Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce Strategic Plan First Quarter Progress Report FY 2015 Goal 1: Advocate for policies to improve the competitiveness of the Greater Tampa area and state. Create a set of policy principles, approved by the Board, that delineate policies the Chamber can advocate for without going to the Board for approval each time they arise. Identify 2 to 3 items each year from our legislative agenda as our top priorities and dedicate time and resources to educating our membership on them and advocating strongly for them. Include top priorities in Board presentations. Health care expansion, USF expansion Include top priorities in Leadership Tampa Government Day agenda and advocate for these priorities when the class visits Tallahassee. Implement policy principles with the input of the Public Policy Committee. Become more active in local and federal legislation and include them in a comprehensive legislative agenda. Visited Tallahassee in March 2015 and advocated for health care expansion and USF Advocacy during 2015 legislative session on healthcare expansion and Cuba policy. Federal, state and local sections will be added to the legislative agenda in 2016 Create an annual legislative agenda which includes local, state, and federal policy issues. Create plans of action for health care expansion and USF Tactics included op-eds, letters to legislators from leadership, calls and letters from Policy Council Identify a long-term issue(s) we want the Chamber to be the community lead on addressing. Working with transportation projects Goal 2: Actively advance the Chamber's positions. Increase policy communications with members and public. Regular policy updates via email, social media & the website Publish a quarterly policy newsletter. Scheduled for after session Produce weekly social media content on government relations topics, including events, news, calls to action, and issues of importance. Engage community business leaders as prosperity leaders, providing them the tools to serves as the Chamber s face on a chosen policy issue the Chamber is involved in. Content included in eview and social media Identified Executive Committee members who have been involved with health care expansion
Goal 3: Create connections between the business community and our higher educational institutions to keep our local graduates employed in our community. Partner with universities to promote internships Co-hosted a table at USF & UT Career Fairs with Emerge, within business community. Hosted a successful "Developing a Quality Internships" program in February Further detail Education Connection committee focus by setting targets for measures of success, ensuring involvement from relevant business sectors and educational institutions. Partner with the CEO Council and Tampa Bay Technology Forum. Explore partnership opportunities with Emerge Tampa Bay. Narrowed committee focus to events and connecting business leaders to institutions. To date, 56 executives have signed up to connect with institutions Members from each organization site on the EC committee and Board members from each organization have been included as contacts in our database to explore further academic partnerships Emerge members will participate in EC by offering to speak to student organizations about their careers and like as a young professional. Members will also continue to help man a table at college & university career fairs. Goal 4: Create a climate for investment in innovation to encourage the growth of all businesses. The number of Startup Scholars was increased in FY2014, Increase the number of Startup Scholars that number will remain the target Connect Startup Scholars with Partner-level members Continue to integrate Startup Scholars into Chamber programming Scholars to pitch at After Five networking event this summer. Scholars participated in a successful marketplace at the WOI Luncheon. Continue to involve past Startup Scholars Evaluate the effectiveness of the first 3 years and make the necessary adjustments Develop a network of Chamber members willing to lend their area of expertise to Startup Scholars in accordance with areas identified in the gap/needs analysis Allocate financial resources per scholar for supplemental services (to be provided by a Chamber member) above those given pro-bono by Chamber members, for areas identified in the gap/needs analysis Past Scholars were invited to participate in the WOI marketplace along with this year's Scholars The committee will evaluate the effectiveness at the conclusion of the 3rd year Allocate funding of $2,000 per scholar for FY2015. Funds allocated in FY2015 budget (disbursements
budgeted for 2nd & 3rd quarters) Partner with Hillsborough County Entrepreneurship Center. Meeting in 2nd Quarter Invite SBDC point of contact to attend Orientation as a guest, add an SBDC slide to Member Orientation and invite SBDC contact to attend other Business After Hours and Get Connected networking events. Goal 5: Lead a comprehensive regional transportation plan and solution land, air, and sea. Advocate in support of policy supporting improved transportation Legislative agenda, transportation policy council Involve leadership programs in public policy efforts through regularly scheduled programming. Included in all leadership programs Goal 6: Improve quality of life to improve business outcomes Support redevelopment discussions/planning in Downtown Tampa. Ensure the transportation work plan incorporates planning specific to downtown. Policy Council looking at streetcar expansion Continue to work with the City of Tampa, the Downtown Tampa Partnership, and others to identify ways the business community can support downtown redevelopment. Continue to identify ways for the business community to support arts & culture through regularly scheduled programming. Host Chamber events at arts/cultural venues. Continue to provide opportunities for the Policy Council to learn about the needs of our cultural institutions through site visits, when appropriate. BELOW TARGET Insight Tampa & LT included arts as an economic driver in their programming Insight Tampa session during the 1st quarter was held at the Museum of Art Goal 7: Grow membership by continuing to offer quality programming and events. Better educate members on benefits. Partner reviews and engagement meetings are on track. Continue committee engagement for member to member/prospective members. Membership Committee and Ambassadors are deeply involved in the onboarding of members
Continue to use a strategic value proposition in the sales process. Continue using first year member retention plan minimum of one touch per month. Marketing events to members based on industry and specific role or title. Membership Director and Director, Investor Relations to attend a minimum of 2 monthly committee meetings of other departments. Utilize social media (esp. LinkedIn) to educate members and potential members about benefit levels. Work with membership to continue converting LTA and Emerge non-chamber members on the benefits of being a Chamber member. Align programming with strategic objectives, ensure there is cross pollination between all programs and departments Work with other departments to ensure that programs align with key initiatives and to increase collaboration between departments. Continue to strategically look for ways to increase the reach of our military programming. Identify other community organizations to partner with when appropriate on events and other efforts of the Military Council. Engage a policy advisor for military public policy issues from within the Military Council membership. Pushed out event information and benefit information through social media and WebLink Engage young military veterans in the Emerge program. Emerge event planned for July with MacDill AFB Goal 8: Enhance the Chamber s revenue Grow the net membership in terms of total number of members and total dues investment. Grow total number of members 5% 1st quarter - 75 new members Reach 2015 new membership revenue sales goal of $255,200 1st quarter new members & upgrades totaled 24, resulting in $119,612 in new sales revenue
Identify and focus on potential upgrades specifically for FITs Two and Three. Monthly membership meetings Utilize membership to identify and assist with introductions and asks. Director, Investor Relations to attend a minimum of 3 monthly community association and organization events to recruit new members. Ask Ambassadors to invite non-members to Chamber networking events. Improve member retention rate each year in terms of both number of member companies and in dues investment levels. Identify uninvolved members and schedule a minimum of 4 monthly one on one member meetings or as necessary. Monthly membership meetings & board engagement with 3-2-1 program having 17 members engaged in 24 new members or upgrades Chair of the Ambassadors Committee sits on the Membership Committee 1/1/15 attrition of members down 15% and dollars are down 30% compared to 2014 1st quarter renewal process focused on unengaged members Increase non-dues revenue. Aggressively market advertising opportunities through electronic communications, social media and direct contact. New home page website advertising sold out for 2015 Assess opportunities to fund strategic initiatives and related programs with grants. Initial exploration of grant opportunities Grow the net membership in terms of total number of members and total dues investment. Goal 9: Position the Chamber for long-term success. Annual performance evaluations for all employees Align staff and resources with priorities. Send at least two staff members to attend national training on membership database solution. 3 staff members registered for 4th quarter conferences Increase the revenue budget to at least $3.4 million. Utilize the annual budget as a minimum standard not a goal. Continue a culture of accountability at all staff levels and among volunteers. Annual strategy maps for all employees BELOW TARGET BELOW TARGET Currently operating ahead of budget. Projecting FY2015 to be ahead of budget Will be completed 2nd quarter
Goal 10: Maintain the Chamber s position as the Voice of Business for Hillsborough County. Continue to be the sought-after thought leader on business issues. Develop an overall communications calendar based on strategic plan objectives and current business needs Increase the amount of general business information shared on social media. Utilize the Prosperity Leaders (referenced under Goal #2) to write op-ed articles Increase awareness of Chamber offerings, role, and impact in the community. The op-eds we've submitted have been under the signature of our Chair/President, however volunteer leaders have signed off on letters and resolutions Incorporate member testimonials in eview/social media bi-weekly. Increase the number of MYB testimonials by 30. Add 9 MYB testimonials in the 1st quarter Include Emerge, LT and LTA member testimonials and content/information in eview, on the website and in other media, particularly when there is value and a connection to the Chamber s leadership journey. Continue to be the sought-after thought leader on business issues. Develop an overall communications calendar based on strategic plan objectives and current business needs Increase the amount of general business information shared on social media. Utilize the Prosperity Leaders (referenced under Goal #2) to write op-ed articles Leadership Tampa blogs are published after each class day. LTA & Emerge information is included on a regular basis. The op-eds we've submitted have been under the signature of our Chair/President, however volunteer leaders have signed off on letters and resolutions Goal 11: Become recognized as the local resource for international business information and services and foster global trade. Update and sign three-year agreement with Hillsborough County from October 2013 September 2016. Grow bi-national chambers, Sister Cities, Arts and Museums in the area to assist in bringing more business and culture to the region Added 2 - Canada & Brazil
Develop a comprehensive annual report on international companies in the region. Be an active participant in the Tampa Bay Trade & Protocol Council Provide Office space for Tampa Bay Trade and Protocol Council and promote International Trade through the International Business Committee. Participate in Tampa Bay Trade and Protocol Council activities such as quarterly Consular Corps meetings, quarterly Council Member meetings, special symposiums that enhance the Chamber s vision and promote through media international activity. Continue to partner with the Tampa Bay Trade and Protocol Council, Tampa Hillsborough EDC, Visit Tampa Bay and Tampa Bay Partnership on international strategy for the region Continue to grow international business to enhance recruitment of international flights for Tampa International Airport. Conducting calls and meetings with interested companies doing business internationally. Survey Chamber members on international travel Target five Chamber companies for each targeted market (Costa Rica, Germany, Brazil, Mexico and Colombia) to recruitment of airlines Host one (1) arts and culture event around targeted markets Identify consular corps to become involved in targeted markets by creating one (1) event for each targeted market. Upcoming - Panama, May 6-9