Erie Regional Chamber and Growth Partnership Announces Employment Extension with CEO Jim Dible
Erie, PA, July 15, 2009 --(PR.com)-- The Erie Regional Chamber and Growth Partnership today announced that it has agreed to extend Jim Dible's employment as President and Chief Executive Officer to Dec. 31, 2010, with a one-year extension option for 2011.
“The board is very pleased with Jim’s many accomplishments since joining the organization in 2008,” said Jim Schaffner, chair of the ERCGP's Board of Directors. “Retaining our current leadership structure and providing stability to our more than 800 investors and regional partners during these challenging economic times positions the organization favorably for the future. We look forward to continued success, increasing influence and advancement of the many transformational initiatives under Jim’s guidance.”
The ERCGP’s three divisions—Chamber of Commerce, Economic Development and Growth Partnership—continue to provide service to investors; manage the region’s business attraction, retention and expansion efforts; and advance important transformational initiatives in the region.
Since 2008, membership in the Chamber has increased to more than 800 businesses of all sizes. The ERCGP has also been recognized for its membership retention rate, one of the highest in the nation. Event attendance has also continued to increase at the organization's Business After Hours series and four signature annual events, such as the Celebration of Excellence.
The ERCGP's Economic Development division has also led the effort to launch the region's first national business attraction campaign, Tap Into Erie. The campaign markets one of the region's greatest assets, fresh water—a resource that is scarce in many parts of the country—to attract businesses to Pennsylvania's great lakes region. The Economic Development Division also coordinates the region's highly-successful Lead Economic Development Team and the County's business retention and expansion efforts that impacts more than 600 companies annually.
The organization's Growth Partnership, representing more than 140 CEOs in the Erie area, continues to advance strategic initiatives that will make a long-term impact on the region's economic vitality. The group is actively supporting a vibrant urban area that is a center for business, retail, home life, entertainment and culture; working to promoting strong public/private partnerships to achieve important regional objectives; and supporting regionalism in whatever forms make sense.
Recent Growth Partnership projects include providing leadership for REthink Erie, gaming revenue distribution recommendations and assisting the Erie Area Council of Governments.
The ERCGP is a finalist for the 2009 American Chamber of Commerce Executives Chamber of the Year Award, the nation’s only award recognizing the dual role chambers have in creating both leading businesses and communities.
"It is an honor to be able to continue as part of the team at the Erie Regional Chamber and Growth Partnership. Our mission to lead and partner with others to help retain, grow and attract businesses has never been more important than in this challenging economic environment, said Jim Dible. "I was a volunteer board member of the Erie Regional Chamber and Growth Partnership before joining the staff in 2008 after retiring from Times Publishing Company. I continue to have the passion, enthusiasm and commitment to contribute in whatever ways possible to the public/private partnerships needed to move the Erie region forward."
Mr. Schaffner believes that the extension of Mr. Dible’s employment will secure stability and continuity for the ERCGP, to the benefit of all investors.
"We have an important responsibility to the more than 800 business investors in our organization to provide a return on their investment with our efforts," he added. "When we are successful in doing that, we are simultaneously successful in helping to sustain and grow the overall economy of the Erie region."
The Executive Committee of the Board of Directors unanimously approved the employment extension during its July meeting.
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“The board is very pleased with Jim’s many accomplishments since joining the organization in 2008,” said Jim Schaffner, chair of the ERCGP's Board of Directors. “Retaining our current leadership structure and providing stability to our more than 800 investors and regional partners during these challenging economic times positions the organization favorably for the future. We look forward to continued success, increasing influence and advancement of the many transformational initiatives under Jim’s guidance.”
The ERCGP’s three divisions—Chamber of Commerce, Economic Development and Growth Partnership—continue to provide service to investors; manage the region’s business attraction, retention and expansion efforts; and advance important transformational initiatives in the region.
Since 2008, membership in the Chamber has increased to more than 800 businesses of all sizes. The ERCGP has also been recognized for its membership retention rate, one of the highest in the nation. Event attendance has also continued to increase at the organization's Business After Hours series and four signature annual events, such as the Celebration of Excellence.
The ERCGP's Economic Development division has also led the effort to launch the region's first national business attraction campaign, Tap Into Erie. The campaign markets one of the region's greatest assets, fresh water—a resource that is scarce in many parts of the country—to attract businesses to Pennsylvania's great lakes region. The Economic Development Division also coordinates the region's highly-successful Lead Economic Development Team and the County's business retention and expansion efforts that impacts more than 600 companies annually.
The organization's Growth Partnership, representing more than 140 CEOs in the Erie area, continues to advance strategic initiatives that will make a long-term impact on the region's economic vitality. The group is actively supporting a vibrant urban area that is a center for business, retail, home life, entertainment and culture; working to promoting strong public/private partnerships to achieve important regional objectives; and supporting regionalism in whatever forms make sense.
Recent Growth Partnership projects include providing leadership for REthink Erie, gaming revenue distribution recommendations and assisting the Erie Area Council of Governments.
The ERCGP is a finalist for the 2009 American Chamber of Commerce Executives Chamber of the Year Award, the nation’s only award recognizing the dual role chambers have in creating both leading businesses and communities.
"It is an honor to be able to continue as part of the team at the Erie Regional Chamber and Growth Partnership. Our mission to lead and partner with others to help retain, grow and attract businesses has never been more important than in this challenging economic environment, said Jim Dible. "I was a volunteer board member of the Erie Regional Chamber and Growth Partnership before joining the staff in 2008 after retiring from Times Publishing Company. I continue to have the passion, enthusiasm and commitment to contribute in whatever ways possible to the public/private partnerships needed to move the Erie region forward."
Mr. Schaffner believes that the extension of Mr. Dible’s employment will secure stability and continuity for the ERCGP, to the benefit of all investors.
"We have an important responsibility to the more than 800 business investors in our organization to provide a return on their investment with our efforts," he added. "When we are successful in doing that, we are simultaneously successful in helping to sustain and grow the overall economy of the Erie region."
The Executive Committee of the Board of Directors unanimously approved the employment extension during its July meeting.
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Contact
Erie Regional Chamber and Growth Partnership
Matthew Cummings
814-454-7191
www.eriepa.com
Matthew Cummings
814-454-7191
www.eriepa.com
Contact
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