As the 20th Anniversary of First Night® Oil City approaches, the planning committee has finalized plans for a truly gala anniversary event for New Year’s Eve on December 31st. Beginning in 1997, this family-oriented, non-alcoholic celebration showcases performing groups from among the 224 uniquely groups that have performed at least once in prior years. Entertainers Read More…
Will Your Business be in This Year’s Business Review & Forecast? Help is Available!
Marketing is tough for everyone, especially small businesses that operate on a shoestring budget. It is important for every company to utilize free and low-cost venues to advertise and/or promote their goods and services. There are quite a few budget friendly options to help get the word out. We are very fortunate, in the Venango Read More…
Why Millennials are Out-Networking You
So often the term “Millennial” carries a negative connotation. You hear about lazy Millennials, entitled Millennials, Millennials that will never move out of Mom and Dad’s basement, etc. One thing you may miss while stereotyping Millennials is the fact that we are constantly and consistently out-networking our elder counterparts. How is this possible though? How Read More…
Advocacy – Your Chamber, Your Voice
By Jim Marshall Often when I tell someone that I am the Chairman of the VACC Advocacy Committee, I’m met with a quizzical look—but most are too polite to ask what that means. The mission of the committee is: “To work with our elected officials and community partners to establish regulations and policies that will Read More…
Adopt a Grandparent for Christmas
It’s that time of year when we want to do something to help make the holidays special for people in our community. For the past five years, the local Mary Kay unit has adopted the residents at the Oil City Health Care and Rehabilitation Center & Oakwood Heights and has presented each of them with Read More…
Don’t Forget to Thank Your Network
By Kurtis Bell In this month of November, we will spend time reflecting on the things and people for which we are thankful. I’ll start off by expressing how thankful I am for the way networking was presented and taught to me. I have been actively “networking” now for the better part of six years, Read More…
November 2017 Young Professional Profile: Chett DeLong
Chett Delong You may recognize Chett DeLong from FLEX events—he’s been behind the camera taking beautiful photos for us at Bike ‘n Brew and our Annual Meeting. You may not know, though, that Chett also works as a Material Analyst for the Federal Government through McManis & Monsalve Associates. Chett was born in Maine and Read More…
Meet Our Board: Frank Hajduk
Frank Hajduk served as the Board’s secretary for his first two years as a member. He is now in his third year as a member and is serving as Vice Chairman of the Board. Frank grew up in Oil City and attended college in Ohio to become a mechanical engineer. Before graduating, Frank had the Read More…
Businesses Give Back – Northpointe Shares the Spirit
Each year, the family at Northpointe Automotive adopts a family from the Venango County Community Services. Their goal is to collect enough money from the employees to be able to purchase everything on the list for each member of the family. Northpointe employees try to focus on a one-parent family with two or more children, Read More…
Two or Four? Chamber Impact Survey
PennDOT is currently conducting an asset management study of the limited-access portion of Route 8 highway between Franklin and Barkeyville and it is expected to be completed in April 2018. This corridor is a main artery to the Venango Area. Almost all freight to and from this region, even up to Warren, is transported along Read More…
Member Spotlight: McGill, Power, Bell & Associates, LLP
Empowering our clients, our organization and our communities to achieve excellence. McGill, Power, Bell & Associates, LLP (MPB) provides comprehensive accounting and financial services to local corporations, businesses, manufacturers, nonprofit organizations, government agencies and individuals. The business likes to assist individuals and businesses to be a success. They offer a broad range of services to help, Read More…
Small Business Saturday
First there was Black Friday, then Cyber Monday, and November 27, 2010, was the first ever Small Business Saturday. Small Business Saturday is the day we celebrate the Shop Small movement to drive shoppers to local merchants across the U.S. The Venango Chamber encourages you to support local business on November 25th and every other day Read More…