Facebook Instagram Linkedin Youtube

Committee Updates and More

Please find below a recap of current activities from most of our committees formed from our 2022 strategic plan. It is important to note – each committee has a goal of helping the chamber fulfills its mission which is to create an environment where our local businesses (YOUR BUSINESS) thrives.

Education – Our two big projects for education are both coming together.

  1. School Banners – We are completing a school banner project for all Monroe City Schools. The Monroe Chamber is partnering with ULM, Louisiana Delta Community College, the City of Monroe and Monroe City Schools to purchase 10 banners for each school. The banners will be placed around the respective schools. The project goal is school/neighborhood pride and educational pathways. Each banner will have the school’s logo and name on one side and then on the other will have either a ULM or La. Delta logo.
  2. Adopt a School – We surveyed principals last school year but the school year got away from us before we could execute our plan. Our education committee will be re-surveying Monroe City principals over the next few weeks on their needs for the school year. The Chamber’s education committee along with chamber staff are building a data base of members broken out into 4 zones. Each school will be placed in one of those zones. The goal is to match the school needs with businesses near the school. When possible, we hope chamber businesses can support those respective schools. We will keep you updated as we progress.
    1. Note – Survey results from the principals will be located on our website under committees – ‘Education”.

ADITIONALLY:

  1. Vision on Education – We are shooting for an August or September luncheon and will be working with our K-12 partners to set the date.
  2. STEM– The Chamber along with CenturyNext Bank will be bringing in a STEM Music program for our 3rd and 4th graders this fall plus we will have some performances at The Children’s Museum.

Workforce:

  1. Friday June 24th we partnered with the WMWO Chamber to hold a work force summit.
  2. Adam Alexander started as our Work Force Community Manager. Adam is a shared position with the WMWO Chamber and is being paid for by the Ouachita Parish Police Jury.
    1. Here is an update for Adam:
      1. I have been working to understand the role/responsibilities of Workforce Development Board 81 within Ouachita Parish and how they support area businesses in attracting, training, and retaining talent. I have been meeting with local government, education, community partners to ascertain current workforce needs and gather an inventory of all available resources. After the Workforce Summit on June 24, I began working directly with area businesses to plug them in with resources and direct points of contacts with in WDB81. WE have launched the new site nelaworks.org for local businesses to post jobs and have quick access to resources and is currently planning a Career Fair to be held on Sept 21st at the Monroe Civic Center. “For more information regarding all things Workforce or to get plugged in with the Career Fair email Adam at adam@nelaworks.org or call 318-325-1961”.
  1. The Chamber joined the City of Monroe on tours of James Machine Works and Berry  Global. We make so many cool things being made in Monroe, La.
  2. We hope to have updates soon on the Manufacturing Council.

Health:

  1. The Monroe Chamber Health Committee will be sending out a member survey by mid July to assess where The Chamber can help local businesses with health-related topics for their businesses and employees.
    1. NOTE – When the Health survey is complete, results will be located on our website Under committees – “Healthcare”.
  2. Medical Moments – The Health committee has created a segment in the weekly newsletter called Medical Moments. When appropriate health related information will be shared with membership.
  3. Conversations are being set up between our Health Committee, our Education Committee and Carroll High School to see where the Chamber can help with the Medical Magnet program.

Diversity

  1. The Monroe Chamber sent out a Diversity Survey from our Diversity Committee on Thursday June 30th. To Date we have had 40 surveys returned (Thank you). As a follow up to question 10 on business certifications. Please go to our website (Monroe.org), click on the chamber tab and go to ”Our partners”. There you will find additional resources and help. The survey results are located on our website under committees – “Diversity”. The link below also provides additional help and information.

Non-Profit

  1. Our Non-Profit committee is partnering with The United Way of Northeast Louisiana to survey as many area non-profits as possible. Once we have results, we will build a strategy on how The Chamber can help. The survey results will be on the chambers website under committees – “Non-Profit”.

Note – When the non-profit survey results are in they will be located under the programs tab – Non-Profit Committee.

Technology:

  1. Our technology committee surveyed membership a few weeks ago. The two biggest take-aways were that our membership would like more information on Cyber Security and Social Media Marketing. The technology committee has begun work on a cyber security summit set for October. To help with this a second survey will be going out next week. We hope you will take a couple of minutes to fill it out. More information will be coming soon on the Summit. We will be following up on helping you with social media and we will be reaching out to member partners who specialize in this arena.
    1. NOTE – Survey results can be found on our website under Committees – “Technology”

Government:

  1. After a great Northern Exposure event in May, The Chamber hosted most of our delegation at our annual NELA Delegation luncheon. This is an exciting and a great time for Monroe and Northeast Louisiana. Our GAC will be meeting with Dr. Vidrine on July 20th, Mayor Ellis on August 10th, Dr. Coker in September and we are still setting up a meeting with Shane Smiley.

Membership:

  1. Jasmyne McConnell spoke to our Ambassadors last Tuesday on the importance of the Chamber and what a great city Monroe is.
  2. Our Young Professionals meet this Tuesday (July 12th) at Flying Tiger with Cassie Livingston speaking.
  3. We will hosting a coffee & conversation on July 21st at Tower Place.
  4. We have 3 social meeting campaigns running –
    1. One celebrates local unsung heroes.
    2. One celebrates and thank our Total Resource sponsors.
    3. One celebrates Monroe.

Small Business:

  1. Our small business committee will be meeting with the city to further discuss how we can work together to grow small business.
  2. We also have a meeting with senior management at Pecanland Mall on July 15th.

Finance:

  1. Our Finance committee continues to meet monthly. They have worked with Terri to deep dive our monthly financials and P&L’s on our events.

Thanks to all our committee members for their tireless work to fulfill our mission. Thanks as well to you our members.

Roy