May

Business After Hours
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Huttleston House Restaurant & Caterers
111 Huttleston Avenue
Fairhaven, MA  02719

Join us on Wednesday, May 7th for Business After Hours. This is the perfect opportunity to network, meet, connect, interact, and promote your business in a comfortable, casual setting. Featuring hors d'oeuvres and a cash bar. This event is free for our members. To register, please click the registration bar above or call (508) 999-5231. You may obtain directions by clicking this link [see map].

Please bring your "gently used" business clothing for CareerGear, a program of the Women's Fund at the Community Foundation providing clothing for women entering the workforce.

Sponsored by: International Compliance Systems Incorporated
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Good Morning SouthCoast!

May 14, 2008

7:30 – 9:00 a.m.

The Whalers Banquet & Conference Center at the Days Inn

500 Hathaway Road

New Bedford, MA

Sponsored By: BankFive

The next edition of the Good Morning SouthCoast breakfast series is scheduled for Wednesday, May 14, 2008 from 7:30 to 9:00 a.m. The May program, sponsored by BankFive, will honor the region's small businesses with the presentation of the 2008 Greater New Bedford Small Business of the Year Award. This fast paced morning program will help you start your business day with several interesting and informative segments.

Our featured speaker is Mark Hellendrung, President of the Narragansett Brewing Company. Mr. Hellendrung has over a decade of experience growing regional beverage companies. From 1994 to 2002, he was instrumental in growing Nantucket Nectars to $65 million in sales with a sales and marketing operating model. He sold the company to Ocean Spray Cranberries in 1997 and to Cadbury Schweppes/Snapple in 2001 and served on the senior management teams of both of those companies. From 2003 to 2004, Mr. Hellendrung worked with Magic Hat Brewing Co., a 50,000 barrel craft brewer in Burlington, VT.  He helped restructure the company, reversing stagnant sales to +25% growth and increased operating margins. 

Other speakers include Robert H. Nelson, Massachusetts District Director for the U.S. Small Business Administration. Mr. Nelson will discuss the importance of small businesses to our economy and update members on the SBA's programs.

Don't miss the region's best morning gathering. The cost is just $17 for members and $23 for non-members and includes a buffet breakfast. Pre-registration is required. To reserve your seat please call (508) 999-5231 or click here.

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June

Workshop: Don't Let A Disaster Do You In!

June 12, 2008

7:45 – 9:30 a.m.

Rachel's Lakeside

950 State Road

Dartmouth, MA

Sponsored By: The Castelo Group &
                      The Sylvia Group of Insurance Agencies 

If you had to close your business because of a natural or human-caused disaster, how prepared would you be to maintain contact with your employees, customers, vendors and others to do whatever it takes to get back in business as soon as possible?  What if equipment or machinery that you rely on were severely damaged? What if you lost critical information or vital records, essential to the continuation of your business?  Would you lose market share and damage your reputation?

According to the Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS), at least one-fourth of all businesses that close because of a disaster never reopen.  Join us on Thursday, June 12, 2008 from 7:45 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. at Rachel’s Lakeside for a special workshop on disaster planning for businesses. Diana McClure, Vice President & Director of Business Protection for IBHS, will present useful planning tips that will assist small to mid-sized businesses prepare for any kind of business interruption. Participants will also receive a copy of "Open for Business®:  A Disaster Protection and Recovery Planning Toolkit for the Small to Mid-Sized Business", as well as information on how to access a free on-line tool to walk you through the planning process.

The cost to participate is just $10 for Chamber members and $20 for non-members and includes continental breakfast and a copy of the planning toolkit. Pre-registration is required. To reserve your seat, please call (508) 999-5231 or click here.
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Workshop: AMP State Procurement Process

June 18, 2008

12:00 – 1:450 p.m.
Registration begins at 11:45 a.m.

Sovereign Bank Training Room
One Sovereign Place, First Floor
New Bedford, MA

Sponsored By: The Massachusetts Community Development Finance Corporation
                      

The New Bedford Area Chamber of Commerce, the Massachusetts Community Development Finance Corporation (CDFC), and the Affirmative Market Program (AMP) have teamed up to host a special training workshop for minority and women-owned businesses (M/WBES) on the state’s procurement process and how to maximize their M/WBE certification status.

This special training session is scheduled for Wednesday, June 18, 2008 from 12:00 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. in the Sovereign Bank Training Room in New Bedford.  Registration begins at 11:45 a.m.

The workshop will include an introduction to the services and resources that AMP provides, what it means to be a certified vendor, how to market your M/WBE status, how to find opportunities, and how to market as an AMP participant to state agencies. All minority and women-owned businesses in all fields including commodities, services, construction and design are welcome to attend.