Chamber to energize small-business support

By Richard N. Velotta

Friday, Aug. 14, 2009 | 3 a.m.

The Henderson Chamber of Commerce will energize its support for small businesses with a series of free workshops that will cover operations, banking and financial resources, human resources, sales management and marketing.

The workshops will be led by experts from large companies that are chamber members.

The initiative was announced at the Aug. 7 “State of the Chamber” lunch at M Resort when Kirk Clausen, regional president in Nevada for Wells Fargo Bank, became the new chairman of the board.

“Wells Fargo has its own resources in the areas that will be covered in the workshop meetings, but it’s the responsibility of the larger companies in the chamber to share with small businesses to meet the goals of the chamber,” Clausen said after his speech. “One of my goals will be to encourage volunteers from some of the larger companies to help small business.”

Clausen said despite the challenges presented by the economic downturn the chamber needs to move forward with its long-term objectives such as to better articulate the value proposition the chamber represents.

Clausen, who began a two-year term, took over from David Dahan, managing partner of Orgill-Singer & Associates, who reminded the nearly 350 at the luncheon that business has a responsibility to make the city a better place.

Clausen and Dahan applauded the chamber’s staff and Clausen said it would continue its legislative advocacy efforts, networking programs and online business promotions.

Another chamber service on the horizon is the development of a health-insurance plan that members would be able to purchase. He said the plan would be available to self-employed members and small businesses with more details to be unveiled later.