Chamber offering group for women in business

Laura Raymer is the director of operations and member engagement for the chamber. She spoke on the group during the chamber’s “Business and Community Luncheon” on Thursday.

The chamber is holding an introductory event for the program. “Canvas and Corks” is scheduled for 6 to 8:30 p.m. on Jan. 29 at the chamber office, located at 302 N. Washington St. Space is limited and registration is required by Jan. 26.

To register, visit farmingtonregionalchamber.com or call Raymer at 573-756-3615.

The cost of the event is $40 per person and includes appetizers, beverages and supplies needed for the event.

Request for such a group is, in part, what led to the implementation.

“As our membership and the employees of our membership have grown and become more diverse over the years…we try to be able to provide not just a support, but education and additional training for the various groups,” she said. “We had a lot of folks saying it’d be great if there was a women’s group—not just to be able to get together and have a social time, but to be able to get together and support each other and to be able to mentor, especially younger females in the Parkland.

She said the group is open to any and all female employees of those member businesses.

“It doesn’t have to be managers, it doesn’t have to be the upper echelon,” she said. “If you have a secretary, a housekeeping staff…anybody. And, I think that’s one of the neat things that women are able to do is empathize with others and take on those other experiences and learn from them in a supportive way.

“I think that’s something that makes us very unique and very empowering as well, too.”

Raymer said the introductory event is open to non-members as well—offering an opportunity to learn more about the benefits of chamber memberships.

“We want to see what the local businesswomen community needs—what they want to see in a group like this,” Raymer said. “Our plans at this point are to have a meeting every month. Sometimes it will be a social event at different locations. Other times, we’ve got some great, exciting ideas to bring in different speakers to address various different topics.

“The possibilities, I think, truly are endless.”

Raymer said the strong presences of females in the workplace—both as leaders and business owners—is something of which the area should take note.

“You definitely hear a lot of that from larger areas and larger cities, metropolises,” she said. “To see (news) like that in our area I think is very exciting.”

Raymer said the group will have a membership fee. She hopes part of that fee could go towards establishing a scholarship to help another young lady to start a pathway to business.

The group will serve to educate and mentor young women in the area—showing the opportunities and support system available so, after college graduation, moving back to the Parkland is a strong possibility.

Also during the meeting, Board Chairman Phil Brockland spoke on the resignation of President/CEO Dick Womack earlier in the week.

“Dick indicated in his resignation letter that he felt it was a good time, personally, for him to take a step back,” Brockland said. “He also thought it was a good time for the chamber, as a whole, considering the existing staff and volunteer leadership that we have.

“I know I’ll personally miss Dick’s spirit and enthusiasm and we’re grateful for his years of service and, of course, we wish him well.”

Brockland, in his first meeting as chairman, noted the first order of business was to swear in the new board of directors. Those members include Becky Thompson, immediate past chair; Harry Peterson, vice-chair; Allison Sheets, vice-chair along with directors Larry Joseph, Rocky Good, Jessica Horton, Chris Morrison, Andy Buchanan, Larry Pratte, Kevin Kellogg, Kevin Engler, Lee Thurman, Brent Williams, Aaron Baker and Jessica Hampton Shipman.

Impact partners for 2018 were also introduced, including Auffenberg GM Superstore, Belgrade State Bank, Crystal Heating and Cooling, Daily Journal, First State Community Bank, Parkland Health Center, Redfield Collision Center, State Farm-Chris Morrison Agency, Unico Bank-Farmington, US Bank, US Tool Group and Weems Insurance Agency.

“Their support is essential in fulfilling the mission of the chamber and we’re certainly appreciative of their support,” he said.

Delores Rose with the Missouri Department of Labor was the featured speaker at the luncheon. Rose was back in the Parkland, speaking on the department’s “Shared Work” program.

Rose has made similar presentations at other chamber luncheons in recent months—touting the benefits of the program which allows businesses faced with a reduction in available work to divide the work among a group of affected employees rather than laying off those employees.

Through the program, the employees receive a portion of their unemployment benefits while working reduced hours for a time period of up to 52 weeks.

For more information on the program, call 573-751-WORK (9675), by email at SharedWorkInfo@labor.mo.gov or online at sharedwork.mo.gov.