The Sylvan Lake Chamber of Commerce recently held their annual Jingle Mingle at the newly renovated Days Inn.
The event, which is one of the Chamber’s quarterly events, stresses networking and business-to-business relationships amongChamber members – as well as celebrates the achievements of the previous year.
Chamber Membership Organizer, Dwayne Stoesz was pleased to see the energy of the room.
“The room at the Jingle Mingle was electric,” he said “The Days Inn went all out - they wanted to get their name out there. People were attracted to talking and networking and promoting their businesses. People have a huge optimism for 2017 even in this economy. No matter what Chamber event I’m at - I always feel welcome.
The event, while promoting small business in Sylvan Lake, also encourages members to renew their Chamber memberships – as well as encourage non-members to see the benefits Chamber membership has to offer.
“Just in the last two years alone we have grown over 25 per cent,” Stoesz said. “I attribute that to what people are getting from the Chamber. In terms of educating the business community, networking and supporting business-to-business relationships.”
The Chamber’s growth, coinciding with the growth of Sylvan Lake, has allowed it to offer more services and benefits to its members.
“We became extremely well organized where each one of our directors has a strict portfolio that they deal with,” Stoesz said on other changes made in Chamber organization. “They concentrate on those portfolios whether it’s communication, membership drive, education or being a liaison with provincial and federal governments.”
He added that a huge draw for members is the benefit package it provides to businesses.
“Our benefits package is a large part of it. We have the best benefit package in the market today,” he said adding, “People can access a great deal of information through us from our office or website.”
One of the 2017 initiatives for the Chamber is the possibility to travel to Dubai to establish business related relationships in an overseas market.
“In 2017 we are doing a trip that is in conjunction with the Alberta Chamber of Commerce,” he said. “You are able to tour Dubai and be involved with meetings that offer new perspective on what your business can do or attract new business from that area back to Sylvan Lake. We have had excellent feedback on that.”
According to Stoesz, part of what has helped the Chamber and local businesses prosper in Sylvan Lake is the Town’s Economic Development Office, Vicki Kurz.
“Our Economic Development Officer, Vicki Kurz is in the community like no one I have ever seen,” he said “She is extremely active and she is always willing to listen to people’s ideas.”
Currently, over half of the Chamber’s 185 members have renewed their memberships for 2017, which speaks volumes towards the commitment to community in the Town, according to Stoesz.
“Everyone here is doing everything they can to improve their businesses and this community,” he said. “The Chamber’s mandate has been to promote and encourage community while having business support together.”
reporter@sylvanlakenews.com