Welcome New Members since the last luncheon!

• American Family Insurance, Lennie Shelton
• KBSI / FOX23, Tammy Kell
• Smile Doctors, Jennifer Hill
• Southern Illinois Roller Gremlins, Kris Schachel

Upcoming Projects

• The Black Diamond Family of Businesses, and the Marion Chamber of Commerce, would like to invite you to the Kokopelli Showcase Business After Hours: A relaxed opportunity to get all caught up on the changes happening at Kokopelli Golf Course, The Turn Restaurant and Lounge and Events by Black Diamond. Of course there will be plenty to taste, and sip, from The Turn’s newly released menu along with door prizes from the entire Black Diamond Family of Businesses. So, save the date for Thursday, April 18^th from 4-6p at Kokopelli Golf Club for the Kokopelli Showcase Business After Hours.

• The 12th annual Chamber Foundation Bass Tournament will take place on Sunday, April 28th at the Lake of Egypt. We have spots for 2 person teams and opportunities for team sponsorship. Thank you to plaque Sponsor First Southern Bank and ‘Big Bass’ Prize sponsor, Vernell’s Interstate Service, Interstate Tire Pros Auto Service, and Williamson County Treasurer Ashley Gott. Join us for volunteer and sponsorships opportunities for this event which benefits the Chamber Foundation and the Scholarship Program.
  

• The Marion Graduation is scheduled for May 16^th, and we would like to invite you to support this year’s Grad Spree event. Grad Spree has been hosted by the Marion Chamber for nearly 40 years and provides a safe space for graduations to celebrate their accomplishments in supervised and substance-free zone. We are excited for you to participate through volunteering at the event or donations to the Marion Chamber Foundation to help cover entertainments and prizes for the attendees. This event is free to all participants, and we are grateful to everyone who takes part to make it happen. The next planning meeting is Feb 26^th at noon.

• We are in the process of planning the Sister City Kanie Delegation visit in late August. There will be lots of opportunities for interact with our Japanese visitors and students, but right now we are looking for host families for the junior high age students. To learn more, please reach out to a member of the Sister City planning committee (ask them to raise their hands) or host family lead TJ Cowan. Our next meeting will be April 17th at 9 am at the Chamber Office. A program for those interested in being a host family will be on April 29th at 5:30 pm at the Pavilion.
  

• Don’t miss out on the next Sexual Harassment Training opportunity on May 23rd at the Pavilion. Last month’s training included representatives from the food service industry, the non-profit sector, and businesses that provide services and interact directly with the public. Great discussions took place, and we invite you to the next hour-long training session based on Dept of Labor standards and receive a certificate of completion for your employee file. Employees in the restaurant industry can take advantage of additional training and certification. Our first training session will be February 22nd at 8 am here at the Pavilion.

• Fall event planning is already underway! Registration is coming soon for the Golf Tournament on September 20th, and we are working on the speaker lineup for this year’s APOGEE Professional Development Event on October 24th!
  
  

This month's program focus on Acquisition and Retention: Getting Personal with Personnel. In order to address the ever-evolving challenges posed by the acquisition and retention of today's workforce, organizations need to focus on getting personal with their personnel. Gone are the days when a one-size-fits-all approach could cater to the diverse needs and expectations of employees. Companies now need to invest time and effort to understand their workforce on an individual basis. This involves actively listening to their needs, providing personalized development opportunities, and creating a supportive and inclusive work environment. By recognizing and valuing the unique skills and talents of each employee, organizations can enhance employee satisfaction, foster loyalty, and ultimately boost retention rates. Furthermore, by tailoring strategies based on the specific motivations and aspirations of each employee, companies can ensure that their workforce remains engaged, productive, and aligned with organizational goals. Ultimately, getting personal with personnel enables organizations to attract and retain top talent, giving them a competitive edge in today's dynamic business landscape. 

The Panel Included: 

• Dana Hooven, AISIN
• Erin Kopec, CSP VP of Sales & Marketing, HireLevel 
• Megan Zeller, PHR, SHRM-CP Human Resources Director, Priority Staffing