Building a Better Community Through Business

www.springfordchamber.com • 610-489-7200 • 313 Ridge Pike, 2nd floor • Limerick, PA 19468

ChamberNewsletter

October, 2016

The summer heated up for the Spring-Ford

Chamber of Commerce

On Friday, June 10th the Spring-Ford Chamber hosted their first Bingo Bash at Sacred Heart Parish Gymnasium. The event brought out almost 100 community and chamber members for a night of fun filled raffles and bingo bonanza. The chamber raised over $3,500 for the education fund which provides college scholarships to 3 area seniors. This year’s recipients were Christopher Israel, Spring Ford High School headed to Villanova University; Bridget Ringenwald,Pope John Paul II High School headed to Villanova University and Jaime Banks, WesternMontgomery Career and Technology Center headed to Montgomery County Community College. We wish these three amazing students the best in their pursuit of higher education.

A great time was had by all who attended this fun night which included wonderful prizes. Some of the amazing prizes included, The grand prize of a $300 gift card to the PhiladelphiaPremium Outlets was sponsored by MW Group, Harleysville Savings Bank and R&M Construction, a Michael Kors Purse from our Chamber President Louise Tulio of Pope John Paul II High School and 14 other amazing rounds sponsored by Painting with a Twist, Kelly Insurance, Salon Evolve, DS Pools, Wegmans, Bath Fitters, Patriot Pest Solutions, Ambler Savings Bank, Firebirds, Champps, Dickeys BBQ, Arnolds Family Fun Center, Limerick Car Wash, Copperfield Inn and Penn Liberty Bank. Another special thank you goes out to our silent auction donors Spring Valley YMCA, Victory Bank, Spring Ford Country Club, Brookside Country Club and Swede Family Chiropractic. Check out next year’s event for even more raffle balloons and wonderfully fun bingo round prizes.

Continuing through our summer was Limerick Community Day, a joint event with the LimerickTownship Parks and Recreation Committee. Despite the heat, it was a wonderful success with over 75 vendors in our business expo. We were excited to have over 3000 people spend the day walking through vendors, enjoying crafters,demonstrations and eating wonderful food. A special thank you to the Spring-Ford High School Marching band who kicked off the event and to all of our area emergency services who brought out equipment and information for the public to see and enjoy.

To round out the summer was the Women in Networking “Friend-Raiser” at Painting with a Twist in Royersford on Thursday, August 25th. This enjoyable evening had community and chamber members come out and enjoy an evening of artistic endeavors. Laughter and paint filled the room as we all decided to stick to our day jobs.

The fun continues this fall as we host our October luncheon at the Western Montgomery Career and Technology Center and gain a perspective on what the schools in our district are up to in 2016/2017 with a discussion by Dr. David Goodin, Superintendent of the

Spring-Ford School District, Christopher Moritzen, Administrative Director, Western Montgomery Career and Technology Center and Jason Bozzone, President Pope John Paul II High School.

October will also bring a Network Before Work at Lindt Chocolate and a Mixer at the Spring Valley YMCA and a Happy Hour at Champps in Collegeville in November. Try not to miss our amazingworkshop series; Learn, Lead, Excel at the end of September and October.

Upcoming Events

September 27

Reveal the Leader

Within Workshop

Keller Williams, Limerick542 N Lewis Rd, Limerick8:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.Instructor Adrean TurnerTurner Coaching, Training & Consulting LLC

October 4

Network Before WorkLindt ChocolatePhiladelphia Premium Outlets18 Lightcap Rd #1029, Pottstown8:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.Members Free, $10 Non-Members

October 6

Chamber Mixer

Spring Valley YMCA19 W Linfield-Trappe Rd, Royersford5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

October 13

Monthly Membership

Luncheon

Western Montgomery Career and Technology Center77 Gratersford Road, Royersford11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.State of Education in our Community.Mr. Christopher Moritzen, Administrative Director-WMC&TDr. David Goodin, Superinten-dent-Spring-Ford School DistrictMr. Jason Bozzone, President-Pope John Paul II High School$25.00 Members$35.00 Non-Members

Officers of The

Spring-Ford Chamber

Board of Directors

PresidentLouise-Marie TulioPope John Paul II High School

1st Vice PresidentErin CohenAmbler Savings Bank

2nd Vice PresidentSuzette SiebertPatrick J. Kelly Insurance Group

TreasurerTom ThunstromPenn Liberty Bank

SecretarySteve OehlertOehlert Bros. Heating & Cooling

Board Members

Rich FlanaganMallie, LLP

Ronnie FitzPatrickMary Kay Cosmetics

Dr. David GoodinSpring-Ford School District

Mark GreenbergMinuteman Press

Dr. Margaret HagerSwede Family Chiropractic

Denise HarrisonPatriot Pest Solutions

Christi KellyWindham Group

Sean MeyersDS Pool Service

Ron RikerR&M Construction

Marc UmsteadComp-U-Ship

Legal Counsel

Tom WolpertLaw Offices of Tom Wolpert

Chamber Notes:

• The chamber would like to remind all members that we are in the process of developing our 2017/2018 Business Directory. Now is the time to reserve your advertisement space. Check out the chamber website for more information.

• A special thank you goes out to Chief R. Brian Skelton of Limerick Township Police Department and Chief Mark A. Toomey of the Upper Providence Police Department for speaking at our August Luncheon at Spring Hollow Golf Club

• A special thank you goes to Dr. Doug Swede for helping us gain perspective on living a healthy life from our September Luncheon at Brookside Country Club

• Save the date for our Holiday Mixer and Happy Hour at Cutillo’s Restaurant on December 8th.

• The Chamber is always looking for businesses to host mixers and network before work events. Now is the time to reserve your date for 2017. Contact the Chamber office for more information

• Did you know that the chamber has a job bank on our website or that we can post hot deals and member offers on our website? Check out our Chamber 101 on November 10th at 1pm following our November Luncheon at Copperfield Inn and learn how to take advantage of what the Spring-Ford Chamber has to offer to all members not just our new ones.

Comunity Day 2016Pictures from this years Limerick Community Day

“REMAX ACHIEVERS INC. SPONSOR MAGIC SHOW FOR CHILDREN’S MIRACLE NETWORK.”

From left: Matthew Piontkowski, Coordinator CMN, Talia Epstein, Child Life

RE/MAX Achievers, Inc. is committed to its goal: “supportour community where we live and work”. On May 13th, RE/Max Achievers celebrated their 24th annual visit to The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

The Achievers team visits the children each year to add sunshine to their day by hosting a Magic Show and sharing gifts for the children in the CHOP Seashore House. The young patients were captivated and charmed by Francis Menotti. Francis Menotti is a world class Magician and artist, who performed at the President’s inauguration.

The Realtors that attend the CHOP visit have said, “It is an emotional and bittersweet experience; many children in the hospital are too sick to even attend the magic show”.

John E. Ohler, Broker Owner, recently announced that RE/MAX worldwide has raised over $110 million for Children’s Miracle Network. With over 100,000 affiliates, no real estate franchise has raised more money for CMN than RE/MAX.

Every Year RE/MAX Realtors donate a portion of their earned commission to Children’s Miracle Network. RE/MAX Achievers, Inc. has been a corporate sponsor since 1992, raising over $300,000. Funds raised through Children’s Miracle Network throughout the Philadelphia region are earmarked for patient care programs like the Child Life and the Education Department at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

In addition, RE/MAX Achievers has been generous with their time and talent in their support of the Children’s Miracle Network. RE/MAX Realtors volunteered their time at the OLDIES 98.1 CMN Radiothon in September

2015, RE/MAX also supported the CMN Miracle Jeans Day.

If you would like more information on how to donate to Children’s Miracle Network at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, please call 215-590-7002.

RE/MAX Achievers is eager to assist you with all of your real estate needs whether buying, selling or investing! You can contact us at our 2 offices located in Collegeville – 1425 S. Collegeville Rd. Rt. 29, 610-489-5900 and Pottstown – 2060 E. High St., 610-326-1200, or our website: www.achieverspa.com.

Do You Have the Keys?Donna Botti, Delos Inc.Your online business and physical business are no longer separate. When someone wants to find out about your organization, they first look online. According to Google, over a third of mobile searches are local, meaning your online presence is valuable. Part of protecting that presence is having the keys to control your domain name, website, social media, and claimed listings.

You wouldn’t show up for work in the morning, stand outside and wonder how you are going to get in the building. “Who has the keys?” Unfortunately, this is the case for many organizations when it comes to their online presence. Everything is fine until it is not. Don’t wait until there is a problem to figure out how to get in.

The most important key to your online presence is your Domain Name Registration. This is your business identityon the web. No two businesses can use the same domain name. You must register the name and renew it on a regular basis.

Having access to this is vital to securing your online presence. Your domain name registration is separate from your website and your email. You may have a combined service for these or not, but you must ensure that the business is the owner and primary contact for the domain registration. That access controls everything associated with the name.

Along with your Domain Name Registration, having access to the following is also important:• Domain Name Servers (DNS)• Website Hosting• Website Content Access or Control Panel• Google Analytics and Search Console• Google My Business• Social Media Accounts• Advertising Accounts for Google and Facebook• Other Claimed Listings like Bing, Yelp, Trip Advisor, Angie’s List

For each service, you should have the following information:• Link to log on to the service• User name• Password• Email address where notifications are sent• Who else has access?• If there are charges, who pays and how?

Your online presence is valuable, and having the keys is essential in today’s mobile world. After all, you wouldn’t show up to your place of business without keys to the front door.

For more information, as well as a comprehensive checklist on what information you need, see our full blog post on Who Has the Keys to Your Web Presence. http://www.delosinc.com/keys-web-presence/

17 Tips to help you select the right coach for your business!Mindy Lipsky, Innovative Coaching ServicesWould your business benefit by hiring a coach? Over the past few years, coaching has become more prevalent in the business realm. One of the myths I have read states that coaches are utilized for businesses that are failing, not succeeding. Up to 40% of Fortune 500 companies hire a coach to improve their business and keep them moving forward toward achieving their goals. Even Olympic athletes… the BEST in the world, would never consider going alone without a coach! Coaching can offer discipline, tips and encouragement, not to mention accountability in striving for success! However, not all coaches are created equally. I am a firm believerthat there is a coach out there for every business at every level… in this article I share with you my thoughts on how to find the perfect coach for YOU and your business, while avoiding some pitfalls along the way.

1. Determine the type of coaching you are looking for or in need of. There are 3 main types of coaching… Life Coaching, Business Coaching and Executive Coaching. Life coaching is more of personal satisfaction and life success, while business and executive coaching focuses more on improving or growing a business. My personal experience is that Life Coaching filters in with Business & Executive coaching. To determine if you need business or executive coaching, know the size of your business and select a coach accordingly. Once you determine what type of coaching you need… start looking for a coach in that field.

2. Once you find a potential coach… Check their credentials. Although a coaching certification is not the “be all end all”… a good coach will have some

form of formal training. Coaching has a methodology to it and training is necessary. A reputable certifica- tion is desired. Coaching is a highly-tuned and powerful process of communication and problem solving. The relationship developed together with your coach is co-creative and focused entirely on your interests, challenges and goals. The coach’s role is to provide support to enhance the skills, resources, ideas and creativity that you already have. Coaches are trained to actively listen, to observe, and to customize their approach to meet your needs.

3. Consider their knowledge level. Do they have crossover expertise with your industry? Do they have experience not only in coaching but owning a business themselves? While they don’t need to know everything about your business… a general knowledge of business practice is helpful.

4. School is never out for the pro. Look for someone who engages in continuous learning. Are they continually educating themselves to become the best coach they can be? Do they know how to research and inquire on your behalf or make suggestions to guide you?

5. A coach should be well connected. They don’t have to be an expert in every aspect of business… but they should have a deep set of resources to help you in areas they are not experts in.

6. Look for someone who loves to teach and teaches by example! They are willing to admit their failures and help you learn from their experiences.

7. Look for a coach that excels in problem solving. In business, problem solving is critical. A good coach will listen intently and pull ideas out from their client, but also be able to problem solve and identify when they need to step in.

8. Look for a coach with expert status. Do they write their own material? Are they speaking or presenting to other groups? Do they have other offerings like books, programs or class offerings?

9. What are people saying about them? Check for testi monials and ask for references of past or current clients. Do they have a track record for getting the type of results you are looking for?

10. Do they offer a “get to know you” complimentary session? It is common practice in the coaching world for a coach to offer a complimentary session. Coaching is often a long term relationship (6 months or more), so having the opportunity to get a complimentary session is extremely helpful in making a decision.

11. Be sure your personalities are a good fit and that you feel comfortable with your coach. Your person alities need to mesh to be productive. A good choice is a coach with whom you have great rapport. Trust is key. You will be sharing intimate details of your business and in some cases certain details about your personal life. Go with your gut. When you feel a connection to your coach you are more likely to succeed.

12. Confirm WHO you will be working with… will you work with the Coach or one of their assistants. Some larger coaches will advertise a program and you end up working with one of their sub-coaches… not them. You need to determine if that will work for you or if you need more personalized attention.

13. Determine HOW they work with clients. Is it face to face? Over the Phone or video chat… some are even via pre-recorded video or email. Not all programs are created alike. There are one on one programs, group programs, masterminds, online recorded courses… the list goes on. Make sure you know what you are signing up for. If you have questions don’t be afraid to ask.

14. A good coach asks LOTS of questions. Your coach will challenge you. They will help push you out of your comfort zone, stretch and give you a dose of honesty when needed. Find a coach who will hold you accountable and be willing to coach AND mentor.

15. Are they open with their fees and programs? A coach should be confident in what they offer and how they offer it. You should have an agreement or contract you need to sign. This agreement protects both YOU and the coach. READ IT! Ask questions if needed.

16. A good coach is encouraging and reminds you to celebrate your successes and shares your joy in that. They are your biggest cheerleader all while pushing you to be the best you can be!

17. Confidentiality! A good coach practices confidenti- ality not only in information about you, but also protects the interests of your business.

Coaching is an investment in your business and in yourself. It is a decision that should not be taken lightly. When you find a coach that is a perfect match for you… magic happens. As a member of the Spring-Ford Chamberof Commerce I am happy to speak with anyone who has questions about selecting a coach for their business.

The Most Powerful 3-Word Business Plan in the WorldTodd Rogers, Agents of EfficiencyWhen it comes to three-word aphorisms, “Just do it” is a mantra for athletes all over the world. But every business owner — even those who run marathons — should embrace this mantra: “Do less, better.”

Whether you’re selling spirits in Williamsburg, legal services in Indiana, or running shoes in Oregon, “Do less, better” is the most powerful three-word business plan in the world.

It harnesses the efficiency of passion and drives the focus on the value of your time. It’s only three words, but what lives inside the phrase is the promise of enormous gains in time saved, better output, and a far more valuable and profitable business.

It’s also what saves a business owner from the DIY trap. Yes, a business might start with a little DIY. The first Nikes were inspired by Bill Bowerman’s experiment with a waffle iron. But his co-founder, Phil Knight, didn’t sell the shoes out of his car for long. From the outset, they harnessed the expertise of others and focused on what they did best. The swoosh wasn’t their idea and neither was “Just do it.”

Most entrepreneurs don’t realize when it’s time to pass off important duties, and they get stuck DIYing every aspect of their business instead of specializing. This makes it easy for them to become distracted and divert their attention from their passion.

Running a smart, efficient business means identifying the core of what you do and trusting others to handle the rest. It means adopting the most powerful and time-tested business plan in the world: “Do less, better.”

There just isn’t room for mediocrity in the marketplace. Someone who’s more passionate and more focused will swoop in and eat your piece. The sooner an entrepre-neur allows herself to focus on what she does best — and finds specialists for a team that will handle the other stuff — the sooner she’ll outpace the competition and see her business grow.

Nike has been so successful that it’s hard to imagine it as a DIY startup — but it was. It began with just two people: Knight and his track coach, Bowerman. Like most small-business owners, Knight just wantedto make a living from his passion: sports. He and Bowerman devised a simple plan and stuck to it. They understood their Key Activities and hired others for critical tasks that we’re outside of that.

Their first year, they sold $8,000 worth of shoes and hired their first full-time salesman. After two years in business, Blue Ribbon Sports (which was their name at that time) opened its first retail store so employees could stop selling shoes from their cars, too. Yes, they’d already enlisted the help of others for that task before they had a brick-and-mortar place of business.

Business was so good that first year at the store in SantaMonica, Calif., they expanded retail and distribution operations to the East Coast. And they also prepared to absolve ties with Onitsuka Tiger (now known as Asics), one of their earliest Key Partnerships, and go it alone with their brand that was born on a waffle iron.

As we’ve discussed, these partnerships change over time. As the Internet began to change the way people buy shoes, Nike’s developed one of its most important partnerships with UPS.

When a customer orders a pair of Nike’s online, they rarely actually deal with Nike. As Michael Hammer described in his book “The Agenda: What Every Business Must Do to Dominate the Decade,” that order arrives at UPS, who then finds, packs and ships the shoes. UPS also handles returns if the customer isn’t happy. UPS even operates Nike’s call centers.

This allows Nike to focus on what they do best as a company: product design and brand building. That undiluted focus helps them keep their edge in the competitive world of sports fashion, and maintain one of the world’s most powerful brands. Their reliance on specialized experts to execute the details keeps their costs down — and their profits up.

Even with more than $30 billion in annual revenue, Nike is only able to maintain that market dominance because they never forgot the three-word business plan that helped them get there when they founded the company with only a thousand bucks in the bank: “Do less, better.”

What is the one thing your company can do better than any of its competitors?

Identify the key activity that’s truly essential to your business — and what you need to rely on other peoplefor — and you’ll begin to understand how Nike and every other successful enterprise beat everyone else.

Welcome to the New

Members of the

Spring-Ford Chamber

AAA East Central, East Penn RegionBrightway InsuranceCD’s Place Restaurant and CateringChick-Fil-A RoyersfordCollegeville Speech and Hearing, LLCEXP Realty LLCInnovative Coaching ServicesJ & K Excavating, Inc.Kalejta Financial ManagementLazer LimousineProductivity Pointe, LLCRouse Chamberlin HomesTents Party RentalsThe Crafty CorkscrewThe Fleischmann Law Firm, P.C.The Pink Moose by Donna’s CateringTrout, James, & Associates, P.C.Wayback Burgers, Royersford

25th Anniversary LuncheonThursday, January 19th

Copperfi eld Inn at LakesideSpecial Guest Speaker:

Radio Host John DeBellaDetails Coming Soon!

Save the Date

Chamber Events!Picures from the Chamber Bingo Bash, Win event at Painting With a Twist, The Chamber August lunch & Mixer at Spring Hallow Mixer

October 20

Shark Think Tank

Copperfield Inn, 594 W. Ridge Pike, Limerick11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.$25.00*Business Owner Members Only

October 20

WIN Fall Roundtable

Community Music School, 775 W Main St, Trappe10:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.Enjoy a discussion on issues affecting business women today. Facilitator: Mindy Lipsky, Innovative Coaching Services

October 25

Productivity Time Savers in Marketing Workshop

Keller Williams, Limerick, 542 N Lewis Rd, Limerick8:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.Instructor Donna Botti, Delos Inc.

November 1

Network Before Work

Productivity Pointe, LLC., 152 E. High Street Suite #440, Pottstown8:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.Free for Members, $10 Non-Members

November 10

Monthly Membership Luncheon

Copperfield Inn, 594 W Ridge Pike, Limerick11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.Health Insurance 2017 Q & A$25.00 Members, $35.00 Non-Members*SPECIAL EVENT*

Chamber 101

Immediately following Chamber Luncheon1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.Free for members

November 17

Shark Think Tank

Copperfield Inn, 594 W. Ridge Pike, Limerick11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.$25.00*Business Owner Members Only

November 17

Chamber Happy Hour

ChamppsProvidence Town Center, 51 Center Ave, Collegeville5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.Cash Bar

More Upcoming Chamber Events - Don’t Miss These Great Networking Events!

Visit www.springfordchamber.comfor Chamber Events, Press Releases, Online Newsletters and more!