Chamber Welcomes New Chair and Three New Members To 2010-11 Board of Directors

The Kalamazoo Regional Chamber of Commerce has elected its new chair, Arnold "Arnie" Mikon of TowerPinkster, and three new board members -Katherine Kemp from Smoothie King, Jeff Hawkins from Envirologic Technologies, and Chip Falahee from Bronson Healthcare Group - to the Chamber's Board of Directors this year.

"I am looking forward to the challenges this coming year will present in my new role as Chairman of the Chamber's Board of Directors," said Arnold Mikon, president and CEO of TowerPinkster. "The organization's volunteer leadership has spent considerable time and effort in developing strategies in four key areas of for the coming year.

"You will see us strengthen our already considerable efforts at serving as this region's voice for business. We will also strive to reinforce and enhance the Chamber's brand image to our members and key partners. We will continue in our role as a convener on important community issues and, of course, keep the organization financially stable to meet these varied challenges. I am looking forward to working collaboratively with our energized volunteers in accomplishing these goals in order to maximize the value the Chamber can deliver to our more than 1,800 member businesses."

The Chamber Board of Directors is a group of volunteers that help guide and direct the Chamber's mission, goals and overall business operations, including government and policy-making responsibilities. 
"We are pleased to have Arnie as our new chair and we are confident in his leadership of the Chamber's strategic plan," said Steward Sandstrom, CCE, president and CEO of the Chamber. "Katherine, Jeff and Chip are also great additions to our Board and we look forward to working with them."

Chip Falahee is senior vice president, Legal & Legislative Affairs and Corporate Compliance Officer for Bronson Healthcare Group. He has more than 30 years of experience in health care law and legislation and has been named one of the "Best Lawyers in America" in health care. Locally, he serves on the Board of Directors, Executive Committee and Finance Committee of Family and Children's Services; and on the Board of Directors of the Kalamazoo Junior Symphony Society. 

Jeffrey Hawkins is president, founder and a co-owner of Envirologic Technologies, Inc., a full-service environmental services firm headquartered in Kalamazoo celebrating over 20 years of business. Hawkins serves as chair of the Kalamazoo Regional Chamber of Commerce Public Policy Council and former chair of the Environmental Advisory Council. He is also a member of the Advisory Council for the Geosciences Department at Western Michigan University.

Katherine Kemp, a native of Chicago, Ill., has more than 10 years of marketing experiences for major fortune 500 companies, two years of public relations and journalism, and three years of information technology. She currently owns a successful Smoothie King franchise where she has employed over 50 staff members since August 2006. She is a leader at Christian Life Center, serves on the board of Advisors for Ujima Enterprises, and a former  Girls On The Run coach. 

New Member Benefits!

New York Life Insurance

New York Life will be providing a premier benefit package through the Chamber. Members, their employees as well as immediate family are being provided with a 10% discount off of standard rates and an additional 15% marital discount.

A New York Life Insurance Company (New York Life) agent can work with your organization to establish a long-term care insurance programfor your employees. When you offer New York Life’s long-term care insurance as part of your company’s benefit package, you have made a solid commitment to your employees’ well-being and financial security. And the reality is that you have done something that protects the company as well.

Offering long-term care insurance from New York Life may help your employees maintain balance between work and home by making a range of options and services available should they be faced with the need for long-term care. It may also help attract and retain high-caliber employees, which in turn protects the security and longevity of your company. Stronger than ever after more than 160 years (and more than 20 years in the long-term care insurance industry), New York Life maintains the highest ratings for financial strength from the independent ratings agencies. 

Click Here for additional Information. Visit  www.NewYorkLife.com
Contact: Jason Grant at (269) 567-5082 or This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it

Constant Contact

Constant Contact helps businesses grow by providing an easy and affordable way to build successful and lasting customer relationships. Members save up to 25% off our complete marketing solution consisting of professional-looking emails, newsletters, insightful online surveys, and efficient event planning.

Constant contact is a complete marketing solution that helps you connect with customers and build your business.

Take advantage of this member benefit today! Call 866-289-2101 or visit www.ConstantContact.com/chambermembers.

For more information contact Cathy Emery at (866) 270-6553 or by email This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it

Chamber Rewards

We are proud to introduce our Chamber Rewards Program, program sponsored by Blue Cross Blue Shield.

Chamber Rewards, an online Web Portal exclusively for Chamber member employees, features a search engine that helps you save instantly on national brand name products and services. The easy to navigate Web portal makes finding discounts and free trial deals extremely easy.

Save instantly on products and services that are relevant to you:

• Save an easy $3,000 per year as an active member utilizing the many deals offered
• A selection of 20 mega-categories with 50 sub-categories to help narrow down exactly what type of merchants you are looking for
• Monthly special categories encompassing deals for holidays and special events
• Instant savings without the hassle of accumulating points

Save time and make smart buying decisions with useful consumer tools, such as:

• Powerful search engine
• consumer alerts from your favorite merchants
• Local gas prices, travel searches, dining deals and restaurant reservations  

Many other features including:

• Easy to find deals by searching for % off, $ off, free trials, freebies and more
• Access a growing list of merchants from A-Z so that you never miss a deal or forget a brand
• Super clean interface and easy to navigate around the site
• Hundreds of free shipping deals... why pay to have your products delivered?

Each company that is a Chamber member has been supplied with a list of exclusive PIN codes based on the number of employees within that organization. These pass codes will grant your employees access to the Chamber Rewards web portal, allowing them to start taking advantage of the product and service offerings immediately!

Employers can use Chamber Rewards pass codes as a reward for employees’ hard work, special recognition or just to show your appreciation. Employers may distribute the pass codes to employees as they see fit (*See Note Below).

Look out for it or check in with your organization's Chamber representative. For additional information, contact us at (269) 381-4000 or This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it .

* Note: HR Directors who would like to use the Chamber Rewards program as an incentive program for their employees, please email us at This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it for a Chamber Rewards HR ToolKit, consisting of promotional materials (e.g. break room fliers, handouts, postcards, pay envelope inserts, etc) that you can co-brand and distribute it to your employees.

ChamberRewards.onebigplanet.com