Leadership Means Supporting the Community

In a recent Excelerate newsletter I shared some thoughts on leadership and the qualitites that make a good leader.  We asked you what you thought were the best qualities of a good leader and you answered: good listener, humility, Integrity, vision, follow through, trust, community involvement and community pride. 

We have started a video series on leadership that you will find on our website.  We will interview a different community leader each month to find out more about what they do and why they do it.  Our first interview is with Bill Cirone from Federal Companies.  Bill shares his thoughts on the importance of regional business leaders supporting community organizations both financially and with personal volunteering. 

Click the video icon to watch Bill Cirone's interview.  Visit our website regularly to watch interviews with other regional leaders. 

Small Business Saturday

Small Business Saturday is almost here!  We are asking you to spend at least one day this holiday shopping season focusing on small locally owned businesses.  Join us on November 26th and shop small business.

Visit us on Facebook and learn more about the initiative and find out how you can get involved as a shopper and as a business! 

Check out the videos and see who's supporting the Small Business Saturday Initiative!

New Peoria NEXT CEO

Peoria Next announces Grant Brewen as its new CEO.  Brewen is currently head of the Biotechnology Research and Development Corporation (BRDC), housed at the USDA’s National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research Lab in Peoria since 1988.  Brewen said he hopes to help Peoria NEXT grow beyond being its regional boundaries in the years to come.

Click here for the full release.

Click here to watch video of the announcement.

The National Retail Federation expects holiday sales to increase 2.8 percent this year with the average shopper spending over $700.  Surveys show people have some extra cash this year, but they plan to be more conservative in how they spend it.  Learn more about the national holiday retail outlook by clicking here. 

Click here to tell us about your shopping habits.

Peoria MSA jumps 38 spots on the newgeography.com list of “Best Midsized Cities for Job Growth.”  Peoria MSA ranks #27 in midsized cities category.  That’s up from the 65 ranking we received in 2010.  

Spotlight on Quest Charter Academy

Quest Charter Academy in Peoria has begun its second year of operation and was recently profiled for achieving significant academic gains in its first year:
85% proficiency on the 2011 ISAT math exam
78% proficiency on the 2011 ISAT reading exam
90% of students qualified to participate in regional/state math, science and technology competitions
96.6 attendance rate for the 2010-11 school year

Quest, Peoria’s first public charter school, opened in 2010 with more than 220 students in grades 5-7. The school plans to add one class per year until it serves 600 students in grades 5-12. Quest distinguishes itself from District 150 schools by providing a longer school day, more instructional time in math, reading and language arts, and Saturday classes available for students who are struggling.  Find Quest Charter Academy on Facebook to follow school news. 

Pack the Place

Join us for the monthly "Third Thursday Lunch" with Project Pack the place sponsored by Methodist College of Nursing  on November 17 at Rizzi’s on State in Peoria.  Print the special offer coupon from www.packtheplace,org and receive 25% off your bill.

Mood-O-Meter

The Mood-O-Meter has returned and we are asking you to tell us your thoughts.  We have partnered with WHOI's Good Company to take the pulse of the region.  Recently we asked you what you thought were the most important qualities of being a good leader.  You answered: good listener, humility, Integrity, vision, follow through, trust, community involvement and community pride.  We will be launching new Mood-O-Meters each month so please take a moment to participate.  December topics include your Thanksgiving Day habits and your holiday shopping plans. 

Learn more about the Mood-O-Meter by clicking here. 

Thanksgiving Community Luncheon

As the Thanksgiving holiday nears, the Peoria Area Chamber of Commerce invites you to take a moment to reflect and realize all of things we have to be thankful for in this region. Please join us for the 36th Annual Thanksgiving Day Luncheon on Friday, November 18 at 11:45 am at the Embassy Suites and Riverfront Conference Center.  The keynote speaker will be given by Ed Rapp, Group President and CFO of Caterpillar, Inc.  Rapp will be presenting "Don't Take It for Granted: Your country, your community, your family."  Plus we’ll be presenting the annual Tom Connor Award for community service.  Please join us!  Click here to reserve your seat or table today. 

What's Your Story?

As the Peoria Area Chamber celebrates its 100th Anniversary, we’re asking our members to take a stroll down memory lane and share stories of the past with us.  We are asking for a historical perspective of your business.  Help us remember yesterday by submitting stories and memories about your business over the last century.  We’re looking for stories, facts, original photos, illustrations, maps and graphics that convey the values of the Peoria Area and your business.  After all, it’s those positive values that have helped shaped this region and will continue to do so for centuries to come.
Submit your story and tell us something special you’ve done! You may be surprised where it’ll end up!

Peoria Area Chamber of Commerce President Roberta Parks reacts to the recently proposed budget for the City of Peoria.  Click the video button to watch the interview.