MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Maintained a level of operations in accordance with the Pennsylvania Association             of Chamber Professionals.  This provides a benchmark for Chambers in    Pennsylvania to measure their operational success.

• Named as one of the “25 Largest Chambers of Commerce in Southwestern Pennsylvania” by The Pittsburgh Business Times for the 7th year in a row.

• Maintained the Chamber office at 143 East High Street.  The first floor, handicapped accessible office, serves a multitude of clients each week from the membership base, the general public and other organizations and businesses doing business in Greene County.
 
• Hosted several Business After Hours and Open Houses at member locations throughout the area to provide an opportunity to promote that location along with providing an opportunity for networking.

• Hosted “Bring your Marketing to the Next Level” seminar for members, in conjunction with the University of Pittsburgh Small Business Development Center.

• Hosted  “The FaceBook Effect” seminar for members, in conjunction with the University of Pittsburgh Small Business Development Center

• Coordinated General Membership Networking Luncheons in February, May and October

• Supported the Foundation Free Enterprise Education’s Pennsylvania Business Adventure week for high school students. 

• Continued the “On-Line Open House” membership benefit which features virtual tours of member businesses.  These “Open Houses” remain archived on the chamber website and it attached to the member’s listing.

• Provided an opportunity for Waynesburg University Interns and Waynesburg Central High School National Honor Society students to complete required community service hours by assisting with the organization of the Annual Christmas Parade, the presentation of the Distinguished Service Awards, Business Expo, Golf Outing, Administrative Professional Day Luncheon and regular office duties

• Increased membership to 308 members.  Provided a Member to Member Discount Program to those members and all of their employees

• Continued the publishing of a monthly newsletter which includes the publication of an online version found on our web site

• Awarded the 21st annual Educational Scholarship to Rhetta King of Open Door Christian School

• Awarded the Individual Distinguished Service Award to John E. Mariner.  Awarded the Posthumous Distinguished Service Award to Dr. Thomas W. Mering.  Presented the annual Organizational Distinguished Service Award to the Waynesburg Lion Club 

• Sponsored and organized the 5th grade Waynesburg Central Elementary Career Day.  95% of  presenters were Chamber members sharing their careers with the students

• Organized the fifth Annual Greene County Business Expo at the PA Army National Guard Readiness Center.  Executed a campaign as part of that event which collected over 150 pairs of new gloves and mittens to be donated to area children in need this winter

• Hosted the Annual Golf Outing

• Organized and executed the Annual Downtown Waynesburg Christmas Parade

• Hosted the “Annual Administrative Professional’s Day Luncheon” for members
 
• Supported the Pennsylvania Governor’s Conference for Women by promoting the event through the Chamber newsletter, Eblasts and brochure distribution

• Supported the Pennsylvania Business Technology Conference by promoting the event through the Chamber newsletter, Eblasts and brochure distribution.  In exchange, our membership received a special discounted registration fee. 

• Hosted the fourth annual “Halloween Spooktacular” Costume Contest in conjunction with Waynesburg Borough as a fun event for downtown merchants on Halloween.

• Participated in the Tri-County Oil & Gas Expo and attended the Tri-County Oil & Gas Employment Expo.

• Participated in the Greene County Annual Meeting of Penn State Cooperative Extension Service.

• Participated in the “Downtown Dialog” series sponsored by Waynesburg Prosperous & Beautiful which discusses issues facing the downtown merchant base and searches for ways to make downtown and better place to live, work and shop. 

• Participated in the Penn State “Impact of Marcellus Shale Development on Downtown Business Communities in Pennsylvania” survey.

• Participated in the Bowen National Research survey on the impact of “Marcellus Shale and Local Housing Needs”.

 

MEMBERSHIPS

• The Executive Director is a member of the Community Builders Steering Committee of the Community Foundation of Greene County, Promotions Committee of Waynesburg Prosperous & Beautiful, the Greene County 4-H Advisory Board and is a Legislative Advocate for Penn State Cooperative Extension Office. 

• Greene County Tourist Promotion Agency

• Bowlby Library Board

• Waynesburg Borough’s Special Events Commission

 

CONTINUING PROJECTS AND ACTIVITIES

• Annual Members Golf Outing and Luncheon
• Annual Administrative Professionals Day Luncheon
• Annual Educational Fund Scholarship to a Greene County Senior. 
• Annual Greene County Business Expo
• Annual Member Banquet and Chinese Auction
• Annual Presentation of the Distinguished Service Awards
• Annual Membership Drive
• Annual Downtown Christmas Parade
• Annual W.C.E.S. 5th Grade Career Day
• Annual Greene County Day at Kennywood Park
• Membership Networking Events
• Monthly Newsletter Publication
• Monthly Web Site Updates
• Weekly Eblasts