What they reported doing
- #1 primary $60KPUBLICATIONS CONTAIN A MONTHLY NEWSLETTER AND A QUALITY OF LIFE PIECE
- #2 $173KMONTHLY EVENTS (BREAKFASTS AND LUNCHES) ARE DESIGNED TO INFORM, EDUCATE AND ASSIST MEMBER BUSINESSES
What they call their work
What they do
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Business Community Advocacy 1 activity
- Advocacy for member businesses on public policy issuesRepresents approximately 700 to 900 businesses and community organizations in advocacy efforts on public policy matters at municipal, state, and national levels.
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Professional Networking Events 1 activity
- Hosting and organizing member events and networking opportunitiesHosts over 40 annual events, including monthly breakfasts and lunches, ribbon cutting ceremonies, and networking gatherings, to connect and support member businesses across Rensselaer County and surrounding communities.
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Corporate Sponsorship Programs 1 activity
- Offering sponsorship and advertising opportunities for membersProvides sponsorship opportunities across events such as the Annual Dinner, Van Rensselaer Awards Dinner, and Annual Golf Classic to increase member business exposure.
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Member Business Referral & Discount Programs 1 activity
- Operating online and referral-based business support servicesManages an online membership directory with full contact details and website links, provides automatic business referrals from local and out-of-town sources, and offers advertising opportunities through newsletters, print, and direct mail lists.
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Charity Event Organization 1 activity
- Organizing the Walk for Wildwood eventHosts the annual Walk for Wildwood event at Cook Park in Colonie to raise awareness and funds for individuals with autism and developmental disabilities.
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Organizational Newsletter Production and Distribution 1 activity
- Producing publications and communications for members and the communityProduces a monthly newsletter and quality-of-life publication, maintains a weekly e-newsletter, publishes the RENSCONNECT print newsletter, and operates a website to disseminate information and support member outreach.
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College Access and Success Support 1 activity
- Providing college planning support to familiesOffers dedicated college planning services to families, including guidance on school selection, admissions strategy, and financial decision-making.
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Industry and Community Recognition Awards 1 activity
- Recognizing regional leadership and business contributionsHosts the Annual Van Rensselaer Awards Dinner and Leadership Cocktail event to honor individuals and businesses for their contributions to leadership development and community impact.
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Campus Construction and Renovation Projects 1 activity
- Supporting construction and education infrastructure milestonesHosted a topping-off ceremony for the Applied Technology Education Center (ATEC) to mark the placement of the final structural beam, supporting regional education infrastructure development.
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Regional Economic Development Initiatives 1 activity
- Supporting economic development and business attractionProvides information, connections, and marketing assistance to attract regional, national, and international businesses to Rensselaer County, supporting local economic growth.
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Who runs it
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| NORRIS PEARSON | PRESIDENT | 40 | $112K |
- AARON FAGAN — BOARD MEMBER
- BOB SHEVY — BOARD MEMBER
- BRENDA DICKINSON — BOARD MEMBER
- BRIAN J WILLIAMS — BOARD MEMBER
- BRYCE CUTLER — MEMBERSHIP CHAIR
- CHRISTOPHER LOSZYNSKI — TREASURER
- CLAUDIA BUTLER — BOARD MEMBER
- DENNIS KENNEDY — BOARD MEMBER
- JAMES MONKS — BOARD MEMBER
- JASON ABARE — VICE PRESIDENT
- JASON CHEVRIER — BOARD MEMBER
- JOANMARIE DOWLING ESQ — EX OFFCIO LEGAL COUNSEL
- JOE BONILLA — BOARD MEMBER
- KELLI ARNOLD — BOARD MEMBER
- KENDRA HART — WE ADVANCE CHAIR
- KIM BAKER — BOARD MEMBER
- MARK DUFFY — BOARD MEMBER
- MIKE HAMEL — BOARD CHAIR
- NATALIE ORCUTT — BOARD MEMBER
- PAT HUGHES — BOARD MEMBER
- PAUL KELLY — BOARD MEMBER
- RACHAEL E CAPO ESQ — BOARD MEMBER
- RUSSELL HUTA — BOARD MEMBER
- STARLETTA R SMITH — BOARD MEMBER
Who they work with
- Bank of America Partner — Co-hosts professional development workshops, including an adaptability workshop for learners.
- Bouchey & Clarke Benefits, Inc. Partner — Partner organization providing health insurance solutions to Chamber members.
- Business Council of New York State Network — Member organization collaborating on state-level business advocacy.
- Center for Economic Growth Partner — Collaborates on regional economic development initiatives.
- Cohoes Partner — Collaborates with the city of Cohoes as part of regional economic development efforts
- Facebook Partner — Collaborates with members to share content across Facebook platforms and encourages cross-posting between member and Chamber pages.
- Green Island Partner — Collaborates with the town of Green Island as part of regional economic development efforts
- Hannaford Partner — Provides refreshments for the Walk for Wildwood event.
- Hilton Garden Inn Troy Partner — Hosted the Chamber's Annual Board Meeting on December 11, 2024.
- Hudson Valley Community College Partner — Collaborated on hosting a topping-off ceremony for the Applied Technology Education Center (ATEC) and advancing workforce development initiatives.
- Hudson Valley Community College Partner — Collaborates on events such as the topping-off ceremony for the Applied Technology Education Center.
- Hudson Valley Community College Partner — Partners with the Chamber on major institutional projects and public ceremonies.
- Instagram Partner — Engages members to include @Renscochamber in posts to share news and events on Instagram.
- LinkedIn Partner — Maintains a LinkedIn group and company page for members to share news and connect professionally.
- NPA Financial, LLC Partner — Partners on charitable events including the All Charity Classic golf tournament.
- Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Partner — Collaborates with the Chamber through shared recognition events and leadership development initiatives.
- Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Partner — Recognized its Director of Procurement and Chief Procurement Officer, Rachael Capo Esq., for contributions to the community through a Chamber-hosted event.
- Tech Valley Chamber Coalition Coalition — Founding member of regional coalition serving New York's Tech Valley.
- Tech Valley Chamber Coalition Coalition — One of three founding members of the Tech Valley Chamber Coalition.
- The College Advisor of New York Partner — Acquired by Pioneer to form the College Advising Division, providing college admissions and affordability advising services.
- United States Chamber of Commerce Network — Active member of the national chamber network.
- University at Albany Partner — Partners on educational outreach events, including online info sessions for the MBA for Executives program.
- Waterford Partner — Collaborates with the village of Waterford as part of regional economic development efforts
- Watervliet Partner — Collaborates with the city of Watervliet as part of regional economic development efforts
- Wildwood Partner — Collaborates on community events such as the annual Walk for Wildwood.
- Wildwood Foundation Partner — Co-hosts and collaborates on the Walk for Wildwood event to raise awareness and funds.
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Fostering Economic Vitality through Business, Civic, and Economic Alliancemethodology: civic-economic-allianceBy serving as a unifying alliance among businesses, civic entities, and economic stakeholders, the organization drives regional economic growth and improves quality of life because collective action strengthens policy influence, resource sharing, and coordinated development efforts.
- Strengthening Regional Workforce Development through Industry-Education Alignmentmethodology: workforce-pipeline-developmentBy aligning educational programming with regional industry needs, the organization builds a skilled workforce because targeted training in applied technology and skilled trades increases employment readiness and meets employer demand.