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North Las Vegas Chamber Rolls Out Leadership Program

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North Las Vegas Chamber Rolls Out Leadership Program
By Sharon Powers, President
North Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce

Most people have accessed the local chamber at one time or another when planning vacations or are relocating. For some, that’s the only frame of reference that they have, as evidenced when the question is asked even when interviewing job applicants for positions within the Chamber. So what is it that chambers do beyond answering questions about local activities and supplying maps? Any effective chamber is much, much more.

The North Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce through its boards, committees, members, and staff continually work to provide benefits and services to the business community. Especially during these challenging times in our economy, the Chamber provides the tools and resources necessary to help weather the downturn until the economic climate improves in southern Nevada.

Known best for the ability to “connect our member businesses north and beyond”, the North Las Vegas Chamber offers myriad opportunities for business people to learn the latest techniques on marketing on a shoestring budget, utilizing local media to get your company publicity out, handling human resource issues, and various other programs that are focused on providing pertinent tips and techniques to help improve your bottom line. Chambers also are tapped into the developments of the area and often act as catalysts for bringing about effective change as well as providing needed and pertinent information to the community.

While education is a key focus, the chamber is much more. Establishing relationships is paramount to doing business. Members have numerous networking opportunities, whether it’s through attending various events, or serving on committees to achieve that personal interaction. Businesses that don’t have time or personnel to actively participate still benefit from indirect networking through print and website advertising and sponsorship opportunities. It also lends credibility to your business. Effective chambers listen to their members about what is important to them. In response to numerous requests over the years, we are excited to roll out our newest program, Leadership North Las Vegas (LNLV) in September. LNLV is a leadership development program that focuses not only on development of these critical skills, it also develops awareness of the assets, challenges, and opportunities of the North Las Vegas community. The program will be comprised of eight monthly day long sessions that will explore such areas as history, education, public safety, community assets & amenities, government, infrastructure, health & human services, among others. Applications are being accepted now for the inaugural class and can be obtained on the Chamber’s website at www.northlasvegaschamber.com.

One of the primary objectives of any chamber of commerce is to be the advocate for business and work to create a strong local economy. The North Las Vegas Chamber through its government affairs and business advocacy efforts works with elected officials and government agencies’ staff to communicate concerns on processes and impending legislation that may cause undue hardship to business.

Our government affairs task forces currently are working on a number of initiatives and are gearing up for the upcoming legislative session. These members are volunteering their time and expertise in numerous ways to help the Chamber in developing its public policy agenda for the upcoming year as well as working on strategies to assist in developing more business friendly processes within our local city. During the 2009 legislative session, the Chamber will once again utilize a lobbyist to communicate the Chamber’s business agenda. Prior to the session, representatives from our task forces will be meeting with state and local elected officials to begin discussing the issues that will be important to the business community as well as determining the positions of the various elected representatives and candidates.

Many of these issues will not be new. Transportation and education will top the list as will the growing unfunded liability of the public employees benefit & retirement fund. At a time when the State’s budget deficit continues to increase, finding necessary funding to keep our infrastructure not only intact but growing, will be a tremendous challenge for our lawmakers.

While the other area chambers have decided to travel to Washington D.C., again this year, the North Las Vegas Chamber which traveled to D.C. in 2007, opted to be mindful of its members tightened budgets and have invited each of Nevada’s congressional representatives to sit down with our government affairs committee members between now and August to discuss what is important to the North Las Vegas’ business community and all of southern Nevada. With travel budgets cut in many companies, the Chamber felt that we could accomplish the same objectives at home. We are currently working with each of the congressional staffs to schedule these roundtables and trust that our representatives will be receptive to meet with their constituents who live in all areas of the valley, on a local level.

Reprint from LV Business Press May 26, 2008