Central Chamber of Commerce C4 Report: Rapid Change!

    Technology is changing so fast!  You buy the latest gadget and in a matter of months, not years, it becomes obsolete.  I remember when I had a “bag” phone and thought what it could do was amazing.  Now my smart phone will do more than even my first laptop could come close to doing!  In a technology class I was taking this week the instructor, who is over a large IT department, said that computer servers for your business are becoming obsolete!  
    Over the last several months I have had the opportunity to attend the Institute of Organizational Management for Nonprofit Associations and Chambers of Commerce.    By attending these training courses at various locations around the country, I have had the opportunity to interact with people in Tucson Arizona, Madison Wisconsin, and Athens Georgia.  Even though each area of the country has its unique qualities, struggles, and advantages, one theme has remained consistent.  Just like the rapidly changing world of technologies, the way of doing business in the nonprofit and for-profit world is changing.  Terms such as members only, community activities, newsletters, special events, boardroom meetings, and network gatherings are being replaced with diversity, inclusion, technologies, social media, virtual meetings, and the cloud.  Even though networking (not the computer kind) is still important, advocacy, coalitions, business sustainability, economic development, educational workforce development, public policy, and rapidly changing technologies are becoming the concern of many chambers and the businesses and communities they represent.  
    In the spring of 2015, the City and the Chamber will celebrate their 10 year anniversaries!  The Board and Staff at the Central Chamber are committed to keeping pace with the aforementioned rapid changes so that we can be prepared to help the businesses and the community to succeed now and in the future!  If would like to learn more, call or come by the Chamber Office and we would be happy to meet with you!