October 2017
Chamber Connection Your connection to the greater Hanover business community.
Chamber News Page 3 Upcoming Seminars Page 4 Member Spotlights Pages 4-6 Business Briefs Page 7 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 President - 2016/2017 in Review This year has been an incredibly productive year at the Chamber. Your membership is vital to accomplishing the many important services that we provide. As we begin the new fiscal year, we pause to reflect on our accomplishments over the past year. Economic Development We continue to expand our role in economic development through our work with Main Street Hanover (MSH), with focus on organizational development and financial sustainability as MSH enters its fifth year. In the coming year, MSH will continue to collaborate with Hanover Borough to make plans for physical improvements throughout the downtown Workforce In February, the Hanover Chamber (with Elsner Engineering Works, Inc., KLK Welding, R.H. Sheppard Co, Inc., and Utz Quality Foods, LLC) became the first chamber in Pennsylvania to submit a Chamber Apprenticeship Model that has been approved by the PA Department of Labor and Industry. Through the apprenticeship program, high school students will have the opportunity to begin as a pre-apprentice in their junior year, with the program structured around their high school curriculum and work within one of the participating companies. Upon graduation, the student will have the opportunity to complete a two-year, paid apprenticeship within the company. Leadership In April, we graduated 13 local business men and women from our Leadership Hanover Program. We look forward to seeing them take on leadership roles within our community. The 2017/18 class will begin this month, and class size is expected to exceed last year's.
Membership In the past year we have welcomed 34 new members. Our staff and volunteers strive to deliver value to our members by hosting networking and community events, offering affordable marketing and advertising opportunities, and advancing the interests of the Hanover business community. In 2016/17, the Chamber hosted several successful events, including the Corporate Challenge, Christmas Luncheon, Annual Golf Outing, and the Hanover Dutch Festival. Our newest event, The Snack Town Brewfest, showcased our community to beer and snack food enthusiasts, bringing a crowd of 2,000+ to Good Field in June. We look forward to growing the event this year. If you would like to learn more about the Chamber's goals for the coming year, we invite you to join us at our Annual Meeting on Oct. 19 at noon at Guthrie Memorial Library. The event is complimentary and open to all members. A light lunch will be served. Please see event information on page 11. I thank you for your continued confidence in the work of your Chamber; we truly value your support. If you ever have a question about how we can help support your business or organization, please contact us. We welcome the opportunity to serve the needs of our members and the community. Sincerely,
Gary Laird President
146 Carlisle Street Hanover, PA 17331 717.637.6130 www.hanoverchamber.com