Vogt Takes Over Chamber Helm

James Vogt, Manager of M & I Bank at 55^th and Bell Road, took over as Chairman of the Board at the Chamber’s  59^th Business Appreciation Luncheon and Mayor’s State of the City Address on February 23. 

Outgoing Chairman of the Board, Dr. Arthur Dobbelaere of Midwestern University, lauded the Chamber’s 2009 accomplishments as remarkable, given the severity of the economic downturn. The Chamber partnered with the City in implementing a Business Retention program and made site visits to over 50 area major employers to assess growth and job creation needs; strengthened our communication networks by creating an online newsletter and connected the Chamber with Twitter and Facebook social media outlets; grew the Chamber’s website to an average of 600,000 hits and nearly 20,000 business referrals per month; developed international trade  opportunities with China by taking 120 people t Shanghai and Beijing in October of 2009; continued to strengthen our public policy efforts by helping to create the first –ever statewide business legislative agenda with over 30 other local Chambers in Arizona; partnered with the City of Glendale to promote the Luke Forward effort to secure the F35 training facility at Luke Air Force Base; and began a “Young Professionals” network to connect business people ages 21-40 with Chamber and community programs.

As incoming Chairman of the Board, Mr. Vogt pledged to reformat and streamline Chamber operations and programs for 2010 in the face of continued depressed economy and to better promote Chamber services and benefits to Glendale small businesses, to continue to focus membership efforts on reaching out to younger business professionals, and to continue our partnerships with the City of Glendale in : promoting Luke Air Force Base, helping to create a Convention and Visitors Bureau, participating in the Business Retention program, and promoting Glendale festivals and events.

June Nelson (First In First Out) was also recognized at the luncheon for her years of service to the Chamber as a volunteer, board member and past Chairman of the Board.