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An announcement of significant impact

What a great week it has been for Greater Owensboro. We learned that customer service sector leader Alorica has selected our community for a major project that will employee over 800 people. Jobs range in position and pay.

Alorica ranks high in job satisfaction. Company officials speak knowledgeably about culture in the workplace. They know that in a tight labor market, in order to attract quality employees, you must set the bar high. They understand that wage is a motivator to attract employees, but retaining employees in a competitive market is also dependent on people enjoying being at work. Work environment creates loyalty and it improves the bottom line.

Happy employees are productive employees. Customer service employees who are happy are much more like to be effective — and good company representatives — than customer service reps who are going through the motions. Let’s not forget, that people that are happy at work are generally happier at home. A company of this size with a transformative culture can have a major impact overall.

Alorica also has a track record of giving back to communities. Philanthropy and charitable giving are major components of the corporate philosophy.

We already have many employers in our community who embody these philosophies. But an addition of this magnitude is a game changer.

It will impact the community’s standard of living. It will accelerate the transformation of our downtown. It will create more buzz and excitement about what is going on in Owensboro … and that only creates more investment. It will transform the corner of Third and Frederica streets (the site company officials chose) into a hip and vibrant place and create foot traffic for so many locally and family owned small businesses nearby.

Let’s take time to celebrate this success. Let’s acknowledge that our community has private investors, business leaders, elected officials, community organizations and nearly 100,000 people who are working together to make a Greater Owensboro.

By Candance Brake President and CEO Greater Ownesboro Chamber of Commerce

Chamber Works Expo a tapestry of our regional economy

This Thursday our Chamber, in conjunction with the Owensboro Convention Center, is hosting an opportunity for people in Greater Owensboro to attend a free event showcasing our Chamber Membership.

Chamber Works is Sept. 22 in the lobby of the Owensboro Convention Center. The Convention Center is pulling out the stops to showcase what they offer for events such as this. They are providing at no cost a highlight of their great food.

From 4 – 7 p.m., in a casual, fun setting, members will have booths displaying what they do and products that they sell. Many door prizes from our membership will be announced by WBKR’s Chad Benningfield, our emcee.

Events like this are opportunities for our general public to see the depth of what makes a Chamber membership. We are small business, non-profits, utilities, colleges and entrepreneurs. We sell goods and services. We build homes and keep the community healthy. We teach and feed all.

We truly are a tapestry of the community. Following are the members who will be on hand:

• Independence Bank

• Riney Hancock CPAs

• Custom Audio Video

• United Way

• Daviess County Cooperative Extension Service

• OMUfibernet

• University of Louisville Nursing

• AT&T

• Painting with a Twist

• KeeForce

• Kentucky Wesleyan

• U.S. Bank

• AFLAC

• Junior League

• Express Employment Professionals

• Hospice of Western Kentucky

• Braden Financial Services

• UniFirst

• Limos by Knight

• Cornerstone Information Systems

• Owensboro Museum of Science & History

• Cotton Cottage

• Matthew 25 AIDS

• Tanner+West

• WKU Owensboro

• OASIS, Inc.

• Owensboro Family YMCA

• Owensboro Convention Center

• Pink Poppy Boutique

• Patti’s Resale

• Lil Bit Sassy

• Dapper Dog, LLC

• Serene Relief Integrative Massage Therapy

• Lawrence and Augusta Hager Foundation

• Kentucky Innovation Network

• Digital Group, LLC

• Savi Chic Boutique

• CASA of Ohio Valley

• Owensboro Community and Technical College

• Christian Care at Home

• Owensboro Public Schools

• Owensboro Health Healthpark

• Redline Contracting

• Drew Insurance Agency

• Cecil Farm Produce

• Studio Slant

• WBKR

• Nunez Chiropractic, PSC

• Nomad Technology Group

• Shoe Stop

• Century Mortgage Company

• Daviess County Public Library

• Crazy Me Gifts & Apparel

• US Lawns of Owensboro

• RiverPark EyeCare

By Candance Brake President and CEO Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce

Chamber Works Expo coming Sept. 22

The Chamber Works 2016 Expo will offer 60 local businesses, nonprofits and industries a chance to showcase — and sell — their products and services from 4 to 7 p.m. on Sept. 22 at the Owensboro Convention Center.

Chamber’s Red, White and Blue Picnic set

Candidates for national, state and local political offices will soon receive letters inviting them to participate in the Red, White and Blue Picnic, scheduled for 4 p.m. on Oct. 27 on the north lawn of the Daviess County Courthouse in downtown Owensboro.

Celebration of Labor Day about appreciating workforce

According to the Department of Labor, Labor Day, “is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country.”

Change can be a good thing

Two months ago I made a major life change. I left a job and a work family that has meant so much to me over the last eight years. And, if we’re being honest with each other, I was terrified. But, oddly enough, it wasn’t the fear of failure that caused my apprehension; it was the fear of success.

Imagine if we all lived ‘The Wesleyan Way’

Kentucky Wesleyan College made an announcement last week that amounts to great news for our community. President Bart Darrell has agreed to extend his contract with Wesleyan for 5 more years.

Prepare for back to school with Owensboro business

Our local school systems are headed back to school this week and our Owensboro college kids are getting ready to head to school as well. School zones will be crowded again in the mornings. Kids who have been sleeping past noon will be groggy-eyed and tired for a couple of weeks.

Three hours, two events remind us of our mission

Tuesday was one of those days. It began early with rain that dumped buckets all over our city and our farms. At the office, things just were not hitting on all cylinders. It seemed all of the work we were putting out was just not flowing well. We were dealing with several issues and deadlines that were approaching too quickly.