Soundings. The Monthly Magazine of the Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce. Spring Image size: 7.9 x 11.4 inches Minimum resolution 300 ppi

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1 Soundings Spring 2015 The Monthly Magazine of the Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce Image size: 7.9 x 11.4 inches Minimum resolution 300 ppi What s Inside: Membership Spotlight Chamber News Guides & Maps Are In! Upcoming & Recent Events Cape Ann License Plate and more!

2 Call for Raffle Prizes! We have a great opportunity for exposure for YOUR business, to some of Cape Ann s strongest and most influen al Business Leaders. The Chamber is looking for Raffle/Door Prize items to give away at our Business A er Hours events. How about dona ng a Gi Cer ficate to your Business or to a client s Business? This would give you exposure to the crowd at the event AND will drive customers to your or your client s place of business - it s a winning situa on! If you are interested, or to learn more about this, please call Kerry at the Chamber Office PIVOTAL PARTNERS FRONT COVER In This Issue 3 Welcome New Members 4 Cape Ann License Plate 5 News 6-7 Upcoming Events 8-11 Recent Events 12 Member Spotlight Community News 15 Healthcare Corner 16 Member to Member $avings Connec on 17 Business Tips & Tricks The mission of the Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce is to serve as the principal voice of business while working to enhance both the economic environment and the quality of life for the ci zens of Cape Ann. 33 Commercial Street Gloucester, MA Phone: Fax: info@capeannchamber.com capeannchamber.com capeannvaca ons.com rockportusa.com The Chamber Team: Ken Riehl, CEO ken@capeannchamber.com Peter Webber, Senior VP peter@capeannchamber.com Kerry McKenna, Director of Events kerry@capeannchamber.com The beau ful photograph on the front cover was provided by David Stotzer of Cape Ann Photography. Thank you for sharing your photography with the Chamber. If you would like to be considered for the cover of an upcoming edi on of Soundings, please submit your image to marke ng@capeannchamber.com. Debbie Walter, Director of Opera ons debbie@capeannchamber.com Michelle Budrow, Marke ng & Communica ons marke ng@capeannchamber.com Keval McNamara, Director of Finance accoun ng@capeannchamber.com 2

3 Welcome New Members Capital Management Partners capitalmanpartners.com Santander Bank - Manchester Branch santanderbank.com/us/ David L. Marsh George Anderson Gallery rockportar st.com Atlan c Pizza Company atlan cpizzacompany.com Sea Bags seabags.com Sperling Interac ve sperlinginterac ve.com 2015 Chamber Publications Are In! The 2015 edi ons of the Cape Ann Guide magazine, the Cape Ann Map & Guide, and the Rockport Visitor Map are now available. Please stop by the Chamber to pick up as many as you would like or let us know if you would prefer that we deliver. Chamber News Stay Up to Date Follow Us on Facebook! Make sure to follow us on Facebook for our latest news and updates for the Chamber, the Cape Ann License Plate and Cape Ann Vaca ons! Cape Ann Vaca ons is now on Instagram! ons for beau ful photos of our communi es. h ps://instagram.com/capeannvaca ons You can also view the Cape Ann Guide online at h p://capeannchamber.com/publica ons/cape-ann-guide/. 3

4 News Help us spread the word about the Cape Ann License Plate! We can t wait to get the Cape Ann License Plate on the road and we need YOUR help to get there! Before these plates can be put into produc on, we need a total of 1,500 applica ons signed. We are just over 1/3 of the way there but we s ll have a way to go. This is where you come in We re asking Chamber members, Board of Directors and Community members alike to help us encourage people to apply. Together we can inform the public about these wonderful plates and generate excitement about reaching our goal. Remember: Proceeds from the plates will go back into our communi es. They will be used to benefit Promo on, Economic Development and Educa on ini a ves for Cape Ann and the Cape Ann communi es of Essex, Gloucester, Manchester-by-the-Sea, and Rockport. Please like and share the Cape Ann License Plate Facebook Page to help spread the word. h ps:// Let people know they can visit the Cape Ann Chamber to apply or simply fill out an applica on online in only minutes! h p://capeannchamber.com/cape-ann-license-plate/ WITH YOUR HELP WE CAN REACH OUR GOAL! 4

5 News We are in our final week of our Spring membership drive. With over 60 business leaders recrui ng new members in all four Cape Ann communi es, and $2,300 in promo onal and other incen ves now is the me to sign new members up! Please contact us if you know of businesses that would be interested in learning more about our new and reinvigorated programs. The incen ve lis ng may be found at the following link: capeannchamber.com/wp-content/uploads/why-join-now.pdf BIG Thank You to Jean Grobe, of Connec ons Adventure Travel, for her fantas c travel dona on to our 2015 Membership Drive as a top prize for the volunteer who brings in the most new members! 5

6 28th Annual Auction on July 17 Upcoming Events Our Annual Auc on is less than two months away July 17 save the date if you have not already done so - it is sure to be another fun-filled night of Friends, Findings and Fulfillment! We will again be at the beau ful The Essex Room at Woodman s. There will be a great dinner with many wonderful items to be auc oned, including: artwork by local favorites, vaca ons, getaways, raffles, games and more! There will also be a special Preview Event Thursday, July 16, 5-7 pm. Watch for more informa on coming soon! You may begin to see some of our great dona ons so far on the auc on website at: h p://bit.ly/1cgpdsb. Small Business Week We are proud to announce our 2015 Small Business Week winners congratula ons to all on your outstanding business and community achievements! We look forward to celebra ng in each community, and to our luncheon on Friday 5 June at Castle Manor Inn. The celebra ons and lunch are open to all please contact the Chamber if you are interested in joining. 6

7 Cape Ann Chamber Festivals Upcoming Events Save the Date for the Chamber s 2015 Fes vals! Sponsorship opportuni es are available for each of these popular events. Contact the Chamber for more informa on at Exclusive Sponsorship Level for Restaurants & Accommoda ons Hotels and restaurants have the exclusive opportunity for sponsorship on GloucesterBluesFes val.com. For $ receive a lis ng on the Blues Fes val website. To purchase the $100 level sponsorship, contact Bob Has ngs at tripphas ngs3@gmail.com. 7

8 Recent Events Rockport Easter Event The Rockport Easter Egg Hunt had another successful year! This year the event was held indoors at the Rockport Community House. Children and families came to meet the Easter Bunny and have their photos taken. Candy and prizes, that were generously donated by lead sponsor Ins tu on for Savings, Chamber and community members, were given out throughout the event. Thank you to everyone who helped make the event a success! 8

9 Recent Events Business After Hours: Cape Ann Savings Bank - Granite Branch Thank you to Bucky Rogers, Jen Orlando, Toni Rowe and the en re Cape Ann Savings Bank team for hos ng the April Business A er Hours! Over 150 business professionals joined us at the Granite Branch for a great night of Networking along with delicious food and beverages by served by Vinwood Caterers. Cape Ann Savings gave out lovely complimentary coffee mugs and lots of exci ng door prizes. Thanks to all who joined us. We had a wonderful me! The Cape ann Savings Bank Granite Branch team Our members enjoying an evening of networking Bucky Rogers addresses the crowd Norm Seppala & Peter Webber Rev. Sue & David Arsenault Sign up for your license plate! 9

10 Recent Events Cape Ann Career & College Fair The Cape Ann Chamber, in partnership with the three Cape Ann high schools and Essex Tech., held our first regional Cape Ann Career and College Fair on 20 May. With 80 par cipa ng colleges, more than 50 business and educa on leaders, and about 300 par cipa ng students from 9 invited high schools the event was fantas c! Not only was this a truly unique forum in which to provide our high school students tremendous educa onal and career informa on, but it was a showcase for our Cape Ann business and educa on communi es as an amazing place in which to work and live. Business Education Golf Tournament On 18 May held our 26th Annual Business Educa on Golf Tournament, a por on of the proceeds from which go to suppor ng our college sponsorships and other educa onal ini a ves. With about 100 golfers par cipa ng, food on mul ple holes, and over 20 items raffled away, a free fantas c a ernoon has had by all on a great course and for a wonderful cause! The scholarship winners will be announced at the Small Business Luncheon, Friday June 5th, at Castle Manor Inn please feel free to join us it is open to the en re Cape Ann community. 10

11 Your Chamber Was There Cape Ann Museum Tour Recent Events Rotary Club of Gloucester - Polar Plunge Ribbon Cu ng & Grand Opening The Art of David Arsenault North Shore Volunteer Fair North Shore Radio Recording Spring Tourism Mixer at the Essex Shipbuilding Museum 11

12 Golf on Cape Ann Member Spotlight Cape Ann is home to some beau ful golf courses. We are happy to have Bass Rocks Golf Club in Gloucester, Rockport Golf Club in Rockport and Cape Ann Golf in Essex as Chamber members. Though the 2015 golf season got off to a late start due to the recordbreaking snowfall this year, all courses are now open and excited to welcome their members back out on the greens! Bass Rocks Golf Club The private Bass Rocks Golf Club is a beau ful but demanding seaside links course with views of the Atlan c Ocean on almost every hole. The par 69, 71 for women, offers a wide variety of shot making situa ons which are caused by the ever changing winds, chocolate drop mounds, fast rolling greens and long fescue areas. Established in 1896, the Herbert Leeds designed course has hosted the MGA Junior Championship in 1996 and several local MGA/WGAM qualifiers throughout the years. The condi ons of this links course is second to none with bent/poa greens that are fast, firm and undulated, where staying below the pin is a must. This course is enjoyed by all because it is just plain fun! For informa on please visit the website at Rockport Golf Club Cape Ann Golf Course Cape Ann Golf Course in Essex, MA is now in its 84th year in business. As the only pubic golf course on Cape Ann, it is a popular choice for local golfers. The course itself is 9 holes and features a number of water holes overlooking the Essex River. The 4th hole dog leg le that sits atop the hill is best known for the view. The view overlooks the Essex salt marshes, the Essex River and the backside of Cranes Beach. It was recognized in North Shore Golf Magazine ar cle Dream 18. The par 37th hole, which is only reachable by hi ng over the marsh, was also recognized in North Shore Golf Magazines Top hardest holes on the North Shore. Established in 1914 the Rockport Golf Club is entering its 101st season of golf on Cape Ann. The semi-private course features 9 excellent condi on holes that will prove challenging to golfers of all abili es. Open April through Thanksgiving the Club allows non-membership play on weekdays and weekend a ernoons. Non-members may arrange star ng mes by calling the Golf Shop one day in advance of when they would like to play. Membership are available for the 2015 season. Call (978) for tee mes and informa on. Golf Professional Stephen Clayton, PGA and Course Superintended William Yanakakis, GCSAA head the staffs of the Rockport Golf Club. For more informa on about the course and tee mes visit capeanngolf.com or call

13 Community News Rockport Garden Club s Annual Garden Tour: Rockport in Bloom : June 26-27, 10am - 4pm. A Tour of Charming Gardens. SeniorCare Comedy Night May 28, :30-7:30 p.m. - Cash Bar & Light Refreshments 7:30 p.m. - Show me Tickets are $30.00 Senior Ci zens and Students - buy one get one FREE Sponsorships and Adver sing Opportuni es Available Contact Kelly Knox or kelly.knox@seniorcareinc.org Featuring: Bob Seibel, David Ra gan and Paul D Angelo This is a self-guided 6 mile tour that includes both flower and vegetable gardens, water features and a garden with a Growing Dome where vegetables thrive all year round. Tickets are $20.00 before June 1, then $25 therea er. The proceeds are used by the Rockport Garden Club to care for Rockport s public spaces and other civic ac vi es. rockportgardenclub.org The Rockport Navy Weekend July The United States Naval Academy (USNA) Offshore Sail Training Squadron (OSTS), aboard five NA-44 foot sailboats, will drop anchor on Friday July 10th in Rockport Harbor to take part in the Rockport Navy Weekend The midshipmen and their advisors will be joined for the weekend by sailors from the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Ki ery, Maine, the USS Cons tu on in Boston, Massachuse s and the Navy Band in Newport, Rhode Island. The Rockport Navy Weekend is hosted by the Rockport Navy Commi ee, which is comprised of volunteers who have worked to bring the U.S. Navy to Rockport since The enthusias c support and generous financial dona ons of the residents and businesses of Rockport helps make the Rockport Navy Weekend a success. Ac vi es are planned to encourage the en re community to interact with and learn about the US Navy. 13

14 Job Openings CHHA/CNA in Private Home Care Aberdeen Home Care, Inc Highly skilled and experienced CHHA or CNA needed for shi s in pa ents homes. Shi s range from 6-12 hours and include Days / Evenings / Weekends. Most assignments are on the North Shore. Professional references and CORI required Must: Have current CNA or CHHA cer fica on Be flexible and reliable Be able to work independently Have reliable transporta on. Be able to understand, read and speak English fluently Serious applicants please reply by joanne@aberdeenhomecareinc.com including a brief summary of skills and experience. Along with your contact informa on. Thank you. Part-Time Teller First Ipswich Bank - Gloucester Branch First Ipswich Bank is looking for a part- me Teller to join the team in our Gloucester Branch, which is located at 207 Main Street, Gloucester, MA. Part Time - 15 hours per week. For full job lis ng and to apply visit firs pswich.com. Executive Director Wellspring House Wellspring House, an outstanding nonprofit located in Gloucester, MA, is seeking a dynamic new Execu ve Director. For 34 years Wellspring has focused on helping families on Boston s North Shore move out of poverty toward economic self-sufficiency. The Execu ve Director (ED) serves as the organiza on s principal leader and representa ve to the greater community. The Execu ve Director will passionately embrace the mission and foster the organiza on s culture. S/he will be an experienced, well-respected leader who combines strategic vision, opera onal excellence, and financial management with fundraising. S/he will develop a leadership presence in the community and work in a highly collabora ve style. Community News Gloucester United Veterans Council and the City of Glocuester are proud to sponsor THE WALL THAT HEALS The Traveling Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall and Museum July 9-12, 2015 Fuller School 4 Schoolhouse Road, Gloucester, MA Free Admission Film Tax Update: Representa ve Ann-Margaret Ferrante and House Majority Leader Ron Mariano were successful in preven ng an amendment from being a ached to the House Budget that would have eliminated the Film Tax Credit. They spoke forcefully on the merits of the credit, the jobs and s mula on to the local economy that it provides. Ann- Margaret emphasized its importance to Cape Ann, in light of the overwhelming importance to tourism. For more informa on and to apply, please send cover le er, resume and salary history to Susan Egmont, Egmont Associates, segmont@egmontassociates.com All Chamber members are encouraged to send in their news about job openings, new hires, new locations, expansions/ additions and other signifi cant happenings at their businesses to marketing@ capeannchamber.com for inclusion in the Member News/ Business Briefs section of future editions of Chamber Soundings. 14

15 Healthcare Corner Choosing a Health Insurance Plan Did You Know? It s not easy to pick the right health insurance plan. Doing so takes me and research because the stakes are simply too high to just pick the cheapest op on and hope for the best. Many employers offer a variety of plan types, including HMO, PPO, POS, and fee-for-service. Which one may be right for you (and your family) can depend on your budget, current overall health, and need for specialized care. When it comes to selec ng the best health insurance plan for you and your family, be sure to take the me to research and compare. The stakes are simply too high to just pick the cheapest op on and hope for the best. Do your homework before deciding. Before deciding between types of coverage, consider the following: Is cost your chief concern? HMOs are usually a lower-cost alterna ve. Do you (or a covered family member) require frequent visits to a specialist such as a dermatologist or alterna ve care prac oner such as a chiropractor? If so, a PPO may provide the flexibility you need. Are your doctors covered under your plan? Most insurance providers will be able to furnish you with a current lis ng of allied physicians and treatment centers. Be sure to find out which of your doctors are in your plan s network before making a choice. Points to Remember 1. A fee-for-service plan provides the most choice and flexibility, but is usually also the most expensive. 2. HMOs seek to manage costs by restric ng the doctors from whom its members can receive services. However, if all or most of your doctors are part of its network, it can be a cheaper, convenient op on. 3. PPOs may be appropriate for those who need some addi onal flexibility, but don t want the costs associated with a full fee-for-service plan. Contact your Chamber health professional representa ve, Diane Rule-Enos VP of Financial Services at BG Financial Services Group to help you make sense of the choices that may be offered through your employer-sponsored health plan. Phone: Because of the possibility of human or mechanical error by S&P Capital IQ Financial Communica ons or its sources, neither S&P Capital IQ Financial Communica ons nor its sources guarantees the accuracy, adequacy, completeness or availability of any informa on and is not responsible for any errors or omissions or for the results obtained from the use of such informa on. In no event shall S&P Capital IQ Financial Communica ons be liable for any indirect, special or consequen al damages in connec on with subscriber s or others use of the content S&P Capital IQ Financial Communica ons. All rights reserved. Tracking #

16 MEMBER TO MEMBER $AVINGS CONNECTION Did You Know? Members of the Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce can sign up to offer exclusive discounts to other Chamber Members. Over 45 businesses are already taking advantage and par cipa ng! -This program is a FREE lis ng available to Chamber Members who wish to increase their visibility and customer outreach on Cape Ann. -Coupons for par cipa ng businesses are listed on the Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce website. (member login required) -Any offer through this program is exclusive to Chamber members and not available to the general public. -A Par cipants List is available for download and is updated throughout the year. It is never too late to be included. For more informa on on Member to Member $avings Connec on call the Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce at (978) View the Full Par cipants List. 16

17 Business Tips & Tricks 10 Quick Tips for Small Business Growth Ar cle by Susan Tucker via business2community.com When spring comes around, all I can think of is refreshing my home, my body and my business. Some mes that simply means ge ng back to the basics. Here is a post I wrote a few years ago, that s ll stands true today for helping entrepreneurs with their small business growth. My top ten ps to help you grow your business today. 1. Form an alliance. Team up with another business that offers a complementary product or service and cross promote. Examples of this could be: if you re a yoga prac oner, align with a nutri onist; if you re a social media marketer, align with a SEO pro. It may take some tes ng out to find the perfect fit, but this strategy is a good one for expanding your network, so keep at it. 2. Sell something new. Offer something different that appeals to a whole new audience. This is the oldest strategy in business history. Diversify your product and/or service offerings! One such example of this is Christy Sports here in Colorado. In the winter, they are a ski equipment and rental shop, but come summer they are a premier outdoor pa o store. This makes for year-round income opportuni es. Genius! 3. Create add-ons for your current customers. Just like McDonald s did when we were kids! Would you like a hot apple pie with that? Think about what aligns naturally with what you are currently offering, and simply have it available. No need for a hard sale when you come from it sincerely. 4. Create a digital product. Of course in our 24-7 online world, it makes sense to expand your storefront digitally, right? Well, what happens to those folks who visit your website in the middle of the night? When you turn your knowledge into an ebook, white paper or checklist, then add it behind a form on your website, you re not only showing how knowledgeable you are about your industry, you are capturing leads. This is your lead funnel hard at work. 5. Get back to the basics. Show up. Return calls. Have the best service in town. It s so easy to forget what REALLY makes a small business stand out, and that s great service. Want some ideas on how to put a customer-centric service plan in place? Check out how Zappos did it. 6. Ask for the order. It s a simple thing to do, but many folks stop short and that hurts the bo om line. Don t be afraid to ask for the order, So, can we set you up with that today? If your prospect is not that far down your sales funnel, simply ask for the next step. May I follow up with you about this next week? don t be afraid to progress the sale. 7. Get publicity. PR isn t what it used to be, but there is value in amplifying your news through influencers. Every milestone (award won, class taught, project finished) is press-worthy. Start by pos ng your news on your blog, then reach out to local sources. But, try not to mass , if you want coverage, send a short personal to media outlets explaining the uniqueness of your news and why their readers would be interested. 8. Host a charity event. Events can form an important aspect of an organiza on s fundraising program. Your charity event could poten ally garner your company some great press, help you get in front of other like-minded people and help increase awareness plus, it s just a good thing to do. 9. Sponsor a school sports team. Those kids have parents who have purchasing power. Make a great impression when you sponsor. 10. Teach a class. Perhaps on the topic of your ebook? Local organiza ons such as the Small Business Development Center, the Chamber and others are always looking for local experts to present. Showcase your knowledge! 11. Under promise, over deliver. It ll keep them coming back for more over and over again, and they ll be more likely to tell their friends! Here s to wishing you success with your small business growth! As always reach out with any ques ons. In the mean me, I d love to help you with your social media marke ng pre-register here for Get Socially Savvy ecourse + Coaching program. 17

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