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Are you having hiring difficulties? Do you experience retention issues, a skills gap or other related issues? Would you like to talk about how the community could help develop your industry’s workforce?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, the Sarnia Lambton Workforce Development Board is offering an opportunity to get together and discuss the issues and possible solutions.

The SLWDB is hosting a consultation day on Wednesday, September 19 to meet with businesses in a group setting; there will be three one-hour sessions to choose from, at 7:30 a.m., 11 a.m., and 2 p.m.

The location is the St. Clair Room at 265 Front Street N., Sarnia, although those interested in participating are asked to contact the office of the Sarnia Lambton Workforce Development Board prior to arriving.

Two additional sessions will be held in Lambton Shores with details to be announced later.

If you are interested in attending either event or would like more details, please contact Executive Director Shauna Carr at (519) 332-0000 or shauna.carr@slwdb.org.

Erin Bury, the technology and marketing expert and “start-up fanatic” who was named as one of Marketing Magazine’s “Top 10 Under 30,” is the featured speaker at a keynote, workshop and full breakfast event to be held Tuesday, October 16 at the Lambton Event Centre.

The event is part of Sarnia-Lambton Business Week, which is being organized by the Sarnia-Lambton Business Development Corporation and sponsored in part by the Sarnia Lambton Chamber of Commerce.

Bury is a former technology journalist who writes a monthly column for the Financial Post. She is also a technology commentator for CTV News.

In sharing the “ins and outs” of entrepreneurship, Bury’s dynamic presentation will help attendees take their marketing game to the next level.

As the current managing director at Eighty-Eight, a communications agency, Bury works with consumer brands and technology companies to tell their stories. Her client list has included Sony Pictures Television, Torstar and PayPal as well as countless start-ups.

Bury, whose “claim to fame” was being re-tweeted (twice) by Oprah, will help attendees learn how to use an entrepreneurial mindset to win in business.

Cost of the event is $35 plus an Eventbrite fee of $2.20. A link to the Eventbrite.ca for tickets can be found HERE.

Congratulations go out to the Sarnia-Lambton Economic Partnership in being recognized as one of Canada’s Top Ten Canadian Economic Development Groups by Site Selection magazine. The recognition comes as part of the publication’s “Canada’s Best Locations 2018 Awards” program.

Features that lead to the recognition include excellence in regional partnerships, proactive and innovative programming as well as quality data, web tools and resources.

It is the fifth time in the 12-year history of the awards program that the Sarnia-Lambton Economic Partnership has been named to the list. Past years in which SLEP made the top 10 list were 2007, 2008, 2010, and 2014.

Shirley de Silva, president and CEO of the Chamber, said news of the ranking speaks well for the entire business community.

“We work as a team here in Sarnia-Lambton and when one of our own is recognized beyond our borders, we celebrate with them,” she said.

The award will be presented at the annual conference of the International Economic Development Council later this month.

A full story about the recognition appears in Lambton Shield, an online (and soon to be print) business publication.

Circle Studio and the Town of Petrolia is proud to be hosting September’s Business After 5 event on Wednesday, September 19.

The event will be held at Circle Studio, located at 4215 Petrolia Line, Petrolia. Circle Studio is a holistic health, healing and wellness studio, run by women (and moms) with a passion for health, wellness and family fitness.

Mark your calendars for September 19 and we’ll see you between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m.

It’s become a tradition at the Sarnia Lambton Chamber of Commerce Outstanding Business Achievement Awards gala and this year, there’s been a steady stream of “repeat customers” when it comes to sponsors of the “Red Carpet” along the sidewalk near the Imperial Theatre in downtown Sarnia.

The good news is that there are still several spots available, which will be among the most visible sponsorship opportunities connected with this year’s OBAA event, which takes place on Friday, October 12, 2018.

Price for each square is $750 plus HST.

Sponsorship “squares” on the sidewalk are installed several days before the event and remain in place for a few days following.

Contact the Chamber office to secure your spot. You can email the office (info@slchamber.ca) or call (519) 336-2400.

As the wheels continue to turn on the journey we know as the 2018 Outstanding Business Achievement Awards gala, a special appeal: there is a need for more judges.

The task is relatively straightforward, with volunteers to receive copies of online submissions on or about September 4.

Submissions are then reviewed and returned with scoring to organizers (details will be communicated to volunteers). The time frame is designed to give judges enough time between reading the submissions, each of which is a maximum of 2,000 words.

When it all comes together, the drum roll on the 2018 Oustanding Business Achievement Awards gala—Friday, October 12 at the Imperial Theatre in downtown Sarnia—can begin.

“We appreciate the help from our volunteer judges!” said Sharon Sielky, chair of the Chamber’s OBAA committee.

Those interested in volunteering should contact the Chamber office—by email (info@slchamber.ca) or phone (519) 336-2400.