Proposed ideas

1. County-Wide Resources.
Locally Driven & Represented.
Blending Alexandria-Monroe and
Madison County Chambers

2. From the President of the Board
“We as a chamber will help shape this
blend offering us positive publicity. By
pulling out the Economic Development
piece and letting it stand alone as a
function of the city, we are able to use the
Gina Brisco
current business community and this blend
to be more focused and driven on current
needs and keeping these businesses viable
in tough economic times.”

3. From the Board Chairperson
“We believe it is the desire of our
business community to join
together to build a positive,
county-wide brand (helping all
Marcy DeShong Madison County cities/towns)
while remaining locally
represented and economically
driven.”

4. Why Blend?
• Larger footprint
• More resources
• Increased influence

5. Larger Footprint
• Offer county-wide resources to members
(more networking, events, award recognition,
etc.)
• County-wide directories and newsletters
featuring Alexandria distributed to over 3,000
• Broader perspective as a business community
and ability to branch out and attract attention
and interest from Noblesville, Muncie and
Indy (i.e. increased publicity and awareness)

6. More Resources
• Stream-line communications, projects, and
programs
• Additional administrative and marketing
support (billing, marketing, membership, PR,
benefits, sales, programming, etc.)
• Streamline budget
• Ambassador and Young Professionals outreach
program promoting Alexandria businesses

7. Increased Influence
• Create a county-wide agenda supporting
business and driven by local business councils
• Create local agendas supporting local
initiatives with the support of county-wide
organizations
• Gives us a competitive edge over our
neighboring counties

8. Membership benefits?
• Grandfathered dues amount will include:
– County-wide newsletter/e-news subscription
– County-wide/local online directory listing with decal
– Disccounts on select programs, events, & workshops
– Committee representation and ribbon cuttings
– Free admission to select county-wide and local events
– (1) Free Admission to FAB! or Wake Up! Madison
County
– Promote your event county-wide
– Advertise hot deals county-wide

9. How could it be structured?
Alexandria
Business
Council
Elwood
Madison Pendleton
Business
Council
County Business
Council
Agenda
Anderson
Business
Council

10. Who are the leaders?
Alexandria Elwood
Business Business
Representation Representation
Pendleton Anderson
Business Business
Madison
Representation Representation
County
Business
Full-time staff member to Board
service each location

11. What are our opportunities?
• Identify both our county and local business agendas and
work towards them
• Win some state-wide awards for our efforts
• Brainstorm additional member benefits
• Centralized location to help refer business and tourism to
Alexandria
• Volunteer-driven leadership in Alexandria supported by
full-time MCC staff
• More community events
• Perhaps change our name (Madison County Business
Alliance or Madison County Inc.)?

12. Who will be working for you?
Kyle Morey Angela Barbosa
President & CEO. Fearless Leader. Executive Vice President.
Chief Enthusiasm Officer. Marketing Diva. Get Linked
15 years experience promoting business
communities through chamber and Madison Expert.
entrueprenerual work from Scottsdale, Over 15 years of marketing small
AZ to Southern Indiana. businesses to success.
Betty Williams Amy Debiak
Community Relations Coordinator. Client Services Coordinator.
Sponsorships. Story Teller. Event Guru. Go-To Gal.
20 years working for the State of Indiana
incouding Departments of Commerce Small business owner metality
and Workforce Development. with a big smile!
DeWayne Landwehr
Executive Director of IDEA. Business Guru.
SCORE counselor, Chair of the Microloan Loan
Committee, Chapter President of Stepstone Angel
Investors, member of the Rural Development Loan
Committee.

13. Next Steps?
• Vote
1
• Decide County-wide Board
2 Representation
• Create joint 12 month agenda
3

14. Blending examples

15. Other succcessful blends
• www.1si.org combined chambers for two counties and economic
development
• http://qctimes.com/business/article_65134ce6-cc0b-11df-8d1b-
001cc4c002e0.html combined chambers across State lines!
• www.hardinohio.org combined Chamber, ED, Tourism, Downtown
Development Division
• www.hardinohio.org/new/GoalsofTheHardinCountyChamberAndBusiness
Alliance.aspx incredible vision! Powerful group.
• Illinois Quad City Chamber combined two chambers -
http://qctimes.com/business/article_65134ce6-cc0b-11df-8d1b-
001cc4c002e0.html