GROWING YOUR PROSPERITY

Attendance at Business-After-Hours can help.

The Amherst Chamber of Commerce continues to grow our membership and the utilization of our products and services grows as our membership base expands. Each month we welcome a dozen or more members at our New Member Orientation. The majority of those members state that Networking is one of their main reasons for joining the Chamber. The Chamber responds by continuously upgrading and diversifying networking opportunities. However, sometimes the foundation of a program has so much validity that it makes no sense to recreate a replacement. That is true of our Business-After-Hours monthly events.

Business-After-Hours are held the third Tuesday of every month from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at a member business. There is no cost for these events; they are part of your membership investment. Participation in these events provides multiple benefits. As a Host, a member firm receives exposure from our press releases, posters in our offices, inclusion on our website, marketing in our publications and as the location for 100-200 business and community representatives in attendance.

As an attendee, you are provided the opportunity to network and exchange business cards with other professionals in attendance. The Chamber staff is always working to insure that we are bringing new members to the event and coming up with ways to encourage attendees to mix and mingle and maximize the potential to meet new people. 

A new successful spin on these events is the participation of a public official, serving as Honorary Host. Each month we identify a public official and invite them to attend for the purpose of meeting our members. It is a great opportunity for you to meet one on one with a community leader to discuss your concerns, communicate your position on a specific issue or just get to know them. This year we have had County Executive Chris Collins, New York State Senator Mike Ranzenhofer, Erie County Legislator’s Ed Rath and Ray Walters, Amherst Town Supervisor Barry Weinstein and Town Councilmember’s Mark Manna and Guy Marlette. Each took the time to talk individually with all those in attendance. 

Business After Hours is a benefit of your membership. You are encouraged to utilize it to your advantage. Go online to www.amherst.org to register for an upcoming event or to indicate your interest in hosting an event. Please feel free to email ccampbell@amherst.org with comments and suggestions regarding Business After Hours.