Educational Opportunities to Enhance Businesses in Lincoln

(This article appears in the April 2022 edition of Strictly Business Magazine)

Providing our Lincoln Chamber of Commerce members with valuable resources to grow their businesses is at the core of the work we do, and we are so excited to announce new opportunities for our members to network, learn and engage. The recent expansion of our existing programs and the launch of a new educational event series offers our members and Lincoln business leaders a platform to continue to grow and thrive in Lincoln. 

Recognizing that small businesses are a vital part our community, we recently created the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce Small Business Advisory Council. Comprised of 15 Chamber small business members and representing a variety of industry sectors from all corners of our community, this council will meet on a monthly basis to discuss important opportunities and concerns impacting Lincoln’s small business landscape. We are eager to connect with this dedicated team of professionals and applaud their thoughtful input and leadership. The inaugural council will begin meeting in April and members will change on an annual basis. I am so pleased to announce the members of our inaugural Small Business Advisory Council and encourage you to visit lcoc.com/sm-business-council to learn more about the 2022 – 2023 Council. 

We also launched our new Business Toolbox Series last month; a quarterly educational series that will touch on topics and resources important to our Chamber members and Lincoln’s business community. The first session explored opportunities for businesses to use Name, Image and Likeness, or NIL, to connect and market their business with college athletes. The robust panel discussion featured Jonathan Bateman, Associate Director of Compliance at the University of Nebraska - Lincoln; Chris Aumueller, CEO and Founder of FanWord and Nick Maestas, owner of Muchachos restaurant. Together, they shared insights and information about the benefits of this new and emerging marketing capability. The next installment of our Business Toolbox Series will be announced soon—stay tuned for further details.

Our Lincoln Partnership for Economic Development’s Lincoln Manufacturing Tech Certification Program also continues to grow, with an increase in students and new classes on the horizon in 2022. The impactful six-week class offers a unique opportunity for individuals with no previous experience in the manufacturing industry to gain the important skills and training necessary to step into new manufacturing careers that offer excellent pay and benefits. This highly successful program builds pathways to connect members of our community with rewarding career opportunities while also helping our local manufacturing companies acquire new talent. The most recent section of the program, which was created in partnership with the Lincoln Manufacturing Council, concluded in early March with fourteen students receiving certificates of program completion. Additional information about the program’s exciting upcoming expansion will be announced soon. Learn more about the Lincoln Manufacturing Tech Certification Program at selectlincoln.org. 

Countless opportunities exist for Lincoln businesses, and we are so excited to offer expanded educational and engagement options to our valued Lincoln Chamber members. To learn more about our unique events, programs or Chamber membership, visit our website at lcoc.com.