May Monthly Update from the Laramie Chamber Business Alliance

May 2018

May in Review

May was filled with several different events and activities for Laramie Chamber Business Alliance Board and Staff members. From searching for a new CEO to planning the golf classic and holding several ribbon cuttings, the LCBA is having a great start to the Laramie Summer.

Throughout the month the LCBA board continued its search for a new CEO. As of last week, the search committee narrowed it down to five candidates and expects to have the position filled by mid-summer.

The month kicked off with staff returning from the Wyoming State Chamber of Commerce Spring Conference in Thermopolis. Staff members Josie Molloy and Hannah Robinson attended the three-day conference and learned about a variety of topics including trust, leadership and disaster awareness in the workplace. LCBA staff was also able to make connections with other chambers.

“The best part of the conference was getting to network and know other chamber staff from across the state of Wyoming,” said VP of membership Josie Molloy.

The following week, the town of Laramie celebrated its 150 ^th anniversary. The kick-off celebration was at the Wyoming Territorial Prison and had living history actors, local food trucks and vendors, a classic car exhibition and education stops for school children to view with much more. Thanks to an effort of community partners including the Albany County Tourism Board, the kick-off event was a success with many more celebrations to come this summer and fall.

The week following the celebration, Leadership Laramie held its graduation. Please scroll below to see more details of the night.

Throughout the month, the Golf Committee started to meet regularly to plan the upcoming golf classic, this event will be held the 27 ^th of July. This annual event is held for LCBA members to get together and network out in the sun during a fun golf tournament. There is food, drinks, and several prizes. The committee is still seeking a title sponsor, if you are interested in this unique opportunity, please contact Josie at jmolloy@laramie.org.

Along with all the special events, regular LCBA Committees continued to meet and make progress toward their goals. The Business Retention and Expansion Committee sent the Business Resource Guide off for a large print run. There was a community partner meetup between the staff of LCBA, City of Laramie, Albany County, Laramie Main Street Alliance, and the Small Business Development Center. Additionally, the LCBA hosted a new member orientation with 25 people in attendance and is preparing for a New Business Roundtable covering the 2018 Tax Reform. To save your spot for the roundtable please email receptionist@laramie.org or call 307-745-7339.

Among all the special events, regular activities and business as usual, there were five ribbon cuttings this month with another this Thursday. ArtConnect Gallery, a project of Works of Wyoming and Wyoming Women’s Business Center, opened its doors May 3 ^rd with a ribbon cutting and artists reception. The following day, Friday the 4th, Basecamp held it's grand opening with a ribbon cutting ceremony. On Monday the 7 ^th of May, Cowgirl Fitness was able to show off its facility with a ribbon cutting. Then on May 17, Wyoming Health Fairs celebrated its new location in Laramie with a Business After Hours and ribbon cutting. The following week, Pole Mountain Pharmacy hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony that celebrated the brand-new business. There’s one more chance to make it to a ribbon cutting and Business After Hours this month as Expert Exteriors hosts its Business After Hours and ribbon cutting this Thursday, the 31 ^st at the Durlacher, details can be seen below in this newsletter.

As we round out this month, LCBA Staff is excited to continue to provide networking opportunities, resources and work towards the improvement of the local business environment throughout the summer of 2018.

Important Election and Candidate Filing Dates

- Government Relations Committee educates members and community on upcoming election -

by VP of Membership Josie Molloy

With 2018 being an election year, the Laramie Chamber Business Alliance’s Government Relations committee wants to keep the members and community informed on important election dates and candidate filing dates.

LCBA does not endorse any candidates, but we will share the interviews and important election information so are members and the community are educated before they cast their vote.

We encourage members and the community to vote and educate yourself on each candidate. Prior to the General Election, the Government Relations committee will interview each candidate running for office and share the questions and answers with the members.

Several positions with the City Council are up for election this year. Ward 1 ( map) has two positions open for election. Ward 2 ( map) has one position up for election. Ward 3 ( map) has two positions open for election. Here are links for the positions up for election and the ward map. Applications for City Council are due to the City Clerk’s Office between May 17 and June 1.

For candidate filing information and forms visit https://www.co.albany.wy.us/candidate-filing.aspx

For a list of current candidates that have filed for open positions visit: https://www.co.albany.wy.us/candidates-filed.aspx

This year the Primary Election Day is Tuesday, August 21. The General Election Day is Tuesday, November 6. Get out and vote!

Leadership Laramie Graduation

Congratulations to Leaderships Laramie Classes of 2018 and 2019

On Tuesday, May 8, Leadership Laramie held its graduation ceremony to honor the 2nd year graduates and to recognize the class of 2019's first year completion.

The night was filled with a networking hour, dinner and a speech from University of Wyoming Women’s Basketball Coach Joe Legerski. The class of 2019 accepted certificates acknowledging their first-year completion. The 2019 class also discussed its community project that will be a mural on the Moose Club building along Third Street.

The night ended with the class of 2018 accepting their awards and recognition of their completion of the program.

Now the second-year class, also known as the Steering Committee will be planning for the class of 2020. Applications for the 2020 class starting fall 2018 will start being accepted this summer. Stay tuned for updates.

2018 Steering Committee Chair Katie Cook accepts her award.

Graduating class of 2018 above, class of 2019 below. Photos by Matthew Idler Photography.

Business of the Month

- CPA Group of Laramie, LLC -

CUSTOMER AND COMMUNITY SERVICE

CPA Group of Laramie stems from footing made in the 80s by founder Pam Dunnuck and after reorganization in 2011, the public accounting firm has developed into the reputable firm it is today. The office operates with 15 employees serving clientele in the city, state and country along with giving back to the community it is based in.

CPA Group of Laramie Managing Partner Jason Roesler said he did not anticipate the level the firm is at today with client capacity of an estimated 1,300 to 1,400 individuals and 400 to 500 businesses.

Although Roesler said the 2018 tax season was typical compared to past seasons, in the sense that it is significant and extremely busy for the firm, CPA Group of Laramie keeps busy year-round with various public accounting services.

“We are predominately tax, advisory and client accounting services,” said Roesler, “And we stay pretty busy with all of that work. A lot of the time people will ask me, ‘well what you do after tax season?’ I say we still do a lot of tax work and consulting. Our expertise is definitely in that area.”

Maintaining these accounts all year long stems from the trust the staff develops with clients and businesses. Roesler said most clients hold the concept that the firm serves as a trusted adviser.