Marcellus Shale Chamber launched

May 2, 2011 - PRLog -- SOUTHPOINTE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ‘HATCHES’ THE MARCELLUS SHALE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
The Southpointe Chamber of Commerce announced the startup of the ‘Marcellus Shale Chamber of Commerce’.  (www.marcellusshalechamber.com)  Don Hodor, Executive Director/Founder, in a breakfast meeting at the Southpointe Golf Club, made the announcement to 75 businessmen who attended. Hodor founded the Southpointe Chamber in 1997 and has extensive experience as past president of the Washington County Chamber and Eighty Four, PA Chamber.  Hodor stated, “As a 15 year resident of Southpointe, I have seen the area grow each year with goals exceeding expectations.  We are now the 12th largest chamber (published in Pittsburgh Business Times) in the Pittsburgh region with growth of over 20% each year.”   220 companies are in Southpointe with 50 new gas/oil companies that moved in over the last 6 months.  

The Chamber Mission:   Promote profitable business-to-business relationships in the Marcellus Shale Gas & Oil Industry.  

Our location in Southpointe (coined by media as the Marcellus Shale Capital) and membership demographics make this move a perfect transition for the promotion of local businesses in the area.  The chamber had conducted a survey and received a 90% favorable response to businesses wanting to ‘connect’ with the new industry.  

Hodor announced that our focus is on networking local businesses into the gas & oil business.  “We will stay clear of both environmental and tax issues, leaving that challenge to the other groups.” Hodor stated.   Jesse White spoke on those issues at the meeting and noted that the chamber will champion business-to-business networking and leave the other issues with White and related groups.  

Also announced is the new magazine publication, Southpointe News, Map and Directory.  This will initially be published twice a year with a goal of quarterly printing.   The chamber board commissioned Terry Caldwell as Director of Marketing.  He has gone door-to-door taking a comprehensive inventory of each company.  
“We now have the only up to date, accurate, listing of all companies in Southpointe.  This data base along with advertisements by local businesses will become an elite source.  We register companies on the www.Marcellusshalechamber.com web site with web links to each company.  Response to the magazine has been very enthusiastic ”, Caldwell stated.  

Board members in attendance were - Dale Risker, President and charter member, 15 years; Karl Strypak, retired Consol Energy lead counsel and 15 year board member; Lou Gadani, Canonsburg community leader and 15 year board member; and Terry Caldwell, past Trib Total Media Sales Executive and newly appointed to the board.

“In April the Southpointe Chamber partnered with California University with the annual ‘business to business“ tradeshow.  It was during that show that we realized the need for the new chamber” Said Risker, Chamber President.

Meetings are posted on the web site event calendar at www.southpointechamber.com.  The Southpointe and Marcellus Shale Chamber offices are in the Bailey Center at 125 Technology Drive in Southpointe.  724-873-7777

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The Marcellus Shale Chamber has a mission of helping businesses realize profitability by meeitng others in the Southpointe area. Go to www.marcellusshalechamber.com for more information. The Marcellus Shale Chamber was formed to fill this void.