Waterbury Regional Chamber's 124th Annual Meeting Keynote Speaker CTSBDC State Director

WATERBURY, Conn. - March 19, 2014 - PRLog -- On Wednesday, April 2, The Waterbury Regional Chamber will honor 48 long-term members and commemorate another successful year at the organization’s 124th Annual Meeting & Luncheon. The keynote address will be given by Emily Carter, state director of the reorganized Small Business Development Center (CTSBDC). The event will be held from 12:00 to 1:30 p.m. at La Bella Vista at the Ponte Club at 380 Farmwood Road in Waterbury, Connecticut.

With a consulting office within The Waterbury Regional Chamber headquarters on Bank Street in Waterbury, the Connecticut Small Business Development Center (CTSBDC) provides no-cost advising services to prospective and existing business owners to help them start or expand their business. Working closely with state, regional and local organizations, CTSBDC services are custom-designed to help all types of businesses from home-based to high-tech and more. Services include: business plan review, cash flow analysis, loan and grant application guidance, marketing and social media, international trade, inventory control management, market research, management and personnel expertise, and emergency preparedness.

CTSBDC is funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration, the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development and the University of Connecticut. The SBDC program remains one of the nation’s largest small business assistance programs in the federal government with a proven track record of providing almost 35 years of service to small businesses.

“Small Business Development Centers across Connecticut,” explained Ms. Carter, “are partnered with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), Connecticut Office of Tourism “Still Revolutionary”, UCONN School of Business, and SCORE. We offer no-cost business advising services to new and existing businesses, and many of our 12 business advisors across Connecticut have owned a business. Our client list consists of all types of entrepreneurs from home-based businesses to export services, youth and encore entrepreneurs, and anyone interested in growing their business. We also proudly serve Spanish-speaking entrepreneurs. Every dollar spent throughout the SBDC nationwide network has enabled small businesses to access $35.55 in new capital.

Waterbury Regional Chamber Board of Directors Chairman William Pape, president of American-Republican, Inc., publishers of the Waterbury “Republican American” newspaper, commented, “The SBDC offers a tremendous wealth of free resources and services to businesses of all sizes and stages of success across Connecticut. They are an exceedingly important, and notably helpful, resource organization for any business in the state. We are fortunate to welcome Emily Carter’s insightful comments during our Chamber’s annual meeting celebration of the varying accomplishments of our members.”

During the April 2^nd luncheon meeting, the Waterbury Regional Chamber will nominate the following board of director members for re-election: William R. Harris, American Copy Service Center; Steven A. Fournier, Gar Kenyon Aerospace & Defense; Jonathan D. Albert, Cornerstone Realty, Inc.; Jack E. Traver, Jr., Traver IDC; and Rich DuPont, Resource Development Associates. Members being nominated for election to the board include Lori Greene, Elizabeth Richard Gifts; Kent S. McClun, Wells Fargo; Pasquale Salvatore, La Tavola Ristorante; Corey Shaker, Shaker Auto Group and Robin Sills, R.N., Naugatuck Valley Radiology. After nine years of service retiring from the board are Kathy Bower, Esq. of Gager, Emerson, Rickart, Bower & Scalzo, LLP and Carmen Anthony Vacalebre of Carmen Anthony Restaurant Group.

Member companies celebrating milestone anniversaries of 50, 40 35, 30, 25, 20 and 15 years in the chamber will also be celebrated during the Annual Meeting. Loyal members celebrating 50 years of membership include Easter Seals Rehabilitation Center of Greater Waterbury and Holiday Hill; 40 years are M.J. Fahy & Sons, Inc. and Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co.; 35 years is VNA Health Care; 30 years are C & H Electric, Inc., Help Unlimited, Inc., and Northwest Regional Workforce Investment Board.

Chamber members celebrating 25 years are American Copy Service Center, Inc.; Gateway Limousine, Inc.; Michaels Jewelers; Pizza Castle Restaurant & Pub; Prime Publishers-Voices, Town Times; Triple Stitch Sportswear; Wireless Zone of Waterbury, A Division of Kess Corp.; The Moynahan Law Firm, LLC; The Grotto & Mrs. G.

Members celebrating 20 years include Accurate Mailing Services, L.L.C.; Alderson Funeral Homes, Inc.; Apple Rehab Watertown; Barker Specialty Company/Barker Animation; Broderick Law Firm, LLC; Carpin Manufacturing, Inc.; CPE Electric, LLC.; EVENTS by Superior; Granville Academy of Waterbury; KarTele Cellular Phones; O’Rourke & Birch Florists; Powerstation Events; Shawne’s ‘Mane’ Attraction; The DiSalvo Ericson Group; The Salvation Army; Waterbury Youth Service System, Inc.

Waterbury Regional Chamber members celebrating 15 years include Access Rehab Centers; Baldwin Communications; Cheshire House Health Care Facility; Colasanto Funeral Home; Cornerstone Physical Therapy, LLC; Council of Governments of the Central Naugatuck Valley; Greater Waterbury Healthcare Federal Credit Union; Oxford Economic Development Commission; Robert S. McWilliam, MD; Stone Academy; The Ark Child Development Center, Inc.; WANHO Manufacturing, LLC; and Wellmore Behavioral Health.

Premier sponsor of the Waterbury Regional Chamber Annual Luncheon Meeting on April 2^nd is Comcast Business Class.

Tickets for the April 2^nd luncheon meeting are available. Registration is requested by Tuesday, March 25, 2014. To register, visit www.waterburychamber.com or call 203-757-0701.