NORTH PHOENIX CHAMBER OF COMMERCE has a fun fund raiser!
We're selling the Entertainment Book for 2011 to help support YOUR chamber!
This book is packed with money-saving coupons for dining out, travel, entertainment,
shopping and much more.
The Entertainment Book 2011 is only $30.00.
You'll save a lot of money with this book, and you'll also help YOUR
North Phoenix Chamber!
To purchase the Entertainment Book 2011, contact me at 602-482-3344 or my cell - 602-882-8484, or just show up at any of our events - I'll always have them with me!
by Jean Lukens on Monday August 16, 2010
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by Jean Lukens on Monday August 02, 2010
2 comments
If you haven't been on the Dolly Steamboat, you're 'MISSING THE BOAT"!
Bill and I celebrated our anniversary by taking the cruise on the Canyon Lake this past Saturday night on the Dolly Steamboat. What an amazing evening! The majesty of this vista was exquisite!
Hosted by Captains Jeff Grimh and Tom Henrickson, this narrated and entertaining venture took us to sights only seen in picture books! We also saw a number of bighorn sheep climbing the fabulous Superstition Mountains.
The two and one half hour tour gave us time to reflect on God's beauty, as well as enjoying a wonderful dinner, music, new friends and a narration with information (and jokes) from Captain Jeff.
To quote President Theodore Roosevelt, “the Apache Trail and surrounding area combines the grandeur of the Alps, the glory of the Rockies, the magnificence of the Grand Canyon and then adds an indefinable something that none of the others have.”
This was truly a wonderful evening and I hope you also have the opportunity to experience this wonderful adventure. Check out some of our fabulous pictures below!
Thank you Dolly!
Bill and I celebrated our anniversary by taking the cruise on the Canyon Lake this past Saturday night on the Dolly Steamboat. What an amazing evening! The majesty of this vista was exquisite!
Hosted by Captains Jeff Grimh and Tom Henrickson, this narrated and entertaining venture took us to sights only seen in picture books! We also saw a number of bighorn sheep climbing the fabulous Superstition Mountains.
The two and one half hour tour gave us time to reflect on God's beauty, as well as enjoying a wonderful dinner, music, new friends and a narration with information (and jokes) from Captain Jeff.
To quote President Theodore Roosevelt, “the Apache Trail and surrounding area combines the grandeur of the Alps, the glory of the Rockies, the magnificence of the Grand Canyon and then adds an indefinable something that none of the others have.”
This was truly a wonderful evening and I hope you also have the opportunity to experience this wonderful adventure. Check out some of our fabulous pictures below!
Thank you Dolly!
by Jean Lukens on Thursday July 29, 2010
1 comments
The North Phoenix Chamber is now on Facebook and would like you to join our discussions and updates.Join us by CLICKING HERE
by Eugene Scott on Wednesday March 03, 2010
no comments
by Eugene Scott - Mar. 3, 2010 12:05 PM The Arizona Republic
Ralph Holmstrom opened the first C&R Tire near Tatum Boulevard and Bell Road nearly 15 years ago.
He had worked in the tire industry for Firestone for 30 years and joined an association of tire dealers shortly after starting his own small business.
"I picked up things listening (to people at the association), but I wouldn't say anybody went out of their way to assist me," Holmstrom said. "Most small businesses really don't have anywhere they can turn to for guidance."
Since then, he's opened locations in Scottsdale and Anthem.
About a year ago after semi-retiring, Holmstrom joined the North Phoenix Chamber of Commerce. He had more time on his hands and wanted to connect with other small business owners, particularly those just starting up. Through the chamber, he met Lyle Clark, who was taking his first leap into owning a small business with Honest-1 Auto Care, near Cactus Road and Paradise Village Parkway West. A mentorship was born.
"If you met someone on the street or in a bar while having a beer, and you found out they were in your same business, there probably wouldn't be as much willingness for exchange," Holmstrom said. "But when you're a member of an organization like the chamber, you're all kind of part of the same team."
The North Phoenix Chamber is encouraging its veteran business owners to mentor new small businesses in this tough economic time. The chamber has more than 200 members, and 12 percent of them are businesses that have been operating for less than five years.
Executive Director Jean Lukens said she is seeing more small businesses seeking advice now more than ever.
A study from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics said that more than 40 percent of small businesses fail within the first two years. Nearly 70 percent fail within the first four.
Gary Naumann, director of the Spirit of Enterprise Center at the W.P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University, said a lack of wise counsel from more experienced professionals is partially to blame. He said new business owners need to be proactive if they want to beat the odds.
"The best thing to do is to just ask around to your circle of friends for somebody who knows somebody," he said.
Lukens said the group's networking events are some of the prime places where longtime business owners and those just getting started connect.
"We have a number of networking events and when a new person comes to me at a mixer, I will introduce the new person to other members in their industry," she said. "People realize that they need help right now, and this (connecting with a chamber) is the best way of doing it."
The chamber does not have a formalized mentoring program, but Lukens said after connecting small business owners to one another, the relationships often naturally happen. More now than in past years, Lukens said young entrepreneurs are aware of the need for help.
"There are some businesses that have gone out of business because of the economy, but the chambers are increasing in numbers because people realize that they cannot get their name out by themselves anymore," she said.
Clark's desire to be more involved in northeast Phoenix's business community led him to contact the chamber. He said he met Holmstrom at the first event he attended.
"At first he kind of checked me out and then as he heard me talking and what I wanted to do, it really fit the same way he does his business. We both had some things in common," Clark said.
The two men talked often at chamber events and other times leading up to the December opening of Clark's store.
"It's been valuable," Clark said of his discussions with Holmstrom. "I've been able to use a lot of what he has to say. He talks about the importance of being out there in front of everybody. (He says:) 'Promote, promote, promote.' "
While their meetings have decreased since Clark's opening, Holmstrom's wisdom from previous sessions continues to help him.
Ralph Holmstrom opened the first C&R Tire near Tatum Boulevard and Bell Road nearly 15 years ago.
He had worked in the tire industry for Firestone for 30 years and joined an association of tire dealers shortly after starting his own small business.
"I picked up things listening (to people at the association), but I wouldn't say anybody went out of their way to assist me," Holmstrom said. "Most small businesses really don't have anywhere they can turn to for guidance."
Since then, he's opened locations in Scottsdale and Anthem.
About a year ago after semi-retiring, Holmstrom joined the North Phoenix Chamber of Commerce. He had more time on his hands and wanted to connect with other small business owners, particularly those just starting up. Through the chamber, he met Lyle Clark, who was taking his first leap into owning a small business with Honest-1 Auto Care, near Cactus Road and Paradise Village Parkway West. A mentorship was born.
"If you met someone on the street or in a bar while having a beer, and you found out they were in your same business, there probably wouldn't be as much willingness for exchange," Holmstrom said. "But when you're a member of an organization like the chamber, you're all kind of part of the same team."
The North Phoenix Chamber is encouraging its veteran business owners to mentor new small businesses in this tough economic time. The chamber has more than 200 members, and 12 percent of them are businesses that have been operating for less than five years.
Executive Director Jean Lukens said she is seeing more small businesses seeking advice now more than ever.
A study from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics said that more than 40 percent of small businesses fail within the first two years. Nearly 70 percent fail within the first four.
Gary Naumann, director of the Spirit of Enterprise Center at the W.P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University, said a lack of wise counsel from more experienced professionals is partially to blame. He said new business owners need to be proactive if they want to beat the odds.
"The best thing to do is to just ask around to your circle of friends for somebody who knows somebody," he said.
Lukens said the group's networking events are some of the prime places where longtime business owners and those just getting started connect.
"We have a number of networking events and when a new person comes to me at a mixer, I will introduce the new person to other members in their industry," she said. "People realize that they need help right now, and this (connecting with a chamber) is the best way of doing it."
The chamber does not have a formalized mentoring program, but Lukens said after connecting small business owners to one another, the relationships often naturally happen. More now than in past years, Lukens said young entrepreneurs are aware of the need for help.
"There are some businesses that have gone out of business because of the economy, but the chambers are increasing in numbers because people realize that they cannot get their name out by themselves anymore," she said.
Clark's desire to be more involved in northeast Phoenix's business community led him to contact the chamber. He said he met Holmstrom at the first event he attended.
"At first he kind of checked me out and then as he heard me talking and what I wanted to do, it really fit the same way he does his business. We both had some things in common," Clark said.
The two men talked often at chamber events and other times leading up to the December opening of Clark's store.
"It's been valuable," Clark said of his discussions with Holmstrom. "I've been able to use a lot of what he has to say. He talks about the importance of being out there in front of everybody. (He says:) 'Promote, promote, promote.' "
While their meetings have decreased since Clark's opening, Holmstrom's wisdom from previous sessions continues to help him.
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