Chamber’s Ask the Expert sessions prove popular

Adelle Ellis
Times Reporter

 

The Strathmore and District Chamber of Commerce held an Ask the Expert seminar on Jan. 25, presented by Gregory, Harriman and Associates (GH&A) and Community Futures Wild Rose. The seminar – Taxation Update: Big Changes are Coming – was presented to over 70 people.
“We were very pleased with the turnout, it is nice that it was so well attended,” said Terri Kinsman, president of the Strathmore and District Chamber of Commerce. “People were very pleased, they thought it was very informative and there was a lot of good information.”
Topics covered in the seminar included U.S. real estate, corporate tax changes, personal tax changes, planning for retirement, GH&A value-added services and estate planning, changes affecting the agricultural industry including carbon tax, capital gains exemption and its potential changes and GST on sale of land.
The seminar was held due to changes in personal and business tax laws. The goal of the chamber’s Ask the Expert series is to bring forth information for businesses to learn from, to grow and succeed.
“There have been a lot of changes come about in the last federal tax budget, and teaming up with the chamber was a good opportunity to let those changes known to our community and hopefully help people understand it as well,” said Shelly Harriman of GH&A.
The chamber has a few new seminars in place and will be planning more for fall, based on relevancy and what information businesses are seeking.
“This was a wonderful way to launch our 2017 Ask the Expert series,” said Shelley Toderian, executive director at the chamber. “We want Strathmore to grow and prosper, and for this Town of Strathmore to do that, we need to have a vibrant business community that will draw and support the people in the town, and even grow it if we can.”
Upcoming programming will include another Ask the Expert session with Anette Stanwick, who is a professional speaker and author specializing in communication, team building and conflict resolution.
The chamber will be holding their annual general meeting on Mar. 30 for anyone to attend.
Also in the works is a three-part series for entrepreneurs to learn effective business skills to help enhance and grow their business effectively.
“The chamber is looking at opportunities where we can offer value to educate, and give people and businesses the information they need to become more effective and productive, and to set themselves apart from their peers,” said Toderian. “Information is always important; for entrepreneurs and small businesses it’s sometimes difficult to tap into learning resources. If we can bring programs to Strathmore and offer them to businesses, it helps everybody.”
Ongoing programs the chamber offers are Business After Five, and Lunch and Learn: businesses contact the chamber to arrange to have their doors open, either after hours or at lunch, so other businesses and individuals can see what the business does.
“These are an opportunity to open their doors to the chamber and community members. They can help set up possible business partnerships and in general is a business-growing opportunity,” said Kinsman, adding that if any business wants to host an event they can contact the chamber.
This year, the chamber will be hosting an awards night for businesses during Small Business Week in October. Businesses can receive awards in different categories as voted on by other chamber members. They are planning on making it a fundraiser, and having a speaker at the presentations.
“You never quit learning when you’re in business, there is always something new to learn,” said Toderian. “There is always something different coming out so it’s constantly challenging the business community. As a chamber, that’s a challenge for us to provide new information, but we try to get it out there.”