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…
4 Ways to Lead With Compassion How do you genuinely inspire and motivate your team? In the age of “the Great Resignation,” good leadership stands out. Managers and business owners who think that they’re charismatic and influential leaders may need to take a moment to reflect on their effectiveness. Leading with compassion may be the…
For High Skill, High Value Jobs, Working From Home Doesn’t (Always) Work While many people discovered that they could complete their jobs through working from home or flex time, not everyone had the same results. Those in high-skilled, collaborative roles may do better with in-person collaboration with teams, for which regular Zoom meetings can’t achieve…
Bad Job Descriptions are Repelling Qualified Workers Many of our members are recruiting talent to fill important positions in their businesses. Employers in many different industries find it difficult to find employees at every level, and chronic short-staffing is taking a toll on many businesses. However, you may have more eligible workers than you think, but your…
Why Businesses Reject Resumes – Even in a Talent Shortage Walking down the street, it’s rare to spot a business that doesn’t have a “Help Wanted” sign in the window. The “Great Resignation,” and the number of people who abandoned their 9-to-5 jobs for a side hustle or entirely new career, has resulted in a talent shortage…
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 your…
Do This Before The Great Resignation Becomes The Great Revolt Walk down the street outside your business and you’ll probably see at least one “Help Wanted” sign – and you likely have one of your own up, too. The Great Resignation is turning into the Great Revolt, as workers are leaving jobs in droves –…
Many Who Quit Didn’t Show Up in Unemployment Numbers — What Gives? Millions of Americans have quit their jobs during the Great Resignation. 4.4 million employees left their jobs in September alone in search of greener pastures with July and August numbers not far behind. It would be expected that everyone that quit would either need to…
Is the Great Resignation Permanent? Gaining traction since April of 2021, the Great Resignation has created a labor shortage for many industries that are now struggling to fill open positions. While some speculations early on suggested that workers would return before the holidays, time told a different story. A poll conducted by the US Chamber…