Search Results for: mixer

Leadership Venango Graduation Set for May 24

May 17, 2023 in category Chamber Blog tags 2023, class of 2023, graduation, leadership, Leadership Venango, venango chamber, wanango country club and 0 comments.

The Chamber is excited to celebrate the Leadership Venango Class of 2023 with a mixer-style graduation reception and ceremony on May 24 at Wanango Country Club in Reno.

Since their two-day retreat in September, the class of 15 have been fully engaged, really making the most of the nine-month program.

The class was split into three teams to work on team projects, which will be presented to a limited audience ahead of the graduation ceremony.

Invitations have been sent out with details on the graduation reception and ceremony.

Congratulations Class of 2023!

This article was published in the Venango Chamber’s May 2023 VenangoWorks! Newsletter.

Business Tip of the Month: Developing Entrepreneurial Skills

February 24, 2023 in category Chamber Blog tags Books, Business Tip, Business Tip of the Month, Developing Entrepreneurial Skills, entrepreneurial skills, entrepreneurship, Formal Training, Leadership Venango, Libby, Mixers, Networking, oil region library association, volunteering and 1 comment.

Whether a business is just starting out or has been around for years, developing entrepreneurial skills is essential. Innovation is key to growing a lasting business, and honing this skill set is a continuous process. There are many resources out there to help an individual with these skills, including:

Networking
There are many Chamber-hosted events like our upcoming annual dinner, mixers, and outings that provide opportunities to practice entrepreneurial skills, like networking.

Volunteering is another great way to learn these skills from people in the community and grow your network. Consider joining a club like Rotary to get started.

Formal Training
Learning is a life-long journey, and formal training can be a great way to learn new skills, including entrepreneurial ones. The Chamber’s Leadership Venango program is a great way to advance leadership skills, which are vital in the self-directed entrepreneurial lifestyle.

Many industries have training of their own that could serve as a launching pad to grow these skills.

Access Entrepreneurship Books with Libby
Libby is a great resource to get started with, and you can access it with your library card through the Oil Region Library Association. This allows you to borrow eBooks and audiobooks anytime, no matter where you are. Libby is a great way to learn on the go. Michael Gerber’s E -Myth series would be a great place to start.

Entrepreneurial thinking and skills are important in staying relevant, as a business or in your career. Try some of these resources to help you grow in innovation and entrepreneurial thinking today!

This article was published in the Venango Chamber’s February 2023 VenangoWorks! Newsletter.

The Many Ways to Network

August 3, 2022 in category Chamber Blog tags bike 'n brew, Coffee Chat, FLEX, FLEX Socials, flex young professionals, ice cream social, Morgan Pifer, network, Networking, Social, Social Networking, volunteering, Zach Miller and 0 comments.

When you hear the word “networking,” you may immediately picture a professional event where you make awkward small talk and hand out business cards. Networking, however, can be done in so many different ways.

One of our goals with FLEX is to help young professionals meet one another in a comfortable environment. While we do have some fancier events, like FLEX Presents, and we encourage FLEX members to attend Chamber mixers, there are plenty of opportunities for less formal networking.

FLEX socials are a great example. At our Summer Kick-Off in June, we sat around a campfire, played yard games, kayaked, and camped. On August 12 at our Coffee Chat, we’ll just be hanging out at Iron Furnace Coffee before work drinking coffee and eating pastries.

“I’m from this area, but recently moved home from college and appreciated the opportunity to connect with people this summer,” said Morgan Pifer, Venango Chamber Intern. “By attending Be Here and FLEX events, I was able to network with so many people while having fun and not feeling pressured to act a certain way.”

Volunteering is another way to network without attending an actual “networking event.” Many connections were made in July while young professionals handed out treats at the Oil Heritage Ice Cream Social and filled beer packages at Bike ‘n Brew.

“At a normal social networking event you have to make a conversation from scratch with people that you don’t know, which can be difficult for an introvert,” said FLEX Member Zach Miller. “Volunteering is a better way for someone like myself because it gives a common activity to work on or talk about rather than having to generate a conversation from scratch. It’s been nice meeting people in the area that I otherwise wouldn’t have.”

Networking doesn’t have to be intimidating. We encourage you to join us at an upcoming event or social, whether it’s more formal or casual. Here are some opportunities:
• FLEX Coffee Chat: Friday, August 12, 7-8AM, Iron Furnace Coffee
• Lee James Mixer: Thursday, August 4, 5-7PM, Office of State Rep. R. Lee James
• Foxburg Mixer: Wednesday, August 10, 5-7PM, Foxburg Businesses
• Venango Chamber Steak Fry: Thursday, August 18, 4PM, Oil City Boat Club
• Cranberry Festival: Saturday, September 17, Cranberry Mall
• FLEX Speaker Series: Tentatively planned for October

Have questions or want to learn more about these events? Contact us at flex@venangochamber.org or visit venangochamber.org/events.

This article was published in the Future Leaders & Entrepreneurs Exchange’s (FLEX) August 2022 edition of the FLEX Your Ideas (FYI) Newsletter.

Referrals and Introductions for Meaningful Connections

May 19, 2022 in category Chamber Blog tags connections, Introductions, Networking, Referrals, susan williams, Venango Chamber President/CEO and 0 comments.

with Susan Williams, Venango Chamber President/CEO

Networking and connecting continue to be among the most valued benefits of belonging to the Chamber, but are often misunderstood or underutilized. It may be assumed that you must attend a mixer or event to meet someone new or reconnect with other members. For many, this is great, but Chamber staff is ready to assist you with introductions outside of events.

You can contact us to discuss who you ”need to know” and we’re happy to assist you with an introduction, via email, a phone call, or even a shared meeting. The more we know about you and your business, the more qualified these referrals are, so we encourage you to make certain all your member information is up to date and we invite you to chat with any of our staff to assure we know what’s going on in your business.

Additionally, we appreciate introductions, too! We hope you’ll think of us when working with other businesses and organizations, whether it is someone who isn’t a member (yet) or perhaps a member who could use a reminder of what the Chamber is up to. We all benefit when we grow the Chamber and our knowledge of each other!

This article was published in the Venango Chamber’s May 2022 VenangoWorks! Newsletter.

Leadership Venango Graduation Set for May 25

May 18, 2022 in category Chamber Blog tags applications, Class of 2022, graduation, graduation ceremony, Klapec Trucking Company, komatsu, leadership, leadership class, Leadership Venango, Leadership Venango Graduation, team project, wanango country club, webco and 0 comments.

The Chamber is excited to celebrate the Leadership Venango Class of 2022 with a mixer-style graduation reception and ceremony on May 25 at Wanango Country Club in Reno.

This year’s class started with 16 members, losing one a few months in, when Akshay Kumbhare moved to Florida for a job opportunity. Since their two-day retreat in September, the participants have been fully engaged, really making the most of the nine-month program.

The class recently toured three local businesses— Komatsu, Webco, and Klapec Trucking Company—during one of their recent sessions. Participant Kelly Smerker said: “I really enjoyed the tours of the local businesses. You have no idea what’s involved in an operation until you get inside the building and see for yourself.”

The class was split into three teams to work on team projects, which will be presented to a limited audience ahead of the graduation ceremony.

Invitations have been sent out with details on the graduation reception and ceremony. Congratulations Class of 2022!

Applications are available now for the Class of 2023. Visit leadershipvenango.org for more information!

This article was published in the Venango Chamber’s May 2022 VenangoWorks! Newsletter.