August 2020 Chamber Newsletter

2020

AUGUST

NEWSLETTER August 2020 newsletter.indd 1

7/29/2020 8:22:29 AM Photo by Mary S. Allen/Ranch Images

INTRODUCTION

From the Executive Director EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

T

hough the spring and summer of 2020 have made it tempting to crawl into a hole in the hopes of a long hibernation that ends with waking up to find we’ve all been dreaming a very strange dream, your Chamber staff has been doing anything but taking a long rest.

The slower-than-anticipated summer has afforded us the ability to consider how the Chamber can better serve our members. In addition to recommitting to the core functions of a chamber of commerce -- promoting our community and its businesses and providing opportunities for connecting and learning -- we are working to broaden our activities to include strengthening the regional economy and representing the interests of business in government.

It used to be that the Chamber based its membership on what is known as the “fair share” model which, in truth, is anything but fair. One menu of benefits was available to all, and the more employees your business had, the more you had to pay for the same menu of benefits.

But businesses and their interests are quite varied, and they don’t fit all that well into a one-size-fits-all program.

Some are long-established members of the business community looking to act as catalysts to drive regional economic growth. Some see themselves as conveners who want to connect with other business and civic leaders to grow their own and others’ businesses. Others want to collaborate and work with other influencers to find new opportunities, while some are cultivating customers and reputations to gain greater visibility. Some business owners are right at the beginning, looking for those classic chamber services that help them get started making connections.

Our new levels or “tiers” of membership are meant to appeal to this wide breadth of business needs. The Chamber staff and our Board of Directors are excited about these improvements, and the initial feedback we’ve received already from the early adopters is that we’re on the right track.

We’re looking forward to a bright future -- together!

Michelle Mazur, President Elevate Rehab

Jonathan Tonkowich, Vice Pres.

Wyoming Catholic College

Eric Andrews, Treasurer Fagnant, Lewis & Brinda P.C.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Ann Espinosa Home Source Realty Inc. Inter Mountain Builders

Dave Fehringer WH Smith & Associates, Inc.

Suzanne Norris Wyoming Life Resource Center

Rick Bestul NAPA Auto Parts

James Whiting Whiting Law PC

Joanne Slingerland Central Wyoming College

Mika Baker, Past President Central Bank & Trust

PROFESSIONAL STAFF Owen Sweeney Executive Director

Carol King Associate Director

Kelsey Ball

Owen Sweeney Executive Director Lander Chamber of Commerce

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Events & Programs

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Clean up your business systems – and your work space Most businesses will focus only on sales and marketing to survive hard times. You can also use this time to work on your standard operating procedure to ensure it meets your current and future needs. Slow growth periods are ideal times to purge and clean your warehouse, offices, desks, filing systems, and other important areas of the business. Cleaning the workplace will go a long way in creating a better work environment and improving efficiency.

Training and skills development Considering the busy schedules that characterize modern workplaces, employers have little or no time to train their employees. When it is slow, you can use this time for training and skills development. Train employees in critical areas like interviewing, effective meetings, time management, and email management.

Skills development will also help to address weaknesses and strengthen skills, allowing you to bring employees to a level where they can work without constant help and supervision. In a nutshell, training and skills development will contribute to improved employee performance.

Take advantage of technology Periods of slow growth can allow businesses to make the most of existing and new technology. As more employees work and communicate remotely, they will save significant commuting time and be less distracted when handling projects. Businesses can maximize technology to in-

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crease productivity by setting up efficient communication channels and empowering all employees to work remotely. Teleconferencing and working from home are quickly becoming the new normal, a factor that could affect the organizational structure of many companies.

Explore alternative work sites Changes such as teleconferencing and working remotely will have a significant impact on office leasing. There will be cases where staff members are unable to make it to the corporate office, and working from home is not an option. This situation may force businesses to identify alternative working sites such as sterilized co-working spaces. Choosing a great facility will allow you to carry on with your activities despite the disruption caused by issues such as infectious epidemics. Employees can remain productive in emergency situations.

PRODUCTIVITY

Ways to Increase Productivity Right Now

Proactive employee support When your employees work remotely, your physical office will be set-up into numerous virtual offices. Maintaining proper communication between managers and employees will require that you give your staff the necessary support. Through observations and conversations, you will be able to identify and understand any signs of agony. These include low morale, low work productivity, and anxiety relating to the slow-growth period. Addressing employee concerns will help in increasing productivity to ensure your business survives the tough times.

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SEN. ENZI ADVISE

BUSINESS AFTER Preparing your business for the next 130 years

By U.S. Senator Mike Enzi This month, Wyoming celebrates 130 years of statehood. That means 130 years of dedicated entrepreneurs and small businesses. In every town, you can find a Wyomingite who turned an idea and passion into a successful business.

Whether it is retail, hospitality or recreation, our state has it all. One of the oldest businesses – around since 1890, the year Wyoming became a state – is Miners and Stockmen’s Steakhouse and Spirits in Hartville.

This one-of-a-kind Western treasure dubs itself the “oldest bar” in the state. Since then, others have built businesses that are staples in their communities, like Cowboy Donuts in Rock Springs, Breanna’s Bakery in Gillette and so many more. As we celebrate our statehood, we should also celebrate the small businesses that help make our state what it is today.

What makes a business last over a century? One component is authentic Wyoming values. When you look at Wyoming businesses, many have honest and hardworking values in common. If your customers can see your values, they are likely to come back. But how do you get your store to stand out to customers?

A combination of building trust, continually rebranding and staying current with what customers want. Forbes offers other advice on how to stand out, like having legendary customer service, building strong relationships and maybe even implementing a type of guarantee.

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I recently visited the Western Welding Academy in Gillette, where instead of creating a traditional welding business, the owner created a welding school. The owner trains and certifies many students every year, sending construction business and trained welders back into the local community. It is a reputable academy that offers many different courses for many specialties. It is a great example of how a business owner invented a new business model to appeal to a gap in the welding market.

A way to take advantage of the unexpected COVID-19 complications this year is to work on reframing your brand, so your customers can stay loyal and confident in your products. What seems old can always seem new again with a little elbow grease. Maybe you want to start with a new logo, business plan or utilize new development tools. You could even sign up for a trade show or local market to get your name out there. It’s possible to tackle all of these new ideas either for free or on a small budget.

Take advantage of what Wyoming has to offer so your business can last another 130 years. Keep true to your values, keep reinventing your business – whether it’s your brand or inventory – and your customers are likely to stay engaged with what you have to offer. Wyoming will always have room for new ideas and innovation.

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THIRD THURSDAY Caregiver Support Group: Soup & Support 11-12:30, Frontier Home Health & Hospice EVERY MONDAY Book Sale at the Book Nook, 4-7 pm, Lander Library Carnegie Room EVERY SATURDAY Lander Valley Farmers Market, 9-11:30 am, Lander City Park Acoustic Music Jam, 11-1, Lander Bake Shop EVERY SATURDAY & SUNDAY Carissa Gold Mine Mill Tours, 10:30am & 2 pm, South Pass City

3-8 Six Days of Riverfest Lander Art Center 5 Sinks Canyon Series: Junior Anglers Day 5-7 pm, Sawmill Campground 5 Native American Eagle Spirit Dancers, 7-8:30 pm, Museum of the American West 6 Lander Chamber of Commerce Business Over Breakfast 8-9 am, Summit Restaurant

6 Images That Shaped America 7 pm, Pioneer Museum 6 More Than Just Yellowstone 7-8 pm, Dubois Museum

1-31 Fremont Area Road Tour self-guided virtual cycling challenge, fremontarearoadtour.com

7 Sinks Canyon Friday Night Series: Amateur Photography Hike 5 pm, meet at Nature Trail

1 107th Fremont County Fair fremontcountyfair.org for schedule

7 Trek up Holmes Cave trail 9-1, Dubois Museum

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11 Historic Dubois Cemetery Trek 7-8 pm, Dubois Museum 13 History of Native American firefighters in Wyoming 7-8 pm, Pioneer Museum 15 J.B. Okie Manor Adventure Trek 9-noon, Riverton Museum 15 Lander Historic Walking Tour 10-11 am, Pioneer Museum

6 Sinks Canyon Series: Evening Youth Hike 5:30 pm, 15 Paper Quilting for Kids Sinks Canyon Visitor Center 1-2 pm, Pioneer Museum

1-29 Earth & Fire Art Show Tu-Th 10-6, Fi-Sa 10-4, Lander Art Center

3 Sinks Canyon Friday Night Series: Hike Under The Stars 8:30 pm, meet at the Nature Trail

CALENDAR

August Calendar of Events

7 Sinks Canyon Fireside Series 7-8 pm, Sawmill Group Shelter

18 A Day on the East Fork 9-4, Dubois Museum 20-23 Jurassic Classic Mountain Bike Festival jurassicclassicfest.com for schedule 29 Treasure Hunt: how to use a map & compass 2-4 pm, Riverton Museum 29 Virtual historic Ed Young apple farm tour log on to be part of the tour, Riverton Museum

7 First Friday: Art & Live Music 5-9 pm, The Middle Fork

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BIZ $ MANAGEMENT

Post-COVID-19 Financial Management

by Bruce Morse, Regional Director The COVID-19 pandemic that has descended on the entire world has shed a bright light on the need for paying attention to the financial side of a business.

Those businesses that had a reserve established to cover operating expenses have been better equipped to handle the unexpected closures or severely reduced customer traffic through their business. While paying close attention to the business’ financial picture is always important, this pandemic has highlighted this necessity.

Understanding where the business stands at present lends to better decisions about where to go in the future or where to make quick decisions to survive the unexpected.

Cash Flow Management Cash flow management can be challenging during the best of times — especially for highly seasonal businesses — and many business owners don’t understand the difference between profits and cash flow. Cash flow is managed on the Balance Sheet, not the Profit & Loss (P&L) statement which we are generally more familiar with. Cash can be tied up in things that don’t show up on a P&L statement. For instance, cash can be buried in accounts receivable, inventory, purchase of fixed assets, or loan principal payments to name a few of the most likely culprits.

Owner draws also do not show up on the P&L but pull cash out of the business.

While both profit and cash flow are important over the long term, improper cash

flow management will likely cause problems sooner.

Cash Reserves There is an old adage that a business should strive to have three to six months of cash in reserve for the unexpected or for investment if an opportunity should arise on short notice. While that sounds good, I find that rarely are people able to accomplish it. However, those that did sacrifice some things initially in order to build that reserve found themselves in a much better position to weather the unexpected results of the current pandemic, closures, and customer fear of being out and about.

Being in business carries some inherent risk, but minimizing that potential exposure can help you sleep better at night.

Help is Available To further assist Wyoming small businesses, the Wyoming Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Network is putting together a number of training opportunities to help you cope with the current scenario, plan your future business model, and be better prepared for whatever challenge comes next. This will include financial management strategies to help you in the post-COVID-19 world. Visit WyomingSBDC.org to see the upcoming list of opportunities we are offering. Of course, we are also available to visit one-on-one to help you with your specific questions and strategy. All Wyoming SBDC Network services are offered confidentially and at no cost to Wyoming entrepreneurs.

About the Wyoming SBDC Network: The Wyoming SBDC Network offers no-cost advising and technical assistance to help Wyoming entrepreneurs think about, launch, grow, reinvent or exit their business. In 2018 alone, the Wyoming SBDC Network helped Wyoming entrepreneurs start 111 new businesses, create or save 1,402 jobs and bring a capital impact of more than $10 million to the state. The Wyoming SBDC Network is hosted by the University of Wyoming with state funds from the Wyoming Business Council. Funded in part through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration.

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The Chamber is partnering with Fremont Broadcasting/KOVE/KDLY to offer a special radio advertising opportunity to Lander Chamber of Commerce members.

Receive up to fifty (Yes! 50!) radio ads at the special price of $250. That’s only $5 per ad! Chamber member businesses can affordably advertise their business or service with this special pricing. Please note: this offer is not valid for political candidates/ advertisements. Anyone wishing to run political ads, please contact Fremont Broadcasting directly at 3325683.

Chamber business owners wishing to take advantage of this opportunity can contact the Chamber office with the information for the radio ad. A 30-second ad is about 85-90 words (remember, telephone numbers are seven individual words as spoken).

Members can also enjoy a package deal of an insert in the Chamber Newsletter combined with 40 radio ads for a flat fee of $249 (members provide the printed material) or a newsletter insert with 50 radio ads for $299. Contact the Lander Chamber of Commerce today at 332-3892 and start promoting your business!

Important Voting Information

INFO

To be able to vote you must be 18 years old on Election Day, be a US Citizen, and be a resident of Wyoming.

Register now! Go to fremontcountywy.org/county-clerk/election-and-voting. The easiest method is to go to your County Clerk’s Office in the Courthouse in Lander Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and register there. Because of Covid-19 restrictions, be sure to call before going.

If you need to, you may download the Wyoming Voter Registration Application Form from the County Clerk’s website www. fremoncountywy.org/election-and-voting and fill it out completely. Find a notary public and have them notarize your signature.

You will be required to send a copy of your Wyoming driver’s license; if you don’t own a driver’s license, you may send a copy of the approved identification documents listed on the http://fremontcountywy.org/county-clerk/election-and-voting/ website.

If you have moved or changed your name, you will need to fill out a new Wyoming Voter Registration Application Form to update your new address or name change. This can be done by going to a registrar location and filling out a new card or over the phone by calling the Fremont County Election Clerk’s Office 307-332-1088 or 307-332-1089. This can be done on election day, but don’t wait in line, do it now!

To change your party affiliation, you must complete and notarize a new Wyoming Voter Registration Application Form at the county clerk’s office or on Election Day. But don’t wait in line, do it now!

To vote without leaving home, go to fremontcountywy.org/county-clerk/election-and-voting and fill out an Absentee Ballot Request Form. Any registered voter can request an absentee ballot by contacting your County Clerk’s office. The Absentee Ballot is sent out 45 days prior to the election. You cannot request an Absentee Ballot on Election Day. Absentee Ballots may be returned to the County Clerk’s Office in person, mail it now, or drop it off in the secure drop box at the courthouse. Remember all absentee ballots must be received by mail, placed in dropbox, or delivered to the county clerk’s office no later than 7 pm on Election Day. Contact info for the Fremont County Election Clerk’s Office: Call 307-332-1088 or 307-332-1089; Email: elections@fremontcountywy.gov; in person at the Courthouse election office, 450 N 2nd St, Lander, M-F 8-5; website: www.fremontcountywy.org You can register and vote at any of the following voting centers or polling places no matter where you live in Fremont County from 7am - 7pm: 1. Arapahoe: Arapahoe Charter School, 445 Little Wind River Bottom Road, 82510 2. Dubois: Administration Office at Dubois School, 700 North 1st Street, 82513 3. Ethete: Wyoming Indian High School Gymnasium, 636 Blue Sky Hwy, 82520 4. Fort Washakie: Fort Washakie School Gymnasium, 90 Ethete Road, Fort Washakie, 82514 5. Kinnear: Kinnear Fire Hall, 11521 Highway 26, Kinnear, 82501 6. Lander: Bob Carey Memorial Field House, 405 Baldwin Creek Road, 82520 7. Riverton: Fremont Center at the Fairgrounds, 1010 Fairground Road,8250 8. Shoshoni: Shoshoni Senior Citizen Center, 214 E 2nd St, 82649

MEMBER OFFER/VOTING NEW MEMBER WELCOME

Member Radio Advertising Exclusive

Key Dates ● August 3 State Primary Election Voter Registration Deadline ● August 18 State Primary Election ● October 19 General Election Registration Deadline ● November 3 General Election

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State Farm Insurance Justus Jacobs 990 Main St., Lander

Black Dog Design Julie Cornia 25 Meandering Way, Lander

Lander Ace Hardware Bill & Annette Bregar 485 Main St., Lander

Stevens, Cynthia, M.D. 172 Rosewood Ave., Lander

Central Bank & Trust Chris VonHoltum 285 Main St., Lander

Lander Journal Steve Peck, owner 332 Main St., Lander

Central Wyoming Climbers’ Alliances/WyoClimbers PO Box 1304, Lander

Lander Lions Club, PO Box 247, Lander

Covenant Presbyterian Church Scott MacNaughton, Pastor 875 Fremont, Lander Eagle Uniform & Supply, American Industrial Laundry Inc. 494 Main St., Lander Fagnant, Lewis & Brinda, P.C., CPA 185 S. 5th St., Lander Family Chiropractic Vince Irene 8135 Hwy 789, Lander First Stop Help Center Deanna Trumble, Exec. Director 860 S. 3rd St., Lander

Lander Llama Company & The Bunk House Scott & Therese Woodruff 2024 Mortimore Ln, Lander Lander Rotary Club PO Box 502, Lander Lander Valley Farmers Market PO Box 184, Lander McCormick Marketing, Inc. Paula McCormick 263 N. 8th St., Lander McDonald’s of Lander Craig Postel, area supervisor 235 McFarlane Drive, Lander

Sweetwater Food & Beverage LLC/ One Stop Market Ron Hansen 8116 Hwy 789, Lander SweetWater Wellness Jerry & Sandy Bath 315 Main St., #4, Lander Valley Automotive Inc. Jerry & Tammy Johnson 7854 Hwy 789, Lander Wind River Physical Therapy Ty Francis 150 Lincoln St., Lander Wyoming PBS Foundation 2660 Peck Ave., Riverton Wyoming Windows & Cabinets Chris & Karlene Moore 3011 Hwy 287, Lander

RENEWING MEMBERS

First United Methodist Church Darin Buse, Pastor 262 N. 3rd St., Lander

RENEWING MEMBERS

All Action Realty, Inc. Vicki Hughes, Broker/Owner 1000 Main St., Lander

Porter’s Mountain View Supply Leo Kosirog 750 E. Sunset Dr., Riverton

PRESORTED STANDARD U.S. Postage Paid LANDER, WY PERMIT NO. 78

Thanks to our annual newsletter sponsors!

Western Wyoming Medical LLC Special thanks to Western Printing for printing the monthly newsletter.

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