Easy as 1/23
   
If connection is one of your new year's resolutions, we invite you to connect with the largest business network in the region: Join us for our ninth annual IceBreaker luncheon at the Kohl Center on April 13 and our 70th Annual Dinner at Monona Terrace on Oct. 17!
IceBreaker and Annual Dinner each sold out in record time last year, so sponsoring them now is the best way to guarantee your business a spot. Even better, if you commit to sponsorship by Jan. 23, you can lock in the lower 2022 rate.
As each event approaches, we will share additional information. In the meantime:
-- Contact Nikki Javurek for sponsorship information and/or to reserve a table; or
-- Click here to add yourself to the waitlist and be the first to know when registration opens.
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City visions, part one
For the first of two programs featuring Madison mayoral candidates, today we welcomed Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway to Lunch(UP)date, the Chamber program where you can take a break and enjoy lunch while staying curious, connected and informed.
During the conversation, the Mayor discussed her vision for the next four years and top priorities for a potential second term, including the long-term need for more housing and short-term concerns around public safety. As the biggest accomplishment of her time in office so far, she cited the groundbreaking for a new Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system, which she believes will transform transit in Madison. Aside from the pandemic, the biggest unexpected challenge after taking office was the need to manage change within city operations.
Relating to public safety, the Mayor said she continues to believe Madison is a safe city overall and that she has been impressed with Chief Shon Barnes’ evidence-based strategies and data-driven approach to policing. She also addressed her new energy benchmarking plan (see more below), the need for a public-private solution on childcare and what the city is – and can be – doing to make Madison more equitable and inclusive.
View the full recording of Lunch(UP)date here.
To register for our Feb. 9 program with mayoral candidate Gloria Reyes, click here.
Thanks to Lead Sponsor Perkins Coie and Small and Emerging Business Sponsor EZ Office Products for supporting this program.
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Mandatory benchmarking introduced
Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway and three Madison alders have introduced a proposal that would require property owners of commercial buildings equal to or greater than 25,000 square feet to annually benchmark their energy use and report that information to the city. Buildings equal to or greater than 50,000 square feet would also be required to perform building "tune-ups" every four years using a "qualified professional" to both assess current building practices and perform "low-cost corrective actions." That information would also be shared with the city.
The city developed and adopted Chamber-supported legislation nearly a decade ago to develop a collaborative voluntary energy benchmarking program, but the city has not taken action since. Instead, this is a return to a failed mandatory approach that resurrects troubling provisions, including significant upfront consultant costs to business that produce no actual energy savings, as well as the collection of proprietary employer data that will become a public record.
Find more details about the legislation here.
The Chamber will continue to communicate its serious concerns with this proposal. To share the impact mandatory benchmarking may have on your business, contact your alder or the full council here.
Read more about this issue in the Wisconsin State Journal.
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This looks cool
Go walking (and networking) in a winter wonderland during our "Frozen Night Out" on Feb. 2!
The Chamber is partnering with the Clean Lakes Alliance for this event featuring drinks, s'mores and great connections. In addition to Frozen Night Out inside The Edgewater Hotel, there will be outdoor activities as part of the weeklong Frozen Assets Festival, including ice sculptures, games, skating and more.
Chamber members get in free. Sign up here.
Frozen Night Out is supported by Accelerate Sponsors 1901 Inc., EUA and Group Health Cooperative of South Central Wisconsin.
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The Am-best-adors
Congratulations are in order for Laura Fitzgerald (left) of Madison Media Partners, who was recently named our 2022 Chamber Ambassador of the Year!
Hunter Klus of Atlatl Advisers, Lisa Spadoni of Goldstein Advisors and Joey Broms of Baer Insurance Services, Inc. were also recognized as top Ambassadors at our year-end celebration. They were all honored for providing outstanding support to our member businesses and our collective work, including enhancing the overall Chamber event experience.
Thanks to all our Ambassadors for their efforts on behalf of the Chamber and its members. To learn more about the Ambassador program, contact Events Manager Alanna Thiede or download the Ambassador application here.
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Member News
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Community Calendar
January 13-15, 2023
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