Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke added his voice to those who say we are not facing a “double-dip” recession. Gross Domestic Product is increasing, albeit slowly. Bernanke said, though, that the recovery “won't feel terrific."
Among those in agreement is investment advisor Barry Ritzholz, who said on his blog Monday wrote, “Following the initial surge in data off of the lows, we have entered a slowing phase of the recovery.”
Ritzholz discredits those who forecast a “double-dip” recession by pointing out that although some economic indicators are slowing, “none of it is consistent with past double dip recessions.”
But we are in, as he puts it, “a soft patch.” And Bernanke warns us that the recovery is not “going to be fast enough to put back eight million people who lost their jobs within a few years.”
Of course, we know that small business is a great driver of employment. According to the Small Business Administration, businesses with fewer than 500 employees account for more than half of American workers. Also, “While small firms create a majority of the net new jobs, their share of employment remains steady since some firms grow into large firms as they create new jobs.”
Your chamber is here to help you through this soft patch. Through the events and courses we offer, our goal is to help you build the relationships you need to succeed. That’s why Monica Wofford will be talking to us Thursday about leadership. That’s why we’ve lined up teachers to help you build your business and claim your place in the Seven Mountains of Culture. And that’s why, on any given Friday, you can meet with your peers to brainstorm answers to the challenges you face in your business.
As Christian businesspeople, we don’t face these tough times alone. We are part of a family of faith that serves a mighty God. So when the stock market wavers and nonfarm payrolls are down and the European debt situation starts looking pretty bleak, take heart. He has overcome the world.
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Business-Building Summer Seminar Series
Join us for four seminars designed to help your bottom line. Each seminar will be held twice — in the morning in East Orlando on a different day at midday in the Millenia Mall area. The total price for the entire series is only $25 for chamber members and $45 for nonmembers.
Classroom sizes are limited, so make your reservations now. Here’s the schedule:
Effectively Starting Your Business (Building Businesses That Last)
June 17, 7:30 AM, Asbury University, Ron Wilkinson
July 15, 11:30 AM, Belhaven University, Ron Wilkinson
With companies downsizing, the best way to secure your future may be to start and build your own business. This seminar will give you the basics for a solid business structure and will help you get started on a firm foundation. You will learn:
June 17, 11:30 AM, Belhaven University, Bill Webster
July 15, 7:30 AM, Asbury University, Bill Webster
Many products and services can be rapidly identified just by their logo. Getting potential customers or clients to easily and effectively know your brand builds loyalty and increases your bottom line. In this seminar you will learn:
July 29, 11:30 AM, Belhaven University, Bill Webster
August 19, 7:30 AM, Asbury University, Bill Webster
We have become a global cyber-community. People increasingly communicate via the Internet. While there is much clutter in many of these social media channels, the potential to develop and implement effective marketing strategies is huge. In this seminar you will learn:
July 29, 7:30 AM, Asbury University, Judy Boyce
August 19, 11:30 AM, Belhaven University, Judy Boyce
Relationships are at the core of every business -- with employees, clients, vendors, and yourself. Knowing people’s preferences and methods of learning increases your understanding of how best to relate to those around you. In this seminar you will learn how to:
Note that all morning classes are at Asbury University and all midday classes are at Belhaven University.
Click here to purchase online or call the chamber office at (407) 814-1124.
Reminder: the deadline to register for the June 10 Business-Building Lunch with Monica Wofford of Contagious Companies is noon on Tuesday, June 8.
Classroom sizes are limited, so make your reservations now. Here’s the schedule:
Effectively Starting Your Business (Building Businesses That Last)
June 17, 7:30 AM, Asbury University, Ron Wilkinson
July 15, 11:30 AM, Belhaven University, Ron Wilkinson
With companies downsizing, the best way to secure your future may be to start and build your own business. This seminar will give you the basics for a solid business structure and will help you get started on a firm foundation. You will learn:
- Writing and monitoring a business plan
- Determining proper business structure (Sole Proprietorship, LLC, C-Corp, S-Corp)
- Securing Funding
- Identifying HR needs
June 17, 11:30 AM, Belhaven University, Bill Webster
July 15, 7:30 AM, Asbury University, Bill Webster
Many products and services can be rapidly identified just by their logo. Getting potential customers or clients to easily and effectively know your brand builds loyalty and increases your bottom line. In this seminar you will learn:
- How to develop your brand for traditional and online marketing
- How to communicate your brand traditionally and online
- How to extend your brand through Social Media
July 29, 11:30 AM, Belhaven University, Bill Webster
August 19, 7:30 AM, Asbury University, Bill Webster
We have become a global cyber-community. People increasingly communicate via the Internet. While there is much clutter in many of these social media channels, the potential to develop and implement effective marketing strategies is huge. In this seminar you will learn:
- How to develop, maintain and protect your online message
- How to build and leverage social capital to take action
- The Social Media "must use" tools
July 29, 7:30 AM, Asbury University, Judy Boyce
August 19, 11:30 AM, Belhaven University, Judy Boyce
Relationships are at the core of every business -- with employees, clients, vendors, and yourself. Knowing people’s preferences and methods of learning increases your understanding of how best to relate to those around you. In this seminar you will learn how to:
- Hire the right people
- Manage correctly
- Serve your clients effectively
Note that all morning classes are at Asbury University and all midday classes are at Belhaven University.
Click here to purchase online or call the chamber office at (407) 814-1124.
Reminder: the deadline to register for the June 10 Business-Building Lunch with Monica Wofford of Contagious Companies is noon on Tuesday, June 8.
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Last week we wrapped up the first round of the Seven Mountains Mandate with an awesome, spirit-filled time of fellowship and prayer. Seven Mountains 2.0 will begin in the middle of next, with kickoff currently planned for June 14.
The Seven Mountains of Cultural Influence are
All chamber members are operating in the Business mountain, and we are all probably in the Family and Religion mountains also. Through our connections, each of us has the potential to indirectly touch every mountain at one time or another. But each of us is called to one primary mountain focus.
The goal of Seven Mountains training is to help you identify which of these is your mountain and to equip you to stake God's claim on it. We hope you'll plan on joining us in this kingdom-building work.
This video explains more about the Seven Mountains Mandate.
Please keep our program leaders, Julie and Dennis Matula, in your prayers as they foster this growing program. Also, be in prayer about the role God has for you in the Seven Mountains Mandate and how He might use you to make a difference in your community and culture.
The Seven Mountains of Cultural Influence are
- Arts & Entertainment
- Business
- Education
- Family
- Government
- Media
- Religion
All chamber members are operating in the Business mountain, and we are all probably in the Family and Religion mountains also. Through our connections, each of us has the potential to indirectly touch every mountain at one time or another. But each of us is called to one primary mountain focus.
The goal of Seven Mountains training is to help you identify which of these is your mountain and to equip you to stake God's claim on it. We hope you'll plan on joining us in this kingdom-building work.
This video explains more about the Seven Mountains Mandate.
Please keep our program leaders, Julie and Dennis Matula, in your prayers as they foster this growing program. Also, be in prayer about the role God has for you in the Seven Mountains Mandate and how He might use you to make a difference in your community and culture.
Thursday, May 13, 2010
A good contagion
Our next Business-Building Lunch will be Thursday, June 10, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., in Faith Hall at First Baptist Orlando.
Our featured speaker will be Monica Wofford of Contagious Companies.
Cost: $25 for chamber members and $35 for nonmembers
Table sponsorships, which include seating for 8 people, are $200 and are available to members only. Call the office to set up your sponsorship.
Register by noon on Tuesday, June 8.
Order your tickets online using our secure service, or call the office at 407-814-1124.
Cost: $25 for chamber members and $35 for nonmembers
Table sponsorships, which include seating for 8 people, are $200 and are available to members only. Call the office to set up your sponsorship.
Register by noon on Tuesday, June 8.
Order your tickets online using our secure service, or call the office at 407-814-1124.
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Diversification is the key to preserving state’s place in space
By Kristen Stieffel
Although the Space Coast was prepared for the end of the shuttle program, the sudden cancellation of its replacement, the Constellation program, left us scrambling for direction. What next?
Maintaining — or increasing — Florida’s role in space exploration and keeping our space workers from looking elsewhere for jobs will require government, academia and business working together to diversify Florida’s role.
Economic development leaders, brought together by the UCF Metropolitan Center for Regional Studies in an April 16 public forum, agree that Florida’s present focus on launch operations will not suffice as more of the space program is transferred to private industry.
Lynda Weatherman, president and CEO of the Economic Development Commission of Florida's Space Coast, said business has always had a large part in the space program. Her organization has been working with “the usual suspects” for many years, including Orbital Science, Lockheed Martin and United Launch Alliance. She said growth in the industry will be bolstered by asking such companies “what is it that you need that this state can deliver in the next two years?” Some of those needs will be filled by companies already in the market.
Brevard Workforce is recruiting businesses to help place shuttle workers in new positions. Among the workers that will be seeking new positions are data management specialists, machine operators, project managers, electrical engineers, and quality control managers. To see whether your company can benefit from the organization’s efforts, visit the Aerospace Workforce Transition Program website.
In addition to three areas in which Florida already has expertise — launch operations, payload processing and ground support — Space Florida identified seven market sectors in which Florida’s space industry has room for expansion:
With the International Space Station nearing completion, it will be available to universities and companies for microgravity experiments. Such work will need to be coordinated Earthside, and Frank DiBello, president of Space Florida, believes Central Florida is the perfect place for that.
He said Lake Nona’s Medical City is an ideal site for the ISS ground node. Space Florida is reaching out to pharmaceutical companies around the world to educate them about the possibilities in this area.
M.J. Soileau, vice president for research & commercialization at the University of Central Florida, attended NASA’s Conference on the American Space Program for the 21st Century, held at Kennedy Space Center April 15. There, he learned that reaching Mars will be impractical, if not impossible, with current materials. The mass of such a ship would be ten times that of the ISS, as it would need to carry, said Soileau, “A year and a half of life support.”
He said entities in the Florida High Tech Corridor, which includes UCF, University of Florida and University of South Florida, are “working technologies that will be critical to the next phase of our space program.” Those technologies include not only structures but new materials: Lighter-weight materials and more efficient fuels will be needed to reach Mars.
Soileau said it’s likely that companies that will dominate in the development of these new resources “don’t exist yet,” but UCF’s Business Incubation Program can help entrepreneurs with new ideas be successful.
The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy set a goal of “helping make the I-4 corridor the Silicon Valley of space.” Soileau said this goal is achievable, given the “intellectual infrastructure” of the High Tech Corridor.
For companies and entrepreneurs looking to break into the space business, Soileau said UCF is prepared to help with research and development. “Give us a call,” he said. “We’re ready to play.”
Although the Space Coast was prepared for the end of the shuttle program, the sudden cancellation of its replacement, the Constellation program, left us scrambling for direction. What next?
Maintaining — or increasing — Florida’s role in space exploration and keeping our space workers from looking elsewhere for jobs will require government, academia and business working together to diversify Florida’s role.
Economic development leaders, brought together by the UCF Metropolitan Center for Regional Studies in an April 16 public forum, agree that Florida’s present focus on launch operations will not suffice as more of the space program is transferred to private industry.
Lynda Weatherman, president and CEO of the Economic Development Commission of Florida's Space Coast, said business has always had a large part in the space program. Her organization has been working with “the usual suspects” for many years, including Orbital Science, Lockheed Martin and United Launch Alliance. She said growth in the industry will be bolstered by asking such companies “what is it that you need that this state can deliver in the next two years?” Some of those needs will be filled by companies already in the market.
Brevard Workforce is recruiting businesses to help place shuttle workers in new positions. Among the workers that will be seeking new positions are data management specialists, machine operators, project managers, electrical engineers, and quality control managers. To see whether your company can benefit from the organization’s efforts, visit the Aerospace Workforce Transition Program website.
In addition to three areas in which Florida already has expertise — launch operations, payload processing and ground support — Space Florida identified seven market sectors in which Florida’s space industry has room for expansion:
- Environmental monitoring, which includes applications for weather observation and agriculture
- Emergency management
- Life sciences
- Communications and robotics, which is a large part of defense as well as spaceflight
- Adventure tourism
- Clean energy, including photovoltaics and alternative fuels
- Development of new materials
With the International Space Station nearing completion, it will be available to universities and companies for microgravity experiments. Such work will need to be coordinated Earthside, and Frank DiBello, president of Space Florida, believes Central Florida is the perfect place for that.
He said Lake Nona’s Medical City is an ideal site for the ISS ground node. Space Florida is reaching out to pharmaceutical companies around the world to educate them about the possibilities in this area.
M.J. Soileau, vice president for research & commercialization at the University of Central Florida, attended NASA’s Conference on the American Space Program for the 21st Century, held at Kennedy Space Center April 15. There, he learned that reaching Mars will be impractical, if not impossible, with current materials. The mass of such a ship would be ten times that of the ISS, as it would need to carry, said Soileau, “A year and a half of life support.”
He said entities in the Florida High Tech Corridor, which includes UCF, University of Florida and University of South Florida, are “working technologies that will be critical to the next phase of our space program.” Those technologies include not only structures but new materials: Lighter-weight materials and more efficient fuels will be needed to reach Mars.
Soileau said it’s likely that companies that will dominate in the development of these new resources “don’t exist yet,” but UCF’s Business Incubation Program can help entrepreneurs with new ideas be successful.
The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy set a goal of “helping make the I-4 corridor the Silicon Valley of space.” Soileau said this goal is achievable, given the “intellectual infrastructure” of the High Tech Corridor.
For companies and entrepreneurs looking to break into the space business, Soileau said UCF is prepared to help with research and development. “Give us a call,” he said. “We’re ready to play.”
Friday, April 23, 2010
The Buck stops here
Buck will talk about successful organizational development based on principles from scripture.
Order online or call our office at (407) 814-1124 to pay by phone. Table sponsorships, which include seating for eight people, are $200 and are available to members only. These may not be purchased online; call the office to order.
For more information on Buck Jacobs and C12 Group, visit the chamber website.
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Fellowship Friday
Tomorrow we will meet at the Panera Bread at The Mall of Millenia, 4200 Conroy Road in Orlando. This is not a typical "networking" meeting. We develop and nurture relationships, share ideas, and help each other with challenges. Our motto is "Bring your challenges - not your leads."
Tomorrow, we'll talk about how to make a facilitated introduction.
We meet from 7:30 a.m. until the last person leaves. If you have any questions, call Mark at (407) 484-3899
Tomorrow, we'll talk about how to make a facilitated introduction.
We meet from 7:30 a.m. until the last person leaves. If you have any questions, call Mark at (407) 484-3899
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