Small Business Award Applications Due July 15
Small Business. BIG Recognition.  Small businesses, small business advocates, small business veterans and not-for-profit organizations nominated for a Small Business Award have until Thursday, July 15, to turn in the completed application. On Tuesday, October 5, the Chamber will spotlight small businesses at the 24th Annual Small Business Awards. Application forms  available online. Sponsored by: Cox Business, Blue Ridge Business Journal, First Citizens Bank, Gentry Locke Rakes & Moore, and Sir Speedy Printing & Marketing Services.  For more information, contact Debbie at 540.983.0717 x239 or e-mail sbdc@roanokechamber.org. 

Cool Green Biz Program Celebrates Successful First Year
Want to do something to help the environment and your bottom line? Become a Cool Green Biz certified business and discover ways to reduce waste and save money. The Roanoke Valley Cool Cities Coalition and the Chamber partnered last year to launch the Cool Green Biz program. The voluntary program gives interested businesses an opportunity to become green business stewards of the Roanoke region. It's a way for even small firms that want to brand themselves as being green to do so. The participating businesses are: Breakell, Inc. General Contractors, Roanoke Valley Cool Cities Coalition, AECOM, and Virginia Western Community College (Level 3 Certification); Cox, Draper Aden Associates, Roanoke Valley-Alleghany Regional Commission, Spectrum Design, PC, Structures Design/Build, LLC, and SunTrust Banks (Level 2 Certification); and Lanford Brothers Co., Gentry Locke Rakes & Moore, Carilion Clinic, Roanoke Gas Company, Berglund Chevrolet, City of Roanoke, Coca - Cola Bottling Consolidated, Steel Dynamics, Novozymes Biologicals, and Orvis (evaluations pending). If you are interested in learning more about the program and how to become certified as a Cool Green Biz, contact Tori at 540.983.0700 x229, e-mail green@roanokechamber.org, or visit Cool Green Biz.

Discover Why Exporting Is No Longer "Like We Used to Do It"
Since 9/11/2001, the U.S. Government has tightened up export compliance rules and regulations and has added severe fines for non-compliance. Now learn about key export compliance issues, what you must know about them, and what your company must do to avoid getting fined for non-compliance at "Export Compliance 301," a three-hour introduction to export compliance issues. Wednesday, July 14, 9 AM - noon. Completed registration form must be received no later than Tuesday, July 6. Sponsored by the Virginia Economic Development Partnership International Trade, Regional Office - Lynchburg and the Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce.  For more information, contact Ralph Torning at 434.582.5182 or e-mail rtorning@yesvirginia.org.

20th Annual Roanoke Regional Chamber Cup Presented by All Star Impressions with Swing into Business After Hours - August 23
Treat a client! Treat your staff! Combine business with pleasure at the Chamber's 20th Annual Golf Tournament Presented by All Star Impressions. Monday, August 23, at Hunting Hills Country Club. Cost: $170/single golfer; $590/foursome, includes green fees and cart, FREE golf tune-up, a meal before play, and free admission into the Swing Into Business After Hours from 5 to 7 PM. Morning flight at 7:30 and afternoon flight at 1. Each team will have the opportunity to play for the coveted Chamber Cup donated by All Star Impressions. All proceeds from this event go to benefit the Chamber's advocacy and educational programs. Special thanks to our gold sponsors: Spilman Thomas & Battle, PLLC, Cox Business and The Homestead, and for the title sponsor: All Star Impressions.  For more information, contact Courtney at 983.0700 x231 or e-mail cpatterson@roanokechamber.org. or register online.

Economic Summit VII Presentations Now Online
Nearly 100 attended "Economic Summit VII: Creating Our Future: Putting the Entrepreneurial Puzzle Together" on Tuesday, June 8, at The Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center. Download the presentations by clicking on the following links: "Economic Summit VI Survey Results," by Charles Robbins, Roanoke Regional Chamber Chair and president of BB&T; "Existing Business Infrastructure: Where Are We Investing?" by Sam English, Ph.D., CIE Partners, and Pete Eshelman , director of outdoor branding, Roanoke Regional Partnership; "Entrepreneurial Infrastructure," by Cory Donovan, executive director of NCTC; and "Putting the Entrepreneurial Puzzle Together: Financing," by Greg Feldmann, president and CEO, StellarOne. Video interviews, created by Brian Duvall of Duvall Media,  with successful regional companies are also online.  For more information, contact Tori Williams at 540.983.0700 x229, e-mail twilliams@roanokechamber.org.

Put Your Business on the 2010 Official Street Map & Resource Guide
Your ad will literally put your business on the map with a pinpoint locator on both the paper and online versions.  Thousands of maps will be printed and distributed with thousands more people accessing the online map from the Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce's Web site. Produced by Target Marketing, this is the only street map endorsed by the Roanoke Regional Chamber.   For more information on this marketing opportunity, contact Target Marketing at 1.800.933.3909. 

Reach 3,500 Decision Makers with New Chamber "Virtual" Advantage
We're going green! The  Roanoke Regional Chamber has replaced the Chamber Advantage mailing program with a virtual Web site and e-mail service. Members may use this direct e-mail marketing tool to promote products, services, advertisements, events and much more. For only $50 per month, members provide a pdf version flyer of their promotion and it will be posted on the Chamber's Web site and a direct link and brief description will be e-mailed to the Chamber's 3,500 member contacts. Your promotion is shared with all our members and Web site visitors for an entire month for only pennies per contact!  Sign up today for the July  e-mailing on July 15. For more information on this exciting new program or to register, contact Pennie at 983.0700 x227 or communications@roanokechamber.org.

What People Are Saying About Your Roanoke Regional Chamber
The Roanoke Regional Small Business Development Center is helping small businesses grow and succeed. The SBDC staff offers free and confidential counseling, affordable training, and assistance with all aspects of business planning. Here is how Leah DeAngelis Kinder, president and owner of College Caboodle and Life Uncluttered, summed up her experience with the SBDC: "With all the time, energy and hours researching and writing our business plan, the Small Business Development Center confirmed that our time and efforts were well spent. Our business plan is a vision of where we're going and helps us keep on track. It would be hard to accomplish what we have these past six months without it."   For more information on the Roanoke Regional SBDC, call 540.0717 x239, e-mail sbdc@roanokechamber.org or visit www.rrsbdc.org.

It's All About Connections - Connect For Lunch
Are you looking for a new way to meet people and grow your business? What if you could get to know between three to six new people each month? Really get to know them over lunch, not just a quick hand shake and exchange of business cards. Would you be interested? If you are, Connect For Lunch may be just what you're looking for. Connect For Lunch is one of the Roanoke Regional Chamber's most popular networking programs. Each week, you'll have the opportunity to go to lunch in a small group with other Chamber members at local restaurants. For more information or to register, visit www.connectforlunch.com/roanokechamber or www.roanokechamber.org and check out Connect For Lunch.

Post Your Events Fast and Free on Community Calendar
Planning special events this spring? Looking for ways to get the word out? Roanoke Regional Chamber members can quickly and easily post events on the Community Calendar at www.roanokechamber.org.  For instructions on how to use this free, members-only benefit, contact Pennie at 983.0700 x227 or communications@roanokechamber.org.

Thousands Benefit from Rapid Referrals
The Chamber provided 13,291 member referrals through its front desk and online membership directory in the month of June. The Chamber is promoting member businesses to more than 150 people per day through the online directory. Are you getting your share of referrals from this no-cost member benefit? Check your listing at www.roanokechamber.org - click on "Find Area Businesses." To add a free 20-word business description to your online listing, call Judy at 983.0700 x221 or send your 20 word (140 characters) profile to business@roanokechamber.org.

Save the Dates for These Upcoming Chamber Events
Mark your calendar and plan to attend:
August 12: State of the City Address
August 23: Roanoke Regional Chamber Cup Golf Tournament at Hunting Hills Country Club
September 9: Poltic'n & Pig Pick'n at the Virginia Transportation Museum
October 5: 24th Annual Small Business Awards at The Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center
October 18: Roanoke Regional Forum with Ali Velshi, CNN Chief Business Correspondent and author of Gimme My Money Back, at Jefferson Center
December 2: 121st Annual Meeting of the Membership at The Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center

Business Basics - July 20
Need some guidance on how to start your own business? Discover business planning, forms of organizations, marketing strategies, and the realities of being a business owner at this quick introduction to owning your own business. Tuesday, July 20, 4 - 6 PM, Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce Boardroom. Cost: $10/person. Preregistration required by Monday, July 19. Sponsored by: Business SEED Capital, Inc., BB&T, Cox Business, and City of Roanoke Economic Development Authority.  For more information or to register, call 983.0717 x239, visit www.roanokesmallbusiness.com, register online or e-mail sbdc@roanokechamber.org.

Publications

Get Connected with the Region's Business Leaders
Call today to reserve your advertisement space in the 2010 third quarter issue of Business Connections. Invest your advertising dollars in the only quarterly, full-color magazine targeted specifically at the region's business leaders. Of Business Connection's regular readers, 83 percent are business decision makers and 66 percent are CEOs, executives, or top-level managers. If you market to business, you need to be a part of Business Connections. For ad rates and information, contact Bonnie Brown  at RP Publishing at 772.1868 or bonnie@rppublisher.com.

Your Free Copy of the Valley Life Relocation Guide Now Available
Valley Life: Discover Virginia's Greater Roanoke Valley is the region's premier relocation and newcomers' guide published by the area's Chambers of Commerce. The 2010-2011 issue of Valley Life may be used to recruit new employees, welcome newcomers and students, and promote the Roanoke Region. Check out Valley Life online.. Additional copies are available by contacting Judy at 983.0700 x221 or business@roanokechamber.org.

Membership in Action

Save Your Business $$$ at the Pump
It's a fact, as the temperatures rise so do prices at the fuel pump and that's been money off your bottom line ... until now. With a new program offered specifically to you our Chamber members, you can take back control by locking in your own price per gallon for a specified period of time. Don't be subjected to the volatility of the market any longer.  Call Kenn Penn with ChamberSolutions at 1.800.924.3543 x502 or visit www.chambermemberbenefits.com/fuellock and put that extra money that's going into the pump back in to your business.

Thank You CBIZ Payroll
The Chamber Ambassadors would like to thank CBIZ Payroll for hosting their June meeting. Ambassadors visited 45 fellow members during the month of May to discuss their membership investment and issues that concern their business. Please welcome them when they call. 

CHAMBER CHAMPION PROFILE



Spilman Thomas & Battle, PLLC is a full service law firm with seven offices located throughout the Mid-Atlantic region, including our Virginia office in downtown Roanoke.  With more than 125 attorneys and nearly 150 years in practice, Spilman has the power and knowledge to guide you carefully and efficiently through the legal system – regardless of your business needs.