2022 Archives - Page 2 of 10 - Longmont Area Chamber of Commerce

First Impressions

by Leah Winkler | May 28, 2024 | Featured, Message from the CEO

We’ve all been surprised positively or negatively by a first impression. First impressions matter. There is only one chance for the first communication that we give about ourselves, our companies or our community. A Chamber of Commerce is often the first impression we give to visitors and to business owners seeking to start or expand their business in Longmont. Especially now that summer is here, every day, the Longmont Chamber will welcome newcomers and visitors. Our newly renovated building at 528 Main Street creates a great first impression of Longmont.

Each time I attend a Chamber ribbon cutting, I am reminded that Longmont is a fast growing city. If you’ve paid attention to our ribbon cutting schedule in the last few weeks, you’ve seen some exciting new developments from Casa Lou Cardenas at 9th and Main, Notch 66 Apartments, the Granary, 3rd Shot Pickleball, Longmont Social, Parkway Food Hall and there are more to come! The Longmont business community is larger and more dynamic that it has ever been before and the Longmont Area Chamber of Commerce is proud to be a part of it; but a Chamber of Commerce shouldn’t just be a part of it, it should be out in front communicating to the wider world the excitement of the community it represents.

The story of the Longmont Chamber goes back almost to the very beginning of Longmont. Much of the Chamber’s story is the story of Longmont and vice versa. The 528 Main Street building has been a part of Longmont Chamber history since the 1980s when Chamber board members took out loans with personal guarantees.* These board members had a vision for the Chamber and understood the importance of that first impression. The Chamber building renovation continues that vision, but reshapes it for a dynamic 21st Century Longmont.

This Thursday, May 30 at 5pm, the Chamber will host its own ribbon cutting and networking event for the newly renovated space at 528 Main Street. I invite you to attend! I trust you when you see the building you will take pride in your Chamber’s history and the first impression it gives of your community.

*To learn more about the Longmont Chamber’s history with the building at 528 Main Street watch this video from the 2024 Jubilee Awards Ceremony

To help with the Chamber’s building renovations, visit longmontchamber.org/foundation-forward

Longmont Chamber CEO Scott Cook

April Ambassador of the Month: Maddie LaBorde

by Leah Winkler | Apr 25, 2024 | Featured, Membership

Maddie LaBorde, our Ambassador of the Month, embodies the essence of commitment and community. With over four decades of calling Longmont home, Maddie balances a fulfilling family life with an amazing career. As a devoted wife and mother of two sons, she welcomed her first grandchild last December and shares her home with three cherished pups.

Maddie’s journey with the Chamber began in 2002, just before Scott Cook’s era, when she became a Chamber member. Her remarkable tenure at First Bank, spanning 32 years, saw her rise to the role of Senior Treasury Management Specialist, serving commercial customers across Boulder, Longmont, and Firestone. Maddie’s dedication to personalized service led her to pioneer the Treasury Specialist role, providing tailored care to clients. With 16 years in loans and 5 years as a personal banker, Maddie’s commitment to excellence shone through in every aspect of her work.

However, Maddie’s role as an Ambassador truly showcased her dedication to the Chamber and its members. Joining the Ambassador Committee, she witnessed firsthand the transformative impact ambassadors could have. From a modest committee of 10, Maddie’s leadership helped expand the ambassador program to an impressive 40 members. To increase attendance, Maddie introduced the now beloved Ambassador Breakfast. For two years straight, she rose at 4 AM to prepare her famous breakfast casserole, to not only feed Ambassadors but to also foster connections and bring members together. Her efforts earned her recognition with the prestigious Ambassador of the Year and Making a Difference Awards.

As Vice-Chair and later Chair of the Ambassador Committee for two consecutive years, Maddie spearheaded initiatives like the annual golf tournament, where her best memories include swinging at oversized marshmallows and hosting members over strings and mulligans.

Maddie’s advice to new ambassadors reflects her passion for engagement and connection. Encouraging newcomers to dive into Chamber activities, she emphasizes the importance of being a warm, welcoming presence and seizing every opportunity to connect. Her dedication to fostering meaningful relationships echoes in her sentiment that the Chamber, and the Ambassador family within it, feels like home.

For Maddie, being an ambassador isn’t just a role; it’s a testament to the power of community and the joy of making lasting connections. Her legacy of service and warmth continues to inspire us all.

Showcasing Longmont’s Vibrant History: The Chamber’s Jubilee Celebration

by Leah Winkler | Mar 4, 2024 | Events, Featured

On Wednesday, February 28th, the Longmont Area Chamber of Commerce hosted our annual membership celebration and award ceremony, Jubilee, at the Longmont Museum. This year’s event, presented by the Longmont Times-Call, marked a special occasion in the Chamber’s history, celebrating not only the vibrant businesses of Longmont but also commemorating our organization’s enduring legacy. Details of the evening are summarized below, but first, it is our thrill to present the Best of Longmont Business winners to you. These remarkable individuals and organizations have demonstrated unparalleled dedication to Longmont, and have made significant contributions to the growth and prosperity of our business landscape.

Business Excellence Award Winners

Business of the Year

presented by NextLight

Flavor of India

Nonprofit of the Year

presented by Platte River Power Authority

TinkerMill

Emerging Business of the Year

presented by CommonSpirit Longmont United Hospital

The Times Collaborative

Longmont Chamber Legacy

presented by Longmont Times-Call

Left Hand Brewing Company

People’s Choice Award

presented by A Spice of Life

Flagstaff Academy

Ambassador of the Year

presented by Pinnacol Assurance

David Holt

Building Bridges Award

presented by Elevations Credit Union

Kelly Wyatt

Safety Champion Award

presented by the Longmont Chamber

Branch Electric

Making a Difference Award

presented by the Longmont Chamber

Matt Eldred

Meet the Winners and Finalists

More than 250 people attended Jubilee, including not only the event sponsors and award finalists, but members of the Longmont Chamber community. They all shared one reason for attending: to celebrate the tremendous successes of the businesses and nonprofits that make Longmont such an incredible place to live.

The theme of the event was “construction”. It might not sound like a glamourous theme for the event that presents the most prestigious recognition of local business excellence, but the scintillating rhinestone hardhat and safety-orange satin gown of our emcee Ruby Black proves otherwise. The show even included a “Wrecking Ball”-inspired music video produced by the Longmont Chamber staff (watch it below).

But why “construction”? Our theme took on a symbolic significance, reflecting not only the physical renovations of the Longmont Chamber office but also the continual building and growth of the local business landscape.

Alongside the presentation of our award winners, we took the opportunity to share some of the incredible, rich history of our organization. Business Development Director Karen Stallard presented and abbreviated history of the Longmont Area Chamber of Commerce’s significant position in our community for more than 130 years. Her presentation is available to watch here.

2024 is a particularly momentous time for the Longmont Chamber; while we continue to grow and strengthen the Longmont community, we are seeking the community’s support in our Foundation Forward campaign. This fundraising effort will enable us to advance our mission of encouraging and promoting a balanced, thriving economy and preserve those unique qualities that are good for businesses and our community. Learn more about Foundation Forward here.

Thank you to every member of our community who came out to celebrate business!

Longmont Chamber Program Director Ruby Black emceed the award program.

We’d like to extend a huge thank you to Coda Construction for allowing us to film this entirely too destructive video in the Longmont Chamber building during renovations. We’d also like to extend our sincere apologies for throwing a sledgehammer through the new drywall.

Longmont Area Chamber of Commerce Announces partnership with Jenifer Freeman of Constellation Strategies for Public Policy and Advocacy Position

by Scott Cook | Jan 26, 2024 | Advocacy Activity, Featured, Message from the CEO

The Longmont Chamber has recently signed a contract with Jenifer Freeman of Constellation Strategies for its Public Policy and Advocacy work. Jenifer Freeman is the Founder and CEO of the newly formed Constellation Strategies firm. Jenifer has been a member of the Longmont Chamber for several years with past employer, Swire Coca-Cola USA, where she served as Director of Public Relations and Government Affairs for six states across the Rocky Mountain West.

Currently, Jenifer serves on several boards including Circular Colorado, the USO, and as Vice President of the Board for Recycle Colorado. Past board positions include Colorado Restaurant Foundation, A Precious Child, and the Circularity Action Alliance of Colorado. Before Swire Coca-Cola, Jenifer served as the VP of State Government Affairs for UnitedHealth Group, Principal at Parquet Public Affairs, and Deputy Executive Director of the Democratic Attorneys General Association.

“We are excited to welcome Jenifer to the Longmont Chamber team in the Public Policy/Advocacy contract role. The Longmont Chamber has been very active in its advocacy work and seeks to find balanced solutions to our community and state challenges that impact our business owners and employees. Jenifer brings a statewide perspective, knowledge and expertise to the local Chamber level that I believe will serve our membership well,” said Scott Cook, CEO of the Longmont Chamber.

“The Longmont Chamber’s advocacy work is seen as a model for how Chambers can begin an advocacy program and build it to have a positive impact for businesses in their community. I have been so impressed with the caliber of its service and ingenuity of its advocacy efforts and I am excited about working with the Longmont Chamber to expand its impact at the local and state levels.” Said Jenifer Freeman. She added, “The 2024 legislative session is underway already. It’s important for business owners to take note and be involved to inform legislators and local elected officials how their decisions impact their businesses. The Longmont Chamber makes this possible through monthly meetings, events and more.”

Jenifer will join the Chamber’s Policy Committee for its next regularly scheduled meeting on Friday, February 2 at 8am.

Jenifer Freeman, Constellation Strategies

Elevating the Business Voice: The Impact of Longmont Chamber’s Business Needs Survey

by Scott Cook | Dec 14, 2023 | Message from the CEO

January update! The Longmont Chamber Business Needs Survey launched January 17:

www.longmontchamber.org/survey

In 2023, the Longmont Chamber initiated its inaugural Business Needs Survey, an endeavor that yielded valuable insights shaping the Chamber’s initiatives throughout the year. We are getting ready to launch the 2024 survey in January, so I’d like to revisit key outcomes of the first edition and review its influence on the Chamber’s activities.

Informed Action

The survey became a compass for the Chamber’s new action items this year, influencing the creation of the People Powered event with State Demographer Elizabeth Garner and FNBO economist Kurt Spieler. It helped align the State of the City event with keynote speaker City Manager, Harold Dominguez with community concerns and questions. The survey also inspired a Business Succession Webinar with Josh Huseman to address small business succession needs and gave us insight into particular challenges business in the Main Street corridor outside the LDDA limits are seeing.

Advocacy Impact

The gathered data empowered the Chamber to advocate effectively at local and state levels, championing policies that addressed the specific challenges faced by the local business community. To see a full list of legislative bills the Chamber’s Policy Committee and board reviewed, click here. The data also informed an expanded city council interviews webpage at LongmontChamber.org which received over 1,000 hits a day on the days leading up to the 2023 elections.

Looking Ahead to 2024

As the 2024 survey approaches, businesses can anticipate similar questions that they saw in 2023. By keeping questions the same or similar, we will begin to track trends. Your feedback remains crucial in shaping the Chamber’s strategies and ensuring continued responsiveness to evolving needs. We’ll launch the survey again on January 17, 2024. I’ll make a request for a few minutes of your time to complete the survey and forward it on to your colleagues at additional businesses.

Thank you,
Scott Cook
CEO, Longmont Chamber