Chamber explores ‘crowdsourcing’ solutions via monthly member roundtables

by Judy Stringer

The Hudson Area Chamber of Commerce launched a “newish” program aimed at helping members connect and “crowd source” answers to common issues and problems, according to President Nicole Alverson.

The monthly Business Roundtable Discussion Series started in February with a discussion on community involvement. Other topics addressed to date include staffing and recruitment and social media.

“We had done something like this in the past, but not for a few years,” Alverson said. “This time around, it was a member who approached me with a need for more discussion on predetermined topics of interest. Networking is great, but sometimes there are topics that require more in-depth conversation and knowledge and an opportunity for members to help with their expertise and success stories.”

The roundtable events have attracted between 8-18 members per session. It meets on the first Wednesday of each month. 

Alverson said Springwood, a senior living community, sponsors the series and provides the meeting space at its Omni Lake Parkway facility. Upcoming discussions will center on customer retention (June 5), entering new markets (Aug. 7) and website tips (Sept. 4).

The monthly meetings are free for chamber members. Non-members may attend up to two free meetings before investing in a membership. More information about the roundtable series can be found at explorehudson.com/business-roundtable-discussion-series.

In other organizational news, Alverson said the chamber recently “switched up” its membership tier levels to include more benefits.

“We did not raise dues this year, but we encouraged our members to move up a membership level by adding more value to each of those levels,” she said.

Each of the membership levels, for example, now includes free advertising opportunities in Hudson Life and the top two tiers feature e-blasts and features in the chamber newsletter. ∞