Message From Our President,Teri Duda

I am very excited about the opportunities and challenges that have been presented to me as the newly elected President of the Greater Paramus Chamber of Commerce. The executive board, the board of directors and myself are in the process of making changes in the chamber's operational aspects as well as in its outreach.

They include:

• The complete computerization of the chamber office. The equipment and professional services are being donated to the chamber as a community project by Savant Solutions.
• A new web site created by the combined efforts of Savant Solutions, Bower Web Solutions, Inc. and WarpDrive
• Upgrading of staffing and office procedures
• Redefining the chamber Advisory Board which will meet monthly as its own entity with the mission of promoting membership and providing procedural and creative counsel to the board of directors.
• Continuous improvement of our new website.
• Implementation of a Citizens Advisory Board consisting of residents who will meet bimonthly to discuss working more closely with local businesses on items of mutual interest.
• Moving forward on a new partnership with the Bergen County Workforce Investment Board to provide complimentary training seminars for our members on a number of topics including legal compliance issues, team building, cultural diversity and customer service as well as a host of others.
• Revamping of the chamber's monthly pages in the Town News. There will be informational columns as well as improved feedback to the community on chamber events in both photo and copy reporting.
• The implementation of an Annual Recognition Dinner. For this first time, it is an honor to shine the spotlight on Mr. Ray Wells, community leader and volunteer extraordinaire, Dr. Janice Dime, exemplary educator and administrator and Columbia Bank, a business that is second to none in its community involvement.
• The provision of increased public forums for the promotion of the Greater Paramus Education Foundation, whose enrichment programs serve the children who attend schools in Paramus . The foundation is a subsidiary of the Greater Paramus Chamber.
• Expansion of member benefits such as increased opportunities for networking, innovative special events, government forums, more and improved partnership events with other chambers (i.e. Economic Development Summit on May 21 st with Greater Paramus, Greater Paterson, North Jersey Regional and Tri-County Chambers of Commerce), as well as expanded business education through breakfast, lunch and dinner speaker focused meetings.
• Chairing and hosting the Inter Chamber Consortium (ICC) an alliance of the chambers of commerce in Bergen County .

In conclusion, we are doing great things at the chamber. It is our mission to continue to improve. I am personally looking forward to working with you to make the chamber the best it can be.

Teri Duda
President
The Greater Paramus Chamber of Commerce