Gaylord/Otsego Chamber
101 West Main
P.O. Box 513
Gaylord, MI 49734
Phone: (989) 732-6333
Phone: (800) 345-8621
Fax: (989) 732-7990
Contact us via email:
PRESS RELEASE
October 12, 2007
CHAMBER PARTNERSHIP EXPANDS, HIRES NEW STAFF MEMBER
(GAYLORD, MI) A partnership of three Chambers of Commerce working together to address legislative issues has expanded to four. The Gaylord/Otsego County Chamber of Commerce has joined the Traverse City Area Chamber of Commerce, the Cadillac Area Chamber of Commerce and the Petoskey Regional Chamber of Commerce to form the Northwest Michigan Regional Chambers Alliance.
The alliance is an effort by the four chambers to make sure the legislative priorities of businesses in Northwest Lower Michigan are addressed at the state and national levels. This cumulative group now represents more than 4,500 member businesses in the region.
In addition to expanding its service region, the alliance is also announcing the hiring of Jamie Callahan as its Director of Government Relations. Previously Callahan worked for State Senator Jason Allen (37th District) as Legislative Assistant, then as Chief of Staff, and most recently as District Director. Callahan will be housed at the Traverse City Area Chamber of Commerce, but will provide staff services to each of the four chambers in the alliance. His first day on the job will be Oct. 15.
“We have watched this partnership evolve over the past three years in Traverse City, Petoskey and Cadillac, and have been impressed with the cooperation amongst the three chambers,” says Bob Kasprzak, Executive Director of the Gaylord/Otsego County Chamber of Commerce. “The addition of Gaylord/Otsego County Chamber of Commerce to the partnership and the hiring of Jamie only make it better,” he added. Kasprzak says the original partnership started in 2004 and has elevated the participating chambers’ clout in Lansing and its level of service to its member businesses.
“Each of the Alliance Boards of Directors has clearly identified advocacy as one of their top priorities,” stated Traverse City Area Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Doug Luciani. “Making this position full-time and hiring someone of Jamie’s caliber is proof that the chambers are working hard on behalf of their members in order to create the best business climate,” Luciani added.
In Gaylord, Callahan will primarily work with the chamber’s Legislative Affairs Committee. His role will be to keep the committee abreast of important issues in Lansing, advocate on behalf of local businesses when necessary, update a regional legislative agenda, and to provide communications to the membership at large about crucial legislative activity.
