WGCL Glass in the Afternoon: Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce Update: April 20, 20224/20/2022
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NOTE: This Kelley School of Business Go from Moment to Momentum article was published on April 5, 2022 with Indiana University's Kelley School of Business Blog. By: George Vlahakis As a student at the Indiana University Kelley School of Business, Lance Breitstein fell in love with the stock market. He read or watched anything he could find on the topic, whether it was a book, a blog or a video.
“What I realized was that I really wanted to go into the field of stock trading,” recalled Breitstein, a 2011 Kelley alumnus who today lives in Chicago. After getting a bachelor’s degree in finance, Breitstein spent a “wonderful” decade working at Trillium Management, one of the nation’s first and fastest growing digital trading firms. He managed its Chicago office and became one of its top traders. NOTE: This Business/Finance feature was published in the April/May 2022 edition of Bloom Magazine. By: Kristen Senz ![]() Eric Spoonmore is driven to help make his local community a better place to live, work, and do business. That’s why, he says, after earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees in public affairs at Indiana University, he moved with his wife, Lindsey, to Washington, D.C., to consult with local government officials. But he quickly came to a stark realization. “We were ready to go whip the world in Washington, but we realized it was just not for us,” says Spoonmore, 40, who became president and CEO at the Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce in December 2021. “The community did not suit me the way Bloomington did.” NOTE: This WFIU Interview with Chamber CEO Eric Spoonmore was published in the March 17, 2022 WFIU Noon Edition by Bente Bouthier. Noon Edition airs on Fridays at noon on WFIU.
Monroe County dropped into the blue advisory on the state’s COVID-19 map this week – indicating the lowest level of viral spread. The drop in cases is reminiscent to last spring and summer, when the state last experienced low levels of spread. And having met its goals for low community COVID spread , the county lifted its mask mandate this month. Indiana’s unemployment rate fell to 2.4 percent in January– the lowest rate in the Midwest. But the state’s labor force participation rate hasn’t moved much and isn’t on par with national numbers. NOTE: This "It's Your Business" column by Chamber CEO Erin Predmore was published in the Jan. 8, 2021 Bloomington Herald-Times. ![]() The Success School is the philanthropic arm of the Chamber of Commerce, working in partnership with MCCSC and RBBSC to produce graduates ready for work, career and success. For 30 years, Chamber member volunteers have led career panels, elementary career fairs, job skills seminars, financial literacy classes, job shadowing, STEM and Life Science Fairs, and Reality Stores ®, exposing K-12 students to excellent career opportunities in Monroe County. Guided by the Success School Advisory Council, the programs focus on five keys: Career Exploration, Job Skills, Financial Readiness, Soft Skills and Entrepreneurship. Each program is developed to align with Indiana curriculum standards and designed to support work already occurring in the classroom. NOTE: This "It's Your Business" column by Chamber CEO Erin Predmore was published in the Nov. 13, 2020 Bloomington Herald-Times. ![]() During the Longest Year Ever, the holidays are nearly upon us. Your gift-giving this year takes on an even more meaningful role, as many local businesses are struggling from the pandemic’s impact. And while the sentiment of “Buy Local” is important year-round, it’s even more so during the holiday season. Retailers in particular make the bulk of their profits during the fourth quarter and rely on robust sales now to stay in business the rest of the year. Consumer optimism is rising, which is a good sign. According to the October U.S. Consumer Sentiment Index, Americans are growing more optimistic about the economy than at any point since the pandemic began, but their optimism is still below levels reported at the start of 2020. There is cautious optimism locally, too. But that’s tempered with the early exodus of Indiana University students, as classes end before Thanksgiving and won’t start up again in person until February. So as you plan your holiday gift-giving this year, please consider spending your gift dollars locally. NOTE: This "It's Your Business" column by Chamber CEO Erin Predmore was published in the Oct. 9, 2020 Bloomington Herald-Times. ![]() This year, the presidential election is sucking all the oxygen out of the room as we head toward Nov. 3. It’s certainly a crucial race, and not just for the business community. But here’s the thing: While presidential candidates receive much-deserved attention and scrutiny, many of the down-ballot races go virtually unnoticed. How many times in the past have you filled out your ballot and wondered: “Who the heck are these people?” The candidates we elect for local and state offices have a direct impact on our daily lives. They make decisions that impact businesses, nonprofits, educational institutions and individuals. They decide how our tax dollars are spent. They make policies and regulations that affect how your business can operate and whether you can thrive. They hire and oversee our school superintendents. They determine how laws are applied. And most of them do this in relative anonymity. NOTE: This "It's Your Business" column by Chamber CEO Erin Predmore was published in the Aug. 14, 2020 Bloomington Herald-Times. ![]() Earlier this summer, we unveiled an important historical marker for our community as a whole, for the business community, and most importantly, for the Black business community. In the 1960s, a business called The Black Market operated in the spot where Peoples Park is located now. Owned and run by IU grad student Rollo Turner, it was a Bloomington store celebrating Black culture, with African art, clothing, and music. It was a welcoming place for Black IU students and community members to gather. On December 26, 1968, in a violent reaction to the civil rights movement, the Black Market was firebombed. What was one moment a thriving, locally owned business and center for Black culture became in the next moment a burning symbol of hatred and racism. The store was destroyed in the fire. |
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