VOICE

OF

SPRING 2019

THE INNOVATION ECONOMY 4 15

AT H E N A A w a r d s Annual Report

10 19

Cover Story Advocacy 101

LiveTiles team members Alanna Hardy and Richard Torres

2

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS!

COMPANY NAME

WEBSITE

1000 Islands Harbor Hotel 101 Mobility Accountable Digital, LLC Airosmith Development Arbor Venues Assured Edge Solutions bluespout, LLC Bond Benefits Consulting Boodlebag Brightly Farms LLC Carrie LaDue Coaching & Consulting Central Rock Gym Delta Sonic Car Wash Systems, Inc. DiPasquale Construction Inc. Excelsior Communities Expeditions of Empowerment Five Star Improvements, Inc. Flower City Printing, Inc. Frisbees Landscaping Garg Distinctive Dimensions LLC GC Pizza Hut Global Digital Instruments LLC GRYT Health Han-Tek, Inc. Howlett Farms Grain, LLC Innovative Pest Management Corp. Iron Smoke Whiskey John G. Ullman & Associates, Inc. Key Hospitality, LLC dba The Penthouse at One East Ave KJT Group, Inc. Leadership Logic, LLC Lifetime Financial Group, LLC LPi Lu Engineers M/E Engineering, P.C. Marshall Exteriors Merchants Grill LLC Midwest Asset Acceptance Group Monro, Inc. Monroe County Clerk Patrice & Associates Pediatric Urgent Care of Rochester Poseidon Systems, LLC Real Agent Pro RocNet Supply, Inc. R-Options, Inc. T. L. Cannon Management Corporation The Hill at Rochester Tiny Fish Printing Turner Underground Installations Inc. United Airlines VIBE Communications, LLC Vittorio Menswear & Tuxedo

http://1000islandsharborhotel.com www.101mobility.com/Rochester www.AccountableDigital.com www.airosmithdevelopment.com https://arborvenues.com http://assurededge.com/ https://www.bluespout.com/ www.BondBenefitsConsulting.com www.boodlebag.com www.brightlysfarmmarket.com www.carrieladue.com https://centralrockgym.com/rochester/ www.DeltaSonicCarwash.com www.dci-team.com http://www.excelsiorcomm.com/ www.expeditionsofempowerment.org www.fivestarimprovements.com www.fcp.biz www.frisbeeslandscaping.com

Companies highlighted in

www.gdimeters.com www.grythealth.com www.han-tek.com www.howlettfarms.com www.innovativepestmanagementcorp.com www.ironsmokewhiskey.com www.jgua.com www.penthouseroc.com www.kjtgroup.com www.leadershiplogicny.com www.lifetimefinancialnews.com http://4lpi.com/ http://luengineers.com/ www.meengineering.com https://www.marshallexteriorsny.com/ https://www.merchantsgrill.com/ www.midwestassetacceptance.com www.monro.com www2.monroecounty.gov/clerk-index.php www.patriceandassociates.com www.pediatricurgentcareofrochester.com https://www.poseidonsys.com/ www.realagentpro.com www.rocnetsupply.com www.roptionsinc.com https://www.tlcannon.com/ www.LiveTheHill.com www.tinyfishprinting.com www.turnerunderground.com www.united.com www.vibecommunicationsLLC.com www.vittorioformalwear.com

represent Rochester Chamber Partner members

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FROM THE CEO

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he Rochester and Finger Lakes region is currently experiencing a very exciting time of economic development and growth planning for the future. A fantastic team from the renowned Boston Consulting Group (BCG) is nearing completion of a report on recommended best practices to improve our economic development outcomes. This project is sorely needed and comes to us thanks in large part to the leadership and generosity of Constellation Brands CEO and Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce Chairman Rob Sands, Wegmans Chairman Danny Wegman, Paychex CEO Marty Mucci, and several other of our area’s top business leaders. While both recent public and private investment have brought encouraging potential to our region, the BCG process has already identified some great opportunities for improvement. Our region has often been mired in turf, egos, internal competition, and institutional silos that have constrained us from reaching our potential. We have several economic development agencies that all do great work, but haven’t always worked closely together on strategic goals. We must create a true sense of teamwork and the BCG report can be a template for doing just that. The BCG study examined the Rochester and Finger Lakes region in comparison to other similar metros across New York and in the northern United States. The preliminary results have come in as a reality check for our region. We rank near the bottom of the list outside New York in the four main categories of measurement including gross

domestic product growth, real per capita income, unemployment rate, and poverty. This information was stunning and a clarion call that we cannot continue the same economic development practices that we have in the past and expect improved results. It’s time to take a step back, pay attention to the data and advice given by the BCG report, and look at different ways to make some uncomfortable but necessary decisions to improve our outcomes. A key part of this will be to identify key performance indicators that we can use to measure progress. Part of an improvement strategy is to assign various agencies and organizations tasks and responsibilities to achieve those tasks. We have not operated that way in the past. Using measurable data, there are some great opportunities for us. Another sobering fact in the BCG report is that our region depends disproportionately on state investment for the funding of priority projects. Other successful metros are driven primarily by private investment. If New York State had not made the investments it has in the Rochester and Finger Lakes region over the past eight years, our circumstances would be much more challenging than they appear. While we greatly appreciate this state investment, another formula is required for our future success. A major economic development focus moving forward will be a stronger emphasis on retaining and growing businesses that are already here. We must truly reexamine what keeps companies in our region. It may be infrastructure, quality of life, higher education institutions, and things other than financial

incentives. That will take a team effort across all of our economic development agencies and all of our local and regional governments to work collaboratively. The new “innovation economy” of high-tech and emerging companies is here. We must keep it here and growing. Looking back at our community and region over the years, we have seen a myriad of reports and studies on how to improve our outcomes. They get a bit of media attention and then go on a shelf somewhere, never to be seen again. My call to action now is that we embrace the Boston Consulting Group report and put its recommendations into immediate action. This can be a roadmap to collectively forge our path forward. If we work as a team, I have no doubt that our future path is upward and bright.

Robert J. Duffy President & CEO Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce

Rosario-Escher, Divers, HCR Receive ATHENA Awards

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reater Rochester Chamber of Commerce and its Women’s Council affiliate presented IBERO-American Action League President and CEO Hilda Rosario-Escher with their 33nd annual ATHENA International Award. Shaquana Divers, Excellus Blue Cross Blue Shield Executive Program Manager, received the fifth annual ATHENA Young Professional Award, and HCR Home Care took home the second annual ATHENA Organizational Award. The ATHENA International Award is given annually to a professional female leader who has demonstrated significant achievements in business, community service, and the professional advancement of women. For the past 30 plus years, Hilda RosarioEscher has dedicated both her personal and professional life to helping others. At IBERO, Hilda transformed the dual-language human services agency and installed women in several leadership roles. Governor Cuomo has appointed Hilda to positions in the Minority and Women-owned Business Enterprises Council and Women and Girls Council among others.

The ATHENA Young Professional Award recognizes emerging leaders in the 30 to 45 year old range who demonstrate excellence, creativity, and initiative in their business or profession. Recipients also provide valuable service by contributing time and energy to improve the quality of life of others in the community while serving as a role model for young women both personally and professionally. Shaquana Divers led the $2.8 million Excellus Blue Cross Blue Shield Safety Net Future State Redesign project, which improves quality of healthcare for low-income and vulnerable populations. The project has impacted 300,000 health plan members and saved over $10 million in healthcare costs. Shaquana serves as vice president of the Rochester Chapter of Jack and Jill of America, a national organization empowering African American children and as founding board member of Princess for a Day.

The ATHENA Organizational Award goes to a woman-owned or woman-led business or organization that creates a culture encouraging women employees to achieve their full leadership potential and supports leadership development opportunities for women and girls in the community. HCR Home Care, led by CEO Louise Woerner, focuses on the advancement of women at all levels of the organization. HCR’s CEO, President, and Chief Clinical Officer are women. Its Administrator for the Licensed Agency, Assistant Corporate Secretary, and three of HCR’s four Directors of Patient Service are women. At the department level, 54 managers are women. With a history of promoting from within, HCR is known as an organization that supports personal and professional development of women who aspire to achieve their full leadership potential.

Hilda Rosario-Escher

Shaquana Divers

Louise Woerner

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2019

top 100 rochester chamber awards dinner

CALL FOR ENTRIES AND SPONSORS

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reater Rochester Chamber of Commerce and KPMG LLP have issued a call for entries and sponsors for the 33rd annual Rochester Chamber Top 100 program. Recognizing Rochester’s reputation as a region of innovation spurred by a strong entrepreneurial spirit, Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce and KPMG present the Rochester Chamber Top 100 program to honor the Rochester and Finger Lakes region’s fastest-growing privately owned companies. To be eligible for the Rochester Chamber Top 100 program, companies must be privately owned, headquartered in the nine-county Rochester region, and have earned at least $1 million in revenue in each of the three most recent fiscal years. Find the nomination form in the “Programs & Events” section of the www. GreaterRochesterChamber.com website. The deadline for entries is June 21.

Both Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce members and non-members are eligible to participate in the Rochester Chamber Top 100 program. Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce invites companies to sponsor the Rochester Chamber Top 100 general reception and awards dinner scheduled for November at the Joseph A. Floreano Rochester Riverside Convention Center. Past events have drawn more than 2,000 guests. Sponsorships are available at a variety of levels with appropriate sponsorship benefits attached. For more information on sponsoring the Rochester Chamber Top 100 or entering the program, contact Rochester Chamber Events Director Susan George at Susan.George@ GreaterRochesterChamber.com or (585) 256-4612.

National Reach Local

Service

RBA Staffing Improves Background Screening Services Burt Parks • Sr. Director, Business Services Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce’s RBA Staffing division consistently looks for ways to keep up with the latest technology to better serve members and customers with both staffing and background screening services. That’s why we are excited to announce we have upgraded our background screening platform. This revolutionizes the way we do business and allows us to offer our customers the latest technology and new products. The new RBA Staffing background screening platform allows us to offer a better user experience, faster service, and top of the line products. These products and services give your organization national reach with local service delivered by our staff right here in Rochester.

Below is a short list of new features and services that will be offered, in addition to our existing suite of services: • Drug screening • Social media screening • Credit checks • Tenant screening • Mobile access • Customizable user-friendly interface • Integration with all the major HRIS & Applicant Tracking systems • Can be personalized for your business needs

Please call or email Dominic Oliveri, Manager of Background and Reference Checking for a demo or to learn more. (585) 256-4628 • dominic.oliveri@rbastaffing.com

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Rochester Regional, UR Medicine Collaborate on OpenNotes

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undreds of thousands of people across the Rochester and Finger Lakes region now have fast, secure online access to office visit notes written by their health care providers through a collaborative initiative between UR Medicine and Rochester Regional Health. The national OpenNotes initiative helps patients recall the details of individual visits, share information with caregivers that could not attend an appointment, and gain an overall better understanding of their health and medical conditions. David Sandman, Ph.D., President and CEO of the New York State Health Foundation said, “True consumer empowerment begins when patients can actively participate in their own care, and that requires easy and complete access to their own visit notes. OpenNotes literally and figuratively puts patients and their providers on the same page to improve the care experience and outcomes. Through this collaborative partnership, UR Medicine and Rochester Regional Health are leading the way in making OpenNotes a standard of care in New York State.” UR Medicine began a voluntary notesharing pilot in January 2018 at most primary care and specialty practices.

Rochester Regional Health has piloted note sharing at primary care practices and some specialty practices at Rochester General Hospital since September 2018. Bridgette A. Wiefling, M.D., SVP, Primary Care and Ambulatory Specialty Institute, Rochester Regional Health, said RRH began the OpenNotes initiative “to enhance patient engagement, strengthen relationships with patients and enable patients to better understand their treatment goals. When patients are full partners in their care, everybody wins.” Michael F. Rotondo, M.D., CEO of the University of Rochester Medical Faculty Group said OpenNotes has “great potential to improve patient outcomes and to include patients as partners in their own medical care, through enhanced communication and an even stronger provider-patient relationship.” UR Medicine will share ambulatory visit notes from nearly all of its more than 300 outpatient clinics and primary care practices, including notes from adult and pediatric patient visits. At Rochester Regional Health, most visit notes will be shared by primary care practices. Certain specialty practices will also have notesharing capabilities. Both institutions will grant individual patient requests for their medical records, including visit notes.

Leadership for Managers Hands-on tours + behind-the-scenes experiences APR. TBD • YMCA Pittsford

Topical expertise to help you keep your edge

This program presents the practical concepts, strategies, and skills needed to enhance a leader’s performance. MAY 31, JUN. 7, 14, 21 & 28

APR. 11 • The Art of Storytelling: How to Engage Your Audience JUN. 11, SEPT. 19, OCT. 8 3-Part Leadership Training

Make a difference! Ongoing event • School #57 Winter Clothing Drive

A relaxed, casual atmosphere at fun + exciting venues MAR. 13 • Member Appreciation Celebration JUN. TBD • Rochester Jazz Festival JUL. 17 • Iron Smoke-Member Networking DEC. TBD • Holiday Soiree

Empowering young professionals + community action MAR. 6 • “Simon Says” feat. John Schloff: Product or Brand - Which Comes First? JUN. 13 • Re:Generation: Empowering Rochester’s Future Leaders

An open, interactive discussion with top executives MAR. 19 • Rochester Media JUN. 26 • Women In Politics SEPT. 10 • Higher Education

Informed analysis and management of essential legal issues More Details to Follow • MAR. 5, APR. 24, MAY 8, JUN. 27, SEPT. 26, OCT. 16

Timely information on today’s hottest topics APR. 17 • A Free Enterprise Solution to Climate Change MAY 22 • Kristina M. Johnson, SUNY Chancellor (TBD)

Addressing key areas of business concern with state, local + federal influencers MAR. 21 • Featuring Congressman Joe Morelle More Details to Follow

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A F F I L I AT E E V E N T S Associated New York State Food Processors https://nyfoodprocessors.org/ Greater Rochester Quality Council

Spring Networking at Casa Hispana May 2 http://bit.ly/RHBA050219

Gorbel, Inc. Presentation and Site Tour March 14 http://bit.ly/GRQC031419

Rochester Women’s Council

Performance Excellence Forum with YAMTEP April 3 http://bit.ly/GRQC040319

Young Women of Distinction Scholarship Awards May 6 http://bit.ly/YWOD2019

Quality for Leaders April 22 & 23 http://bit.ly/GRQC042219

Small Business Council of Rochester

Rochester Hispanic Business Association Business Lunch with Octavio and Evelyn Garcia March 19 http://bit.ly/RHBA031919 Board Meeting April 4 http://bit.ly/RHBA040419

Business Lunch with Herb Escher April 16 http://bit.ly/RHBA041619

Evening Boot Camp: Death of the Boost March 13 http://bit.ly/SBC031319 Boot Camp: Fair Labor Standards Update April 10 http://bit.ly/SBC041019 Boot Camp: Stay Virtual in the Real World May 8 http://bit.ly/SBC050819

A Wide Range of Unique Series and Signature Events to Help You: • Get in front of community leaders and business decision makers • Form valuable relationships and strengthen brand recognition • Reach thousands of potential customers through our email and social media channels • Find unique value to suit your brand or organization • Contribute to innovation and growth in the Finger Lakes Region

To learn more about 2019 opportunities, contact Events Director Susan George at susan.george@ greaterrochesterchamber.com

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The Innovation Economy “I

nnovate or die” is not just a catch phrase. It is now the Rochester and Finger Lakes region’s reality. While still important employers with rich legacies in our region, the “Big Three” of Kodak, Xerox, and Bausch + Lomb have laid the groundwork for more and varied businesses that add fuel our economic engine. The emerging “innovation economy” led by entrepreneurs as well as established companies and their forward-thinking ideas has already started to make its mark here in many ways. Three shining examples of Rochester’s innovation economy include Datto, LiveTiles, and NextCorps. RIT alum Austin McChord founded data protection firm Datto in his father’s basement in 2007. With headquarters in Connecticut, Datto recently expanded its Rochester operations into two floors of the Metropolitan tower, expecting to employ 400 here soon. Datto CEO Tim Weller said, “For an economy to be truly innovative, we need to create an ecosystem that embraces technology, education, entrepreneurship, and collaboration. Universities, corporations, and local governments need to work together to develop an educated, high-quality workforce that can quickly adapt and respond to dynamic changes in technology and business. That workforce requires

Sujatha Ramanujan Luminate

support from a robust local business environment where those employees can learn and grow. As home to one of New York’s largest economies and a diverse, savvy workforce, we’ve found that this is how Rochester has come to represent innovation at work.” LiveTiles, an intelligent workplace, artificial intelligence, and analytics provider headquartered in New York City, opened its North American Intelligent User Experience hub in Rochester’s High Falls district last year. The company expects to employ 500 in development, engineering, marketing, and sales here within the next five years. LiveTiles Senior Vice President, Americas, Dan Diefendorf said, “Creation can come from anywhere in today’s economy. Many think of entrepreneurship as a root of the innovation economy and it plays a major role. However, we are seeing innovations surface from startups to wellestablished firms with small communities of innovators looking to disrupt or fill unfilled gaps in the market. What I feel is a key tenet of the innovation of the economy is the fluidity of the creation process for so many. It’s almost frictionless in many ways. The speed at which, particularly in tech, products are brought to market is a disruption itself and the speed to failure, or learning, and success are faster than ever.”

Tim Weller Datto

NextCorps, formerly known as High Tech Rochester, is a non-profit that serves entrepreneurs and innovation-based economic development. It provides incubation for startups with high growth potential, technology commercialization for early stage opportunities, and growth services for existing manufacturing companies. It also operates Luminate, the world’s largest accelerator for optics, photonics, and imaging. Luminate Managing Director Sujatha Ramanujan said, “Industry, business, and our economy is by nature cyclic. We have experienced times of new growth, and of sustenance. We live in an exciting time where the rapidly changing landscape of technology and access is changing how we interact, live, and do business. The creativity and innovation of every industry is reaching the average person more quickly than ever. Businesses succeed and fail by the speed and creativity with which they can respond to customer needs. The result is an economy built on innovation, creation, and execution, or an “innovation economy.” All three organizations credit the support of local academic institutions, state and local government, and the community for fostering innovative growth.

Weller said, “Rochester has been ranked one of the most innovative cities in America, largely thanks to the support that tech enterprises like Datto received from local and state government, such as the Finger Lakes Forward Venture Capital Fund. These efforts give smallscale entrepreneurs a chance to succeed in the region, just as established businesses like Datto have. We’re excited to watch young firms prosper in Rochester as we continue to build our base in the area. It’s a great place to build a business.” Ramanujan said, “Rochester has been the fertile ground in which record numbers of new businesses have emerged in the last decade. This is not a coincidence but rather the result of a well-balanced ecosystem providing the necessary infrastructure in which to grow. Innovative ideas emerge from the highly regarded academic institutions along with highly qualified talent. The region itself provides affordable space, lab access, water, and much more. The state of New York and the Finger Lakes region are always ready to incent and encourage growth. Most importantly, businesses support each other throughout the region.”

Dan Diefendorf LiveTiles

Diefendorf said, “We are seeing a strong mix of established organizations like RIT and the University of Rochester spin out new technologies each year creating a local business lift. We are also seeing new companies set up shops here to leverage the region’s strong technical talent. Governor Cuomo has made it a focus of his administration to encourage this and assist via economic development to attract companies to the region. This has created a team effort of private and public companies to strongly consider the region who may not have naturally been drawn to the area.”

LEARN MORE Datto www.datto.com

LiveTiles www.livetiles.nyc

NextCorps and Luminate https://nextcorps.org/

Summer Internships: Your Organization’s Competitive Recruiting Advantage

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n January 30, 2019, Rochester Chamber, along with the University of Rochester and RACDA, sponsored a “Total Internship Management Workshop” at NextCorps for members and other organizations interested in learning how to build a top-notch internship program. Dr. Robert Shindell of InternBridge, a national experiential education research and consulting firm, provided insight on how to best structure and manage an internship to provide maximum value to both the student and the organization.

So why should my organization have an internship program? Help Identify Future Hires Depending on the structure and size of your organization, an internship may fit in perfectly with your entry-talent acquisition strategy or succession planning. Each year about 65% of students who complete an internship report being offered a position with the organization that hosted their internship. Conduct Recruiting Activities with Low Risk There are few other scenarios where an individual participates in a twelve week long “interview” and where the organization can simply say “goodbye” at the end with no strings attached. Even then, everyone goes home a winner: the student is able gain real-world experience in the workplace and the organization is able to avoid hiring a candidate that may not be a good fit for the organization.

Provide Supervisory Experience Internship programs can provide an internal training environment for current employees looking to ascend to higher level positions and gain significant supervisory experience. Having these individuals manage an intern allows the employee to practice their management skills while allowing the organization to assess the employee prior to moving them into a full-time management role. Gain Short Term Talent In today’s dynamic business environment, your organization may have special projects or times during the year that have an increased workload. Interns can often provide a great deal of valuable talent for these special projects. For many organizations, hosting interns is a low-cost solution to dynamic (and sometimes very expensive) human capital needs. Provide New Perspective & Invigorate the Workforce Today’s college students have the ability to offer organizations with a unique insight, a new perspective, and fresh ideas that can spark innovation. In many cases they possess an incredible amount of up-to-date knowledge from both inside and outside of the classroom. This is particularly true in the areas related to technology and social media. Increased Retention Rate As an intern transitions to full-time employment, they are more familiar with the culture, structure, and work of the organization. This comfort level tends to lead to a deeper connection to both the organization and

co-workers. Interns who transition to fulltime employment also require less training and orientation to reach full productivity. Provide Students with Real Work Experience Over two-thirds of students surveyed stated that the reason they were seeking an internship was to gain real-world work experience. So, go ahead and pack as much “real work” into the internship as you can! The results are high-impact for the student’s development, your organization’s mission and goals, and local workforce development. Build Relationships with Local Higher Education By building relationships with local colleges and universities, you are also opening the door for the institution to become involved with your organization, acting as consultants, guest speakers, and a source for more top quality talent in the future. Boost Your Reputation Internships, when hosted correctly, have the power to boost an organization’s reputation through the power of the press and positive word-of-mouth. Regardless of the specific reason you choose to host an intern this summer, engaging with the next generation of your workforce will yield immeasurable value to your organization. To learn more about how to create or improve your internship program, visit InternBridge.com, or email Dr. Shindell at robert@internbridge.com.

13 getting to know rochester chamber

background screening coordinator

janelle harris

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Rochester Chamber Background Screening Coordinator Janelle Harris has seen plenty of changes during her just over one year working in the department. From the introduction of new technology to new products and services, the year has moved quickly. The Voice of Business caught up with Janelle to get to know her better.

To watch a video interview with Janelle Harris, visit http://bit.ly/Harris0319. To learn more about Rochester Chamber background screening services, go to http://bit.ly/0319Background. 585.256.4628 • Janelle.Harris@GreaterRochesterChamber.com

The Rise of AI in HR

Nine notable developments that will impact recruiting & hiring

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rtificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) have been all over the news as of late, and for good reason. AI and ML technologies are advancing at a phenomenal rate; according to the Artificial Intelligence Index 2017 Annual Report by Stanford University, the number of active U.S. startups developing AI systems has increased 14-fold since 2000. Many are wondering how the continuing rapid advancements in AI technology will change how businesses operate. In particular, AI may revolutionize and redefine the recruiting and hiring process. We asked nine members of Forbes Human Resources Council to share the AI-related developments they’re most excited about. 1 • More Accurate Candidate Matching The ability to understand a CV beyond the words on the page, in order to achieve a better candidate fit, should be a human skill. However, AI is proving to be significantly better at this than even skilled, experienced recruiters. Improving this part of the process could leave more time for recruiters to coach and guide candidates and hiring managers, ultimately improving the recruiter experience. - Karla Reffold, BeecherMadden.

2 • A More Inclusive Workforce The most exciting impact artificial intelligence can have on the recruiting and hiring process is eliminating unconscious bias when assessing candidates to provide a more diverse and inclusive workforce for an organization. - Sherry Martin, OmniTRAX 3 • Fewer Administrative Tasks Most HR professionals recognize that AI will never replace the human element in hiring. However, it will relieve some of the burden of handling administrative tasks such as sourcing, screening and conducting preliminary interviews. This will allow more time for hiring managers to build meaningful relationships with candidates, leading to a shorter time to fill and improved employee retention. - John Feldmann, Insperity 4 • The Ability to Find Applicants Whose Skills Match Those of Current Employees One of the biggest challenges in recruiting is ensuring that the real requirements for success in the position are clearly understood and communicated so that the job posting targets the right candidates. AI could conceivably be used to compare the skills and behaviors of current successful incumbent employees with

those of job seekers. - Joyce Maroney, Kronos Incorporated 5 • Proactive Candidate Selection I am very excited to see how AI helps augment a recruiter’s ability to find and engage candidates. Given the current job market, recruiting is more and more proactive. Finding great candidates when they are not catering a resume to your job description can be tough, but AI technologies can dramatically improve the efficiency of the proactive sourcing process. - Steven Jiang, Hiretual 6 • Accelerated Times-To-Hire Artificial intelligence is already a game-changer for employers and staffing firms that have deployed it, cutting time-toqualify and overall time-to-hire by interacting with candidates to quickly ascertain their fit for a role in an engaging manner that works for them. As AIdriven recruiting becomes more sophisticated, employers will benefit greatly from even more accelerated times-to-hire. Genine Wilson, Kelly Services 7 • A Better Introduction to Applicants I am truly excited about AI in recruiting. There are opportunities such as getting to know your candidates better and understanding what it is they desire from employment, and then matching that to what

SURVEY SPOTLIGHT: 2019 Turnover and Absenteeism Survey – Release expected the week of March 18 2019 Annual Wage & Salary Surveys – Release expected the week of April 15 2019 National Executive Comp. Survey - Release expected the week of May 27

your hiring managers require or want. It adds more value and efficiency to the recruiting process and will make the candidate experience more enjoyable. - Adam Mellor, ONE Gas, Inc. 8 • Easier Candidate Filtering and Tracking Screening potential candidates can be tedious and timeconsuming. However, I am excited about AI technology like Google Hire, which can help recruiters filter out candidates, keep track of candidates who previously applied at your company and match current applicants with the bestmatching available positions. - Michele Markey, SkillPath 9 • Staff Forecasting If AI could take on looking at data for when companies need to hire — be it through KPIs involving productivity, volumes, turnover, labor hours and so on — HR could get to recruiting much faster than they can when working to identify when and how many new people to hire. By giving teams back the hours currently spent on deciding if, when and how many people they should hire, AI would streamline the process. - Sarah O’Neill - SHRM-SCP, Humano LLC

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2018

16

2018

Throughout 2018, Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce reflected on the past while planning strategically for the future. A great deal has changed here since the Industrial Management Council merger with the Rochester Metro Chamber of Commerce formed the Rochester Business Alliance in 2003 and then our organization’s subsequent rebranding to Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce a few years ago. It is no secret that chambers of commerce, associations, and other membership organizations now face severe challenges because of economic circumstances and changing preferences of our young professionals and next generation leaders. I fully understand when Rochester Chamber members ask about their return on investment in our organization. We work vigorously with members at every level to give them a clear sense of the value we provide in helping them and our region grow and prosper. Business leaders created the original Rochester Chamber of Commerce in 1887 to support and advocate for business and the city, spark economic growth, and connect members with customers and each other.

Membership

That mission hasn’t changed drastically in more than 130 years. What has changed to some degree are the reasons why businesses join and maintain their Rochester Chamber memberships and how we work to serve them. One lesson that we have learned is that trends and tastes and needs are in a constant state of change. What succeeded for us and our members in prior decades will not sustain us moving forward. It is incumbent upon us to remain nimble and innovative to support our businesses based upon their changing needs. Rochester Chamber has brought on some young, new staff members with fresh, diverse views on how to succeed as an organization, remain innovative, and appeal to a new generation. Our current blend of new and veteran talent will help us map out the best path forward for the future. Culture eats strategy for breakfast and our organizational culture is rapidly changing for the better.

Robert J. Duffy President & CEO Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce

Member companies by number of employees:

New member companies:

141

Rochester Chamber Events Rochester Chamber Top 100 Awards ATHENA International Awards ROC Tech Conference Re:Generation – Empowering Rochester’s Future Leaders

biz. Exchange – Professional Development Chamber Counsel – Legal Insights for Small Business

Ribbon cuttings

0-99 • 80% 100-249 • 11% 250+9%

On site visits with local companies

204

$300,000+

Attendees

7,000+

in sponsorship support

17

50+ Events including

Chamber IMPACT – Community Service Chamber Business Rounds: Executive Perspectives

GO! Honest Biz Talk for Women Rochester Chamber Member Tours Rochester TRENDS – Featured Speakers Business Made Social – Social Events

Associated New York State Food Processors Greater Rochester Quality Council

Hispanic Business Association

Rochester Chamber Affiliates

Small Business Council

40+ Events

Women’s Council

Workforce Training

2018 Financials Total Budget

Budgeted Net Income

Net Income

$22,242,000

$320,000

$425,000

7 Training Sessions $30,000+ in Revenue

RBA Staffing

Background Screening

• 900 paychecks per week delivered • 2500 job seekers assigned • 300 employers served • Four employer clients served on-site

• 100,000+ background services processed

Insurance • 900 policies serviced • $3,000,000 in premiums

Marketing & Communications

Human Resources 4 86

21 554

HR Forums

Friday HR Briefings

member company participants

attendees

Think HR Workplace Comply Portal most-used features:

Forms and Policies

Employee Handbook Builder

Public Policy & Advocacy Top advocacy issues: Tax and mandate relief Workforce development Transportation & Infrastructure

72 advocacy and

introduction letters sent

12 legislative briefings

Advocacy 101

tips for successful advocacy

E

ver wonder what all the hype and excitement is about in Albany and Washington, D.C.? There’s a fair shot it has to do with passionate folks promoting an issue they care about. With so much going on at the local, state, and federal levels, this brief article will give you an idea of how to advocate for policies relevant to you, your business, or the greater community. Step 1 • Be Informed Thoroughly research the issue for which you’re advocating and don’t make up any answers. If you’re unsure, take the question back and follow up the next day (this is also a great way to keep the conversation going). Step 2 • Brevity is Key Legislators and their staff are busy people. Be concise, have a one-page summary on the subject at hand, and don’t allow the conversation to veer off-topic. Step 3 • Get Personal Consider the fact that the elected leader/staff member who you are meeting with is faced with hundreds of pages of dense policy every day. Presenting them with technical changes to a specific provision can be done in a follow up note. Having someone with you who is directly impacted by a given law and can offer a personal story about how it affects them will carry a great deal of influence.

Step 4 • Constituents Have Power When an office knows that the person coming in is a constituent of theirs, the meeting will automatically mean more. Tuesdays in Albany are common “lobby days” during which dozens of groups flood the halls. Be sure to target meetings to those elected leaders who represent your home town. (Pro tip: generally, legislators have an office in the Capitol as well as a District Office (DO) back home. Whenever possible, schedule follow-up meetings in the DO – you will likely have more time than a meeting in the Capitol and the office will know for certain that you are a constituent, thereby giving your issue greater weight.) Step 5 • Earn a Champion The demand on legislators’ time cannot be underscored enough. They receive hundreds of meeting requests every month and only have so many resources to dedicate to each issue (of which there are more than you can imagine). Staff members, while also incredibly busy, can be your ticket to success. If you can convince a staffer to champion your issue, the likelihood of making progress increases dramatically. Though your meeting may only last 15 minutes before the next group comes in, staffers are with the legislator every day. Get them on board, and they can continue to reinforce the importance of your issue.

Interested in taking your new advocacy skills out for a spin? Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce and our partners have several advocacy days setup throughout the legislative session.

MARC COHEN Chief of Staff Marc.Cohen@GreaterRochesterChamber.com

19

RIBBON CUTTINGS & CELEBRATIONS

Athena VIP Reception January 10, 2019 Innovative Ribbon Cutting February 26, 2019

Archival Methods Ribbon Cutting January 10, 2019

21

United Way Kickoff January 17, 2019

Flexx Mobility and Performance Ribbon Cutting January 17, 2019

Excelsior Properties Ribbon Cutting February 1, 2019

Hickey Freeman Announcement February 20, 2019

Sabres Suite February 2, 2019

ProNexus Ribbon Cutting January 9, 2019

FOR

PARTNERING

PROGRESS By Jaime Saunders, United Way of Greater Rochester President and CEO

H

volunteers have a chance to work together outside of the office, feel good about what they have accomplished, and are often grateful to work for an organization that allows the time to give back.

We have seen firsthand all the good that our local businesses do for the Greater Rochester area. The question I am asked the most is— “how can we help?” United Way offers many solutions for businesses, employees and nonprofits across our region to partner to overcome community challenges together.

For employees who want to give their talent to the many nonprofits that could use skilled support, United Way is helping to bring an online platform to our community this year that matches board candidates to nonprofits. charitySTRONG will be hosted by United Way to train potential board members on board governance and provide existing and emerging leaders an opportunity to apply for board service.

ere in Rochester, we have a rich history of caring and generosity. Not only do we rank #2 in the country for volunteering, we have the most incredible businesses, business leaders and employees that dedicate themselves to building a stronger community.

Giving Matters It matters for our community, for your business and for your employees. Last year, Great Places to Work released a report that found giving back on a corporate level is associated with greater employee retention, higher levels of brand ambassadorship on the part of workers and more enthusiastic employees. Some of the most successful companies in our community and throughout the country include philanthropy in their strategic plans and business objectives. Nearly 1,400 generous organizations in our region host United Way workplace campaigns as a way to support our community and make a positive impact to their bottom line. You can join them and build your business by building our community. Volunteering Strengthens Business In addition to giving dollars, businesses and employees can also donate their time and talent. Each year thousands of local people from hundreds of companies dig in together during United Way’s Day of Caring to help more than 200 nonprofits. In addition to making an impact, Day of Caring

Developing Leaders Developing our community’s future leaders is critical to building a better tomorrow for all. United Way provides seven leadership development programs each year for local emerging leaders. Upon graduating from the programs, leaders are connected to thousands of alumni with decades of experience serving our community, and bring critical leadership skills back to their workplaces. Our community thrives when we work together. To start a workplace campaign, volunteer or find ways for your company to engage in giving back, your United Way is here to help at https://www. uwrochester.org/ or by email at contactus@ uwrochester.org. Thank you for joining in to create a stronger, more vibrant community for all.

Thhsday, June 13, 2019 An evening of inspiration and celebration for young Rochester

5:00-8:30 pm Arbb at the PPt

Featured speaker to be announced Inaugural IGNITE YP Award - Applications opening soon Music, food, fun, & more Visionary Sponsors: Saunders College of Business at RIT Greater Rochester Association of Realtors

Sponsorship opportunities available. Please contact Susan George at susan.george@greaterrochesterchamber.com.