November 2017
Chamber Connection Your connection to the greater Hanover business community.
Chamber News Pages 3-5 Upcoming Seminars Page 4 Renewing Members Page 5 Member Spotlights Pages 6-7 Business Briefs Page 8 Main Street Hanover Page 9 Networking Events Page 10 Event Registration Page 11
Mission: We deliver value to our members and advance the interests of the business community.
A Letter from the Chair of the Board: Looking Forward to 2018 As 2017 draws to a close, I am excited to take a look at what the Chamber has planned for 2018. The Chamber accomplished a lot in 2017 including expanding economic development through the Main Street Hanover program, becoming the first chamber in Pennsylvania to have its apprenticeship program approved by the PA Department of Labor and Industry and graduating 13 local business professionals (including myself) through the Leadership Hanover program. The Chamber additionally grew its membership and hosted successful events such as the Corporate Challenge, Annual Golf Outing, Hanover Dutch Festival and our newest event, the Snack Town Brewfest.
a great way to showcase all our local businesses have to offer to local students as they think about post-graduation employment opportunities.
In 2018, the Chamber will continue its focus on economic development, workforce, leadership and membership. In terms of economic development, the focus will remain on the community and the Main Street Hanover (MSH) program, which will enter into its sixth year in 2018. The Main Street program is vital to the revitalization and continued economic growth of downtown Hanover. The Chamber is proud of its continued economic collaborations with MSH and the Hanover Borough and looks forward to continuing these efforts in the new year.
As always, membership will be a top priority for the Chamber staff and board. The Chamber continually evaluates its programs to provide members with opportunities to grow their businesses. Through workshops, mixers, breakfasts, marketing, advocacy, health benefits and much more, the Chamber can provide a wide range of opportunities to showcase and strengthen member businesses.
Workforce development will also be a key focus in the new year as the Chamber continues to fulfill the needs of local employers. In Feb. 2017, the Hanover Chamber (with Elsner Engineering Works, Inc., KLK Welding, R.H. Sheppard Co., and Utz Quality Foods, LLC.) became the first chamber in the state to submit a Chamber Apprenticeship Model and have it approved by the PA Department of Labor and Industry. In 2018, the Chamber and its partners will continue to expand the capacity of the Apprenticeship Program and model. The manufacturing sector is a vital part of our community and the Apprenticeship Program is
The Leadership Hanover program will also continue to grow in the new year. The 2017-2018 Leadership Hanover class is the largest yet. The Chamber will enhance Leadership Hanover’s role in the community through hands-on experience with local businesses and organizations. In addition to Leadership Hanover, the Chamber will continue to support the growth of the Hanover Area Young Professionals (HAYP), an organization that strives to meet the needs of the younger generation in the business world.
The Chamber would not be able to do all that it does without its signature events: Corporate Challenge, the Annual Golf Outing, the Hanover Dutch Festival and the Snack Town Brewfest. Looking forward, the Chamber staff and I are especially excited about the Second Annual Snack Town Brewfest which will feature more breweries, more tickets and more fun. Thank you for continued support of the Chamber and its programs. I look forward to serving as the Chair of the Board throughout 2018! Sincerely, Kevin Gulden Chair of the Board
146 Carlisle Street Hanover, PA 17331 717.637.6130 www.hanoverchamber.com