Events.

The Chamber WINGS (Women In Networking Generating Success) continues to be very popular and meet monthly.  Each month they have a “Show & Tell” and a guest speaker which has included such topics and speakers as; Wanda Dearth “World Class Customer Service” and Rita O’Leary “Color Me Beautiful”.  Our November meeting was held at Olde Glory Sweet Shoppe where they just talked and ate.  Let’s face it, we’re women, it’s all about talking and eating!  In December we met at Sinclair’s HH Learning Center and enjoyed the sounds of the Wayne High School Choir, what a beautiful setting in the open area of the lobby of the learning center where the music was wonderful.  Attendance averages 25 per month and many connections, business contacts and friendships have blossomed at these meetings.

Other special events and fundraisers in 2009 were:

Spotlight on Huber Heights (Community Update) was held in April and the Chamber hosted speakers that included the City Manager Eileen Wilson-Bensen , City Engineer,  Superintendent Bill Kirby of Huber Heights City Schools and Brad Beer with Ultimate Oldies Radio.  This community update is an opportunity for the businesses to learn what is going on within our community.  This year we were updated on the city staff development, the 2009 street program,  the new home of our own local radio station and how they have grown and the new schools that will be built in the City of Huber Heights.

We included the Chamber Bowl in our sponsorship partnership program and had lane sponsors.  27 lanes were filled at Poelking Marian Center and we held a silent auction, raffles and a 50/50.  Many businesses took advantage of this opportunity to treat employees and/or family to an evening of pizza, pop, bowling, prizes, fun and fellowship.  New friends were made and prizes won!  Along with the Wayne Township/Huber Heights Historical Society we participated in and promoted Founder’s Day at Carriage Hill Farm “An Old Fashion Independence Day Celebration”.  Families from Huber Heights and the surrounding area came out on the beautiful Sunday afternoon to experience life in the 1800’s.  Working with Carriage Hill MetroPark is a joy and we are so lucky to have such a national attraction in our community.

The Annual Golf Scramble is held at Sugar Isle Golf Course where 120 members and friends of the Chamber enjoyed a day of fun, food and golf.  Thanks to the hard work of the committee and our sponsors, this is one of our biggest events of the year but also one of the most fun days we have.  It is also a great way to get to know other members of the Chamber and I understand there have been some great relationships made at this special day.  Even the work crew has an opportunity to have a lot of fun and “getting to know you” time. 

Our largest community event of the year is our business expo.  Taking Business to New Heights 2009 was held on Nov. 5 at the Huber Heights Athletic Foundation on Fishburg Road.  Business-to-Business networking was held an hour before the doors opened to the public and those in attendance said this was the best expo in which they have participated.  Hundreds of people visited the booths of the 85 vendors participating in the event.  This is the 6^th year the Chamber has hosted this event and it is by far the highlight of the year.  It is also one of our biggest fundraisers for the Chamber and the committee and staff work on this event for months. 

The lighting of the Community Christmas tree is another community event the Chamber of Commerce supported and promoted with the Wayne Twp/Huber Heights Historical Society with help from the City Public Works department. The beautiful pine tree that was donated and planted at Huber Centre by Eric Knowlton is a way to celebrate the holiday season.  With a visit from Santa and cakes, coca and coffee donated by a local business, the family evening is always a treat.  This year was the 5^th year we’ve been doing this and we were able to have horse drawn wagon rides from Carriage Hill MetroPark and Joe Ellis owner of Gem City Screen brought in a model train display.  The historical society kicked off the bicentennial for 2010 with a tree decorating contest with the theme being 1800. The trees were on display Sat., Sun & Mon.  The children’s choir from St Peter School preformed on Sunday evening and the Treble Choir (girl’s choir) from Wayne High School performed on Monday.  This was a lot of fun and to see the community come out and participate was great.  This year we got lucky – 30 some degrees – not below freezing and the full moon just made the evening perfect.

Besides fundraising and community events we also provide our members with some special benefits. 

• Our Monthly newsletter “The Contact”
• Today’s Business: includes an article in the Huber Heights Courier, the business name mentioned with the Chamber’s on the Ultimate Oldies Radio Station and a spotlight in “The Contact”.  This is at no cost to our members
• The Chamber’s website lists all the members and a link to their websites. 
• There are also many benefits provided by the Chamber and through our association with SOCA (Southern Ohio Chamber Alliance) members take advantage of discounts on health care, workers’ comp, dental care, eye care and much more.
• We were able to partner again with the CampFire USA this summer and had a student come in and help in our office for 6 weeks.  Dennis Mahan a 13 year old was such a blessing, he was very good at answering the phone, taking messages and helping me learn some things about the computer and he designed our community update program.  This was a win-win for both the Chamber and CampFire USA
• We produced the Community Profile publication that will be available sometime in January.  This is the informational piece that we provide to the businesses, new residents, schools, etc. that includes information about what a wonderful city Huber Heights is and important contact information for new and existing residents.  This is a great marketing tool for our members and over 3000 copies will be distributed throughout the area.  With the virtual connection to this guide anyone can have access to the information from the website.
• We have been a sponsor for Wright Patterson Air Force Base “Heroes Welcoming Heroes”, in celebration of our service men and women who have recently returned from deployment.
• The chamber took on a major project this year with the “We Like it in Huber Heights” branding campaign.  We began talking about this in the spring and in late September it was kicked off in the Huber Heights City Schools.  “We like it in The Heights” essay and video contests were a huge success.  There were more than 800 entries from K through 12, students, teachers, and bus drivers all wearing buttons “We Like it in The Heights”.  That portion of the campaign is still creating a “buzz” and at the Wayne Centerville Game Mr. Kirby, Howard Updyke and Pat Stephens congratulated the winning students before the game in the middle of the football field – what an experience!  Currently the business part of the campaign is underway and this will be on going for the next year to two years with ballot boxes in sponsoring businesses for their customers to tell why they like it in Huber Heights.

This year we saw the opening of Good Samaritan – Huber Heights, FirstDay Federal CU and DayMet CU.

We owe a great deal to our sponsors, without them, we could not provide the benefits and maintain the office and staff.

Our Sponsors for 2009:

• Platinum: ABF Freight System, Inc., Liberty Savings Bank, Good Samaritan Hospital, United Water, Weisenborn Insurance Services, Ohio Home Health Care
• Gold: Hunter Consulting
• Silver: Hughes-Peters, FirstDay Federal Credit Union and McGohan Brabender,
• Bronze: Jeff Bonham Electric and Wright-Patt Credit Union

Other sponsors for our events this year have been: Kroger’s (Old Troy Pike) and Coca-Cola, AVI Foodsystem, and Kettering Workers’ Care.

Also special thank to the Huber Heights Athletic Foundation for their support of our business expo and Liane Wagner and Ohio Valley Marketing Communications Group for all they have contributed to the Huber Heights Chamber of Commerce.