MEMBER-TO-MEMBER: EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S REPORT FOR MAY 29, 2015

From Ryan Craig 
Executive Director
Logan County Chamber of Commerce
ryancraig@loganchamber.com
   
   Since the CLASS customer service seminar we had last week, I have been pleased to see a ton of great comments about the program and WKU's Leslie Witty, who was the trainer.
   Late last week, Leslie sent me copies of the evaluation forms, and this week Russellville Schools Superintendent Leon Smith sent me some responses from his employees about just what they learned in the process. While we don't have space for all 51 responses, I'll excerpt some below. 
   In our annual membership survey last month, employee and workforce training was rated the second highest service the membership wants from its Chamber of Commerce ... and we aim to please, so look for more opportunities later in the year.
   As we move forward with our Strategic Plan, we will look at impactful educational opportunities that we hope will have a profound reach on our membership.

Some responses when asked what participants will take away from the seminar:

·       The one thing I will immediately implement is coming in with a positive attitude every day no matter what.
·       The one take away from the Customer Service Training that I immediately took with me was coming in with a positive attitude each day. This training made me realize how much of an impact your attitude has on your day. If you come in with a bright and positive attitude, it can brighten your workplace and others around you. If the attitude is down or you come in with a negative attitude, it affects yourself and others in your work place. So, having a positive attitude is a key to the start of your day! 
·       Trying to remember no matter how busy to always smile when answering the phone. 
·       The main take away that I will be implementing is to be aware of the Moments of Truth. While I might not have direct involvement with all moments that make impressions, I can be more alert to pick up on clues that would let me know what their experience has been up to the point their interaction with me begins
·       I was impressed by the term, Moment of Truth (MOT).  As a driver, some of those moments happen even before I pick up my first student.  A car driver may pull out in front of me, or not stop as he should.  I must not let that affect my attitude toward the students.  Also, I must be cautious how I react to what a student does, another MOT.  I have high expectations for my students, and I know they do not always meet them, so I must be careful how I respond to their actions. 
·       One of the main things that I will implement immediately will be to try and answer the phone with a smile.  I know how important it is to speak with someone who is friendly and happy to serve.

WOMEN IN BUSINESS SCHOLARSHIP

Congratulations to LCHS Senior Rachel Cunningham, the 2015 recipient of the Women In Business scholarship.

RIBBON CUTTING AT HANDBAGS AND MORE June 4
   Handbags and More will be having a ribbon cutting on June 4 (next Thursday) starting at 8 a.m. The new business is located just across the street from Bert's Auto Parts in Russellville. Let's all make sure we come out and support Handbags and More!

AUBURN LEATHER MAKES NATIONAL STORY

  The Auburn Leather Company was featured on the Bloomberg news website this week. The story, "Your Salad Lunches Are Killing American Leather" is a fascinating look at the U.S. leather industry. The link is below if you want to read the story and watch the attached video.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2015-05-27/your-salad-lunches-are-killing-american-leather

NOW IS THE TIME TO SUBMIT LEADERSHIP LOGAN APPLICATIONS
   We are looking forward to the next (adult) 2015-2016 Leadership Logan Class.
   You might have wondered about Leadership Logan ... what is it? What will it require? And, how do you go about being a member of the next class?
   Basically, Leadership Logan is an experience more than some class or lecture. There are themed days — such as taking a look at local history, how government works, the importance of agriculture, tourism, human services and an intense look at Logan's industry, just to name a few — and there is also the camaraderie of those in the class with you who share the experience of Leadership Logan. Most of all, though, is the point of the class, which is to equip current and future leaders with the knowledge of the place they call home.
   If you want to be part of the next class, hit the link below, and let's get going on your application!

LEADERSHIP LOGAN APPLICATION
   Here is the link to the application for the 2015-16 Leadership Logan class: http://www.loganchamber.com/leadership-logan. The deadline is Aug. 1.

MEMORIAL DAY CELEBRATION

   While the ceremony had to be moved indoors, we are very grateful for Lt. Col. Scott Halter and those he brought with him from the 101st Airborne Div. at Ft. Campbell. The ceremony was a very moving tribute to those who lost their lives defending our freedom. Thanks again to Lt. Col. Halter, who is moving on to a new assignment and will be leaving Ft. Campbell soon.

THE DANGER OF SETTING THE BAR TOO LOW
   Here is an excerpt from an article in SOKY about the Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College (SKYCTC) and the difficulty of preparing students for the workplace. SKYCTC has developed a workplace ethics agreement to help "cultivate student engagement and develop stronger employees for business and industry."
   Paula Timberlake, who is with LEAD and is a Chamber Ambassador, brought me the article with the following quote highlighted. I couldn't agree more, Paula.
   "We, as a faculty, know that students do not do optional, and that if the bar is set low, that is where students will perform; but when the bar is set high, students will rise to higher expectations."
  
   That is all for this week. Try to keep the bugs and rain off your barbecue this weekend!

Ryan
  
 

Success Grows Through Retaining Customers | SmallBizSurvival.com

Success Grows Through Retaining Customers Posted: 28 May 2015 07:51 AM PDT Photo (CC) by Ninlan Reid, on Flickr http://smallbizsurvival.com/    If you’re a business owner, which appeals more: spending $20 to capture a new customer or spending $1 to retain an existing customer?    These numbers represent broad averages but reflect reality, according to research. This means developing a sustainable business requires focusing first on building customer loyalty.    Every business needs to build its customer base, but often the focus is on bringing in new customers. Perhaps the better strategy is, first, retaining existing customers because this forms a stable sales base and they become your ambassadors as you turn to finding new customers.    Retaining existing customers means providing them with what they want at a price they feel is reasonable while offering them a pleasant shopping experience, and giving outstanding customer service and support.    To do all of this means listening to your customer.    However, one difficulty business owners face is that customers will not rate each one of these items equally, and each customer will have his or her own preferences.    Understanding the customer and his or her preferences means coming up with a business strategy that will work best for your situation. To some degree, that means building around where the core of your customer base puts its values.    Yet understand that with the tools available, it is possible to have customized approaches to various groups or even individuals.    The goal is customer retention. Yes, customer retention or customer loyalty programs may have a cost, but based on the research, these programs seem like a good way to spend your money.    That’s especially true when research shows that long-term customers tend to buy more and more often than new customers. So you want to keep your customers and keep them as long as possible.    Customer retention programs are not a one-time effort. Internally, the customer changes, and externally, the surrounding environment (think competition) changes. As the customers have various experiences, they will come across other business tools that they prefer. They may move, for example, from valuing price savings to valuing service.    Help your customers see how they get value from your relationship. Encourage them to tell you their ideas and thoughts for change. And then take action on what they say.    Retaining customers can have a great payoff. Making customer retention a mission of your company is well worth your time and effort.

MEMBER-TO-MEMBER: EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S REPORT FOR MAY 22, 2015

From Ryan Craig 
Executive Director
Logan County Chamber of Commerce
ryancraig@loganchamber.com
  
   Last week we had exciting news about the upcoming Chamber Youth Leadership program which would include local students from the 9th and 10th grades and we look forward to the inaugural class this fall. We are also looking forward to the next (adult) 2015-2016 Leadership Logan Class.
   You might have wondered about Leadership Logan ... what is it? What will it require? And, how do you go about being a member of the next class?
   Basically, Leadership Logan is an experience more than some sort class or lecture. There are themed days — such as taking a look at local history, how government works, the importance of agriculture, tourism, human services and an intense look at Logan's industry just to name a few — and there is also the camaraderie of those in the class with you who share the experience of Leadership Logan. Most of all, though, is the point of the class which is to equip current and future leaders with the knowledge of the place they call home.
   If you want to be part of the next class hit the link below and let's get going on your application!

LEADERSHIP LOGAN APPLICATION
   Here is the link to the application for the 2015-16 Leadership Logan class: http://www.loganchamber.com/leadership-logan. The deadline is Aug. 1.

CUSTOMER SERVICE SEMINAR A SUCCESS

   There were 51 participants Tuesday in the CLASS customer service training seminar hosted by the Logan County Chamber of Commerce. Leslie Witty, the Program Manager at WKU's Career and Workforce Development Division of Extended Learning and Outreach, provided the training and did a wonderful job. We are looking at perhaps another customer service seminar in the fall. Stay tuned to this channel for more workforce training seminars in the future!

ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION AND RIBBON-CUTTING COMING UP
   Next Friday (May 29) the Chamber will be helping Brown Animal Hospital, located on S. Summer Street in Russellville, celebrate their first anniversary from 12 to 2 p.m. Along with the grand re-opening there will also be a fundraiser for Heaven Can Wait Animal Rescue. There will be a raffle and prizes along with a cookout and bake sale. Today (May 15) from 12 to 2 p.m. there will be an Art Fest featuring local artist Brenda Brown.
   Handbags and More will be having a ribbon-cutting on June 4 starting at 8 a.m. The new business is located just across the street from Burt's Auto Parts in Russellville. Let's all make sure we come out and support Brown Animal Hospital and Handbags and More!

TOBACCO AND HERITAGE FESTIVAL SPONSORSHIPS
   We are sending out letters and brochures asking for your help with sponsorships of Logan County's biggest event, the 2015 Tobacco & Heritage Festival. This year's theme is "Past + Present = Future." The Festival committee has already begun working hard and we are looking to have a hum-dinger of a festival this year. So, please, if you can, help us by sponsoring the festival because it is never too early to prepare for the magic that is the Tobacco & Heritage Festival!

DRAWING FOR WINNERS
We want to congratulate Jeff Manley and JoAnn DeArmond for being the winners we drew at random from those who filled out the annual survey for us. Thanks to Jeff and JoAnn and all who filed out the survey. I think there was a great deal of constructive information for us to use toward our Strategic Plan which came from those who helped the entire Chamber by giving us their opinion.

PAC-MAN TURNS 35, RYAN WAXES POETIC
   If you are of a certain age you either spent a good portion of your childhood playing Pac-Man, or your children stayed inside on a pretty day playing a game where a yellow thing eats dots and is chased/chases ghosts. It makes no sense when you say it out loud, but it was such a revolutionary idea at the time and it has turned gaming (with its fancy 3-D graphics and role-playing nonsense) into a multi-billion dollar industry. Now, like my parents before me, I sit around and shake my head as my children "play" MineCraft and the younger children watch "Hobby Kids" — people who open up toys and tell kids how to play with them — on YouTube. I guess the cycle is complete, I have become old, just like Pac-Man.
   Still, the genius of Pac-Man was how it was so much different than anything else out there. The ghosts all did different things — some would chase you, some would just bounce from side to side and one would stalk you like prey — and the idea was phenomenal that even Pac-Man's wife became a video gaming legend in her own right.
   The real lesson in Pac-Man is the genius of taking a frankly insane idea and using it to influence generations of computer players and programmers. He chomps dots. That's about it. He chomps dots. Genius.
   So, here is to Pac-Man's 35 birthday! I was a Donkey Kong man myself, but even in my old age I get just how much the little yellow chomper has changed the world.

—

   That is all for this week. Have a great Memorial Weekend, but take time to remember those who gave all for our freedom!

Ryan

MEMBER-TO-MEMBER: EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S REPORT FOR MAY 15, 2015

From Ryan Craig Executive Director
Logan County Chamber of Commerce
ryancraig@loganchamber.com
  
   When our Chamber President Shane Hayes tossed an idea out at a recent Ambassador meeting about a junior version of Leadership Logan it was well received.
   But there was no way I could have predicted just how quickly it would turn from idea into  reality. Less than a month after the idea was suggested, brainstormed and brought to the Logan County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, it passed unanimously into creation.
   So, it is with great honor, that I announce the creation of the Chamber Youth Leadership program which will start this fall and will feature 9th and 10th grade students from Logan County High School and Russellville High School. The applications will be passed out in August, shortly after school is back in session.
   The Youth Leadership class, which is a modified version of the Logan Leadership program, will meet once a month and learn about and experience Logan County and what it has to offer. Each meeting will have a theme such as Small Business Day, Government Day, Agriculture Day, History Day and Industry Day. The students will tour facilities and talk with experts across the county.
   For more information about the program, please call the Chamber Office at 270-726-2206.
   Our future lies in the minds and hearts of our youth, so it is my hope this program can become a well-received, valuable program for Logan County much like Logan Leadership is now.

COFFEE AND NETWORKING AT LOGAN ADULT LEARNING CENTER

We had a fantastic crowd Thursday morning for our Coffee and Networking event at the Logan County Adult Learning Center. As you can see from the photos there was an awesome spread of food and a plenty of people there to eat it while they networked. Thanks again to the staff at the Adult Learning Center for being great hosts and the work they do for Logan County.

SURVEY GIVES CHAMBER DIRECTION
   The results are in — look in next week's newsletter for the winner's of our drawing for those who participated — and for a first survey, we were glad to have such a good number of participants. We had 92 complete surveys and we learned a lot about what direction the Chamber needs to go and what kind of goals we need to set with our upcoming strategic plan. For instance, nearly 93 percent of those who took the survey said they were satisfied (43 percent) or very satisfied (50 percent) with the Chamber. While that is a excellent number, it still means that we have room to improve (a personal goal is to have 93 percent VERY SATISFIED!) and with the guidance of the survey and the board of directors, it is my hope that we can take the information those who took the survey gave us and improve not only the Chamber, but Logan County.
   When we start setting goals later this summer, I will go into better detail, but right now, our top five goals are to develop and implement a retail initiative, develop workforce training and career ready programs, membership development and recruitment, marketing/public relations/advertising assistance for our members, and entrepreneur programs and small business development training. What an exciting time for our Chamber! Look for more on all of these coming soon.

LAST CALL FOR CUSTOMER SERVICE TRAINING FOR LOGAN COUNTY BUSINESSES
   Speaking of workforce training, one gigantic key to any successful business is customer service. Next Tuesday, May 19 from 8 a.m. to noon at the Logan County Extension Service building, we are offering a chance for you to send employees, or yourself, to have an intense four hours of customer service training. The cost will be $20 per person and is less than half per person of what it would cost to bring the training to your business. As of this writing, we have 50 people already signed up! The room can hold up to 100 people and we want to fill every seat. Email me at ryancraig@loganchamber.com if you are interested in enhancing the customer service of your business.

STOP HUMAN TRAFFICKING SEMINAR TONIGHT
  Make plans to attend the Human Trafficking, A Rising Epidemic: Kentucky Awareness For Women and Children Seminar located at Crossroads Church in Russellville. The Keynote speaker will be Vicki Moore, founder of Rahab’s Rope (a ministry to rescue victims of human trafficking). Moore, who is also a United Nations delegate, will speak about her experiences with human trafficking and how that if you think women and children aren’t in danger in your community, region or state, then you are not paying attention. Also, there will be a panel discussion on child endangerment and abuse, featuring State Rep. Martha Jane King, Executive Director of the Commonwealth Policy Center Richard Nelson, Russellville Mayor Mark Stratton and Russellville Schools Superintendent Leon Smith, Chamber Executive Director and owner of the Todd County Standard Ryan Craig.
   By just the names of the people who will be at the seminar, I can guarantee a life-changing experience for anyone who shows up at 6:30 p.m. tonight at Crossroads. Please encourage your church members, your friends, family and especially teens and children to attend this important event.

   That is all for this week; don't forget about the Strawberry Festival in Adairville and the Logan County Bluegrass Festival in Auburn this weekend. Be sure to go out and enjoy the best of what Logan County has to offer!

Ryan

FROM SMALL BIZ: HOW DISRUPTING YOUR BUSINESS MAY BE A GOOD THING

Disrupt Your Small Business for Success

Posted: 14 May 2015 07:13 AM PDT

Photo (CC) by Dennis Skley, on flickr

The world we live in is not a static place.

This is true in every aspect of life, including small business. For small-business owners, things are changing, and those changes are happening at an ever-increasing pace.

Doing business tomorrow will be different than doing business today. And doing business next week might be something we can’t even imagine today.

Disruption is another term people use when discussing the changing environment in which we live. When disruption occurs, you are forced to respond in some manner. No longer can you continue to do business as you have in the past.

While small-business owners may not know exactly what the next disruption coming down the road will be, they know it’s coming. Knowing it’s coming means the owner has a chance to determine his or her response.

Owners can respond in one of two ways:

§ One choice is to do nothing. Let the disruption come and then respond.

§ The other choice is to be proactive and to disrupt the business themselves. The event no longer happens at a random, and perhaps a bad, time.

Taking a proactive stance gives the owner several advantages.

For one thing, bad timing is taken out of the equation somewhat. The disruption occurs on the owner’s time schedule.

Second, being proactive means that the owner is not forced into playing catch-up but instead has done at least a little preparation in terms of possible responses. Even if the decision is to do nothing, the owner has made that decision and has not let circumstances make the decision for him or her.

By disrupting your own business, you also can get a jump on your competitors. Not only might you get a step ahead, but you put them into the position of being behind and responding to the external environment.

Being proactive changes the mindset you are working under. No longer are changes in the environment a threat. Instead, they become opportunities. You take control.

The bottom line: Disrupt your business before others decide to disrupt it for you. 

MEMBER-TO-MEMBER: EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S REPORT FOR MAY 8, 2015

From Ryan Craig
Executive Director
Logan County Chamber of Commerce
ryancraig@loganchamber.com

   Have you ever seen someone get slobbering mad when they see an invention, new product or fad they had thought of once but never followed through with? My greatest moment of inventive frustration was when I saw my kids playing with those rubber bands shaped like animals and superheroes. Nearly two years before I first saw those rubber bands (also called Silly Bandz) I saw my sons trying to shape some rubber bands into a dog and a horse and I proclaimed, "I bet animal-shaped rubber bands would make a boatload of money!" I dismissed such a silly thought and have a much lighter bank account because of it.
   I was right, of course; the people who made those rubber bands were selling 10 cents of rubber for $2.99 a bag and, for a while at least, parents were glad to pay it. So, from then on I made a vow to consider any idea —  silly or not — because inspiration most often comes from real-life situations.
   This past week, I dropped my aluminum can (it was unopened) and it caused a dent right below the lip where you drink. I'm cheap, so, of course, I drank the soda, but while drinking it I noticed that it was as smooth a drink going down I've ever had, with a little notch for my lips to rest comfortably, no club soda dribbling down my shirt, no wife fussing at me during laundry time.
   Had I, by being a klutz, discovered a way to drink a soda that might revolutionize the soft drink industry?
   Probably not, but if any of you Logan Aluminum guys think I need a patent, I'm all ears!
   Soft drink millionaire or not, yours truly and the rest of the Chamber want your ideas, so feel free to contact me because your next idea just might improve the lives of not only our members but all of Logan County!

 LAST CHANCE TO FILL OUT SURVEY
   As of this writing, we have had 91 people fill out our Annual Survey to help the Chamber mold its upcoming Strategic Plan. Our goal is 100 surveys and we are hoping to get that by the deadline 4 p.m. on Monday (May 18) afternoon. Those who leave their names at the end of the survey are eligible for a drawing for one of two $50 gift certificates. So, if you want your voice heard by the your Chamber Board, please take this last opportunity to fill out our survey.

ANNUAL SURVEY LINK: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/C29WSC5

RIBBON CUTTING FOR SOUTHPOINT RISK ADVISORS

 

   There was a great crowd for the Ribbon Cutting for Southpoint Risk advisors (merged Jesse L. Riley & Son Insurance and the Insurance Place) this past Wednesday morning. In fact, the crowd was so great that we had to move cars and take the camera across the street just to get all the people in the photo! There was great food (How about those smoked sausage balls? I may never be the same!) and fellowship; congratulations to the staff at Southpoint Risk Advisors on their new business and location.

COFFEE AND NETWORKING SET FOR LOGAN CO. ADULT LEARNING
   The warm weather has us busy as a bumble bee trapped in a botanical garden, which is a good thing!  On Thursday (May 14) there will be a Coffee and Networking at the Logan County Adult Learning Center located at 121 S. Spring Street in Russellville from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. Bring your empty stomach and some business cards and let’s all network the morning away while showing support for the Adult Education Center.

NOTE: The ribbon cutting for Handbags and More has been moved to June 4 @ 8 a.m.

STOP HUMAN TRAFFICKING SEMINAR

   Also next Friday (May 15) will be the Human Trafficking, A Rising Epidemic: Kentucky Awareness For Women and Children Seminar located at Crossroads Church in Russellville. The Keynote speaker will be Vicki Moore, founder of Rahab’s Rope (a ministry to rescue victims of human trafficking). Moore, who is also a United Nations delegate, will speak about her experiences with human trafficking and how that if you think women and children aren’t in danger in your community, region or state, then you are not paying attention. Also, there will be a panel discussion on child endangerment and abuse, featuring State Rep. Martha Jane King, Executive Director of the Commonwealth Policy Center Richard Nelson, Russellville Mayor Mark Stratton and Chamber Executive Director, Russellville Schools Superintendent Leon Smith and owner of the Todd County Standard Ryan Craig.
   By just the names of the people who will be at the seminar, I can guarantee a life-changing experience for anyone who shows up at 6:30 p.m. next Friday at Crossroads. Please encourage your church members, your friends, family and especially teens and children to attend this important event.

SPORTS COMPLEX INITIATIVE UPDATE
   The Chamber is in the process of helping create a foundation for a four-field sports complex that will bolster the quality of life for Logan County’s youth and help be a retail driver when teams from out-of-town come to play tournaments. Look for more in the coming weeks on the foundation and this exciting initiative. If you want more information, or want to be involved with the initiative, give me a call or email at the Chamber.

CUSTOMER SERVICE TRAINING FOR LOGAN COUNTY BUSINESSES
   One gigantic key to any successful business is customer service. On May 19 from 8 a.m. to noon at the Logan County Extension Service building, we are offering a chance for you to send employees, or yourself, to have an intense four hours of customer service training. The cost will be $20 per person and is less than half per person of what it would cost to bring the training to your business. We sent a flyer out earlier this week and will send a reminder next week. The room can hold up to 100 people and we want to fill every seat. Email me at ryancraig@loganchamber.com if you are interested in enhancing the customer service of your business.

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS!
   We welcome new members Seth Boortz, Financial Advisor with Edward Jones, and Sears Tree Service, LLC., to the Chamber.
Seth’s office is located at 215 S. Main Street in Russellville. Give him a call at 270-726-8436 to welcome him to the membership or for your financial planning needs.
Greg Sears is the owner of Sears Tree Service and give him a call at 270-755-2058 to welcome him to the membership or if you have been needing to tend to your trees.
A big welcome and wishes for continued success for Seth Boortz and Sears Tree Service!

That is all for this week. Hope all of you have a great Mother’s Day Weekend!

Ryan

MEMBER-TO-MEMBER: EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S REPORT FOR MAY 1, 2015

From Ryan Craig
Executive Director
Logan County Chamber of Commerce
ryancraig@loganchamber.com

   We are now Kentucky proud. I mean, we always have been proud of Kentucky and we are, as a Chamber, always Logan proud, but as of earlier this week we are officially KENTUCKY PROUD. As in the only Chamber of Commerce in the state to be named Kentucky Proud.
   A couple weeks ago while doing research for a possible Shop Local program, Assistant Director Amanda Baker was on the Kentucky Proud website and came to me with an interesting tidbit of info.
   "Did you know that we have a bunch Kentucky Proud businesses in Logan County?" she asked.
   That part I did know, what Amanda found out next I didn't know.
   "And that we can become a Kentucky Proud Chamber?" she said. "The first one, from what I can tell."
   I think my answer was something like, "Wow." And when Amanda asked if we should apply, I used all of my executive directing powers and said, "Sure."
   Amanda admitted that it took a little longer than she thought it would to hear back from the Kentucky Proud program, but she was all smiles as she came into my office earlier this week holding our certificate congratulating the Logan County Chamber as the first chamber of commerce in the state to belong to the Kentucky Proud Promotional Program!
   For those who do not know, the Kentucky Proud program is "the official state marketing program for agricultural products. As a Kentucky Proud member, you can consult with the Kentucky Department of Agriculture marketing specialists; apply for grants and cost share funds; buy promotional items at cost; display the Kentucky Proud logo; and take advantage of many more member benefits."
   We all should be proud — Kentucky Proud, that is — of our Chamber and we hope to use our new status to help promote and help the businesses in Logan County succeed even more.

HAVE YOU FILLED OUT YOUR SURVEY YET?
   On May 8 we will close out our Annual Survey and draw for the two $50 gift certificates. As of writing this we have a little over 80 surveys filled out. Our goal is 100, but we want as many surveys as possible from the membership to help us develop the goals on our upcoming Strategic Plan. So, if you haven't, please fill out your survey this week.

ANNUAL SURVEY LINK: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/C29WSC5


2014-2015 LEADERSHIP LOGAN CLASS GRADUATES

2014-2015 Leadership Logan, from left: Sarah Edgar, Kevin Hub, Tammeria Ramsey, Dayna Chapman, Leann Martin, Jeff Manley, Robin Hughes, George Appling, Rachel Fisher, Jake Saul, Jennifer Ferris, Ken Brown, Dee Dee Brown and John Peterson.

   The 2014-2015 Leadership Logan Class had their graduation this Thursday. Not enough can be said about this bunch of leaders and future leaders who come from all sectors and walks of life in Logan County. I told the class at their graduation that when I'm out visiting they are often mentioned as a respectful, inquisitive and bright group of people. You couldn't ask for more from a group representing the Chamber and Logan County. Congratulations, Class of 2014-2015!

CUSTOMER SERVICE TRAINING FOR LOGAN COUNTY BUSINESSES
   One gigantic key to any successful business is customer service. On May 19 from 8 a.m. to noon at the Logan County Extension Service building, we are offering a chance for you to send employees, or yourself, to have an intense four hours of customer service training. The cost will be $20 per person and is less than half per person of what it would cost to bring the training to your business. The room can hold up to 100 people and we want to fill every seat. Look for a more detailed description coming on Monday! 
Email me at ryancraig@loganchamber.com if you are interested in enhancing the customer service of your business.

RIBBON CUTTING FOR EXPANSION AT LEWISBURG BANK

   There was a great crowd Tuesday for the ribbon-cutting and celebration of the expansion for the Lewisburg Banking facility on Hopkinsville Road in Russellville. The expansion, including wonderfully displayed historic photos of schools in Logan County, is beautiful and is one of the most interesting facilities to view in Logan County. Congratulations to the staff at Lewisburg Bank!!!

RIBBON CUTTING SET FOR SOUTHPOINT RISK ADVISORS
   There will be a ribbon cutting for Southpoint Risk Advisors (merged Jesse L. Riley & Son Insurance and the Insurance Place) this Wednesday, May 6 @ 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. with the ribbon cutting at 8 a.m. The new office is located on the square in the old First Southern Building. Let's all come out to support Southpoint Risk Advisors!

AMBASSADORS ASSEMBLE!
   We had a great meeting this week with another group of heroes who often end up saving the day around here, our Logan County Chamber Ambassadors. The meeting, which was like a 101 Course on how the chamber and the ambassador program works, was very productive and I'm excited for what is ahead. If you are interested in joining the Ambassador Program give me a call at the Chamber and we will be glad to have you!

That is all for this week. There is much more going on in the chamber, but I wanted to keep this brief as we have much, much more to discuss over the next few weeks. With our new email system we hope to reach out on events and other goings on to keep you as informed as we can. Because an informed membership leads to a more involved membership and a better Logan County.

Ryan