Seward Chamber's efforts gain favorable notice

TAMMY JUDD

November 08, 2007 at 9:17AM AKST

Business development and promotional activity has propelled the Seward Chamber of Commerce to this year's designation as Alaska Chamber of the Year.

That designation came in September, when the Alaska State Chamber of Commerce honored the Seward Chamber with the award for "consistent community involvement and an excellent business reputation."

Laura Cloward, the chamber's executive director, said that – among other things – the organization had a successful membership drive.

During the past year, the chamber grew by 62 new members, so that by September the chamber had a total of 394 members.

According to Cloward, the gaining of new members is a reflection of the chamber's reputation and its development efforts.

The membership drive retained longtime members and added new ones.

Adventure 60 North and Adventure 60 Cottage owner Rick Brown was one business owner who joined the chamber this year.

"I decided to join because we started a new business this year, a kayaking and B&B business, and we got with the chamber because they have a great Website," Brown said.

"It's very user-friendly and it works. I met some people down there, and they're doing a good job, I think," he said.

"I just started the business in Alaska, a new LLC in Alaska," Brown said. "The chamber really worked with us, and to me, they've bent over backwards to help us out."

Brown said he highly commends the chamber.

"The entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well in Seward," Cloward said.

Some of the new members came from outside of the Seward area, which is reflective of the chamber's partnering philosophy, Cloward said.

The Kenai Peninsula Tourism Marketing Council, which represents the entire peninsula, has brought together area communities.

Seward's chamber, which represents businesses from across Southcentral Alaska, is not a new organization. It has a stable, long-term base.

The chamber was incorporated in the early 1950s, prior to statehood. Thirty-six percent of its membership has been participating for a decade or more.

And the organization's Seward Silver Salmon Derby as well as the Mount Marathon Race are historic events that provide activities for the community as well as economic opportunities for businesses.

These events, member dues and the city coffers provide funding for the chamber, according to Cloward.

In a unique arrangement, the City Council passed a resolution that designated the chamber as the marketing arm of the municipality, a role that is funded through a contractual relationship.

"Instead of getting a grant, the chamber is paid for marketing services rendered for the city of Seward," Cloward said.

The chamber studied visitor statistics to determine where people came from and the economic potential Seward has, she said.

It then developed marketing strategies, such as a branding initiative that came up with a community brand, "Alaska Starts Here."

In addition, it finely tuned its destination guide and the chamber's Website. It also has worked closely with the city on economic development programs and to market Seward as a business friendly environment.

"We were really fortunate that there was an awful lot came together for us," Cloward said.

The chamber publishes a destination guide each year that it provides to trade shows, Alaska travel industries and to online visitors who inquire about traveling to Seward.

Some copies are kept on hand at Seward's conference and visitor's bureau for walk-in visitors.

"If we did our job right, visitors already have the information before they ever arrive in Seward," Cloward said.

This year, on-request distribution of the destination guide doubled from prior years.

Within its office, the chamber also sets an example of quality business management and employee retention practices, according to Cloward.

Seward's chamber office is staffed with an executive director, a member services coordinator and a special projects coordinator. Until a recent departure, the chamber had had no turnover in its full-time professional staff for two years.

During the summer, the chamber hires two supplemental workers.

Lead by a nine-member board, the chamber's directors are elected by the membership. Board members serve three-year terms and are eligible to re-election.

Chamber leadership is voluntarily involved in the community through participation in organizations such as the Rotary Club, United Way and the Alaska SeaLife Center.

In September, the chamber, city administration and port and commerce advisory board participated in a two-hour forum in which participants gathered information to formulate a Top- 10 list to help shape a strategic plan.

The chamber board begins its strategic planning later this month. The strategic plan and the chamber's mission will be used to set policies and directives, according to Cloward.

Board members meet for one work session and one business meeting each month.

The current five-year strategic plan can be seen online at .

The membership meets twice a month except during the summer, when it meets once per month.

A directory of the chamber's business members is printed in the destination guide and is also available online at .

Tammy Judd can be reached at (907) 348-2428 or toll free at (800) 770-9830, ext. 428.