Forward Janesville - TheReport - Winter 2016

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JoLynn Burden - Director of Events & Membership Development
Regional Collaboration
WINTER 2016 • 17
Beloit Club
Kent Instefjord
2327 S. Riverside Drive
Beloit, WI 53511
(608) 364-9000
Private Golf Course & Entertainment Facility
Bodacious Shops of Block 42
Bekki Kennedy
119 N. Main St.
Janesville, WI 53545
(608) 563-5566
Restaurants & Specialty Dining, Retailer,
Bakery
Brownfield Environmental Engineering
Resources, LLC
Brad Brown
635 Third Street
Beloit, WI 53511
(608) 856-5434
Consultants
Engravers Corner
Emmie Moss & Jeff Knoflicek
2126 W. U.S. Hwy 14
Janesville, WI 53545
(608) 774-4268
Promotional Products, Gifts &
Specialty Items
Exchange Family Resource
Center/Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin
Tammie King
32 East Racine St.
Janesville, WI 53545
(608) 314-9006
Family Resource & Advocacy
HuHot Mongolian Grill
Robert Strawsburg
2431 Milton Avenue
Janesville, WI 53545
(303) 297-1200
Restaurant & Specialty Dining
L.W. Meyer, Inc.
Bret Cummings
3970 Commercial Avenue
Madison, WI 53714
(608) 241-4860
Construction Services
Per Mar Security Services
David Rach
2851 Index Road
Madison, WI 53531
(608) 238-9295
Security Services
Safety Management & Training, LLC
Ted Flynn
1007 N. Marion Avenue
Janesville, WI 53548
(608) 741-9822
www.safetymanagementand
Safety & Training Consultants
Urgent iCare Phone Repair
Jim Moses
2000 E. Racine St. , Suite 120
Janesville, WI 53545
(608) 289-3954
Phone & Electronic Repairs
FJI• NEW
MEMBERS
Each chamber office focuses their efforts on projects and
initiatives that make their local business community stronger.
They promote and advocate for their member’s successes, for
business and economic growth and the increase in quality of
life in their respected communities.
As each Chamber of Commerce works independently, we also
understand that together we are all a part of a greater whole.
Collaborating together makes each of us stronger and in
essence, more powerful. We understand that each of us
represents southern Wisconsin business, Rock County
business, large business and small business. Many area
businesses are members in multiple chambers as they find
added value in diverse networking opportunities, regional
referrals and specialized workforce development initiatives.
Beloit, Janesville and Milton chamber offices are proud to
have identified ways that partnerships and collaborative efforts
make sense. Some initiatives have included:
• Partnering Business After Fives – Businesses who are
members of multiple chambers may inquire about hosting a
partnering BA5. These events have a wider marketing
reach, typically have higher attendance and provide unique
networking opportunities for business representatives who
are only a member of one chamber group.
• Government Relations Issues – Yearly, Forward
Janesville offers a look inside the State Capitol by hosting
Rock County Day in Madison. This event is open to all
businesses who are eager to advocate for issues that affect
their community and business. FJI also coordinates an
annual trip to Washington, D.C. for a chance to visit Capitol
Hill armed with agenda items that are impactful to their
business. Forward Janesville has a dedicated VP of
Government Relations who has shared his governmental
expertise with the neighboring chambers who have limited
staff.
• Volunteer Groups – Milton recently mirrored the
Ambassador model used by both Janesville and Beloit as
an opportunity to increase their chamber advocacy in the
community and opportunity to connect each business with
a chamber liaison. The three Ambassador groups have
hosted combined meetings and social opportunities as a
way to build relationships and learn about projects that
each volunteer group is championing.
• Economic Development / Workforce Projects – Rock
County 5.0, Inspire Rock County, the Rock County
Development Alliance and Jobs in Rock County.com are
initiatives that encompass a broader spectrum of
participants, businesses and supporters.
• Events – Chambers do what they can to support their
neighboring chamber events as a way to experience or learn
how different events are managed, as well as to continue to
build regional relationships. From annual dinners to the
business expo, you will find representatives from your
neighboring chamber in attendance!
Collaboration affords chambers the opportunity to continue to
be learning, evolving organizations. The communities of
Beloit, Janesville and Milton are uniquely different though and
each chamber office sets their mission and goals to meet the
needs of their represented business community. Each
chamber provides their valued member base the opportunity
for involvement, leadership and empowerment through being
the resource for local business information, services,
educational training programs, networking, workforce
development and exposure through marketing opportunities.
Your chamber partner is working to ensure the continued
health and prosperity of business and industry in your
community. A membership with your local chamber of
commerce is an investment in your business AND your
community. Get active, get involved and be a chamber
business partner!
Area chamber offices meet periodically to share ideas and
opportunities for collaboration. Aimee Thurner, Interim Executive
Director / Greater Beloit Chamber of Commerce • JoLynn Burden,
Director of Events and Membership Development / Forward
Janesville • Dani Stivarious, Executive Director / Milton Area
Chamber of Commerce
30 miles. That is the distance between three of our area’s strongest business and
community organizations. Just 30 miles and an interstate under major construction
lies between the Greater Beloit Chamber of Commerce, Forward Janesville and the
Milton Area Chamber of Commerce.
FJI AWARDS LUNCHEON
Forward Janesville is pleased to host their 16th Annual Awards Luncheon by recognizing and honoring community
businesses, organizations and individual members that have made a positive impact in the Janesville community.
THURSDAY, JANUARY 26TH, 2017
Hosted at the Pontiac Convention Center from 11 am-1:30 pm
2809 N Pontiac Dr, Janesville, WI 53545
Emcee: Tim Bremel, Operations Manager WCLOAM-1230
Reservations for individual seats or corporate tables can be made by calling
608.757.3160 or for more information visit
SPONSORED BY