I had the honor of graduating in June from the Institute for Organization Management, an intensive four-year nonprofit leadership program through the U.S. Chamber of Commerce at the University of Georgia-Athens. Upon completion of the program, each graduate receives the IOM recognition, signifying completion of 96 hours of course instruction in association, chamber, and nonprofit management.

Institute was an inspiring and thought-provoking program that expanded my professional network, heightened my awareness of industry trends, and broadened my overall business knowledge. I listened to some of the country’s most innovative thinkers in business while I attended my four years in Athens. Their goal was to challenge my understanding of myself as a chamber professional. One course that threw me into another world and made me question many things about the future was called “Industry Forecast” led by Ann Atkinson, Ph.D. My notes included the words ubiquity, utility, unification and understanding – chambers must be embracing the reality of these in the next four years. She commented on sustainable development - communities should have this at the forefront of planning.

Atkinson said many worthwhile statements, but two of my favorite quotes that I found to be profound were “Leadership is taking people to a place they could not go on their own. Education is not the filling of a bucket but the lighting of a fire” – so powerful I failed to write the names linked to these amazing quotes. This course was in my last few hours of Institute, a powerful presentation that will remain a vivid picture of the reality of changes to come in the future. Are we prepared? I highly recommend visiting her online knowledge center at www2.corenetglobal.org for further information.

Over the four years I have completed courses related to budgeting, legal issues within non-profit organizations, policy development and implementation, management, strategic planning and building organizational excellence. And I continued to challenge myself through my electives, which included marketing, generational shifts in the workforce, delivering value and even more. I could describe my experience for days; it remains one of the most valuable programs I have attended that encompasses the nonprofit industry and, at the same time, relevant to a-for-profit organization.

I greatly appreciate the opportunity as a staff member of the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce to attend such an outstanding program that equips Chamber professionals with tools for success. Institute: An Intelligent Investment.

More information about the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Institute for Organization Management

For more than 80 years, associations and chambers have used the U.S. Chamber's Institute as a training platform for the professional development of their future leaders. Participants receive training in leadership and organization management competencies, as well as follow targeted curricula in membership, technology and financial management. Students not only enhance their own organizational management skills through a combination of required courses and electives, but also add new fuel to their organizations, making them run more efficiently and effectively.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world's largest business federation representing more than three million businesses and organizations of every size, sector, and region.

For more information, contact Institute for Organization Management at U.S. Chamber headquarters at 202-463-5570; 1615 H Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20062-2000; www.uschamber.com/institute.

Labels: Chamber staff

Today the Chamber welcomed Miller Slaughter to the team. Miller has joined us as director, regional development. In this newly created role, he will be responsible for the regional economic development efforts in the counties which have contracted with the Chamber and as a liaison with all the Chamber's partner counties as part of the newly revised South Central Kentucky Marketing Plan.

Chamber President and CEO James N. Hizer, CEcD is thrilled to welcome Miller to the team. "For the past three years, Miller has worked for the Cabinet for Economic Development as a development specialist within the Cabinet for Existing Business. That position charged him with the responsibilities of encouraging capital investment and job growth in the BRADD region. His experience with the Cabinet is a great addition to our team, and I expect him to lead our regional economic development efforts in support of our new marketing plan."

During his tenure at the Cabinet, Miller was responsible for approximately 30 projects which created $160 million in economic investment and 1,700 new jobs. Aside from shepherding expansion projects to a 13-county area, he also provided assistance and consulting services to entrepreneurs starting new businesses in the South Central Kentucky area. Hizer added, "Now that Miller has joined our team, the Chamber boasts nearly 65 years of economic development experience combined. With such a lengthy history of experience, we're further enhancing our proven track record and increasing our effectiveness to expand and recruit more business to the South Central Kentucky region."

Prior to joining the Cabinet, Miller was vice president of sales and minority owner for Bowling Green Recycling, and was responsible for identifying new sales leads and converting them to longtime satisfied customers. His marketing experience is lengthy, as he worked as marketing manager for Pig Improvement Company (PIC), vice president of marketing, activewear for Fruit of the Loom, Inc., marketing director and strategic business unit leader for Dial Corporation, marketing manager/SBU leader for Armour Star Canned Meats, marketing director-Coppertone Suncare Products at Schering-Plough, and marketing director-Dr. Scholl's Footcare for Schering-Plough. In addition, he served as brand manager-Maybelline Cosmetics at Schering-Plough, brand manager for Amour-Dial, and brand assistant in the pet foods division for Quaker Oats. Overall, he boasts more than 20 years' experience in marketing, sales and branding.

Miller holds a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from the University of Kentucky and a Master of Business Administration degree in management from the Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University. He is an adjunct instructor of marketing at Midcontinent University and has attended numerous economic development training courses and workshops offered in economic development.

Labels: Chamber staff

Labels: Chamber staff

Labels: Chamber staff