Looking to the future: our second century.What role should the Detroit Regional Chamber play as it embarks on its second century of service? The Detroiter asked selected members of its current board of directors and diversity partners to answer that question. Here are their responses: I have long been an advocate of the importance of a widely diverse community in the workplace and in economic development. The surest way to improving the quality of life in our state, the City of Detroit and the region is to have a strong and lively business community that expresses these core values. My vision for the future of the Detroit Regional Chamber is an organization that continues to facilitate the resurgence of this regional community through a principled prin·ci·pled adj. Based on, marked by, or manifesting principle: a principled decision; a highly principled person. approach to business and economic development, an aggressive stance on attracting new industry categories and a continuing commitment to increasing diversity in all aspects of our region. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Dennis W. Archer Chairman of the Board Dickinson Wright PLLC PLLC Professional Limited Liability Company PLLC Polk Life and Learning Center (Bartow, FL) PLLC Partners of Limited Liability Corporation The second century of the Detroit Regional Chamber demands an even greater role for the Chamber as it leads not only the region, but also the state, in the development and promotion of public policy that affects business large and small, and the people who depend upon us to get it right. That's pretty comprehensive charge, and it requires a pretty comprehensive view of our world. It also represents an attitude that suggests that we view the betterment bet·ter·ment n. 1. An improvement over what has been the case: financial betterment. 2. Law An improvement beyond normal upkeep and repair that adds to the value of real property. of this region as beyond a mission, a responsibility to influence the lives of residents several generations out. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Richard T. Cole Senior Vice President-Strategic Planning & Corporate Communications Corporate communications is the process of facilitating information and knowledge exchanges with internal and key external groups and individuals that have a direct relationship with an enterprise. Blue Cross Blue Shield Blue Shield A US not-for-profit health care insurer that is a reimbursement intermediary for physicians. Cf Blue Cross. of Michigan The Chamber needs to continue to be a driving force for business expansion and economic development in Southeast Michigan Southeast Michigan, also called Southeastern Michigan, is a region in the Lower Peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan that is home to a majority of the state's businesses and industries, and is home to slightly over half the state's population. . As such, we will continue to take an active role in a variety of legislative and business issues impacting the economic health of the region. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Stephen Ewing President & COO DTE Energy DTE Energy Co. (NYSE: DTE) is a Detroit, Michigan-based utility incorporated in 1995 involved in the development and management of energy-related businesses and services nationwide. Gas As the Detroit Regional Chamber embarks upon its second century, our region is poised as never before for expansion and growth. The visions of business and community leaders, combined with the fortitude Fortitude See also Bravery. Fratricide (See MURDER.) Asia despite torture, refuses to deny Moses. [Islam: Walsh Classical, 35] Calantha fulfills wifely and queenly duties despite losses. [Br. Lit. and perseverance Perseverance See also Determination. Ainsworth redid dictionary manuscript burnt in fire. [Br. Hist.: Brewer Handbook, 752] Call of the Wild, The dogs trail steadfastly through Alaska’s tundra. [Am. Lit. of our people, will serve to transform the City of Detroit into a thriving center for technology, entertainment, retail and industry. The challenges for business will be to manage increasing health-care costs, which will in turn allow for more economic growth; to provide stable, ongoing sources of funding for vital cultural institutions; and to develop strong models for education throughout the region. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Jon Flora President The Kroger Michigan Division Our opportunities of the next 100 years--and, indeed, the sustained economic health of our region--will be influenced by our ability to achieve and manage greater diversity in our companies and communities and to leverage this diversity on an increasingly global scale. The Detroit Regional Chamber, as facilitator and connector, will be a vital enabler of our region's prosperity. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Frank Fountain Senior Vice President-Government Affairs DaimlerChrysler President DaimlerChrysler Corporation Fund NAWBO NAWBO National Association of Woman Business Owners (National Association of Women Business Owners The National Association of Women's Business Owners (NAWBO) is an organization in the United States founded in 1975 that has the purpose of networking the approximately 10. ) considers the Detroit Regional Chamber's role as the unifier and vice for all of the various business entities in southeastern Michigan to be a top priority for the next 100 years. This will continue to be a challenge due to the territorial nature of many of these entities but one that in the end will provide the most strength for the region in its quest to develop its influence and impact on economic realities. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Carol R. Gove Executive Director NAWBO Greater Detroit Chapter Southeast Michigan has the potential to be the economic center of the global economy. The business of attracting, retaining and developing this economic powerhouse will be made possible when the Chamber is seen as the unbiased coordinator of business and government with a compelling vision of the future that makes all things possible. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Frank M. Hennessey Chairman EMCO Ltd. The Detroit Regional Chamber must continue to take the leadership role in spearheading those efforts that require a joint public/private collaboration to succeed. I don't know Don't know (DK, DKed) "Don't know the trade." A Street expression used whenever one party lacks knowledge of a trade or receives conflicting instructions from the other party. of any other organization that is better equipped to move the region along in the 21st century than we are. In a global society, we are ready to market and promote the region with the strongest possible voice. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Benjamin C. Maibach III Chairman of the Board and President Barton Malow Co. As president of a company that's been part of the Detroit landscape for 125 years, we must embrace our past as the roadmap to our future. Detroit has been first in many ways--we have a strong tradition of innovation in industry, cultural enhancements, philanthropy philanthropy, the spirit of active goodwill toward others as demonstrated in efforts to promote their welfare. The term is often used interchangeably with charity. and volunteerism. Building on yesterday's successes will allow us to build a brighter future. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Gail Torreano President SBC (1) (SBC Communications Inc., San Antonio, TX, www.sbc.com) A large, national telecommunications company that grew from a multitude of local and regional companies, including Southwestern Bell, Pacific Bell and Nevada Bell, into a single, unified brand by 2002. of Michigan Note: From 1903 to 1965, the person from the business community elected to head the organization for one or more program years was designated as president. New bylaws The rules and regulations enacted by an association or a corporation to provide a framework for its operation and management. Bylaws may specify the qualifications, rights, and liabilities of membership, and the powers, duties, and grounds for the dissolution of an approved in 1965 changed the title to chairman. 1903-1922: Ryerson Ritchie and William Stocking As it looks ahead to its second century of service to the region's business community, the Detroit Regional Chamber is proud of its past and confident of its future. Here is a sample of the Chamber's current scope: Appendix Presidents of the Detroit Board of Commerce 1903-1904 -- Michael J. Murphy, President and Treasurer, Murphy Chair Co. 1904-1905 -- Joseph L. Hudson, President, The J.L. Hudson Co. 1905-1906 -- Charles E. Bielman, Secretary and Traffic Manager, White Star Line 1906-1907 -- James Inglis James Inglis (1922 – May 8, 1951) was a British man executed for murder at the age of 29 years old. Having confessed to strangling Alice Morgan, a 50-year-old prostitute in Kingston upon Hull on February 1 1951 after a quarrel over payment, Inglis opted to plead , Treasurer and Manager, American Blower Co. 1907-1908 -- Lem W. Bowen, Treasurer and General Manager, D.M. Ferry & Co. 1908-1909 -- George T. Moody, First Vice President, Newcomb-Endicott Co. 1909-1910 -- Edward A. Sumner, Manager, American Radiator radiator, device used to heat an area surrounding it or to cool a fluid circulating within it. The familiar radiators of steam and hot water heating systems in buildings are misnamed, as they operate principally by convection, in which heat is transferred by air Co. 1910-1911 -- Abner E. Earned, President, Earned, Carter & Co. 1911-1912 -- Milton A. McRac, Joint Owner, Scripps-McRae League (retired) 1912-1913 -- Homer Warren, Partner, Homer Warren & Co. 1913-1914 -- James Couzens, Secretary and Treasurer, Ford Motor Co. 1914-1916 -- Charles B. Warren
Charles B. Warren was born in Bay City, Michigan. He served in the U. , Member, Warren, Cady Ladd & Hill 1916-1917 -- Edwin Denby There are a few people with the name Edwin Denby:
1917-1918 -- Allan A. Templeton, President, Detroit Seamless Steel Tubes Co. 1918-1919 -- Joseph J. Crowley, President, Crowley Bros BROS Brothers BROS Benefits and Retirement Operations Section (King County, Washington) BROS Barnes and Richmond Operatic Society (London, UK) , Inc. 1919-1920 -- Allan A. Templeton, President, Detroit Seamless Steel Tubes Co.(1) 1920-1921 -- Charles H. Campbell, Member, Campbell, Bulkley & Ledyard 1921-1922 -- John A. Russell, President, Manufacturer Publishing Co. 1922-1924 -- Harold H. Emmons, Member, Clark, Emmons, Bryant & Klein 1924-1925 -- Jefferson B. Webb, Sales Manager sales manager n → gerente m/f de ventas sales manager n → directeur commercial sales manager sale n → , Lowrie, Robinson Lumber lumber, term for timber that has been cut into boards for use as a building material. The major steps in producing lumber involve logging (the felling and preparation of timber for shipment to sawmills), sawing the logs into boards, grading the boards according to Co. 1925-1927 -- Thomas S. Merrill, Secretary, General Motors Corp. 1927-1928 -- Frederick J. Haynes, Vice President, Detroit National Fire Insurance Co. 1928-1929 -- S. Wells Udey, Vice President and General Manager, Detroit Steel Casting Steel casting is a manufacturing process in which molten metal is poured into a mold, allowed to solidify within the mold, and then the mold is broken and the solid piece is taken out. Co. 1929-1930 -- George M. Welch, Vice President and General Manager, Michigan Bell Michigan Bell was a subsidiary of American Telephone & Telegraph serving the state of Michigan. Following the Bell System divestiture on January 8, 1982, the company became a subsidiary of Ameritech, the Regional Bell operating company that served the midwestern United States. Telephone Co. 1930-1933 -- Edward S. Evans, President, Evans Products Co. Inc. 1933-1940 -- James McEvoy, General Attorney, Director of Patent and Legal Dept., General Motors Corp. 1940-1942 -- Clarence W. Avery, President and Chairman, The Murray Corp. of America 1942-1943 -- Raymond H. Berty, President, Berry and Stevens 1943-1944 -- Harry Ivnn Pierson, President-Treasurer, Detroit Harvester harvester, farm machine that mechanically harvests a crop. Small-grain harvesting has been mechanized to a certain extent since early times. In the modern period the first harvester to gain general acceptance was made by Cyrus McCormick in 1831 (see reaper). Co. 1944-1946 -- T. Mel Rinchart, President, Highland Oil Corp. 1946-1948 -- Sherwin A. Hill, Chairman of the Board and President Lee & Cady 1948-1950 -- William A. Mayberry, Executive Vice President, Manufacturers National Bank 1950-1952 -- Charles T. Fisher Charles Thomas Fisher (1880-1963) was an American businessman and an automotive pioneer. Born in Norwalk, Ohio, Charles was the second son of Lawrence and Margaret Fisher. The family would grow to include seven boys and four girls. Jr., President, National Bank of Detroit The National Bank of Detroit (NBD) was a bank that operated mostly in the Midwestern United States.It was co-founded by Ben Young, the brother of famed fly rod builder Paul H. Young; Ben was President and Vice President of the bank in the 1930's -1940's. 1952-1954 -- John S. Coleman, President, Burroughs Corp. 1954-1956 -- Selden B. Daume: President, Detroit Trust Co. 1956-1957 -- Henry T. Bodman, Vice President, National Bank of Detroit President of the Greater Detroit Board of Commerce 1957-1958 -- Ross Roy, President, Ross Roy Inc. 1958-1959 -- Walter L. Couse, President, Walter L. Couse Co. 1959-1960 -- Simon D Den Uyl, Chairman of the Board, Bobn Aluminium & Brass Corp. 1960-1962 -- H.G. Bixby, President, Ex Cell-O Corp. 1962-1963 -- David T. Marantette, President, Detroit Insurance Agency 1963-1964 -- Raymond T. Petring, Chairman of the Board, The Detroit Bank & Trust Co. 1964-1965 -- Allen W. Merrell, Vice President, Civic and Governmental Affairs, Ford Motors Co. Chairman of the Greater Detroit Board of Commerce (under amended bylaws) 1965-1966 -- E.S. Evans Jr., Chairman of the Board, Evarie Corp. 1966-1967 -- Januarius A. Mullen, President, Sheller Manufacturing Corp. 1967-1968 -- Hans Gehrke Jr., President, First Federal Savings & Loan Association of Detroit 1968-1969 -- Frank A. Colombo, Executive Vice President and General Manager, J.I. Hudson Co. Chairman of the Greater Detroit Chamber of Commerce 1969-1970 -- J. Lawrence Buell Jr., Chairman of the Board, Formspare Co. 1970-1971 -- John A. Dodds, President, Reaume & Dodds Inc. 1971-1972 -- Frank G. Armstrong, Vice President Administration, American Motors American Motors Corporation (AMC) was an American automobile company formed on January 14 1954 by the merger of the Nash-Kelvinator Corporation and the Hudson Motor Car Company. At the time, it was the largest corporate merger in U.S. history, valued at US$198 million ($1. Corp. 1972-1973 -- Lawrence M. Carino, Vice President and General Manager, WJBK TV 1973-1974 -- Robert E. Hastings, Chairman of the Board and CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. , Smith, Hinchman & Grylls Associates Inc. (2) 1974-1975 -- Donald E. Young, Vice President, Corporate Communications, Burroughs Corp. 1975-1976 -- John C. McCabe, President and Chief Administrative Officer A chief administrative officer (CAO) is responsible for administrative management of private, public or governmental corporations. The CAO is one of the highest ranking members of an organization, managing daily operations and usually reporting directly to the chief executive , Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan 1976-1977 -- Brendan J. Meagher, Partner-in-Charge, Price Waterhouse & Co. 1977-1978 -- John S. Pingel, President, Ross Roy Inc. 1978-1979 -- John R. Hamann, President, Detroit Edison Detroit Edison, founded in 1903, is an investor-owned electric utility which serves most of Southeast Michigan. Its parent company, DTE Energy (NYSE: DTE), provides energy services to a variety of clients beyond Detroit Edison's service area. Co. 1979-1980 -- Philip J. Meathe, President, Smith, Hinchman & Grylls Associates Inc. 1980-1981 -- Charles A. Muer, President, C.A. Muer Corp. 1981-1982 -- Robert E. Magill, Vice President, Industry Government Relations, General Motors Corp. 1982-1983 -- Beverly Beltaire, President, P/R P/R Purchase Request P/R Power to Resistance Associates Inc. 1983-1984 -- Frank D. Stella, Chairman, The E.D. Stella Products Co. 1984-1985 -- Don C. Becker, President, Detroit Free Press The Detroit Free Press is the largest daily newspaper in Detroit, Michigan, USA. It is sometimes informally referred to as the "Freep". Some still refer to it locally as "The Friendly" -- a slogan from an ad campaign in the '70s. (3) 1985-1986 -- Ernest L. Grove Jr., Vice Chairman, The Detroit Edison Co. 1986-1987 -- John J. Avignone, President and CEO Automobile Club of Michigan 1987-1989 -- Richard C. Van Dusen, Chairman, Dickinson Wright, Moon, Van Dusen & Freeman 1989-1990 -- Richard M. Gabrys, Area Managing Partner Deloitte Haskins & Sells 1990-1991 -- Anthony M. Fransco, Chairman and CEO, Anthony M. Franco Inc. 1991-1992 -- Donald A. Pais, Vice President, Materials Management Materials management is the branch of logistics that deals with the tangible components of a supply chain. Specifically, this covers the acquisition of spare parts and replacements, quality control of purchasing and ordering such parts, and the standards involved in ordering, Staff, General Motors Corp. 1992-1993 -- Richard P. Kughn, Chairman and President, Kughn Enterprises 1993-1994 -- John Lobbia, Chairman and CEO, Detroit Edison Co. 1994-1995 -- Ronald I. Steffens, President, AAA AAA: see American Automobile Association. (Triple A) A common single-cell battery used in a myriad of electronic devices of all variety. Like its double A (AA) cousin, it provides 1.5 volts of DC power. When used in series, the voltage is multiplied. Michigan 1995-1996 -- Beth McDermott Chappell, President and CEO. The Chappell Group 1996-1997 -- Thomas R. Ricketts, Chairman, President and CEO, Standard Federal Bank (4) Chairman of the Detroit Regional Chamber 1997-1998 -- William C. Brooks, Chairman, Entech Human Resources The fancy word for "people." The human resources department within an organization, years ago known as the "personnel department," manages the administrative aspects of the employees. 1998-1999 -- Michael T. Monahan, President, Comerica Bank 1999-2000 -- Randolph Agley a·gley adv. Scots Off to one side; awry. [a-2 + Scots gley, to squint (from Middle English glien, possibly of Scandinavian origin).] , Chairman, Falon Group 2000-2001 -- James B. Nicholson, President and CEO, PVS PVS 1 Persistent vegetative state, see there 2. Pulmonary valve stenosis Chemicals Inc. 2001-2002 -- Frank Hennessey, CEO and Vice Chairman of the Board, MascoTech 2002-2003 -- Benjamin C. Maibach III, Chairman of the Board and President, Barton Malow Co. 2003-2004 -- Gail Torreano, President, SBC of Michigan (1) Only person to serve two nonconsecutive terms (2) Died in office Dec. 21, 1973 (3) Resigned December 1984 (4) Died in office April 22, 1997 Appendix During its first two decades, the Detroit Board of Commerce's top paid professional was designated variously as secretary or general secretary. In 1903 the first person to hold the title of secretary was Ryerson Ritchie (see photo on page 30). He and his successors were responsible to the Board of Directors for the smooth internal operation of the organization. They worked largely behind the scenes, and their accomplishments in this period are not detailed to any extent in the archives. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A notable exception was William Stocking, for 20 years the Board's chief statistician and historian. Although he did not hold the top staff title, early records show that he served in a number of important roles during the Board's formative years, including that of assistant secretary and acting secretary during the prolonged absence of the first general secretary. He retired in 1923 at the age of 83. 1922-1962: Harvey Campbell No person was more closely connected with the history of the Detroit Board of Commerce than Harvey Campbell, widely known during his long and distinguished tenure as "Mr. Detroit." [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Campbell was a partner in the firm Apel-Campbell Advertising Designers when he became a member of the Detroit Board of Commerce in 1913, the year the organization celebrated its 10th anniversary. In 1919, he was elected to the board of directors. In 1922 Campbell officially went on the Board's payroll as secretary. This was a difficult period for the Board, both financially and organizationally, and Campbell's appointment was intended to be temporary. Instead, it was the beginning of a remarkable 40-year career as the organization's top paid professional staff member. In 1940 Campbell became executive vice president, a title he held for the next 22 years. (The post is equivalent to today's president and CEO.) In 1962, the year of his retirement, the Board designated its 59th annual cruise the "Harvey Campbell Anniversary Cruise" in his honor. For Campbell personally, it was his 49th cruise. He was also given a life membership in the organization--renamed Greater Detroit Board of Commerce in 1957-he had served so well for so many years. 1963-1966: Willis H. Hall Willis H. Hall, a member of the Greater Detroit Board of Commerce staff for 30 years, succeeded the legendary Harvey Campbell as executive secretary. Hall had joined the staff in 1933, initially doing a radio report on the Board's activities for $25 a week. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] In 1965, when the Board adopted new bylaws. Hall was officially named president and became the full-time, salaried executive in charge of Board activities. This was also the year the Board left the old Commerce Building at 320 W. Lafayette after 52 years and moved into a new suite of offices in the 150 Michigan Building The Michigan Building is an office building and former theatre in downtown Detroit, Michigan. It was constructed in 1925 and stands at 13 floors in height. It contains retail space, offices, and a parking garage. . 1966-1978: Dwight B. Havens Dwight B. Havens joined the Greater Detroit Board of Commerce in 1964 after service with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world's largest not-for-profit federation of businesses, representing more than 3 million businesses and organizations in the United States. As of 2003, the chamber was comprised of 3000 state and local chambers and 830 business associations. and several commercial organizations. When the bylaws were amended in 1965, he became executive vice president and second in command after Willis Hall Willis Hall (6 April 1929 - 7 March 2005) was an English playwright and radio and television writer who drew on his working class Leeds roots in much of his material. His most famous creation was probably Billy Liar . He was named president in March 1966 upon Hall's retirement. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Havens' 12 years at the helm witnessed a number of milestones for the organization, including the elections of the first African American African American Multiculture A person having origins in any of the black racial groups of Africa. See Race. to the Board of Directors in 1968 and first woman to the Board of Directors in 1973, as well as a new name in 1969 -- Greater Detroit Chamber of Commerce. These were years of great change in our nation and our community, and Havens and the Chamber were at the forefront. In the aftermath of the Detroit riot of 1967, the Chamber under Havens' leadership was instrumental in the formation of New Detroit and Detroit Renaissance, two organizations that are still working toward the revitalization re·vi·tal·ize tr.v. re·vi·tal·ized, re·vi·tal·iz·ing, re·vi·tal·iz·es To impart new life or vigor to: plans to revitalize inner-city neighborhoods; tried to revitalize a flagging economy. of Detroit. Havens also implemented Chamber-sponsored manpower programs that helped inner-city residents find employment and launched the popular "Buzz and Fuzz" radio program that opened up the line of communication between the community and the police department. In 1974, under Havens' skilled leadership, the Greater Detroit Chamber of Commerce became the third-largest chamber of commerce in the nation with 7,500 business members across the seven county Southeast Michigan region. When he retired in 1978. Havens left behind a legacy that continues to this day. He died in 2001 after a long retirement. 1978-1994: Frank E. Smith, CCE CCE Cornell Cooperative Extension CCE Corporate and Continuing Education CCE Coca-Cola Enterprises Inc. CCE Commission de Coopération Environnementale CCE Centre for Continuing Education CCE College of Continuing Education CCE Certified Computer Examiner Frank E. Smith, executive vice president of the Greater Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce since 1969, succeeded Dwight Havens on July 1, 1978. His appointment coincided with the Chamber's 75th anniversary of service to the business community. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Less than two years into his tenure, Smith took a bold--and for some members, unpopular--step when he made the Chamber's annual cruise in 1980 the last, ending a tradition that had dated back to 1904. In 1981, the "cruise" moved to dry land on Mackinac Island Mackinac Island Island in the Straits of Mackinac, southeastern Upper Peninsula of Michigan, U.S. It is 3 mi (5 km) long. It was an ancient Indian burial ground called Michilimackinac when the British built a fort there in 1780. After the U.S. and became the forerunner A family of ATM adapters from Marconi (formerly Fore Systems). See Marconi. of today's Leadership Policy Conference. That same year Smith was honored by the World Trade Club of Detroit as "World Trader of the Year." A number of milestones were achieved under Smith's leadership, including the first female chairman in the Chamber's history, a Feed the Hungry program through the Chamber's Food Industry Council that evolved into today's Gleaners Community Food Bank and a change of headquarters in 1986 to the landmark former WWJ WWJ Walk with Jesus TV and Radio studio at 600 W. Lafayette. Smith also implemented the Chamber's innovative Leadership Detroit program and was instrumental in establishing Greater Detroit Foreign Trade Zones Inc. and a comprehensive regional economic development program that greatly expanded the Detroit Region's pre-eminence as an international business center. Smith's distinguished 16-year tenure also witnessed the Chamber's collaborations with the Detroit Compact and Alliance for a Safer, Greater Detroit programs and its leading role in the campaign that continues today to establish a regional transmit authority. December 1994-present: Richard E. Blouse Jr., CCE Richard E. Blouse Jr., became the Chamber's president and CEO in December 1994. He was previously president and CEO of the Greenville Chamber of Commerce in Greenville, S.C. Under his leadership, the Detroit Regional Chamber has emerged as the premier voice of business in Southeast Michigan and has played a large role in important area initiatives including regional transportation, border crossing safety and efficiency and pro-business legislation saving business millions of dollars. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Through the Detroit Regional Economic Partnership--a public/private sector partnership that markets the 10-county region around the world - Blouse is fulfilling the Chamber mission to retain and attract jobs and investment dollars to the region, and assist member firms in reaching national and international markets. Under his leadership, the Chamber has entered into six partnership with diverse business organizations around the region, and helped create the Business and Religious Leaders Group to address issues of importance to the community. In 2002, the Chamber became the largest chamber of commerce in the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. and today has more than 19,000 members. Appendix Products, Services and Events -- The Chamber continues to add to its growing list of quality, money-saving programs for its members. These include: insurance, office supplies Office supplies is the generic term that refers to all supplies regularly used in offices by businesses and other organizations, from private citizens to governments, who works with the collection, refinement, and output of information (colloquially referred to as "paper work"). , wireless, long distance, overnight delivery, promotional products, marketing services (press releases, direct mail, broadcast fax/e-mail, Internet listings), Platinum Plus[R] for Business MasterCard[R], credit card processing, human resources (staffing tax credits/HR Solutions Center) and more. Signature Events include the annual Leadership Policy Conference, International Consular con·sul n. Abbr. Con. or Cons. 1. An official appointed by a government to reside in a foreign country and represent his or her government's commercial interests and assist its citizens there. See Usage Note at council. Ball, Women's Business Conference, Golf Outing and Digital Drive Conference. The Chamber also sponsors regular technology seminars for members. Diversity -- The Chamber now has strategic partnership with six organizations: American Arab Chamber of Commerce, Asian Pacific American Chamber of Commerce, Booker T. Washington Business Association, Hispanic Business Hispanic Business, Inc. is a media company based in Santa Barbara, California, in the United States of America. Founded by Jesús Chavarría in 1979, Hispanic Business, Inc. publishes information for and about Hispanic professionals and entrepreneurs. Alliance, Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and National Association of Women Business Owners-Greater Detroiter Chapter. Internally, the Chamber has adopted a long-range diversity program to ensure that the organization embraces diversity as a business imperative at every level of the organization. The Chamber also created the Southeast Michigan Chamber Alliance, which now includes 51 regional chambers working to support regional issues. Public Policy -- The Chamber advocates for pro-business legislation, sound public policy and vital quality-of-life issues at the local, regional, state and national levels. The Chamber uses its influence to marshal the region's leadership resources as evidenced by its role in forming NBEST--The Northern Border for Economic Security and Trade - in the aftermath of the September 11 terrorist attacks and its continuing advocacy on behalf of the Detroit Area Regional Transportation Authority (DARTA). The Chamber's award-winning Grass Roots grass roots pl.n. (used with a sing. or pl. verb) 1. People or society at a local level rather than at the center of major political activity. Often used with the. 2. The groundwork or source of something. , Education and Advocacy through Technology (GREAT) program keeps members up to date on critical public-policy and legislative issues at the regional, state and national levels. Economic Development -- Through the Detroit Regional Economic Partnership, the Chamber promotes the 10-country Southeast Michigan region around the world. The Partnership also plays a lead role in marketing the Digital Drive brand name that ties together all of the region's high-tech "hubs." The Chamber's Economic Development team helps members expand their customer base, increase their product line and compete in global markets, and the Chamber's Research & Information Center serves as a central point of information and market data about the Detroit Region. The Partnership and a group of professionals dubbed dub 1 tr.v. dubbed, dub·bing, dubs 1. To tap lightly on the shoulder by way of conferring knighthood. 2. To honor with a new title or description. 3. "PR Champs" actively promotes the Digital Drive brand that ties together all of the technology "hubs" across Southeast Michigan. Visit the Detroit Regional Chamber's Website at www.detroitchamber.com for more complete information about the advantages of membership. |
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