Presenting Sponsor
In Business, For Business
December 2007
Report
A Monthly Publication by the Ardmore Chamber of Commerce
Christmas Retail Underway
What’s Inside
It’s that time of year again! Here is the opportunity to keep money and holiday shoppers in Ardmore. The Christmas Retail Promotion is in full swing, promoting local businesses and giving local shoppers the chance to win over $10,000 in cash and prizes, including a $1,400 piece of jewelry from Ray-Ward Fine Jewelers.
Business Spotlight
The promotion kicked off on November 23rd and lasts 4 weeks during the peak holiday shopping season ending on December 15th at 1:00pm with a celebration at the Washington Theatre. Christmas Joy will provide live entertainment and in the style of NBC’s hit game show Deal or No Deal, the drawing for the Christmas Cash will give several lucky winners the chance to win the cash and prizes donated by participating merchants. With over twenty participating sponsors, shoppers have a variety of merchants to choose from this year! Participating merchants are Bill’s Fish House, Beale’s Hibdon Tire of Ardmore, Brad Fenton Motors of Ardmore, Celebrations Wedding & Party Store, Cook Paint, Dodson’s Floral, First Bank & Trust Co., Jarvis Pools, Jimmy’s Western Wear, KICM Radio, KXII, Main Street Coffee, Preston Dalton Siding & Windows, Ray-Ward Fine Jewelers, Stepp Home Furnishings, Tol’s Jewelers, Inc. and WalMart. If you are a merchant and would like to participate, it’s not too late! Please contact the Chamber of Commerce at 223-7765 and help keep the holiday shopping in Ardmore. See Official Rules on page 10.
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Chamber Ambassadors
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Networking Skills
3
Business After Hours
3
Economic Indicators
4
Economic Indicators Show Improvement
5
Your Business & Keyword Searches
5
Chamber Website Statistics
5
ADA & Chamber Address Workforce Issues
6
Upcoming Events
6
Member News
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Festival of Lights Drive-Thru a Popular Holiday Destination
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Tips for Business
8
Personnel Roundtable
8
AYPO
9
Christmas Retail Promotion Official Rules
10
NASCO Under Fire
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New Members
12
business
spotlight
Communication Federal Credit Union A Better Way to Bank! Communication Federal Credit Union has been serving the financial needs of Oklahomans since 1939. We’re proud to be Oklahomabased and to be the only Oklahoma credit union with assets over $100 million to receive a Five-Star rating from Bauer Financial Reports for sixteen consecutive years. In addition to being one of the nation’s most financially stable and best performing financial institutions, we offer a full line of financial products and services to meet your individual needs. We offer savings products with some of the best rates in town and you’ll have to search far and wide to beat our loan rates! Plus, we offer several feature-packed checking accounts that are totally free with direct deposit! Anyone who lives or works in Carter County is eligible for membership in Communication, so stop by our branch at 936 Grand Avenue in Ardmore or call 580-223-0614 and you’ll find better rates, better service, fewer fees and more value. It’s just a better way to bank!
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Chamber
Ambassadors
Ardmore Convention Center Hampton Inn Sharla Barker First National Bank & Sheila Bell Trust IMTEC Tisha Belt Angela Bradsher Angela Bradsher, CPA Pickens, IT, Title & Debbie Brewer Closing Co. Linda Chambers Chambers & Jackson, PC BICE & William C Scott Chapman Chapman DeeAnn Chatham Aflac/Jordan Insurance Group Sunshine Industries Jamie Crane B & N Carpet Cleaning Nick Danker Harvey-Douglas Brian Douglas Funeral Home United Way of South tobi Ervin Central Oklahoma Kelly Murphy-Fryer Advanced Care Medical Equipment Office Concepts Norm Garner Cable One Jeremy Ham Harn Custom Siding & Pam Harn Windows Shiloh Morning Inn Bob Humphrey The Mortgage Team Tatum Lee Lake Murray Resort Janet Logan Dobson Realty Group Jerry Landrum Engineering Services Shane Long & Testing Mazzio’s Italian Eatery Monte Meier New York Life Bill Parker Insurance Parker Family Vision Ryan Parker Center Southern Oklahoma Win Patton Radio - KKAJ Century 21-Clark & Vance Porter Reed First National Bank & Toni Price Trust Co Landmark Bank Vicki Quinby Edward Jones Al Schneider Gene Scrugham, Jr. Ray’s Hallmark Gifts & Office Supplies Dianne Shepard Oasis Staffing Randy Simmons OG & E Express Personnel Kim Smith Services Southern Oklahoma Jody Westervelt Radio AT&T Jason Winborn So. Ok. Blood Institute Teresa Woehst Marty Auten
Networking is a Skill Anyone Can Learn
Business After Hours At the November Business After Hours, David and Rosemary Fisher and the Washington Theatre staff treated networkers to a special performance by the house band The Music Scene. During the band’s performance of Twist and Shout James Chambers and many others were seen twisting with one of the lovely ladies from the stage.
Many people feel awkward in their attempts to make business connections with strangers. They sometimes abandon their efforts, saying, “I'm just not good at networking!” It's helpful to stop expecting networking to be comfortable. Most of us will never be completely comfortable, and that's perfectly fine. Be encouraged — networking is a skill you can build. Be prepared to give yourself a pep talk and then “just do it.” Approach networking by listening for ways to naturally contribute to the interests of others. This will not necessarily pertain to your business services. Ask people about what they do, and then be prepared to listen well. If you develop a sense of natural curiosity and appreciation, you may find it surprisingly easy. Most of the time, you will discover that you share something. Usually people reciprocate and ask about you. Be prepared with an approximately 60-second description of what you do, preferably focusing on one service or product. Follow up with a concise example of the positive results of what you've described. Conclude by telling them specifically the type of client you hope to attract to your business. Be prepared to offer your business card. A good tip to keep track of who you meet is to write the event and date that you meet someone on the back of their business card. Nothing is more frustrating in networking circles than to make a strong connection with someone, yet be unable to follow up with them because you've either forgotten their name or don't have their contact information. As you expand your network, make sure to nurture your existing circle of contacts. This is particularly important with people who are natural referral sources. Position yourself as a resource to others. Repeated contacts help strengthen the relationship and increase the occurrence of referrals.
The attendees were treated to a fabulous evening and a preview of what Washington Theatre has to offer. David and Rosemary would like to invite everyone to visit the Washington Theatre and enjoy Holiday performances this season on December 1st and 15th.
Upcoming Main Street Coffee 108 W. Main Street Stressed out from the hustle and bustle of the Holidays? Need a little time to regenerate yourself? Dave and Pam Plesher, owners of Main Street Coffee, invite you to leave all your cares behind and join them for Business After Hours on Monday, December 17th at 5:00 pm. You definitely won’t want to miss the sumptuous refreshments that Gary and Jeannine Jackson of Café Alley will be providing. If you haven’t done it yet, there’s still time to book your Christmas luncheon at their new location inside the Brass Ring Studio. Are you looking for that last minute gift idea? How about a gift certificate? Whether from Main Street Coffee or Café Alley, it’s always a perfect fit! You will also see many distinctive gift ideas as you browse the unique offerings of Trivialities. And don’t miss the chance to check out our selection of fresh bakery items while you’re here – did someone say homemade cinnamon rolls? Yum, yum!
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September Economic Indicators Building Permits Value Through September Each Year ($ millions) 70
Building Permits Quantity Through September Each Year
66.3 60.8
600
58.8
60
513 500
50 40
36.2
32.2
31.1
20
200
10
100
0
0 2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2001
Single Family Residential Homes - Avg Price September Each Year (Does Not Include Homes Sold By Owner) (000's) 120
109.3
100
106
365
284
274
300
26.6
30
401
400
2002
2003
2004
2005
86.4
82 80
50
74.8
2007
46
45
41 37
35
74.5
2006
Single Family Residential Homes Sold In September Each Year
40
91.8
505
430
37 33
32
30
27
25
60
20
40
15 10
20
5
0
0 2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2001
32.9
31.5
35.1
34.7
33.0
36.9
2004
2005
2006
2007
400
39.3
350 304.5
293.9
300
293.2
311
324.7
341.6
250 200 150 100 50
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
0
2001
4
2003
Retail Sales YTD Through September Each Year (million $)
Retail Sales September Each Year (million $) $45 $40 $35 $30 $25 $20 $15 $10 $5 $-
2002
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
357.4
Economic Indicators Show Improvement
2007 Executive Committee
Economic indicators for September 2007 show an increase for the overall Ardmore business environment. According to figures released by the Oklahoma Tax Commission, retail sales for the month show a 6.5% increase compared to sales in September 2006. Year to date retail sales represent a 2.8% increase from 2006. In residential real estate, The Southern Oklahoma Board of Realtors report a 10.8% decrease in the number of home sales for September 2007 (33 home sales) compared to September 2006 (37 home sales). Although the City of Ardmore reports a decrease in the number of building permits issued through September (365 for September 2007 compared to 505 for September 2006), the value of building permits increased from $26.6 million year to date in 2006 to $36.2 million year to date in 2007. This represents a 36% increase in the value of building permits.
Your Business & Keyword Searches Have you ever taken time to explore the business directory on the Chamber’s website? If you have, you’ll know that more than 500 businesses are online and of those, approximately half have links to their website. With more than 10,000 visits monthly to the Chamber’s website, visitors have the opportunity to search for businesses like yours. By heading to the business directory, visitors can perform keyword searches that bring up businesses cross-referenced with those keywords. The Chamber works diligently to keep those keywords up to date and accurate so you can gain the full benefit of being a Chamber member. Did you know that the more categories in which you are listed, the more likely it is for a visitor to www.ardmore.org to find you? To sign up your business for more listings, contact the Chamber at 223-7765.
Keith King, Chairman First National Bank & Trust Co. Jessica Pfau, Chairman Elect Ardmore Village Kevin Butler, Treasurer American National Bank Shane Long, Membership Services Engineering Services & Testing Nathan Verner, Governmental Affairs IMTEC Corporation Mary Kate Wilson, Education The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, Inc. Ryan Hobbs, Past Chairman Ryan Hobbs Financial Services
Board of Directors Dave Brenner Michelin North America Dr. Ruth Ann Carr Ardmore City Schools Gene Fryar OG & E Glenn Hughes Holiday Inn & Suites Jay Johnson Mercy Memorial Health Center Chuck Jones Oklahoma Natural Gas Letha Khaladj Khaladj-Ayers Team Re/Max Master Associates, Inc. Jerry Landrum Dobson Realty Group Dr. Bill Parsons Mercy Memorial Health Center Pam Plesher Main Street Coffee Henry Roberts Henry’s Express Pharmacy LLC Barbara Simon Barklee Collection Trey Whatley V.E. Enterprises, Inc.
Chamber Website Statistics Ardmore Chamber Portal Page Nov. Oct. Sept. Aug. July June May April March Feb. Jan.
6913 13226 12092 14810 19132 17895 16580 14334 14053 0
5000
10641 10819 10000
15000
20000
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ADA and Chamber Address Workforce Issues
December 1
With a local unemployment rate that has been consistently below four percent for over a year, area employers are challenged in finding workers that meet their employment standards. The Ardmore Development Authority (ADA) and Chamber of Commerce are working with area employers to develop programs that increase the number and quality of available workers while increasing the retention rates of area employers.
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19 25
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January 27
According to Brien Thorstenberg, ADA Vice President, “We are looking at every area related to employment. This includes housing, daycare, recruiting and reaching out to non-traditional workers, to name just a few issues we are addressing.”
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The ADA and Chamber put together a committee of employers and community leaders in June to address workforce challenges in the area.
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Upcoming Events
There are currently two programs in place to address affordable housing: the Hickory Ridge Housing Addition that offers 1200 to 1600 square foot homes at a sale price of approximately $75 per square foot and the ADA’s participation with Employer Assisted Housing which provides matching funds to employers to help offset down payment and closing costs of home mortgages for their employees.
12/1 11:00 am
Christmas Parade Main Street
12/1 12/15
Christmas Retail Promotion Continues
“Home ownership has a direct relationship to increasing employee retention,” adds Thorstenberg. “Employees that have a vested interest in their homes and community are more likely to stay with their employers.”
12/15 1:00 pm
Christmas Retail Promotion Celebration Washington Theatre
12/17 3:00 pm
ADA Board Meeting Chamber of Commerce, 410 W. Main
12/17 5:00 pm
Business After Hours Main Street Coffee, 108 W. Main
12/19 4:00 pm
Chamber Board Meeting Chamber of Commerce, 410 W. Main
12/24 12/25
Chamber Office Closed
12/27 8:00 am
ATA Board Meeting Convention Center, 2401 N. Rockford
1/1
Chamber Office Closed
1/16 10:00 am
SCORE Chamber of Commerce, 410 W. Main
“This is where full time jobs are divided among several people,” explains Thorstenberg. “By developing this type of program, we may be able to add people to the labor force who are currently not working, such as senior citizens, students and spouses.”
1/16 4:00 pm
Chamber Board Meeting Chamber of Commerce, 410 W. Main
1/21 3:00 pm
ADA Board Meeting Chamber of Commerce, 410 W. Main
“Expanding and improving the quality of the available work force is a difficult challenge,” Thorstenberg concludes. “What the committee has learned is there are no magic solutions or quick fixes. It is going to be a long process with small gains. If organizations such as the ADA, area businesses and community leaders continue to work together, we will make a significant contribution towards helping the Ardmore area businesses remain successful.”
1/21 5:00 pm
Business After Hours Kick-off and Expo Convention Center, 2401 N. Rockford
1/24 8:00 am
ATA Board Meeting Chamber of Commerce, 410 W. Main
The Workforce Committee is also exploring availability and affordability of daycare. The ADA has contracted with East Central University to conduct a survey with twenty-five area employers to determine if there is a need to expand daycare that is currently being offered in the area. The Committee will also be meeting with daycare providers to see about offering nontraditional daycare programs, such as at night and weekends to accommodate shift workers. Another concern of the committee is how to recruit additional workers to the area in order to meet the needs of the area’s businesses. One method being reviewed is recruiting workers from out of state. The Committee is also exploring utilizing the H2B Temporary Visa Program in order to meet the short-term labor need of manufacturers, distribution centers and other industries. The ADA is also in the process of developing a job share program.
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Member News Ardmore Elks Lodge: The Ardmore Elks Lodge hosted a very successful poker run on November 3rd raising over $3000 for the local youth scholarship fund. The Elks Lodge will be hosting the first ever Winterfest Event on Saturday, December 8th. Ticket holders will have the chance to win over $8000 in cash and prizes. Ticket admits two people and can be purchased by contacting Jody at 580-222-7566. Ideal Home Health: Ideal Home Health opened their first location in Ardmore in June of 2004 and since that time they have opened three more locations in Southeastern Oklahoma. Their incredible growth has made it necessary to move from their current 1700sq.ft. home office. They are now constructing a 5400sq. ft. office on Chickasaw Boulevard and Ideal will occupy about 3,750sq. ft. of that building sometime in January of 2008. Ideal hopes that with the new space they will be able to hire more employees and better serve their patients. Mayfield Catering: Mayfield Catering Company and Nut’ n But Chicken have changed their catering style and are offering a fresh idea for catering, including “Kids Katering”, a service providing kids birthday party packages including facility, theme, décor, themed foods, goody bags, activities and birthday cakes. For more information visit their website www.mayfieldcatering.com.
Festival Of Lights Christmas Drive-thru Continues To Be A Popular Holiday Destination The Annual Festival of Lights Drive-thru Display at Ardmore’s Regional Park opened on November 17th with the Annual Chigger Chase Run. The 1½ mile drive delights visitors of all ages with over 100 displays, many of which are animated. Displays have been renovated and several new ones reflecting various themes within our community have been added. The number of visitors continues to grow. In 2004, 18,000 cars representing over 70,000 people enjoyed the display. The number of visitors in 2005 was near 80,000 and last year’s estimate was over 80,000 visitors. The increased attendance has a significant impact on the local economy. According to Mita Bates, Vice-President of the Ardmore Tourism Authority, ”Many of the visitors are driving from North Texas and across Southern Oklahoma making it a destination for entertainment.” In an effort to enhance the experience, the Chamber of Commerce Foundation and Ardmore Tourism Authority have launched a media campaign encouraging visitors to come and celebrate the holidays in Ardmore with an emphasis on local shopping and dining. Articles and ads will appear in the Daily Oklahoman, Oklahoma Today, the Oklahoma Gazette, area television and several billboards. Bates states that Ardmore’s display now rivals those in many communities across the state and is a hidden jewel that merits more attention. The Festival of Lights Drive-thru display is open through December 30th on Sundays through Thursdays from 6:00 pm - 10:00 pm and Fridays and Saturdays from 6:00 pm – 11:00 pm.
Ardmore Chamber of Commerce Wes Stucky, President & CEO Mita Bates, Vice President - Operations Todd Larkin, Events Coordinator/Public Relations Assistant Annilisa Peevy, Administrative & Foundation Assistant Lisa Cowan, Administrative Assistant
Ardmore Development Authority Wes Stucky, President & CEO Mita Bates, Vice President - Operations Brien Thorstenberg, Vice-President, Ardmore Development Authority Elizabeth Crowley, Research & Development Roy Givens, Industrial Parks Manager Ashley Cox, Adm. Assist. Ardmore Airpark Gary Ross, Airpark Maintenance
Ardmore Convention Center/Tourism Wes Stucky, President & CEO Mita Bates, Vice President - Operations Janet Bateman, Marketing Coordinator Marty Auten, Convention Center Manager Angel Martin, Administrative Assistant Cameron Jackson, Maintenance Personnel
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Tips for Business Structure Holiday Work Schedules Home for the holidays – that's where everyone wants to be, right? Here are some helpful hints on how to arrange holiday vacation schedules without leaving employees frustrated or your business understaffed. • Determine which days you'll need coverage. Do certain operations occur during the holidays while others go on hiatus? Will your office be closed entirely, or will it observe shorter hours? Is working remotely a viable option? • Clearly communicate holiday staffing needs. There's no quicker route to Grinch status than denying holiday vacation requests for arbitrary reasons. • Be generous with vacation time. Grant employees as much time off during the holidays as possible. Consider alternatives to having employees physically in the office, such as telecommuting. • Share responsibilities. If you ask your staff to work during the holidays, you should be prepared to do the same. An office full of assistants and junior staff but few, if any, managers is a surefire recipe for employee resentment and low morale. • Keep "far from home" foremost in your mind. Some employees must travel long distances to get home. It may be easier to understand why a particular person needs five days off at Christmas if you know that two of those days are for travel. • Rotate annually. Try not to make the same employees sacrifice extended time off every year. Your employees will be much more prone to working around holiday time without complaining if they know you'll adjust staffing needs from year to year. Reprinted with the permission of AllBusiness.com, a leading online resource offering advice and solutions that help businesses grow and succeed. Copyright © 2007. All rights reserved.
Personnel Roundtable The Basics of Oklahoma’s Workers’ Compensation Laws The Chamber of Commerce is excited to present an opportunity to learn more on Basics of Oklahoma Workers’ Compensation at the December 12th Personnel Roundtable from 12:00 – 4:00 p.m. at the Southern Oklahoma Technology Center. The presentation includes an explanation of the new language in Senate Bill 1X and new Appeals decisions. Attendees will get answers to questions like: Why do we have workers' compensation laws? What is exclusive remedy? Do I need coverage? Who is covered by workers' compensation? How do I obtain coverage? What is an own risk? What benefits are payable under the law? What is a CWMP? And many more! Other topics will include exemptions to the worker’s comp laws, the administrative and judicial sides of the court, the three day waiting period, calculating the temporary total disability rate, return to work slips, tax credits and exemptions and much more. This event is free to all Chamber member HR personnel and will be held in Rooms B1 and B2 at the SOTC. A complimentary lunch is provided courtesy of event sponsors: Atlas Roofing, Best Buy Distribution Center and EJIW-Ardmore Foundry. Please make your reservation by emailing
[email protected] or calling 580-223-6162.
SPONSORS: 8
Ardmore Young Professionals Organization Join us now (or work for us later) By T.J. Riley Reprinted from November 8th Daily Ardmoreite Last year, a handful of "twenty- and thirty-somethings" began meeting regularly at the Chamber of Commerce to decide if there was a need for a local group specifically targeting young professionals in Ardmore. These discussions were sparked by a column Wes Stucky wrote in this space regarding making Ardmore a "Community of Choice" for young, talented professionals. In case you haven't noticed, "Generation X," and the even younger "millenials," aren't following your rules. They dress a little differently. They get more of their information from Web sites rather than the traditional television, radio and newspaper. They gather in "MySpace", and "Facebook" rather than face to face. They text message rather than write letters. At this point, you may be asking "So what?" Here is why it is crucial for all of us to be adept at dealing with this younger generation and why that group of young business leaders decided to create the Ardmore Young Professionals Organization: A notable demographic shift will begin to occur in 2011 when the oldest Baby Boomers (b. 1946) hit the United States' legal retirement age of 65. As Boomers retire, more members of Generation X will be expected to take roles in middle and upper management and the large membership of milleneals, should take up positions in the lower half of the workforce. Businesses, social and service organizations, and even churches who refuse to adapt to the coming generation will be at a severe disadvantage to those organizations who embrace it. Many businesses are changing their traditional ways to accommodate the style of this new generation: "Flex time," "Casual Friday," and Saturday night church services are all ways to attract younger people. The Ardmore Young Professionals Organization is a great example of our local chamber "getting it" and understanding what has always worked may not necessarily work 20 years from now. In the year that has passed since our inception, the AYPO has focused on three main areas: Service, Community awareness, and Social interaction. Our events have ranged from monthly happy hours in local restaurants, to adopting an area of North Commerce to keep free of litter. Our "MegaMixer" networking event has attracted over 150 attendees the last two years. While these may not be all that impressive at first glance, consider the results of our service committee's efforts: 21 local young ladies got to attend the prom whom otherwise wouldn't have due to our prom dress drive; 360 people who wouldn't have glasses now do as a result of our eyeglass drive; 30 children got backpacks and school supplies due to our back-to-school drive and numerous locals will have warmth this winter due to the coat drive we are currently conducting. The underlying byproducts of these community services have been many: Young people have developed leadership skills in the process of arranging these events. They have met other future leaders and have formed a network of future business leaders that will work in, and for Ardmore for years to come. If you are a young (20-"45ish") person and would like to be a part of Ardmore's future, give us a shot. If you know of any young people in your organization who should be involved, please contact Elizabeth Crowley at (580) 223-7765. 9
Christmas Retail Promotion Official Rules Shoppers will receive tickets at participating merchants throughout Ardmore. To receive a ticket, the Official Rules apply: Official Rules 1. No purchase necessary. Adults receive one free ticket for each visit to a participating business and additional tickets for every $10 in purchases. A maximum of 100 tickets per transaction can be given. Merchants can also give tickets away to shoppers at their own discretion when purchasing store items. 2. Each participant will be given 5 minutes to respond if their number is drawn at the event on Saturday December 15th at Washington Theater. 3. You must be 18 years or older to win. Proof of age, social security number and place of employment, if applicable, will be required to claim all prizes. Some restrictions may apply. Completed W-9s will be required prior to distribution of “cash”. 4. Business owners, managers, employees and the immediate family of a participating business cannot win with the tickets carrying their employer’s name, but are eligible to participate at other businesses. Members of the “Santa’s Christmas Cash” committee, employees of the Chamber of Commerce, and their families are not eligible to win. 5. Cash will be awarded in the form of Christmas Cash “checks” and may be spent at participating merchants only. All prizes subject to assignment by the winner. 6. Winner is responsible for all applicable taxes. The Ardmore Chamber of Commerce will complete and file a 1099 for amount of prize. *IMPORTANT: The tickets will need to be brought in from all participating merchants by 3:00 p.m. on the day prior to the drawing: CHRISTMAS CASH All cash prizes will be awarded in Christmas Cash “checks”. “Christmas Cash” represents funds in a regular bank account and the checks are deposited just as any other check a merchant might receive. No special handling is required. The “Christmas Cash” can be used at all participating merchants and spent the same as cash. Prizes will be awarded in $10, $20 and $50 increments to allow the winners to spend the money in a variety of locations. Participating merchants will have the option of how they provide back change from transactions – either in the form of cash or store credit. MERCHANT PARTICIPATION Any business willing to participate will be a sponsor for the event and would donate at least $200.00 or an item that is valued at the same price. For additional information about Santa’s Christmas Cash and a list of participating merchants, please contact the Chamber of Commerce at 223-7765.
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NASCO Under Fire On November 13th, the Ardmore Development Authority, Chamber of Commerce and Ardmore Tourism Authority held a breakfast at the Convention Center with representatives from North America’s Supercorridor Coalition (NASCO). The NASCO trade corridor is a transportation network that connects 71 million people and supports $1 trillion in total commerce between the three nations of the United States, Mexico and Canada. Recently the organization faced increased scrutiny from several groups who accused them of trying to create a single currency called the Amero similar to the Euro and a North American union similar to the European union. The breakfast gave NASCO representatives a chance to squash those rumors. According to executives, NASCO does not promote the adoption of the Amero, which was primarily a discussion among university professors. NASCO was originally formed to promote Interstate 35 as the NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement) trade corridor in 1994, but in 2004 it expanded to span 2,480 miles through Canada, the Central U.S. and into Mexico. The Ardmore Development Authority has been a member and supporter since its inception. Thirty-five to forty percent of all Oklahoma exports go to Canada and eleven percent go to Mexico. NASCO wants to continue that success for Oklahoma and its businesses and continues to work with state officials and law makers. They see current problems that plague Oklahoma and have plans to work with businesses to help with these issues. "NASCO is particularly focused on coordinating the efforts of local, state and federal agencies in the private sector to integrate and secure a multimodal transportation system along the existing NASCO corridor," NASCO Event Director Rachel Connell said. "NASCO is promoting improvements, maintenance and the integration of technologies along existing highway and rail infrastructure to maximize economic opportunities for the corridor due to increased trade and transportation." There is no new proposed NAFTA Superhighway according to Connell. NAFTA Superhighway is a slogan for existing corridors that carry international trade with Canada and Mexico. NASCO is also working on several high tech initiatives to create tracking and monitoring on shipping systems from buyers to sellers. The tracking and monitoring process provides added protection against cargo theft and contraband smuggling, while reducing the freight network's vulnerability to terrorism. If you would like to find out more about NASCO and their future plans and ideas, visit their website at www.nascocorridor.com.
Business After Hours Kick-off and Expo Monday, January 21, 2008 Convention Center 5:00 PM to 6:30 PM The Chamber of Commerce is excited to kick-off the year with the first Business After Hours of 2008! It’s the same “loosen your tie” environment as usual, but this month several business and organizations will have booths set up so you have the opportunity to learn more about the many great businesses and organizations in Ardmore.
Presenting Sponsor
Gold Sponsor
Silver Sponsors
If you are a business or organization and would like to promote your services or products at the Business After Hours Kick-off and Expo, please contact the Chamber of Commerce at 223-7765. This year’s event is presented by Southern Oklahoma Radio Center; other sponsors include Premium Beers of Oklahoma, MTC Federal Credit Union, Ideal Home Care and Southwest Sales. Business After Hours is one of the many Chamber programs promoting networking opportunities with a relaxed and casual atmosphere for Chamber members. This monthly event is held on the third Monday at local business/organization locations. Please check the calendar of events for the different locations each month.
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New Members The following companies are new members of the Ardmore Chamber of Commerce. Andreae Team, Inc. • Angel Delite • Ardmore Elk’s Lodge #1906 • C & J’s Ardmore Autoplex • Classic Cleaners • Dr. Don Martin • Experience Works, Inc. • Forrestal Family Clinic, Inc. • Home & Investment Properties Realty • Hilltop Research & Consulting LLC • Hunter Graphix • K & C Sprinklers & Landscaping • Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Kenneth Selensky • Paws 4 Fun Pet Boutique • Quality Electric Construction • Shady Cove RV Park • Shelfexchange.com, Inc. • The Mindy Frantz Foundation
The Ardmore Report is a monthly publication of the Ardmore Chamber of Commerce, 410 W. Main, Ardmore, OK 73401. Annual subscription rate is $12 and is included in membership dues. Send change of address to PO Box 1585, Ardmore, OK 73402 or phone (580) 223-7765.
