2016 ACCE Convention | Friday, August 12, 2016
WORKSHOP OVERVIEW Recruitment strategies and engagement methods to attract new and non-traditional chamber members
KEVA WALTON Senior Vice President Member Engagement, Strategic Partnerships/Diversity FACILITATORS NEPHERTERRA ESTRADA BEST Co-founder & Director of Public Relations
WHO’S IN THE ROOM? WHO’S IN THE ROOM?
CHARLOTTE, NC So much more than HB2!
CHARLOTTE, NC Queen City Quick Facts 100-Mile Radius: 7.6 million | Charlotte MSA: 2.4 million City of Charlotte: 809,958 (2014) Charlotte-Mecklenburg: 1,034,070 (City & County) North and South Carolina: 14.9 million
971 company headquarters 17 Fortune 1000 headquarters 7 Fortune 500 headquarters in Charlotte region (including three that relocated to the Charlotte region within the past decade: Domtar, Lowe’s, and Sealed Air) COMPANIES HEADQUARTERED IN CHARLOTTE COMPANIES HEADQUARTERED IN CHARLOTTE
SMALL BUSINESSES IN CHARLOTTE SMALL BUSINESSES IN CHARLOTTE
CHARLOTTE ACCOLADES CHARLOTTE ACCOLADES Best Big City Bargains (Money Magazine, Sept. 2014) Most Competitive Large-Size Airports (Air Transport Research Society, Sept. 2014) Best City for Growth in Number of Businesses (WalletHub.com, Sept. 2015) #1
CHARLOTTE ACCOLADES CHARLOTTE ACCOLADES Best State for Business and Careers (Forbes, Oct. 2015) Fastest-Growing Big Cities in U.S. (U.S. Census Bureau, Feb. 2016) Top Cities for Job Seekers (Forbes, Jan. 2015) #1
CHARLOTTE ACCOLADES CHARLOTTE ACCOLADES Top Moving Destinations (United Van Lines, Jan Industry Variety (WalletHub.com, May 2015) #1
Charlotte is at a unique intersection. The city is facing the same challenges as most growing cities.
Upward Mobility Transportation Access to Capital for Small Businesses
There is Always Room for Improvement
All Chambers of Commerce would reflect the communities they serve. In A Perfect World…
HOWEVER… TOO OFTEN THIS IS NOT THE CASE
DEFINING DIVERSITY DEFINING DIVERSITY
DEFINING DIVERSITY The Charlotte Chamber seeks to develop a city and economic region that is inclusive of diverse backgrounds and perspectives, and cultivate a membership base that reflects the diversity of businesses, industries and people that work and live in the charlotte metropolitan area.
Adequately reflect the community it serves? Does Your Chamber Membership…
IS YOUR CHAMBER… Stale, Pale & Male?
This NOT a Challenge, it’s an OPPORTUNITY
VARIETY IS THE SPICE OF LIFE! A DIVERSE CHAMBER MEMBERSHIP REQUIRES DIFFERENT TYPES OF MEMBERS NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS SMALL & MEDIUM-SIZED COMPANIES GOVERNMENT AGENCIES COMMUNITY INFLUENCERS
UNEXPECTED SUCCESS STORIES TECH NONPROFIT LOCAL HOUSING AUTHORITY BOUTIQUE PUBLIC RELATIONS AGENCY
SMALL, BOUTIQUE PR FIRM LONG TIME CHAMBER MEMBER SOLID CLIENT BASE OF CORPORATE, GOVERNMENT AND NONPROFIT CLIENTS PAIN POINT: LOOKING FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO ELEVATE THE FIRM’S BRAND WITHIN CHARLOTTE’S BUSINESS AND CIVIC COMMUNITY
Powerful Board of Directors Raised $940,000 at 2016 gala Wanted more from Chamber membership Pain Point: Connecting with business leaders
Chamber Wins Sponsored Chamber’s 2016 Technology Summit Secured Additional Funding by attending Board of Advisor Event Currently exploring opportunities to offer Apparo’s services to other Chamber members
INVESTS MORE THAN $799 MILLION IN THE LOCAL ECONOMY INNOVATIVE AGENCY TRANSFORMING AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNSURE HOW TO LEVERAGE CHAMBER MEMBERSHIP Pain Point: CHANGING THE PERCEPTION OF PUBLIC HOUSING AND TRANSITION INTO DEVELOPMENT
Chamber Wins CEO recently met with Chamber President Bob Morgan for the first time Chamber is highlighting CHA and one of its development projects in a video that will be featured in an upcoming chamber newsletter CHA is sponsoring the metro chapter luncheons that will provide them with opportunities to engage and inform chamber members about the organization.
LESSONS LEARNED
Get outside your comfort zone and show up unexpectedly!
Don’t Sell Memberships, Build Authentic Relationships
Connect with Community Influencers
Present the Chamber’s value in a way that resonates
Thank You!