2008 has been a remarkable year for the Blue Water Area Chamber of Commerce! We thank each and every member for their commitment and support of the Blue Water area business community!

As a Chamber, our purpose is to partner with our membership to create a sustainable business environment. As your partner, we are very proud to report the following accomplishments for 2008:

• New Membership growth for 2008 is up 8%


• Website hits for 2008 are a half million!


• Will be printing, for the very first time, a County-wide Chamber Membership Directory
  (Anchor Bay, Algonac, Marine City, St. Clair, Marysville, Blue Water and Yale!)


• Community Benefit Fund doubled through fundraising efforts


• Tripled legislative advocacy efforts in 2008


• Created the Business Entrepreneurial Assisstance Team (BEAT)

One of our primary goals for 2008 was to be an active collaborator with community focused organizations. In a down economic year, the Chamber has continued to see the fruit of our collaboration in many ways:

• Downtown Development Authority: retention & attraction of business to downtown


• Blue Water Convention and Visitors Bureau: Discover the Blue regional marketing campaign


• Port Huron Hospital Foundation: Leadership Blue Water


• Community Foundation of St. Clair County: Small business incentives; Shop Dine & Win campaign; Opportunity to secure our new location in the heart of Port Huron

We want to sincerely thank the following people for helping with the tremendous task of relocating our Chamber to Historic Downtown:

• Community Foundation of St. Clair County - Randy Maiers for his leadership.


• Kramer Realty - Gerry Kramer & Gary Fletcher, the owners of the building.


• Acheson Ventures – Mike Delong, Project Manager & Bill Vogan architect designed the space.


• Larry Builte - Larry Builte Construction who brought it to fruition a week ahead of schedule!
  (...and who donated our staff refrigerator!)

To learn about other local chamber activities, visit www.bluewaterchamber.com

Click to view our Grand Opening photo album!

Walk into Hopps Little Shoppe Around the Corner and you will be escourted into a beautiful bounty of floral arrangements and gifts. You are also likely to be greeted by Chloe, a sweet Bichon Frise who loves to hang out at the shop with her owners, Deborah and Michael Bem.

Whether you're planning a wedding, corporate interior scape, or sending flowers to a dear friend, the Bem's have the eye and know-how to fill your blooming needs.

As members of the Society of American Florists, they hold a special attention and commitment to quality and customer service. To grow creatively is a personal goal of Deborah's and attention toward excellence in design skills is her primary effort.

After opening their new location at 324 Superior, the busy little shop gives the Bem's little free time, but when they have it, their favorite pastime is to visit with their friends and family. The Bem's are proud to have three grown children with families of their own, including two grandchildren.

The Chamber thanks you, Michael and Deborah, for your investment and support of the blue water area business community!

For more information: www.hoppsflowers.com or stop in to see the new little wonderland for yourself!

 

In the Spotlight: Calming Effects Health Spa

Member Recognitions

Congratulations to the following Blue Water Area Chamber members for their achievement in being recognized for the Thomas Edison Business Awards!
E & A Credit Union - WINNER!
Visiting Nurse Association - HONORABLE MENTION!

 

Timothy J. Lozen Selected as Michigan Super-Lawyer
For the thrid year in a row, Port Huron attorney, Timothy J. Lozen, founder of the Law Offices of Timothy J. Lozen P.C., and of-counsel to the Detroit area based frim Jaffe Raitt Heuer & Weiss P.C., has been named one of Michigan's top environmental lawyers.

Michigan Super-Lawyers selects lawyers considered to be among the best in the state based on their professional achievements and peer recognition from a pool of more that 30,000 lawyers invited to participate in the nomination process.

Mr. Lozen is on the governing coucil of the State Bar of Michigan's Environmental Law Section and is past chair of the Sections' Real Estate Committee. He is a summa cum laude graduate of teh Detroi College of Law. His practice focuses on environmental law, business law, medical practice organization, litigation, drain law, and real estate law, including condemnation. For more information please visit www.lozenlaw.com.

Acclaimed author to speak at Town Hall on global economic trends
The Blue Water Area Chamber of Commerce is partnering with Port Huron Town Hall to promote acclaimed author, Ted Fishman who wrote the bestselling book, China Inc: How the Rise of the Next Superpower Challenges America and the World. Fishman will be the next presenter at Port Huron Town Hall on Monday, November 10, 10:30 a.m. at McMorran Theatre, Port Huron. Tickets are on sale at the McMorran box office for $35 each.

Fishman is a leading expert on the Peoples Republic of China and its development as a world power. In his book, he writes about global economic trends and how they influence people’s everyday lives in an understandable and meaningful way for the general audience.

Chamber President, Vickie Ledsworth said, “Port Huron Town Hall has a wonderful slate of speakers this season and the Chamber encourages the business community to attend Fishman’s presentation so we can better understand how the growing dominance of China’s industrial economy has affected our nation and what government and business leaders should be doing in response.”

Michigan Chamber of Commerce Future Forum Business Survey
Read the results from the Michigan Chamber of Commerce Future Forum Business Survey for an insight into how business owners feel about the economy and challenges to their business; which may help business, community and government leaders identify ways we can work to improve the business climate.