The Dayton Chamber of Commerce was in the spotlight at its own luncheon on Tuesday, March 12, with Chamber Chief Executive Officer Sean Stockard explaining to the 100 or so guests that the Chamber is on solid footing and poised for growth.
Stockard, who took over the reins of the operation in October, provided an overview of the Chamber’s current status and the strategic direction the Chamber intends to take to gain more members and provide more valuable services to its members.
He explained that in his first months with the Chamber he was committed to focusing on reviewing and strengthening the Chamber’s financial situation, and that approach led to a more disciplined strategy for billing and accounts receivables. By the close of December, the Chamber had around $22,000 in reserves and $74,000 in accounts receivables.
“That’s a high number for an organization our size. And I can tell you the good news is that as of today, we’ve dropped that down by about $30,000. I’ve been doing aggressive billing. We’ve been sending out invoices regularly now. We send out invoices on a monthly basis and we’ll be sending out quarterly statements to get different accounts that are in arrears caught up so that the organization has a strong financial footing so that we can do the things that we need to do,” he explained.
Stockard also introduced a plan for the Chamber to host signature events, which emerged during a strategic planning session with the board. These four annual events are meant to engage the community in Chamber events and offer networking and marketing opportunities to Chamber members.
Among these events are the annual gala in January, an upcoming woman’s event in April, Dayton Days in June and a golf tournament in November. Stockard also explained that the Chamber plans to alternate its 10 monthly membership luncheons between Dayton and Liberty.
With the closing of the now-defunct Liberty-Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce, the Dayton Chamber of Commerce has both an opportunity and a challenge in bridging the gap for Liberty merchants and organizations. By hosting luncheons in both communities, the Dayton Chamber can both accommodate and attract new members. The next luncheon in April will be in Liberty. More information about that luncheon will be posted on the Chamber’s website.
In an effort to foster connections between Chamber members, the Chamber has adjusted lunch timings, starting at 11:30 a.m., to allow for additional networking before the luncheons commence. Additionally, plans are underway to organize business after-hours events, providing a platform for business leaders to interact in a more informal setting.
The Chamber also is offering free weekly advertising for members, as well as promoting community events through their platforms, including Chamber email blasts.
For more information on the Dayton Chamber of Commerce, go online to https://daytontxchamber.com/ The Chamber will soon be launching a new website at the same web address. To speak to Stockard about Chamber opportunities, call 936-257-2393.