Stoney Creek Chamber of Commerce members attended a networking lunch at the Renaissance Banquet and Special Events Centre, where Canadian Chamber of Commerce board of directors' Chair and President and CEO of Andrew Peller Limited, John Peller spoke about issues facing small business owners in Ontario.

A large crowd attended the Chamber's Annual General Meeting on September 8th at the Landing Restaurant at the Fifty Point Marina.

Our new President Bob Douglas, Branch Manager of Scotiabank in Stoney Creek, presented a plaque thanking our outgoing President, Brad Perco for a job very well done over the past two years. 

David Mitchell, Ward 11 Councillor lead the new Board in their oath of office.

Bob Douglas introduced our new Board and remarked that it was an honour to be Chamber President for the next two years and is looking forward to the continued success of the Chamber.

Our new Board is looking forward to working with the businesses tocontinue growth and prosperity in our community.

Members are encouraged to contact the Chamber office with concerns and opportunities, host After 5 Networking events, attend as many networking events as possible, and always remember to contact fellow Members first when sourcing goods and services.

Special thanks to our sponosors, Dan Lawrie Insurance Brokers, Norstar Windows & Doors, RBC Royal Bank.

Your New Board: 

Executive:

Bob Douglas, President, Audie McCarthy, 1st Vice, Lori Raudnask, 2nd Vice, Robert Hynes,Treasurer, Past President,  Brad Perco

 Directors:  Julie Brown,  Patrick Campbell, Fabian Grenning, Kathy Johnston, Doug McDonald,  Michael Regan,         Branka Vidovic

We had a great turnout for our annual tournament this year on Thursday June 3rd.  Our golfers enjoyed great weather until about 4:30 pm at which time the sky opened up to shower us all.  Despite the rain, a lot of good networking went on in the club house as we awaited our wonderful dinner. 

For those who didn't go out to finish the game after the rain, Southbrook provided coupons toward a cart on the next visit.

Special thanks to our major tournament sponsor, Stoney Creek Furniture and our hosts Southbrook Golf and Country Club.

We look forward to seeing our golfers on Thursday June 2, 2011!

Chamber members enjoyed a day of family fun featuring train rides, food, scavenger hunt for the children and wine tasting for the adults at Puddicombe Estate Farms & Winery in celebration of the Stoney Creek Chamber of Commerce 60th Anniversary.

Future plans to celebrate 60 years of supporting local business include a dinner dance featuring live entertainment at Galileo’s Garden on November 6th.

Citizen of the Year Heather Slattery was lost for words, as she stood in front of 220 attendees at the 2009 Stoney Creek Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year awards and banquet last Thursday at Galileo’s Garden Banquet Centre.

“I am both humbled and very honoured to have been designated ‘Stoney Creek Citizen of the Year,’” she said, as she started to get choked up. “This is the ultimate tribute.”

Slattery has been a member of the Stoney Creek Seniors Club’s board of directors and also served as president.

Over the years, she decorated the club for special events, ran games, sold tickets and organized yearly activities. Slattery also helped design the club’s logo and vests for its choir.

She has also volunteered with Battlefield House Museum and Park, the Canadian Cancer Society, Dr. Bob Kemp Hospice and Stoney Creek United Church.

In addition, Slattery has been a member of the New Horizon Seniors Club’s board of directors and has served as president for two-and-a-half-years.

“Volunteering is a very rewarding exercise, you not only feel useful, but can gain a satisfaction of accomplishment, meet a lot of wonderful people and make many new friends. It seems no matter how much you give of yourself, you receive even more,” she said. “I have had the happy honour of being surrounded with capable and willing individuals. I thank all of them for making my job easier. I love you all.”

Junior Citizen of the Year and Cardinal Newman Catholic Secondary School Grade 12 student Aurelie Dimandja also took some time to thank those who have played a large part in shaping the person she has become, including her mother, family, teachers and friends.

“I can not express how much this award means to me. I’m quite humbled because everything I do, I don’t expect to get anything back because I do it from the bottom of my heart,” she said. “This award helps recognize the work I’ve done so far, but most importantly, it has inspired me to look forward. I know that anything is possible. Truly, this award is an honour.”

Corporate Citizen of the Year Chestnut Tree Foot Care and Orthotics’ Ann Paul thanked her parents for their example of unconditional kindness and generosity.

“I feel extremely privileged to be Canadian, educated, healthy, happily married with three great kids, to have a job I love and patients that seem to love me. I also must say that to have a successful business, you need to have awesome staff – thank you to my staff,” she said. “This award is the proverbial icing on an already awesome cake. It is because of these privileges that I feel empowered to give back. I feel that the award winners tonight are a wonderful example of people with a global, social conscience.”

The chamber also honoured family-owned and operated Stoney Creek Tailors with the Legacy Award.

“My parents are the cornerstone of Stoney Creek Tailors. Their many sacrifices, long hours and commitment to providing the best possible customer service and superior quality in the Stoney Creek community has paid off and I’m reaping all the rewards of their labours and will make a superior effort to follow in their footsteps,” said owner Herman Demirci. “We would like to express great appreciation to our many loyal customers. Their many referrals and repeat business has enabled Stoney Creek Tailors to grow as a business and maintain our high standard of quality, custom tailoring. It has been an honour serving first generation to the next.”

Superior Boiler Works and Welding Ltd., one of the areas largest general mechanical, electrical contractors and boiler pressure vessel manufacturers, received the Outstanding Business Achievement Award.

“In this very challenging economic climate, we stride for innovative ways to keep us competitive and pass savings onto our customers. However, it goes without saying that the No. 1 reason we are here tonight is because of our employees – their dedication, hard work and loyalty are evident in the quality products and services we provide,” said vice-president Loris Gazzola. “Also, we could not stand here tonight without thanking our families and parents who have instilled in us the value of a strong work ethic.”

The chamber also presented Mohawk College, Stoney Creek campus with the first Community Recognition Award.

“Today, Mohawk College, Stoney Creek campus is the largest trainer of apprentices in the province of Ontario,” said faculty of skilled trades and apprenticeship dean Piero Cherubini,  noting the campus’ $27-million transformation would not have been possible without the generous support of its partners. “At Mohawk, we’re also in the business of teaching 11,500 full-time students…that’s a lot of talent and it’s talent that keeps companies and communities competitive, sustainable and prosperous.”

Photo by Laura Lennie

Marvin Ryder spoke to Stoney Creek Chamber Members at a luncheon held at The Grand Olympia, sponsored by NeoGraphics.

Marvin explained that recessions come and go. The wise businessperson plans for the longer term trends.  The next 25 years holds many opportunities for Stoney Creek and its business community. Like the period following World War II, this is a dramatic period of immigration with a changing community profile.  “Winners” will be those companies who offer market niches, products and services with a sustainable competitive advantage. The challenge and critical success of the Stoney Creek business community will be adapting to a modified City population over the next 25 years.

"To be the best place in Canada to raise a child, promote innovation, engage citizens, and provide diverse economic opportunities."

This statement forms the basis of the Corporate Strategic Plan, approved by Council, in June of 2008.

These 20 thoughtfully selected words summarize in a single sentence the potential for the Next Hamilton.

Under Mayor Fred Eisenberger’s leadership, Councilors, dedicated city staff of departments such as Economic Development, along with business and community leaders have come together and set out to make this vision a reality.

The vision along with a program called Next Hamilton: Your City and Your Future describe the focus of Mayor Fred’s Administration. His approach involves the 4 C’s (Collaboration, Cooperation, Consensus, and Confidence) and its aim is to create a Hamilton that is Clean, Green, and Prosperous.

To quote Mayor Fred, “Hamilton has a strong foundation upon which to build our city's future, a future I like to call the NEXT Hamilton.”

Written by Branka Vidovic, NeoGraphics

Once again, we had great attendance at our breakfast seminar on March 5^th at the Express Restaurant. The event was sponsored by Pillar Retirement Group and featured Dr. Ajay Sirsi, Professor of Marketing, Schulich School of Business, York University.

Dr. Sirsi took the audience through his Top 10 Ways to Build a Strong Brand which he explained by using examples of successful brands Nike, Harley Davidson, BMW and others.

In summary, his Top 10 list included;

1. The brand understands customers’ needs.

2. The brand knows people buy expectations, not things.

3. The brand understands what business it is in.

4. The brand is properly positioned.

5. The brand goes way beyond building brand awareness.

6. The brand focuses on the total customer experience.

7. The brand controls the customer experience.

8. The brand stays relevant.

9. The brand stays consistent.

10. The brand builds a community.  

The Ontario budget was presented March 26th with emphasis on restraint and an eight year plan to eliminate the deficit.

Public sector workers will not receive pay raises for the next two years.

The City of Hamilton is to receive a 14.3 million dollar subsidy towards social assistance programs which will allow the City to hold their tax increase to 2% or less.

DJB & Company Chartered Accountants sponsored a very informative and simple overview on the upcoming harmonized sales tax which will become Provincial Law on July 1st, 2010 for Stoney Creek Chamber Members at Michelangelo's, February 25th.

Theresa Beninger, B. Math, C.A., is the specialist in HST at DJB & Company and her slide presentation educated her large audience on the advantages and disadvantages of HST for both business and consumer.

Ms. Beninger used serveral examples to explain the anticipated savings that companies can expect when receiving rebates of HST.  These savings should eventually be passed on to the end buyer.

The administration of monthly reports was explained and as pointed out, one remittance will cover all taxes.

We thank DJB & Company for their assistance in explaining the new HST and the administration of reports.

The Stoney Creek Chamber held their Annual General Meeting on September 16th at the nearly opened Nash Jackson House in Battlefield Park.

Members and guests enjoyed refreshments, ice cream from our local Stoney Creek Dairy and tours of Battlefied Museum House, Monument and the Nash Jackson House.

Our President, Brad Perco, C. A., of Brownlow Partners, presented on update on Chamber activities, introduced the Board and Staff and thanked the Members for their ongoing support.

The Finacial update was presented by Treasurer, Robert Hynes, Manager of RBC Royal Bank.  Robert indicated that the Chamber experienced another successful year in both Membership increase and financial viability.

The event was sponsored by Brownlow Partners, Dan Lawrie Insurance, and RBC Royal Bank.

Area small businesses were informed at a recent seminar, hosted by the Stoney Creek Chamber of Commerce, by both levels of Government on their respective procurement processes and how they can get more involved with doing business with government.

Attendees discovered that getting properly informed allows them to get more appropriately involved in doing business with Government.  There was good discussion and positive feedback during the session.

For more information on how to do business with the Government, go to www.contractscanada.gc.ca

Over 50 members and guests attended our breakfast seminar on November 18^th at the Old Powerhouse. The event was sponsored by McHugh Mowat Whitmore Ionico MacPherson LLP and Neographics. The event featured George Torok, keynote speaker, author and radio show host. (www.Torok.com)

 George took the audience through many of the strategies outlined in his book, “Secrets of Power Marketing”. One concept that resonated with me was his ‘criteria for marketing’.

§  Grab attention

§  Demonstrate value

§  Build relationships

George challenged us by asking, “Which of the three do you do better than your competitors?”

As a Chamber we strive to do all three.

§  The fire in the kitchen that morning certainly “grabbed attention’!

§  We added value by subsidizing your book purchase.

§  We will continue to build relationships with our members through events such as this in the future.

Thank you for your support. See you at the next event!

Audie McCarthy,

2^nd VP – Stoney Creek Chamber of Commerce

It was a perfect day for our June 4th Annual Golf Tournament.  The beautiful weather helped to make a traditionally fun day for our Members even better.  We all enjoyed the sunshine great food and time we spent together. 

Our thanks to Stoney Creek Furniture for sponsoring this event each year.

We also thank the friendly and helpful staff of Southbrook Golf and Country Club for always making us feel welcomed.

For those of you who couldn't join us this year, not to worry, we'll do our best to order up a perfect day for next year too.

Record breaking attendance for the January 14th Pool Tournament at Boilers Restaurant made for a great night of networking for Chamber Members.

Our President Brad Perco presented 1st Prize to Joe and Bill, 2nd to Lori and Dennis.  Special thanks to Boilers, Barbara Gough Insurance Agency Ltd. and The Old Powerhouse Restaurant for providing prizes.  All players and spectators enjoyed the food and fun.

Stoney Creek Chamber 2nd Vice, Lori Raudnask and Executive Director Dave Cage, enjoyed a wonderful evening at African Lion Safari with Members of the Flamborough Chamber of Commerce to join in the celebration of their Annual Community Recognition Awards, February 26th. 

Congratulations to the recipients and thank you to the Flamborough Chamber for inviting us to attend the event.

On Thursday morning, April 17th, Aron Gampel, Vice President and Deputy Chief Economist for Scotiabank, addressed members and guests of the Stoney Creek Chamber of Commerce at Chandelier Place in Stoney Creek.

Mr Gampel was speaking on the general state of the economy and said the US economy is contracting and going through a particularly difficult time. Due to the fact the Canadian and US economies are tied together in the manufacturing sector, the US downturn is having a negative effect on Ontario.  Overall Canadians are relatively confident and the Canadian economy as a whole is continuing to grow, and attract new jobs, but at a slower rate than some of the developing counties in the world.  For example, in the first three months of the year there was a net increase of 126,000 new jobs in Canada, compared to a net loss of 300,000 jobs in the US.