Chamber seeing success

Spokane Valley Chamber of Commerce is offering a creative mix of programs, classes and events that are attracting new members.

Offering personalized service to small companies is paying off for the 755-business chamber, which added 210 new members last year.

Additionally, Eldonna Gossett, chamber president and CEO, said the organization boasts an 85 percent member-retention rate.

Businesspeople can network over breakfast, attend lunch-hour seminars or enjoy the benefits of Biz-2-Biz, a cardholder program that provides discounts to encourage member loyalty.

Spokane Valley Business Fair 2005 started two years ago when the city incorporated, and has doubled to include almost 100 businesses.

Last year, the table-top trade show, which includes a networking event, attracted companies ranging from coffee roasters to credit unions.

A new class teaches business owners how to create and manage a member-profile page.

Classes are offered three days a week and participants make pages that contain company information and basic pictures or graphics. Those pages are linked to the chamber’s Web site and business owners receive access codes to manage and update their information.

“This is a free way of promoting their businesses,” Gossett said.

Monthly brown bag seminars feature member-presenters who are experts in their professions. Upcoming topics include dealing with change, customer service and how to file workers’ compensation claims.

“All of these are good, practical pieces of information,” Gossett said.

Julie Prafke, founder and president of Humanix Professional Services, taught a January seminar with tips on hiring and retaining qualified employees.

Although Shelley Runolfson, owner of Fashion Carpets, has done a lot of interviewing and hiring over the years, she found the employment seminar useful.

“I think it’s great because we’ve been in business 31 years and things change,” Runolfson said.

Cheryl Lyons, a speaker and corporate trainer, said she’s impressed with the chamber’s commitment to offering free courses that help small businesses improve.

The classes have two-fold appeal to Lyons, who not only gleans information for her own business, but uses the knowledge to help her clients.

“There are always people who want to learn how to expand, improve and grow their businesses,” Lyons said.