Susan Williams (center), executive director of the Venango Area Chamber of Commerce stands with Lance Titus (left) of Northwest Savings Bank in Oil City and Chris Reber, executive dean of Clarion University-Venango Campus, Wednesday morning in the Chamber offices on Main Street in Oil City. Both Northwest Savings Bank and Venango Campus were named Venango Read More…
Persistence & Timing to Get Noticed
How will you get in front of your next customer? Like most of you, our business (the chamber) gets calls and emails everyday from vendors who would like us to look at their products. Some days it can be a real irritation for us and I’m sure it is frustrating for those vendors who are Read More…
FLEX Makes the News
The young professionals group of the Venango Area Chamber of Commerce was featured in The Derrick, Venango County’s daily newspaper, today. Young professionals group flexes entrepreneurial muscles (PDF File) Visit FLEX on the chamber’s website
Chamber Rocks Twitter
I’m certain that at least a few of you are just tired of hearing about this twitter talk. It just can’t possibly be of much value; or can it? Anyone who was following @venangochamber today may have witnessed a quick burst of productivity that happened between Ashley and I. An unplanned collaboration on a Saturday Read More…
Tribute to Jim Hawkins Video
The Venango Area Chamber of Commerce held its Annual Dinner on February 23rd at Cross Creek Resort. Jim Hawkins was named as the 2009 Outstanding Citizen and Dan Feroz was awarded 2009 Volunteer of the Year by chamber staff. Special Thanks to Award Sponsors Klapec Auto Body & Northwest Savings Bank
Your Great Job – Just a Network Away
This morning I’ve been watching The Early Show’s special edition on finding (or keeping) a job. They’ve called in the experts for advice. I watch with great interest as I have friends and family who are unemployed and almost daily encounter community members who are on the job search. There’s is a resounding message in Read More…
OHF Parade Gets an Upgrade
The Venango Area Chamber of Commerce staff and volunteers are busy preparing for the 32nd annual Oil Heritage Festival. Planning started immediately following the 2009 festival, and many improvements are being planned for the 2010 festivities. The Oil Heritage Festival Committee has proposed a few changes to this year’s lineup of events. The biggest changes Read More…
Freedom Wireless Moves to New Location
Freedom Wireless has moved to a larger location in the Cranberry Mall. The wireless service provider has been doing business in the Cranberry Mall for more than 10 years. In 2005, it expanded as a Cellular One dealer in a mall kiosk to a 715-squarefoot store adjacent to The Bon- Ton department store. This week, Read More…
Let the Snow Fall
No school today! I don’t think anyone was surprised by the announcement this morning. We had sufficient notice that the snow was coming, allowing many people to prepare by stocking up in groceries or rescheduling meeting and appointments yesterday. How great is it that we can so easily communicate with one another so easily at Read More…
Oil Heritage Festival Fan Page Launched
The Venango Chamber recently launched the Oil Heritage Festival Fan Page on Facebook. In less than five days the site has attracted more than 750 fans. The social media site provides the chamber with an easy way to keep community members and festival visitors up to date as plans for the 2010 festival evolve. A Read More…
U.S. Senator Bob Casey meets with Venango County Panel
U.S. Senator Bob Casey met with a panel of 7 leaders from Venango County via a teleconference at Clarion University-Venango Campus yesterday. The panel participants were Sam Wagner, of CareerLink; Dr. Chris Reber, executive dean of Clarion University-Venango Campus; Emily Gill, of the Venango Area Chamber’s FLEX group (Future Leaders; and Entrepreneurs Exchange); Jim Martin, Read More…
Yikes! Change Can Be Hard
This is the time of year when we step back and consider what strategies from the past are still working and what needs a little shake up. We may do this in our homes and communities and we certainly do this at the Chamber. Even when we suspect that change might be beneficial it can Read More…
First Night – The Best Deal Around!
Once again Oil City is readying for First Night, it’s annual New Year’s eve celebration. Fresh off the Christmas holiday, you may be as challenged as I am to organize a special evening that is fun for everyone in the family. Well, this was resolved for me years ago with the first “First Night” in Read More…
Hawkins Named 2010 Citizen of the Year
Chamber Awards Citizen of the Year honor to James S. Hawkins The Venango Area Chamber of Commerce is proud to announce the Citizen of the Year for 2009, James S. Hawkins. A well known businessman and active community volunteer, Jim owns a resume that evidences a lifetime of hard work and service to others. The Read More…
Hutchinson Champions Legislation to Dismantle Turnpike Commission
Rep. Scott Hutchinson (R-Venango/Butler) today participated in a Capitol news conference supporting legislation to dismantle the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission and turn over responsibility for the turnpike to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT). “Eliminating the Turnpike Commission may be the single most effective thing we can do to improve road conditions while driving down maintenance Read More…
Remembering Christmas Past…
while creating new traditions. Volunteers have prepared a wonderful weekend of activities in downtown Oil City, beginning this afternoon. Checkout the schedule to find out just where to be at what time. You will find many events that are familiar from the past, like the Santa’s Arrival, Christmas music by Mostly Brass and the YWCA Read More…
Spaghetti Dinner Benefits Humane Society
The Venango County Humane Society will be having a spaghetti dinner on Thursday December 3rd from 6-8 pm at the Oil City Moose Club located on Halyday Run Rd. Tickets are available in advance by contacting Carol Gustafson at 814-676-8877 or at the door. Tickets are $8.00 for adults and $6 for children 12 and Read More…
Stuff Your Stocking Event Planned
Oil City’s Southside Business Association has scheduled their third annual Stuff Your Stocking Christmas customer appreciation event. On Friday December 11th, from 5-7pm, children are invited to bring their empty stockings downtown to the area’s businesses and have them stuffed with goodies. There will be door prizes, family entertainment and pictures with Santa. For more Read More…
Technically Speaking
2009 has definitely been the year of technology for the Venango Area Chamber of Commerce, beginning with the new website launch in March, a new email service in April and our venture into the world of social media. While many of our members have embraced these new tools for doing business, others remain skeptical as Read More…
Where’s Your Third Place?
The Bridge Builders Community Foundation hosted an excellent event yesterday. Along with representatives from non-profit representatives from Venango and surrounding counties, I attended the Wealth Transfer Symposium at Seneca Hills Bible Conference. The basis for the conference was a presentation by Barry Denk, Director of the Center for Rural Pennsylvania about the projected Transfer of Read More…