Business

McLean Chamber Provides Tangible Benefits To Members

McLean County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Michael Malone and his staff work with members to bring positive change to the community.

In the competitive world of business support‚ the McLean County Chamber of Commerce provides value-added components for the all-important member investment.

“Ours is not a ‘party’ chamber‚” says Michael Malone‚ chamber executive director. “We are engaged in real community change and improvement.”

Integral to that community change is leadership‚ and the chamber has worked for years to create a deep pool of leaders who become involved in the chamber’s comprehensive efforts.

While some communities may struggle with leadership development‚ McLean is able to take advantage of the business acumen of company CEOs from the insurance‚ automotive and agribusiness sectors. The chamber has worked to develop an annual community leadership program that brings up to 34 potential leaders into the community spotlight with a hands-on program. “Our participants ride on combines in cornfields‚ they serve as mentors in the schools‚ they participate in job shadowing‚ and they develop a group project that will be different from year to year‚” Malone says.

The chamber’s major focus deals in governmental affairs‚ where they work with local and state governments in creating and/or defeating ordinances and legislation that will complement or harm the business community.

Workforce availability is a primary factor in business success. The McLean County Chamber’s workforce development program ranges from basic skills development to graduate programs in business and nursing.

With 1‚200 members and 41 board members‚ Malone and his staff respect their members’ time.

“We have established a communications structure that provides targeted‚ topical e-mails to our members‚ dividing them into subgroups with varying interests‚” Malone says. It may be time-consuming‚ but this is one of the ways that Malone and his staff maximize a member’s investment.

At the top of a tangible benefits list is the chamber’s health insurance program. As a member of the Employees Coalition for Healthcare Inc.‚ the chamber and ECHI are charged with the mission of ensuring small- to medium-sized chamber-member employers access to quality health care at affordable rates. By insuring more than 300 members and 4‚000 employees‚ the program allows the chamber and ECHI to collectively bargain for minimal renewal rate increases and prevents them from being priced out of the health insurance market.

Members get preferred rates‚ negotiated renewal rate increases‚ an expanded choice of plans and a proven track record when it comes to the competitive and often confusing world of health insurance. “Only chamber members are eligible to participate in ECHI‚” stresses Malone.

The chamber is a partner with McLean’s Economic Development Council and the Convention and Visitor’s Bureau‚ all working together through “Think Tank” committees that outline and implement various economic development initiatives‚ resulting in a vibrant approach to community development.

Story by Betsy Williams
Photo by Wes Aldridge

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