SOLD OUT: 25th Annual Small Business Awards - October 6
Small business. BIG recognition. Over 100 small businesses and not-for-profit organizations will be recognized at the "feel good" event of the year. Thursday, October 6, 6 PM/cocktails; 7 PM/dinner and awards presentation at The Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center. Sponsored by: Cox Business, First Citizens Bank, Gentry Locke Rakes & Moore, City of Roanoke, County of Roanoke, Sir Speedy Printing & Marketing Services, and xpedx. For more information, contact Judy at 540.983.0700 x221 or business@roanokechamber.org.

Take Control of Your Company's Information with ChamberMaster
Coming Soon: As a Roanoke Regional Chamber member, you will be able to take control of your company information through ChamberMaster! The Roanoke Regional Chamber has a new membership database that will allow you to customize your company's information in directory listings, categories, job postings, hot deals, member-to-member benefits, and event registration.  We're working hard to help make your business better and maximize your membership. Stay tuned for more information on this exciting membership enhancement!

Discover the Details of the Journey to the French Riviera
The Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce and Chamber Discoveries are hosting an eight-day journey to the French Riviera. An informational briefing on the trip will be held on Thursday, October 27, at 5:30 PM at the Roanoke Regional Chamber. Book your trip reservations by November 1 for only $2,199. Trip departing on March 13, 2012 and will travel to Cannes, Sophia Antipolis, Monte Carlo, and St. Tropez. This one hotel holiday includes round-trip airfare, lodging and daily breakfasts.  For more information or to register for the informational meeting, contact Kristi at 540.983.0700 x247 or ksutherland@roanokechamber.org.

State of the County Address - November 3
Hear Roanoke County Board of Supervisor Chairman Joe "Butch" Church present the annual State of the County Address.  Thursday, November 3, 7:30 - 9 AM, at the Green Ridge Recreation Center. Cost: $17/members; $27/non-members; pre-registration required and early registration is suggested. Sponsored by: Appalachian Power, Cox, Carilion Clinic, First Citizens Bank, Gentry Locke Rakes & Moore, Hall Associates, and RGC Resources. For more information or to register contact Judy at 540.983.0700 x221 or business@roanokechamber.org or register online.

How Will Health Care Reform Impact Your Business?
Find out what employers need to know concerning the implementation of health care reform at this  seminar. The  featured speaker is Susan Maley Rash, vice president of BB&T Insurance Services and legislative chair of the National Association of Health Underwriters. Thursday, October 13, Holiday Inn - Tanglewood, 7:30 - 10 AM. Cost: $10/members; $12/non-members. Sponsored by the American HealthCare, BB&T Insurance Services and the Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce.  For more information or to register, contact Judy at 540.983.0700 x221 or business@roanokechamber.org.

Don't Miss This Opportunity to Reach the Region's Newcomers!
Don't miss this opportunity to be the first to reach up to 40,000 decision-makers who are visiting or relocating to the Roanoke Region. Advertising sales for the 2011 edition of Valley Life, the Roanoke Region's premier relocation guide, are now underway. Tom and Pat O'Sullivan, project sales directors for SouthComm Publishing, are available to discuss the advertising and marketing opportunities offered in this beautiful publication. Valley Life may be used to recruit new employees, welcome newcomers and students, and promote the Roanoke Region. Check out the 2011 edition of Valley Life online. For information on advertising, contact Tom and Pat O'Sullivan at 1.800.933.3902 x1031, or tosullivan@southcomm.com. Arrange a personal visit with a SouthComm Publishing representative by calling 540.983.0700, ext. 227 or fax your request to 540.983.7023.

Members Can Post Local Job Openings for FREE!
Thanks to the Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce, members with less than 20 employees can post local jobs for free at: www.NationJob.com/Roanoke-Virginia-Jobs. Chamber members with over 20 employees can also take advantage of the great rates offered by NationJob. NationJob.com has been in the electronic recruiting industry for over 20 years and is a leader in community-based recruiting. Providing local, regional and national reach through significant search engine marketing efforts and a subscriber database of over one million custom searches, NationJob is one of the most cost effective Internet recruiting solutions available. For more information, call Teena McIntire at 1.888.256.0919 or e-mail tmcintire@nationjob.com.

Reach 3,000 Decision Makers with New Chamber "Virtual" Advantage
We've gone green with Chamber "Virtual" Advantage! Members may use this direct e-mail marketing tool to promote products, services, advertisements, events and much more. For only $50 per month, members provide a pdf version flyer of their promotion and it will be posted on the Chamber's Web site and a direct link and brief description will be e-mailed to the Chamber's 3,000 member contacts. Your promotion is shared with all our members and Web site visitors for an entire month for only pennies per contact!  Sign up today for the October e-mailing on October 14. For more information on this exciting new program or to register, contact Pennie at 983.0700 x227 or communications@roanokechamber.org.

It's All About Connections - Connect For Lunch
Are you looking for a new way to meet people and grow your business? What if you could get to know between three to six new people each month? Really get to know them over lunch, not just a quick hand shake and exchange of business cards. Would you be interested? If you are, Connect For Lunch may be just what you're looking for. Connect For Lunch is one of the Roanoke Regional Chamber's most popular networking programs. Each week, you'll have the opportunity to go to lunch in a small group with other Chamber members at local restaurants. For more information or to register, visit www.connectforlunch.com/roanokechamber or www.roanokechamber.org and check out Connect For Lunch.

Post Your Events Fast and Free on Community Calendar
Planning special events this fall? Looking for ways to get the word out? Roanoke Regional Chamber members can quickly and easily post events on the Community Calendar at www.roanokechamber.org.  For instructions on how to use this free, members-only benefit, contact Pennie at 983.0700 x227 or communications@roanokechamber.org.

Thousands Benefit from Rapid Referrals
The Chamber provided 10,550 member referrals through its front desk and online membership directory in the month of September. The Chamber is promoting member businesses to more than 150 people per day through the online directory. Are you getting your share of referrals from this no-cost member benefit? Check your listing at www.roanokechamber.org - click on "Find Area Businesses." To add a free 20-word business description to your online listing, call Judy at 983.0700 x221 or send your 20 word (140 characters) profile to business@roanokechamber.org.

Business Basics - October 12
Need some guidance on how to start your own business? Discover business planning, forms of organizations, marketing strategies, and the realities of being a business owner at this quick introduction to owning your own business. Wednesday, October 12, 4 - 6 PM, Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce Boardroom. Cost: $15/person. Preregistration required by Tuesday, October 11. Sponsored by: Business SEED Capital, Inc., BB&T, Cox Business, and City of Roanoke Economic Development Authority.  For more information or to register, call 983.0717 x223, visit www.roanokesmallbusiness.com, register online or e-mail sbdc@roanokechamber.org.

Optimizing the Value of Your Business - October 12
Are you considering selling your business sometime in the future? Learn how to prepare your company to obtain the best value and easiest transition to a new owner. Presented by Tom Mishoe of FINOP$TRAT ADVISORS, LLC. Tuesday, October 12, 8:30 - 10:30 AM, Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce. Cost: $25/person.  For more information or to register, call 983.0717 x223, visit www.roanokesmallbusiness.com, register online or e-mail sbdc@roanokechamber.org.

Super Synergy: Finding Your Formula for Success - October 27
If you are a small business owner, you don't want to miss Super Synergy! This all-day event includes speakers such as Jeff Smith, Kate Steinbacher, Leslie Coty, and more. There will also be numerous breakout sessions and the final presentation of the top five contestants in the EXPAND! Contest. Thursday, October 27, 7:30 AM - 4 PM, Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce. Cost: $99/person. Limited seating available. Presented by Synergize My Business and co-sponsored by the Roanoke Regional Small Business Development Center  For more information or to register, visit www.supersynergy.org.

Publications

Get Connected with the Region's Business Leaders
Call today to reserve your advertisement space in the 2011 fourth quarter issue of Business Connections in the printed and online editions.  Invest your advertising dollars in the only quarterly, full-color magazine targeted specifically at the region's business leaders. Of Business Connection's regular readers, 83 percent are business decision makers and 66 percent are CEOs, executives, or top-level managers. If you market to business, you need to be a part of Business Connections. For ad rates and information, contact Bonnie Brown  at RP Publishing at 772.1868 or bonnie@rppublisher.com.

Membership in Action

Thank You Chamber Ambassadors
The Chamber Ambassadors visited 29 fellow members during the month of September!  Ambassadors contact Chamber members to discuss their membership investment and issues that concern their business. Please welcome them when they call. 

CHAMBER CHAMPION PROFILE

Brown Edwards is a locally-owned, regional public accounting firm with seven offices in Virginias and West Virginia and is among the top 200 U.S. CPA firms (INSIDE Public Accounting, September 2011). Brown Edwards serves a diversified group of clients including many individuals and businesses from the following industries: financial institutions, municipalities, not-for-profit organizations, construction, health care, and manufacturing.