A WIN-WIN
FOR YOUR ORGANIZATION AND MGM
Invest in the Chamber and Grow Your Business
The Chamber’s Annual Total Resource Campaign is right around the corner. The exciting 8-week campaign offers local businesses a great way to gain exposure, increase their brand, market to a captive audience and support the Chamber’s top initiatives through unique and exclusive marketing and advertising opportunities.
How it Works
Every year, the Chamber’s Total Resource Campaign (TRC) raises money to help fund Chamber events and programs. More than 25 volunteers, who work at Chamber-member businesses and organizations, contact other member businesses and offer them unique ways to market and grow their business through Chamber events, programs and communications.
By investing in the Chamber’s TRC, member businesses connect to the vital programs and resources they need to grow their business and thrive. Sponsor- ships not only impact the Chamber, they fuel economic growth for Montgomery and the River Region.
Time after time the marketing and advertising opportunities offered through the campaign help local member businesses experience growth, expand their network of potential clients and increase their brand identity and awareness. That’s why many businesses participate year after year.
The visibility and credibility that come with joining the Chairman’s Circle, sponsor?ing an event or having an eye-catching banner ad on the Chamber’s website or e-newsletter are powerful and productive. Businesses can choose avenues that reach the entire Chamber membership, or they can hit a target audience. By allowing businesses to reach specific groups (like professional women, small businesses, tourists or elected officials), TRC products have consistently produced quantifiable results.
Truth Be Told
Patsy Guy, vice president, member and investor relations for the Chamber, stressed what businesses get out of TRC. “Members increase their business and community awareness by marketing through Chamber programs and products,” she said. “And the entire community benefits by accelerated growth created by successful well-funded programs.”
But don’t just take her word for it. BBVA Compass Bank has participated in TRC?for almost 10 years. Bruce Crawford, the bank’s Montgomery-area CEO, explained why, echoing Guy. “Signing on to sponsor Chamber events and other initiatives through TRC gets our name and brand out in front of the business community, which is a demographic we are always trying to reach,” he said. “But just as important is the fact that the dollars we and other businesses spend on TRC products help provide the funding for the many events and services that our Chamber offers."
The foundation of TRC and its success are the committed volunteers. Using their time, talents and connections, 25-30 people work hard each autumn to sell TRC’s diverse range of marketing products. But they benefit from the program as well.
Ann Sadie Osten of Sadie’s Global Travel has been involved since 2007. She explained what motivated her to be a part of TRC. “I felt I needed to be more involved in our community, and the Chamber was?a great way to get started,” she said. “Our Chamber does more than most Chambers around the Southeast and possibly around the country. They focus on economic development, which benefits all businesses.”
She also outlined the positives she’s gotten out of TRC. “I realized very quickly that volunteering in the TRC gave me opportunities to meet business professionals and expand my network of contacts,” she said.
And Osten shared her belief that businesses who buy TRC products definitely get their money’s worth by getting their message across in a way that says more than some other forms of marketing and advertising. “Depending on what events they support, participating in TRC benefits businesses by providing exposure both?to their employees, showing that they support their community, but also to other businesses and potential customers,” she said. “Many events provide continuing education, and it gives the business that purchased a sponsorship an opportunity to invite customers or potential customers to that event. It reinforces their commitment to their community where they live, work and play.”
TRC started in 2006, and in the last 10 years, it has been successful on all levels, according to Guy. “It has provided funding for the Chamber’s important initiatives, provided an opportunity for volunteers to become more engaged in the Chamber’s activities and provided volunteers expo- sure to the community at large and the leadership of the Chamber,” she said.
