Fort Wayne Chamber of Commerce

They say in business it's all about who you know...
They were right!

Meet Me @ 5 is an after-work event designed to create opportunities for you to build lasting relationships with other Fort Wayne professionals and find out the latest business buzz without being bombarded with sales pitches.

Don't miss the Meet Me @ 5!  It's Thursday, May 17, from 5-7 p.m. at Courtyard by Marriott Downtown, 1150 S. Harrison Street.

Enjoy an evening of networking with hors d'oeuvres and a cash bar.

Admission is $5 for Chamber members and $10 for nonmembers. Payment for this event is nonrefundable. 

Registered guests will be notified if any changes occur.

Click here to register

Two Fort Wayne businesses are featured on a list of the fastest-growing inner city companies in the United States. Prairie Quest Inc. Chief Executive Officer Stacey Smith says the IT consultant's downtown location has allowed it to help revitalize the area and better recruit young professionals. Software designer Aptera Inc. is also on the list compiled by the Initiative for a Competitive Inner City. Read More Smith says downtown Fort Wayne has been an ideal spot for her company to grow.

Non-stop service to Myrtle Beach, S.C., has returned for the summer! Airport Authority officials are pleased to welcome back Allegiant’s service between Fort Wayne International Airport (FWA) and Myrtle Beach International Airport (MYR) beginning Thursday.

“Allegiant has been a great partner in providing seasonal vacation destinations for the area’s travelers,” said Scott Hinderman, Executive Director of Airports. “Myrtle Beach is an excellent place to take a vacation. With hundreds of fun activities and golf courses to enjoy, we hope the Fort Wayne community will take advantage of this great service once again this summer.”

Allegiant will operate two flights per week, departing FWA at 3:40 p.m. on Thursdays and Sundays and arriving at MYR at 5:15 p.m. Return service will depart MYR at 6 p.m., arriving into FWA at approximately 7:40 p.m.

In addition to Myrtle Beach service, Allegiant also recently introduced service to Punta Gorda, Fla., located near Fort Myers. Orlando and Tampa Bay, Fla., are also among the airline’s non-stop vacation destinations. For flight availability and fares, contact Allegiant at 702-505-8888 or visit its  website at www.allegiant.com.

Present yourself. Present your business!

Attend our second summit of the year, our Marketing Summit. This event will be held Wednesday at the Chamber building, 826 Ewing St., Fort Wayne.

Attendees may choose four sessions of the following sessions:

• "Designing Your Space" by Cathy Waggoner, Design Collaborative
• "Presenting Yourself in Print" by Bonnie Blackburn, Fort Wayne Newspapers
• "Personal Image" by Tom Brookshire, L Spa Modern
• "Presenting your new organization to the community" by Julia Fiechter, Lendingahand.net
• "Elevator Pitch" by Jerry Hogan, Resource Development Group, LLC
• "Details. Details. Details" by Vicki Johnson, Tower Bank
• "Small Group/One on One" by Elizabeth Nulf MacDonald, The Verbal Edge
• The Power of a Good 1st Impression, by Tim Jones and Michelle Merritt, The Chamber

The summit is open to members and nonmembers.

The registration rate is $69 for Chamber members and $129 for nonmembers.  The registration fee also includes breakfast, lunch, and all materials.  Payment for this event is nonrefundable.

Sponsors of the Marketing Summit include Design Collaborative, Fort Wayne Newspapers, L Spa Modern, Lendingahand.net, Resource Development Group LLC, Tower Bank and The Verbal Edge.

Breakfast sponsored by Chick-fil-A at Jefferson Pointe. Lunch sponsored by Calhoun Street Soups, Salads & Spirits. Coffee sponsored by Office Depot. 

Register here today and join us for a half-day of learning that you can apply to your business right away.

The Indiana Department of Administration's Minority and Women's Business Enterprises is hosting an MBE & WBE Certification Clinic on Wednesday.

This session will include a step-by-step review of the State of Indiana Minority & Women-Owned Business Enterprises certification application process.

The clinic will be at Indiana Government Center South, 402 W. Washington St., Indianapolis, in Conference Room 19 from 1-3 p.m.

Seating is limited! Register here today!

 

From left: Callan Huffman, fitness consultant; Ryan Nuechterlein, Dupont location general manager; Scott Dierckman, owner; Mike Landram, Chamber Presidend and CEO; Sara McCue, coordinator; David Christie, Maplecrest location general manager; and Rick Swagger, member of The Chamber's Breakfast Club Leads Group.

Chamber member Max Fitness on Dupont Road celebrated its new location with a ribbon cutting on Thursday, May 10. The new Max Fitness is located at 1415 W. Dupont Road, near the corner of Lima Road.

After the ribbon cutting, other events include a new car raffle, a $500 cash prize giveaway and a big-screen TV giveaway, a live DJ, food, a kids bouncy tent, and free classes.

The facility is 20,000 square feet and employs 20.

A golf game often sets the perfect tone for business deals. In recognition of this, the Greater Fort Wayne Chamber of Commerce has partnered with Pine Valley Country Club to host its second annual Links 4 Leaders golf event on Monday, June 4.

Each team of three in our golf scramble is paired with a northeast Indiana business leader to make a foursome. Golfers may sign up as individuals or as a team of three; individual golfers will be grouped into foursomes. Enjoy a leisurely day on the course while you make valuable business connections.

Among the local business leaders attending are:

• Fort Wayne Mayor Tom Henry
• Wendell Bontrager of Tower Bank
• Randy Borror of Bose Public Affairs
• Keith Busse of Steel Dynamics
• Mike Christman of Fort Wayne Newspapers
• Hon. Wendy Davis of Allen County Superior Court
• Joe Dorko of Lutheran Health Network
• Sen. David Long
• Jim Marcuccilli of STAR Financial Bank
• Chancellor Jerrilee Mosier of Ivy Tech

If you need to brush up on your golf skills or even start from square one, The Chamber Golf School is for you. The golf school will run concurrently with the scramble and feature high-quality, small-group instruction from a PGA pro. Seasoned golfers also can improve their game for a fraction of what individual lessons would cost.

Students will join Pine Valley Pro Mike Ahlers, Chamber President Mike Landram, and Ivy Tech Chancellor Jerrilee Mosier for an afternoon of golf lessons unlike any you will receive. Golf School students will learn the rules, etiquette, as well as the dos and don’ts of client golf. You’ll also perfect your long game, short game, chipping, and putting. Later in the day you’ll put those skills to work in a mini tournament with your fellow students. Chamber Golf School provides you several weeks’ worth of lessons in one afternoon.

The day begins with a lunch that includes a grilled buffet of Angus burgers, chicken and brats, buns, condiments, potato salad, fruit tray, French fries and assorted cookies.

After golfing, the festive awards and dinner reception will include:

• Steak Diane station, with beef tenderloin and dijon cream sauce
• Stir fry station with Chicken and Beef
• Cocktail Shrimp
• Large domestic and imported cheese display with crackers, breads and oils
• Carmelized bacon
• Boursin stuffed red skin potatoes
• Seafood-stuffed mushrooms
• Chocolate-covered strawberries, mini tarts and cheesecakes

The cost for an individual golfer, which includes both meals, is $225. A team of three costs $650. The cost of The Chamber Golf School event, which also includes both meals, is $150.

Go to fwchamber.org/links for details and to sign up today!

Greens Sponsor: Comcast Business Class
Eagle Sponsor: Parkview Health
Lunch Sponsor: Design Collaborative
Hole Sponsors: Tower Bank, Gladieux Consulting, and B.F. Goodrich Tire Manufacturing