Applications are currently being accepted for the 2013-14 class of Leadership Southside.  The deadline for applications to be returned to the Chamber of Commerce office is June 26, 2013.

Leadership Southside, presented by the Danville Pittsylvania County Chamber of Commerce, is an interactive and informative program that offers skill building, leadership development, and an introduction to Southside Virginia.  The program is designed to identify and develop potential community leaders in order to build an alliance of the finest leaders for present and future leadership needs in the region.  The Leadership Southside program strives to bring together individuals with diverse backgrounds and experiences who have demonstrated talent and commitment for leadership and expand that potential. 

Leadership Southside develops leadership skills by providing information, education, experience, and exchange of ideas.  Sessions have included orientation, leadership skills and development, team building, community issues and opportunities, leadership of a business, leadership issues in economic development and workforce development, leadership in education, leadership of a nonprofit organization, effecting change, cultural diversity, and local and state government.

This year the Chamber of Commerce will hold three Leadership Southside information sessions for those interested in applying for the program.  The sessions will include refreshments and will be held as follows:

·         Wednesday, May 29 - J.T.’s at the Lavalette, Gretna, 5:30-6:30 p.m.

·         Tuesday, June 4, Chamber of Commerce, Blairs Noon-1:00 p.m.

·         Wednesday, June 5, Danville Golf Club, 5:00-6:00 p.m.

If you are interested in attending one of these sessions, please contact the Chamber at 434.836.6990 or llawson@dpchamber.org.

Leadership Southside XX will begin in September 2013 with an orientation and will be followed by 8 monthly programs.  The class graduate in May 2013.

The tuition fee of $995 is used to defray the expenses of the monthly sessions and can be paid by the individual or the employer.  Limited financial assistance may be available upon request.

Leadership Southside is made possible by a grant from the Community Foundation of the Dan River Region and by our generous sponsors:  Centra, Danville Regional Medical Center, and WSET ABC 13.

Applications can be requested by contacting the Chamber office at (434) 836-6990, or by emailing the Chamber at llawson@dpchamber.org .  Individuals can also nominate others for this program by contacting the Chamber office.

The deadline for applications is June 26, 2013.

The Dan River Region Collaborative recently participated in the 2013 Skills Summit in Washington, D.C. where participants asked members of Congress to support policies and investments in skill development, enabling more businesses to find the skilled workers they need to compete globally, and so all workers can share in and contribute to our country’s economic prosperity.

Dr. Julie J. Brown, Project Director for the Collaborative, Laurie S. Moran, CCE, President of the Danville Pittsylvania County Chamber of Commerce, and Dr. Nettie L. Simon-Owens, Director of Workforce Services for the Southern Virginia Higher Education Center, were invited to participate in the Summit on behalf of Southern Virginia.  Valerie Palamountain, Dean of Workforce Services for Piedmont Virginia Community College, also represented Virginia at the Summit.

“Our region’s competitive position in the global economy depends upon the skills of its workforce,” commented Brown.  “To stay ahead, we need broader and more effective investments that enable our workforce to continually increase its skills and adapt to global economic shifts.”

“Even with high unemployment, our employers face difficulties finding qualified workers in the middle – jobs that require more than a high school diploma but not a four-year degree,” Brown explained.  “We shared this message with members of Congress to help them recognize that federally-funded workforce development programs that engage employers, lead to industry-recognized credentials, and directly link training with jobs are part of the solution to the skills gap and full economic recovery.”

While in DC, the Virginia delegation met with Congressman Robert Hurt and the staffs of Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine, and Representatives Morgan Griffith, Eric Cantor, Bobby Scott, and Jim Moran.

“We appreciate the interest and willingness of our Congressional representatives and staff to learn more about the challenges that face our employers and our job seekers,” Moran said.  “We hope that our ability to share information from our region will allow members of Congress to better understand the need for reauthorization of workforce legislation and a balanced approach to the deficit reduction.”

The Skills Summit was sponsored by the National Skills Coalition which organizes broad-based coalitions seeking to raise the skills of America’s workers across a range of industries.

The Dan River Region Collaborative (DRRC) is a regional funding collaborative driven by employer partnerships in four strategic areas:  advanced manufacturing, energy, healthcare and information technology.  Through these employer-driven partnerships, the Collaborative works to identify training, policy, and capacity issues that impact the development of the region’s workforce.  The ultimate goal is to create opportunities that move low-skill, low-wage individuals into high-skill, high-wage positions.

The Collaborative’s key funding partners, to date, include The Community Foundation of the Dan River Region, The Danville Regional Foundation, The Harvest Foundation, J.T.-Minnie Maude Charitable Trust, the Virginia Tobacco Commission, the Boeing Foundation, and the National Fund for Workforce Solutions. 

Gretchen B. Clark, President of Reynolds-Clark Development, Inc., has been elected as Chair of the Board of Directors of the Danville Pittsylvania County Chamber of Commerce for 2013.  Clark has served on the Chamber’s Board of Directors since 2010 and has served as Chair-Elect this past year.

Clark has served as President of Reynolds-Clark Development, Inc., a civil and environmental engineering firm that she co-founded in Gretna, since 2004.  Clark has a B.S. in Biological Systems Engineering and a B.S. in Civil Engineering from Virginia Tech.  A Registered Professional Engineer in Virginia and North Carolina, Clark is a member of Revitalization for a Greater Gretna, a member of the board of directors of the Danville Regional Foundation, and member of Mt. Hermon Baptist Church.

In addition to Clark, Eric Deaton was elected as chair-elect and Steven Kaylor was elected as vice chair.  Mark W. Foster was re-elected as treasurer and Charles R. Haynsworth, III will serve as immediate past chair.  Laurie S. Moran, CCE, President of the Chamber, will serve as Secretary.

Deaton is the Chief Executive Officer of Danville Regional Medical Center, a position he has held since early 2010.  He has more than 25 years experience in healthcare management.  Deaton serves on the boards of the Danville Family YMCA, the Boys and Girls Club, Averett University, and the Future of the Piedmont Foundation. He was also recently appointed by Governor Bob McDonnell to the Virginia State Board of Health.

Kaylor has served as publisher of the Danville Register & Bee since 2006.  A member of the board of directors of United Way of Danville-Pittsylvania County, Kaylor is also a member of Riverview Rotary Club, Future of the Piedmont, the Boys & Girls Club, and the Virginia Press Association.

Foster is a CPA with Harris, Harvey, Neal & Co., LLP.  He joined the firm in 1991 and was named a partner in 1999.  He is licensed in Virginia and North Carolina.  Foster is a member of the American Institute of CPAs, the Virginia Society of CPAs, the Danville Golf Club, The German Club of Danville, and the Young Men’s Club.

Haynsworth is President of Office Plus Business Centre.                He serves on the boards of directors of The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research and Gateway Health Alliance.  He is the past president of Danville Rotary Club and is a past Scoutmaster for the Boy Scouts of America.

2013 Board of Directors

The Chamber recently announced the results of its election for members of the Board of Directors.  The board serves as the governing body and sets policy for the organization.

The following members were elected to three-year terms on the Board, beginning January 1, 2013:  Gretchen B. Clark, President of Reynolds-Clark Development, Inc.; Paul D. Erwin, DVM, of Chatham Animal Clinic; Mark W. Foster, CPA, Partner with Harris, Harvey, Neal & Co., LLP; Dr. Tiffany McKillip Franks, President of Averett University; and Dr. B. Carlyle Ramsey, President of Danville Community College.

Appointed to fill an unexpired term was John W. Daniel of Daniel Builders LLC.  Frank Fox of Frank Fox Consulting and Jerry Hankins of Virginia Bank & Trust were appointed to one-year terms.

In addition to the officers, the recently elected and appointed board members join the following members on the board whose terms have not expired:   Laura Adcock, Director of Sales and Marketing for Davenport Communications; Linda Lawrence Dalton, co-owner of Lawrence Distributing Company; Mark David, co-owner of Ben David Jewelers; Eva Doss, President/CEO of The Launch Place, formerly known as Southside Business Technology Center; Marilyn Hanover, Technical Manager for Sartomer USA, LLC; Steve Padgett, Dealer Principal for Steve Padgett’s Danville Honda; and Rachael A. Sanford, Attorney with Clement & Wheatley.

On Tuesday, December 18^th, the Danville Pittsylvania County Chamber of Commerce members and friends gathered at the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research to hear the eighteenth class of Leadership Southside present its final project report and celebrate their graduation from the program. 

Leadership Southside has a rich history of providing current and future leaders with skill building, leadership development, and an introduction to Southern Virginia.  The program is designed to foster a commitment to community service and to develop leadership skills applicable to community service and the workplace.

Leadership Southside XVIII first met in September 2011 and continued meeting monthly for a course of study through May of 2012.  Beginning in June of 2012 the class began the project phase of the program.  Last night, Tuesday, December 18^th, Leadership Southside XVIII presented their final project to the region.  The project chosen by this class is designed to promote community pride in our region.  To this end, the class unveiled the LoveSouthside.com website and campaign.  Through the project phase process of Leadership Southside, the class discovered a shared passion for enhancing community pride and a desire to change the negative attitudes and perceptions often encountered in the area.  The mission of LoveSouthside is that LoveSouthside will foster community pride by raising awareness of positive attributes of the Southside region.  The vision of LoveSouthside is that the Southside will be an informed community, displaying positive attitudes that define the region as a wonderful place to live, work, and play. 

A multimedia campaign was launched with the focus being the website LoveSouthside.com. The site has a simple design.  Every page of the site links to social media accounts and invites visitors to send feedback to the class via email.  There are nine main sections, each one focusing on a category of things to do in Southside.  Each section has a listing with a link to the appropriate website, phone number, or community calendar for the visitor or resident to learn more about what interests them on the site. The class was thankful to the Danville Regional Foundation for awarding them a Make it Happen Grant which allowed them to launch and advertise the website in various ways. 

Following their project presentation, Barry Richmond , Chair of the Leadership Southside Planning Committee and Laurie Moran, CCE, President of the Danville Pittsylvania County Chamber of Commerce led a graduation ceremony for the 16 graduates followed by a reception in their honor. 

Celebrating over 18 years of providing leadership development opportunities in Danville and Pittsylvania County, Leadership Southside is pleased to announce the graduation of its 2011-2012 class.  Congratulations to our graduates:

Amber Adkins, URW Community Federal Credit Union
Kelsey Bartley, Nestle
Jim Bushong, Supply Resources
Laura Daniel, Danville Community College
Kathy Emerson, J.T. Minnie Maude Charitable Trust
Kate Farmer, Danville Pittsylvania County Chamber of Commerce
Craig Fulcher, Danville Regional Medical Center
Ellen Hargis, URW Community Federal Credit Union
Nate Lewis, City of Danville Utilities
Lauren Mathena, Danville Orthopedic and Athletic Rehab
Linette Nuckols, formerly of American Red Cross
David Parrish, City of Danviulle
Jennifer Robinson, Averett University Library
Marietta Sanford, Averett University
Dana Silicki, Institute for Advanced Learning and Research
Jamye Wright, Danville Regional Medical Center

Congratulations to the Leadership Southside XVIII graduates!

A national survey of 2,000 adults reveals that being active in a local chamber of commerce is an effective business strategy because two-thirds of consumers believe that such companies use good business practices, are reputable, care about their customers, and are involved in the community.

The study, conducted by The Schapiro Group, an Atlanta-based strategic consulting firm, found consumer perceptions of chamber members to be positive in many ways:

·         When consumers know that a small business is a member of the chamber of commerce, they are 49% more likely to think favorably of it and 80% more likely to purchase goods or services from the company in the future.

·         If a company shows that it is highly involved in its local chamber (e.g., is a chamber board member), consumers are 10% more likely to think that its products stack up better against its competition.

·         When consumers know that a national restaurant franchise is a member of the chamber of commerce, they are 68% more likely to eat at the franchise in the next few months.

·         When consumers know that an insurance company is a member of the chamber of commerce, they are 36% more likely to think favorably of the company.

"We believe this study underscores another benefit of belonging to your local Chamber and validates the efforts of our chamber, as well as chambers across the country," commented Laurie S. Moran, CCE, President of the Danville Pittsylvania County Chamber of Commerce. 

Major Impact on Small Businesses

Small businesses represent the largest segment of most local chamber membership rolls, and the study indicates that chamber membership has consistent and powerful benefits for small business members—if consumers are aware that the small business is involved with its local chamber.

For example, if respondents know that a small business is a member of its local chamber, the business enjoys a 49% increase in its consumer favorability rating, a 73% increase in consumer awareness, a 68% increase in its local reputation, and an 80% increase in the likelihood that consumers will patronize the business in the future.

Most people know fairly well what their local chambers do; the study assessed the effect of this knowledge on perceptions of chamber members. The researchers said ”any belief about the chamber of commerce—whether that belief was true or not—could have a significant positive impact on how someone views a member… he or she is more likely to think that the [member] company’s products stack up well and have a favorable opinion toward the company.”

The key factor in developing and maintaining positive consumer perception of chamber members, the Schapiro Group said, was that “positive outcomes only occur when consumers know that a business is a chamber member (i.e., being involved in the chamber is a known facet of the company's reputation).”

Accordingly, when consumers know that a large business is a member of the chamber, they are likely to patronize the company more often, to express favorable opinions about the company, to know more about the company, and to buy the company's products. The strength and nature of these effects differ by industry:

Large Restaurant Chains

When consumers know that a restaurant franchise is a member of the chamber of commerce, they are 15% more likely to report knowing a lot about the franchise, 58% more likely to eat at the franchise more often, 68% more likely to eat at the franchise in the next few months, and 37% more likely to think favorably of the franchise. Among consumers who do not eat at the franchise so often, those who are aware that the franchise is a member of the chamber are 33% more likely to hold favorable opinions of the franchise. Among consumers who hold less favorable opinions of the franchise, those who are aware that the franchise is a member of the chamber are 65% more likely to eat there in the coming months.

Insurance Companies

When consumers know that an insurance company is a member of the chamber of commerce, they are 29% more likely to report knowing a lot about the company, 36% more likely to think favorably of the company, and 36% more likely to consider buying insurance from it. Among consumers who hold less favorable opinions of the insurance company, those who are aware that the company is a member of the chamber are 25% more likely to consider purchasing insurance from it. Among those who have not considered purchasing insurance there in the past, chamber membership increases that likelihood by 37%.

Automobile Manufacturers

When consumers know that an auto manufacturer is a member of the chamber of commerce, they are 21% more likely to have a favorable opinion of that company and 31% more likely to consider purchasing their next car from that company. Among those who have ever considered buying a car from a particular auto manufacturer, chamber membership leads to a 44% increase in consumers’ likelihood of purchasing a car there in the future.

The study, commissioned by the American Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE), in cooperation with the Western Association of Chamber Executives, was sponsored by Insperity, a Houston-based company that provides human resources and other business services to more than 100,000 businesses nationwide. J. Mac Holladay, founder and CEO of Market Street Services, an economic development firm in Atlanta, was a key contributor of concepts used to develop the study.

The new study tracks similar data reported by The Schapiro Group in 2007. “Despite changes in markets and demographics, a nagging recession and the growing influence of the internet, the chamber brand today is stronger and more dynamic than ever,” said ACCE President Mick Fleming. “We’re proud that the numbers prove, once again, that engagement in a chamber means a positive perception of the business in the eyes of the buying public.”