The CHQ Chamber was delighted to work in concert with the Warren County Chamber of Business and Industry and the Audubon Community Nature Center in Jamestown this week to co-host Business After Hours. We routinely run Business After Hours events throughout Chautauqua County – with several more planned in 2025 – and they are well-attended networking events designed to connect businesspeople in a social setting that can lead to productive relationships. To say the Audubon event was a tremendous success is an understatement. With over 100 people attending from businesses all over Chautauqua and Warren Counties, this event was one of the best we have seen in quite some time. It was truly a testament to the power of partnerships.

Our mission is to build vital connections, provide professional resources, and champion our local businesses in Chautauqua County. All of the work we do relies on partnerships with exceptional organizations. Some of those collaborations are more public facing, while many of them are more behind the scenes.

Among our alliances are Chautauqua County, the Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth, the County of Chautauqua Industrial Development Agency, the Chautauqua County Visitors Bureau, the Small Business Development Center, Jamestown Renaissance Corporation, Gebbie Foundation, and numerous others including municipalities, other non-profits, and our outstanding local business community. Some of these partner organizations provide necessary funding for our organization while others work with us to ensure sustainable programs and events that directly benefit local businesses.

As a business association, we consistently facilitate collaborative relationships between local organizations and businesses as a way to promote economic activity in our county. Whether it’s linking businesspeople to one another through peer-to-peer networking, connecting consumers to businesses through promotions and our ShopLocalCHQ Gift Card, or providing workshops and advocacy opportunities, the CHQ Chamber seeks out ways to bring people together for the betterment of the business community.

As another highlight of how working with others’ benefits individuals, organizations, businesses, and the community at large, we encourage attendance at a special event next weekend at the Reg Lenna Center for the Arts in Jamestown. JoinCHQ is a community fair designed to introduce participants to over 40 clubs and organizations with a focus on why joining a group is both good for your personal health and the health of your community. Doors open at noon. Starting at 1pm there will be a showing of the documentary Join or Die, followed by another short film featuring local “joiners” and leaders. The event is free of charge. Area clubs and nonprofits will be present to chat with anyone interested before and after the movie.

Whether you join a civic organization such as Rotary or Kiwanis, are part of a business association such as the CHQ Chamber, or volunteer for a local nonprofit organization, joining a group can open new avenues and perspectives for individuals and businesses alike. You don’t have to be a full-fledged “partner” to profit from belonging, but it can move your business, your career, or your personal life in new and fulfilling directions.

Last week’s event at the Audubon Community Nature Center was just one example of successful teamwork among several organizations. There’s more to come throughout this year, and we invite all local businesspeople to participate. Keep an eye on our calendar for upcoming programs and events.

BUSINESS BUILDER WORKSHOP MARCH 24

The next CHQ Chamber Business Builder Workshop is titled Corporate Citizenship and Engagement, but that tells just part of the story that will unfold.

Our guest presenters for this event will be John Felton from the Southern Chautauqua Federal Credit Union, Any Rohler with United Way of Chautauqua County, and John Raymond, owner of Honest John’s Pizza. Together, these local business and nonprofit leaders will focus on how engagement with the community boosts your business image through donations, sponsorship, volunteerism, and more.

This workshop is for any businessperson, no matter the size of your organization, that may be interested in getting more involved in the community or helping to brand your business through engagement opportunities. It’s also for non-profits that may be interested in learning more about how these business decisions are made. The CHQ Chamber always builds-in networking opportunities that may help link local businesses and organizations in meaningful ways.

This event will be held March 24 from 1-3pm at the Southern Chautauqua Federal Credit Union Community Training Center, 110 Mall Boulevard in Lakewood. Sponsors are Southern Chautauqua Federal Credit Union, Brooks-TLC Hospital System, Kinetic Business, Jamestown Community College, Media One Radio Group, Observer, and The Post-Journal.

BUSINESS AFTER HOURS AT THE ATHENAEUM HOTEL

The next CHQ Chamber Business After Hours will be held Wednesday, April 30 at the grand Athenaeum Hotel at Chautauqua Institution. You can enjoy this beautiful setting along with complimentary appetizers and a cash bar from 5-6:30pm.

All local businesspeople are welcome. CHQ Chamber Business After Hours events are free for two people from each Chamber member organization. The price is just $10 for non-members or anyone above the two-person limit. Registration is appreciated for our planning purposes but is not required. Registering in advance gets you on our “Who’s Who in the Room” list. Registration is open now through our web calendar at www.chqchamber.org.

Business After Hours at the Athenaeum Hotel is sponsored by the Athenaeum Hotel, Brooks-TLC Hospital System, Chautauqua Institution, Chautauqua Marina, Kinetic Business, M&T Bank, Southern Chautauqua Federal Credit Union, Jamestown Community College, Media One Radio Group, Observer, and The Post-Journal.