Tioga County, NY Chamber of Commerce

Annual Business Show:   Recipe for Success.  This promotion was an excellent business to business show hosting close to 100 businesses.  Participants had an opportunity to showcase their products and services and make new contacts.  Following the theme, some businesses provided wine and food tasting and food demonstrations throughout the day.

Annual Dinner, Community Awards and Silent Auction:  Super Bowl XLIV Pre-Game Party turned out to be a fun experience for the 165 people who attended the annual event.  Our excellent sports announcers, Darryl Reynolds and Lew Sauerbrey helped present the awards with color commentary.  Award Winners: Beautification Award: W&W Nursery Landscaping, President’s Community Service Award: Community Care Network of Nichols, Small Business of the Year: Upstate Shredding LLC, and Company of the Year: Tioga State Bank.

Annual Golf Tournament:  This year the tournament was held at Tioga County Club in Nichols, NY.  Twenty nine teams participated in the event.  It was a beautiful day for golf and as always, the Tioga Country Club’s views were outstanding.  Everyone had a great time golfing and appreciated the prizes donated by our generous chamber members.

Community Activities:  The Chamber supported many community activities in the county: Girls Day Out, The Owego Strawberry Festival, 2010 Census, The Red Bookshelf, TOI Health Fair, Lights on the River Festival, and the Tioga County Fitness Drive to name a few.  The Chamber was also took part in the Tioga Opportunities Food Drive, and the Tioga County Correction Officers Christmas Party.  Over 300 families were served a turkey dinner with all the trimmings. Children received brand new toys from Santa.

Communications and Promotion:  The Chamber E-blast has become a popular marketing tool for our members. Each week the Chamber sends an email to 1,000 people about promotions and sales events. This is a member only service and is very effective tool promoting our members.  The list of recipients grows every week with valuable information going out to the community.

Leadership Tioga:  The Chamber is proud to sponsor the Leadership Tioga Program. With the assistance of the Leadership Advisory Committee, 14 people graduated from the program in May. The program runs from September through May and meets in varying locations throughout the county.

Networking and Education Events:  This year the Chamber continued with numerous networking and educational events to benefit our members. 

• Lunch and Learn, Educational Events: E-marketing and Social Networking, Worklife Balance, Basic Accounting for Business, a series of Charities Workshops for Non-Profit Organizations.
• HR Roundtable:  Jim Franz, Attorney for Hinman, Howard & Kattell, LLP, moderated three Human Resource Roundtable Events for the Chamber during the year.  The first was called Bringing Employees Back to Work – Light Duty, Reasonable Accommodations and Other Considerations for Employers, the second meeting was entitled New York State and Federal Labor and Employment Law,  and the final meeting was Healthcare as an Economic Engine.  All meetings were well attended and provided helpful information.
• Business after Hours and Business Before Hours:   Two events were hosted this year.  Tioga Downs Racing hosted a fantastic evening event which included food, door prizes and racing.  The Cellular Connection hosted a Before Business event and featured a class on the PDA-Blackberry/Droid. 

• Natural Gas Information: The Chamber hosted a business meeting about opportunities available as the Natural Gas Industry expands in Pennsylvania and develops in Tioga County.  Speakers were from Chesapeake Energy and Fortuna Energy Inc., Tioga County Economic Development, and Broome Tioga Workforce. 

• Fashion Show:  The Chamber hosted it’s first ever Fashion Event in September at the Pumpelly House Estate. The Carriage House was the perfect setting for the 60 plus attendees. A gallery of Boutiques promoted chamber member businesses. 

Ribbon Cutting Events:  A Ribbon Cutting Event is a symbolic way to garner support for a business or a project and is provided free of charge by the Chamber.    The following is a list of Ribbon Cutting Events held throughout 2010:  Briar Patch/Country Décor, Census 2010, Fabrizio Law Office, Grandma’s Cottage, Katie’s Kreations, Owego Riverwalk, Owego SuperMart, Peak Performance, and Tioga State Bank.

SCORE:  The Tioga Chamber continues to host SCORE counseling at the Chamber offices.  Each week counselors meet with individuals who are seeking help with their business.  Over 35 individuals met with SCORE at the Owego office.

Spotlight on Business:  This year the Chamber continued Spotlight on Business to focus attention on and promote our chamber members.  The recognition begins with a visit from chamber staff, plus a photo to record the prestigious event.  A marketing piece is included in the chamber newsletter and in the Owego Pennysaver.  This is an effective way to recognize and appreciate our business members.  Businesses that received recognition: Allstate Insurance, Tim Lounsbury, Inc., Bud's Place, (all Community Award Winners,) Estey, Munroe and Fahey Funeral Home, Law office of Paul M. Price, NAPA Auto Parts,Route 96 Power and Paddle, Tioga Country Club, Tioga Hardwoods.

Other:  The Chamber is an active member of the Regional Small Business Assistance Group which sponsors a regional website for small business at www.broometiogasmallbusiness.com.  This website puts all of the small business partners in the Broome/Tioga area in one place and allows easy access.  This would provide information for new and expanding small businesses in our area.  The site provides specifics on what each organization offers and directs them to the service provider’s website.

The Chamber fielded thousands of phone calls from people looking for information about the area plus we have many brochures available when visitors stop in the chamber office.  We also provide welcome packages with information and free gifts for new members of the community.

As always the Chamber Board of Directors and Staff find it a pleasure to serve such a positive and effective organization.  The Chamber is dedicated to serving the community, now and in the future.

Martha C. Sauerbrey, President & CEO