Chamber Blog
How Strong Businesses Stay Standing When Others Fall Every leader has faced a curveball in the last few years-supply chains, staffing, tech, or the economy. The companies that come out stronger aren’t lucky. They’ve built resilience into their DNA. Resilient organizations lean on three things: confident leadership, flexible operations, and teams that feel trusted. Chambers…
Cybersecurity Made Simple: 5 Steps Every Local Business Should Take Nearly half of cyberattacks target small businesses, not just large corporations The average breach costs $25,000, but prevention is affordable and accessible Begin with strong passwords, MFA, and consistent team training Back up data in two places and test regularly A clear response plan helps…
What AI Can’t Replace in Your Local Business AI excels at automating repetitive, time‑consuming tasks. It can streamline administrative routines (like scheduling, invoicing), but lacks human judgment. Client‑facing personalization benefits from human empathy and context-AI can assist, not replace. Internal operations: AI helps with analytics and forecasting, though strategic decision‑making stays human. Ultimately, local business…
Mid-Year Reset: 5 Smart Moves to Strengthen Your Small Business The year’s midpoint is your wake-up call-refocus now to finish strong. Scrutinize your numbers to find what’s working (and what’s not). Reboot your marketing before seasonal shifts hit. Remove workflow roadblocks to boost team output. Reconnect with your business’s core purpose. 597 Words ~ 3…
Flagstaff Green Business of the Year Award: Celebrating Sustainability in the Local Business Community Reflecting the Flagstaff business community’s commitment to environmental stewardship, the Chamber introduced the Flagstaff Green Business Award in 2022. This award recognizes the sustainable efforts of local businesses and non-profits, highlighting their commitment to creating a positive impact on the environment.…
Marley Discovery Center Opens at Lowell Observatory: A Boost for Flagstaff’s Economy Flagstaff celebrated a monumental addition to its cultural and scientific landscape with the grand opening of the Marley Discovery Center at Lowell Observatory. This state-of-the-art facility promises not only to enhance the city’s reputation as a hub for astronomical discovery but also to…
Greater Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce Celebrates Native American Heritage Month: Honoring Our Indigenous Communities The Greater Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce proudly joins the community in celebrating Native American Heritage Month this November. This month holds special significance for northern Arizona, where we have the privilege of living and working alongside vibrant Native American communities, including…
Transforming Employee Feedback into Actionable Insights: A Leader’s Guide To manage employee experience effectively, leaders must turn data into action. Gathering feedback is easy; interpreting it to meet employee needs is the challenge. Leaders should focus on synthesizing insights from feedback tools into a clear, strategic response. The Big Picture: Managing employee experience is crucial,…
Everything You Need to Know About Prop 138: The Tipped Workers Protection Act A group called One Fair Wage (OFW), an outside special interest group from New York and California, is pushing an initiative known as the One Fair Wage Act that would raise the minimum wage by $2 above the current Consumer Price Index…
Governor Katie Hobbs Announces Major Update in Deployment of Federal Broadband Dollars PHOENIX, AZ (August 5, 2024) – Today, Governor Katie Hobbs announced the approval of Volume II of Arizona’s application for the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program. This officially unlocks the $993 million dollars in funding, which will be utilized to connect every…
75% of Job Applicants are Getting Ghosted Have you ever applied for a job and then never heard back? It isn’t unusual, but it can be frustrating. Maybe your resume was too sparse, or the company didn’t have the right software for selecting candidates. The good news is that a few tactics help prevent…
Interview Your Employees So They Stay The Great Resignation is spurring a rash of hiring bonuses, better perks, and aggressive recruitment. You’ve probably heard of or are engaging in focused talent retention – but have you tried the “stay interview?” The opposite of an exit interview, a stay interview is a semi-formal conversation with…
Looking back: my biggest regret in business The Greater Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce provides resources to local businesses to help you succeed, with a focus on creating a strong thriving community. We encourage local entrepreneurs to stop in and get acquainted and learn more about what we offer. Sometimes learning from others’ mistakes will keep…
Your Next Meeting Could Be Original If your company has staff meetings, you know all too well how quickly these regular meetings can become boring, unproductive, and a real drag on employee morale. The good news is that with a little creativity, you can transform your typical meetings into original, exciting events that deliver real…
Your Quarterback Employee Needs an Offensive Line In football, it is the quarterback who drives each play. However, the quarterback also has to contend with the other team’s defenders coming in to try to tackle him before he can make a play. It is his offensive linemen who hold off the defenders to give him…
Hindsight: What Business Owners Wish They Would Have Done Differently They say hindsight is 20-20. If you only would have known. As a business owner, you may already have a few things you wish you knew. Would you have hired that one person? Perhaps you would have started your company sooner. While it is important…
Cult of Personality: Building a more positive workplace culture in 90 days Building a positive workplace culture results in happier employees, which in turn, increases your production rates. Basically, a happy workplace is good for everyone. The question is, how can you create a positive, supporting workplace culture quickly. Check out these tips to get…
Let’s Have a Drink and Talk About Alcohol in the Workplace When it comes to contentious topics, few can beat the debate about whether or not alcohol has any place in today’s workplace. There’s a wide range of opinions on the subject ranging from zero tolerance for alcohol consumption on the job right through to…
Should I hire or outsource? Deciding between hiring in-house talent or outsourcing the job can be a tough call to make, and both options have their benefits and drawbacks. Here are some things to consider when choosing between the two recruitment options. Why Independent Contractors Make Sense It’s easy to understand the draw that outsourcing…
3 Ways to tell your employees you love them (without being weird) When an employee does a good job, it’s only natural that you want to show your appreciation. But it’s important to be careful about how you express yourself. You can’t go up to an employee and say something like, “Oh wow! You did…