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A publication of the Manhattan Area Chamber of CommerceMarch 2013, Volume 9, Issue 3, www.manhattan.org
Contact us:501 Poyntz Avenue
Manhattan, KS, 66502-6005
785-776-8829 phone
785-776-0679 fax
www.manhattan.org
TDD Kansas Relay Center:
800-766-3777
2012 Schapiro Study - A national survey*of 2,000 adults reveals that being activein a local chamber of commerce is aneffective business strategy because two-thirds of consumers believe that suchcompanies use good business practices,are reputable, care about their cus-tomers, and are involved in the commu-nity. If a company shows that it is highlyinvolved in its local chamber (e.g., is achamber board member), consumers are10% more likely to think that its
products stack up better against itscompetition.
Major Impact on Small Businesses
Small businesses represent the largestsegment of most local chamber mem-bership rolls, and the study indicates thatchamber membership has consistent andpowerful benefits for small businessmembers.
If respondents know that a small busi-ness is a member of its local chamber,the business enjoys:
• a 49% increase in its consumer favorability rating
• a 73% increase in consumer awareness
• a 68% increase in its local reputation• an 80% increase in the likelihood
that consumers will patronize the business in the future
When consumers know that a nationalrestaurant franchise is a member of thechamber of commerce, they are:
• 68% more likely to eat at the franchise in the next few months
• 15% more likely to report knowing a lot about the franchise
• 58% more likely to eat at the franchise more often
• 37% more likely to think favorably ofthe franchise
When consumers know that an insur-ance company is a member of the cham-ber of commerce, they are:
• 29% more likely to report knowing alot about the company
• 36% more likely to think favorably ofthe company
• 36% more likely to consider buying insurance from it.
Chamber Membership Builds YourReputation
• Businesses that are members of a local chamber of commerce are automatically considered by consumers to be trustworthy, customer-oriented and involved in their communities.
• That’s a valuable brand image to havein your community, and it’s yours forthe asking.
• Contact your local chamber now and help your community prosper.
* The study was conducted by The SchapiroGroup, an Atlanta-based strategic consultingfirm. It was commissioned by the AmericanChamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE),in cooperation with the Western Associationof Chamber Executives. The study was spon-sored by Insperity, a Houston-based compa-ny that provides human resources and otherbusiness services to more than 100,000businesses nationwide.
2012 Schapiro Study - Chamber Membership isEffective Business Strategy
Connect with theManhattan Area
Chamber ofCommerce through
Social Media.
Our 2013 LeadershipManhattan class has reachedthe halfway point on their jour-ney to graduation. Their mostrecent session took them toour State Capitol where theymet with our Governor, legis-lators, took in both a House ofDelegates and State SenateSession and heard unique per-spectives on the political cul-ture in Topeka this year fromMartin Hawver and DickCarter. The Session was aresounding hit with the class
members who were thoughtfuland engaging in their interac-tion with our State leaders.Session IV will take place atMercy Regional Health Centeron March 13th and will includea discussion on our aging com-munity as well as a tour ofTallgrass Brewery.
Graduation is approaching andwe will honor our 2013Leadership Class on April 17 atthe Manhattan Country Club.
Over 200 Chamber members and guestsattended a wonderful Business After Hoursin February at the Leonardville StateBank. Attendees toured the beautifulremodeled bank and enjoyed networkingand a wonderful variety of food and bever-ages.
Leonardville State Bank graciously gave awaya gift certificate to Cold Stone Creameryand Home Depot to two lucky Chambermembers!
Lori Bishop with RSVP of the Flint Hillsreceived a $50 Little Apple Dollar andRocky Downing with KCLY Radio ForGrownups won a year pass to Business AfterHours.
Please join us for Business After Hoursin March!
Wednesday, March 13, 20135:30 – 7:00 pm
Creche Day School 2024 Vanesta Place
Reservations can be made online atwww.manhattanchamber.org, by [email protected] or call 776-8829.
Hosted By:
Crè che Day School provides year-round,high quality child care and preschool for chil-dren ages six weeks to Kindergarten. With afocus on educational experiences, teacherspromote each child's social/emotional, physi-cal and cognitive development on an individ-ualized level. In a home-like environment,children learn from loving teachers, usingtop-notch curriculum, with monthly non-denominational Christian lesson supple-ments. Weekly curriculum begins at 6months of age, and progressively includesscheduled lesson plans, art projects, reading,playtime hands-on learning, small and largemotor skill strengthening, early preschoolskills promotion, music time, kindergartenreadiness, and more.
Creche offers a fresh approach to child careand preschool for Manhattan area residents.All meals are carefully prepared using freshingredients; high quality foods, with nopreservatives. Furthermore, Crè che brings abig-city idea to the Little Apple, offering anew form of outdoor play: a Natural Play-Scape. Similar playgrounds are becomingwidely popular in large cities (such asBoston, Chicago, New York, Phoenix), asstudies show they can help spark imagina-tion, increase attention span, reduce stress,and enhance learning.
The mission of the Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce is tofoster a changing environment for business success that enhancesthe quality of life in our region. We market the region, advocate forbusiness, and provide services to our members and customers.
Are you interested in being a member of the Manhattan AreaChamber of Commerce? Give Kim a call at 776-8829 for moreinformation.
This is a publication of the Manhattan Area Chamber ofCommerce – all advertising is the responsibility of The ManhattanMercury. To place an ad or for more information, call Logan Kirk at776-2200, or [email protected].
Page 2 Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce Little Apple® Business Review March 2013
Thank you to the following members ofthe Chamber Champions and ChamberDiplomats for volunteering to help withregistration at the February BusinessAfter Hours: Genae Denver,
Manhattan Christian College; NancyHammerschmidt, Farm Bureau
Financial Services and Clint Sandmann,Stewart Advisory Services.
March 2013 Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce Little Apple® Business Review Page 3
Upcoming ChamberEventsTo make a reservation for an upcoming event,please call the Chamber at 776-8829. Please joinus as your time allows.
March 12 Ribbon Cutting for Advanced Property Management4:30 pm240 Levee Drive, Suite 2
March 13 Business After Hours5:30 – 7:00 pmHost: Creche Day School2024 Vanesta Place
March 15 Ribbon Cutting for Candlewood Suites4:00 pm210 Blue Earth Place
March 19 Manhattan Young Professionals - Achieving Financial Health, Sponsored by Intrust Bank11:30amManhattan Country Club
March 26 Morning Mingle7:45 – 9:00 amChamber BoardroomReservations Required
April 5 Chamber 10111:30 am – 1:00 pmChamber BoardroomReservations Required
April 6 Legislative Coffee7:30 – 9:00 amManhattan Union Pacific Depot 120 Fort Riley Blvd.
April 10 Business After Hours 5:30 – 7:00 pmHost: Four Points by Sheraton530 Richards Drive
April 16 Manhattan Young Professionals11:30amManhattan Conference Center
April 18 Good Morning Manhattan!7:15 – 8:30 amManhattan Country Club
April 23 Member Orientation 7:45 – 9:30 amChamber BoardroomReservations Required
*All dates and times are subject to change.
Your Manhattan AreaChamber of CommerceMobile App is the best performing app out of 85Chamber organizations asreported by Chamber2Go!
To date the Chamber Apphas been downloaded 765times and had 28,000+page views. Because ofyour interest, the ManhattanChamber App is well abovethe national average of pageviews on any app.
App SponsorsThank you to the followingmembers for your sponsor-ship.
Presenting Sponsors: Blueville Nursery, Inc.Ann A Lee’sMarinella School of Beauty K-State Division of Continuing Education Center K-State Federal Credit Union
How to Download theChamber's Free Mobile App• Text "'Manhattan" to 80802
• Search "ManhattanKSChamber" in the Apple App Store orAndroid Play Store (marketplace)
• Visit www.manhat-tankschamber.mobi on your Blackberry, Windows, or other web-enabled device
• Scan
The ManhattanKSChamberapp features the following:
• Mobile Directory – all Manhattan Chamber members are included and may be searched by company name or cate-gory
• Events – View Community events and find and register for Chamber events
• News – Read exciting news about our members and view our social media
pages, stay up-to-date withmilitary relations, City of Manhattan and Riley County news
• Near Me – Find the nearest Chamber mem-bers through geo-location and mapping technology (searchable by category aswell)
Chamber Mobile App – Good News!
The Manhattan Young Professionalswere treated to a night of fine art andwine at the Strecker-NelsonGallery on February 18. Jay Nelsongave a presentation on starting an artcollection to the group. We appreciatethem hosting!
Next event: March 19, 11:30am atthe Manhattan Country Club.“Achieving Financial Health” presentedand sponsored by Intrust Bank.
Since our February newsletter,these businesses have reinvested their investments inthe Chamber. The Board ofDirectors and staff thank thesebusinesses for their continuingsupport of the Chamber.
Over 15 YearsAggieville Business AssociationAmerican Pest Management, Inc. Arthur-Green, LLPBHS Construction, Inc. Bill MuirBluestem BistroBob NewsomeBoomer Consulting, Inc. Burger King OfficeCampus Hair StylingCentury Business Systems, Inc.Chiropractic Family Health Center Clarion HotelCox CommunicationsDowntown Manhattan, Inc.Fraternal Order of Police Riley Co. Lodge #17, Inc. Hawley Printing Service – Sir SpeedyJennifer WilsonJohn T. PenceJoleen J. HillK-State Alumni AssociationKansas Gas Service, A Division of ONEOK, Inc. Kansas Pork AssociationKeating & AssociatesKSU Research FoundationManhattan Christian CollegeManhattan Country ClubManhattan Eye CareManpower
Master Landscape Inc. Maurices McCall Pattern Co.Mead Lumber Design ShowroomPella Windows of KansasRealty Executives Weis Real Estate Co. Reed & Elliott JewelersRichard B. HayterRSVP of the Flint Hills, Inc. Security SolutionsStanion Wholesale ElectricStickel CleanersThe Ebert Mayo Design Group,Architects and PlanningConsultantsThe PathfinderUMB BankVarney’s Book Store
10 to 14 YearsAllstar Services, Inc. Community First National BankEverett (Bud) GillispieKBS Constructors, Inc.Stan Morgan The Daily UnionWestern Extralite Co.
5 to 9 YearsAssurance Partners Austin Peters Group, Inc. Barbara Bonzer HayterBest BuyDiamond RoofingExecutive Residences, Inc. Flint Hills Area Transportation AgencyHoliday Inn at the CampusKS Commercial Real Estate Services, Inc. MAMTCMeritrust Credit UnionNew Boston Creative GroupPam WestmeyerPremier Car and Dog Wash
1 to 4 YearsAdvanced Property Management, Inc.AdVantage Mobile Media LLC Ebert Construction Co., Inc.Enterprise Rent-A-CarFirst Assembly of GodG. Thomas JewelersGillliland & Hayes, P.A.Growing Concerns (Plant Health Services)ImagemakersKatalyst – Sign & GrafixKeith EyestoneLTG (Ret.) Michael DodsonManhattan High School Booster ClubPapa Murphy’sRaleigh Insurance AgencySalisbury Supply Co., Inc. Scott Rice Office WorksThe IDEA CenterU.S. Foodservice Wolfe’s Camera Shops, Inc.
Candlewood Suites Beth Lohman, GeneralManager 210 Blue Earth PlacePh (785) 320-7995Fx (785) 320-7994Candlewood Suites is the first ofits kind of hotel in Manhattan,KS. It is designed with theextended stay traveler in mind.The hotel rooms have fullyequipped kitchens, large workspace, free guest laundry andmore.
iHeart RealtyLinda Shostak,Broker/Owner Ph (785) 770-0254iHeart Realty was founded andnamed on the premise that hiringa real estate agent was not aboutjust buying and selling propertiesbut really all about RELATION-SHIPS. At iHeart Realty webelieve client service comes fromthe Heart and we put our Heartinto every Relationship to ensureour clients have the very bestexperience.
Comfort Inn & Suites Kerry Scott, GeneralManager221 E. Ash Street, JunctionCityPh (785) 579-5787Fx (785) 579-5790www.comfortinn.com/hotels/ks187The Comfort Inn & Suites ofJunction City is the newest hotelin the city and was built in 2012.With 75 spacious guest roomswe are always prepared to han-dle our military guests, travelersalong I-70, groups of all sorts andthe beloved K-State fans andfamilies.
Mary Kay – Julie SplichalJulie Splichal, IndependentSales Director Ph (785) 341-0161www.marykay.com/splichal I have served the ManhattanCommunity for the last 12 yearsas a Sales Director and BeautyConsultant with Mary KayCosmetics. As my client you can
create your ideal beauty experi-ence that embraces prompt, per-sonalized, and courteous service.I will provide you with the best Ihave to offer including cutting-edge makeup artistry, anti-agingskin care, and your favorite MaryKay products. I look forward tohelping you with all your beautyand skin care needs.
Sylvan Learning Center Jenny Birk, Senior Director Gavin Garman, SeniorDirector3208 Kimball Avenue Ph (785) 587-8800Fx (785) 587-8942www.sylvanlearning.com At Sylvan we know that everychild is unique, each with a differ-ent set of skills and academicneeds. This is why we design alearning plan specifically for eachchild. The key to personalinstruction is Sylvan Insight™ - afour-step process which includesassess, plan, teach, and then apply.The result is the personal learn-ing students need to bewhomever they aspire to be. Thisproven approach is maximizedwith SylvanSync™ - our propri-etary teaching system that blendspersonal lessons taught bySylvan-certified instructors usingtechnology kids love: the iPad®.
ReinvestingReinvestingThank you forThank you forThank you forPage 4 Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce Little Apple® Business Review March 2013
If you are a morning person who enjoys businesssuccess, this event is for you!
The Morning Mingle is a fun and informal net-working group open to all members of theManhattan Area Chamber of Commerce. This isa fantastic opportunity to connect with fellowChamber members, make new contacts,exchange business cards and create businesspartnerships.
This unique networking opportunity shines thespotlight on each attendee individually, allowingthem to introduce themselves and give a short“commercial” for their business. Don’t forget tobring business cards! You can place a stack on thebusiness card buffet to share with other atten-dees.
Registration and networking starts at 7:45amwith introductions beginning promptly at 8:00.Attendees will each have 30 seconds to addressthe group - and yes, we will time everyone.
Tuesday, March 267:45 – 9:00am
Chamber Boardroom501 Poyntz Ave
Sponsored by:
Admission is a buck and a business card (payableat the door). Reservations are required as seat-ing is limited. You may register online atwww.manhattanchamber.org, by emailing [email protected] or call the Chamber officeat 785-776-8829. Contact Kathy with questionsand for sponsorship opportunities, [email protected].
March 2013
Volume 13, Issue 3
A publication of the
Manhattan
Convention &
Visitors Bureau
Tourism professionals from acrossthe state of Kansas descended uponour State Capital on Wednesday,February 13, 2013 to receiveupdates from our partners andstakeholders in tourism as well as tointerface with elected officials onthe importance Tourism in Kansas.
The Travel Industry of Kansas (TIAK)hosted the Day on the Hill beginningwith a welcome from Secretary ofWildlife, Parks and Tourism, RobinJennison, setting the tone for the day.Presentations were also given by KSDepartment of Revenue, KS Dept. ofCommerce, KS Creative ArtsIndustries Commission, KS HistoricalSociety, KDOT and Agri-Tourism andKS By-ways. Kansas Wildlife, Parks
and Tourism unveiled the findings ofIHS Global Insights with the EconomicImpact of Kansas Tourism for 2010 &2011.
• Kansas hosted 32.1 million domesticvisitors in 2011….6.3% more than in2009
• Kansas visitors spent $7.6 billion in the state in 2011
Continued on page 2
PromotingTourism...
March Madness - 2A StyleThe annual 2A high school state basketball tournament falls March 6-9 thisyear. Our goal is to bring visitors to Manhattan, and 2A in particular doesjust that. Hundreds of family members and friends travel from all over thestate to cheer on their team in the state tournament.
As a state tournament site, we are fortunate to partner with K-State andManhattan Parks & Rec as we host this event, as well as a slew of arearestaurants who generously donate food supplies for the hundreds volun-teers, school administrators and officials working the event.
A lot of manpower go into making this event a success each year. Interestedin volunteering, and seeing what it’s all about? Email [email protected] call 785-776-8829. Also, check out our Facebook page for photo galleries
from each day of last year’stournament! Facebook.com/vis-itmanhattankansas.
March Madness begins with 2AState High School Tournamentin Manhattan March 6-9 fol-lowed by Big XII Tournament inKansas City at the SprintCenter March 13-16.
Hotel Openingsand Updates
Page 3
Enjoy KansasOutdoors
Page 3
Konza KeepsVisitors Amazed
Page 4
Friendly Invasion of Square DancersIt’s a special occasion for hundreds of square dancers fromaround the country! March 21, dancers from more than 25states will invade Manhattan for their annual festival. The festival is sponsored by the Heart of America Single SquareDancers Association (HASSDA) and Manhattan’s LoneWrangler Square Dance Club.
The Manhattan Convention and Visitors Bureau has workedwith both groups to help facilitate this annual event, whichwill take place at the K-State Student Union Ballroom. Threenationally and internationally-known callers and a celebratedround dance cuer will be at the festival.
Local restaurants and hotels will alsobe doing business with the dancers,who are looking forward to dancing inManhattan. Questions should bedirected to Maye Wegner, HASS-DA President. Call 785-806-8314 oremail [email protected].
...Day on the Hill Continued from page 1
• Tourism’s economic contributions supported 148,000 jobs in Kansas in 2011….7.8% more than 2009 Source: IHS Global, 2011 Kansas Tourism Satellite Account
• During 2012 KS Dept. of Wildlife, Parks & Tourism marketing campaign “There’s No Place Like Kansas” reached over 1.84M people.
• The campaign generated 133.4K incremental trips to Kansas resulting in over $73.5M in incremental spending. The investment return on the campaign was 80:1 The Manhattan Convention & Visitors Bureau was one of the communities that partnered with the KS Dept. of Wildlife, Parks, & Tourism on this campaign. Source: H2R Market Research 2012
The Day on the Hill concluded with a legislative reception showcasing Kansas Tourism.Manhattan participated in the Flint Hills Region booth, providing information on the FlintHills Discovery Center and vacation options throughout the Flint Hills. Other booths highlighted other Kansas tourism finding, with the flipping of pancakes, cowboy hats, racecars, jet skis and an abundance of tourism professionals telling the story of tourism to ourelected officials. We appreciate the leadership provided by our elected officials:Representatives Phillips, Swanson, and Carlin and Senator Hawk. The ManhattanCVB was represented by Karen Hibbard, CVB Director, Christy Chase, ConventionSales and Marcia Rozell, Tourism Sales.
Blog with meOne of the exciting new features on the CVB website is the ability to blog. This feature allows us to present current events,updates from the road, pictures, videos, testimonials and more.We are busy people in a busy town, and we want to share asmuch of it as possible. Subscribe to our blog to hear about whatis happening in The Little Apple®.
Be sure to leave us some love as well. There is a comment feature to the blog. Share your thoughts, comments, photos,videos and activities in Manhattan with us.
Though we plan to discuss upcoming events IN the blog, this isnot designed to be a comprehensive overview. Please use theevents calendar feature to access all the upcoming events inManhattan.
Moving forward, we strive to serve the community and beyondin more interactive and more helpful ways. Checking in post-trip?Let us know how your visit was, if you utilized the CVB services,and your favorite reasons for utilizing the Manhattan Conventionand Visitors Bureau!
***Non-constructive comments will not be posted.
Paws on Poyntz - June 1Follow them on Facebook under ‘DowntownManhattan Weenie Dog Races & Paws onPoyntz’ for to-the-minute details!
Sunset Zoo eventsCommunity Appreciation Day; March 23 from noon-5
Earth Day; April 21 from noon- 4:30 pmMercy Health Center’s Wild Run; May 4, 8:00 am
Wine in the Wild; June 1, 6:00 pmCall 785-587-2737 with questions.
McCain Auditorium ShowsFigaro, Figaro Figaro! Practice that opera inthe shower, and get in the spirit for “TheMarriage of Figaro” at McCain Auditorium.The show runs March 7-9 at 7:30 pm eachevening. Call 785-532-5740 for ticket informa-tion.
Mummenschanz; this whacky and whimsicalworld will entertain the whole family. Getready to giggle- it’s Tuesday the 12th at 7:30 pm.
The Celtic Tenors bring folk, Irish and popharmonies just in time for our St. Patrick’scelebrations. 7:30 pm on March 15.
Call 785-532-6428 or email [email protected] ticket information. Their website is k-state.edu/mccain.
SportsBaseball has begun! There are a wholeBUNCH of games at Tointon Family Stadiumin March. Visit kstatesports.com to viewthe baseball schedule- there’s a game nearlyevery single day and they range in time from11:00 am to 6:30 pm. Support your Wildcats!K-State works closely with Manhattan tobring hundreds of thousands of visitors toManhattan each year.
Rowing, men’s and women’s golf, and equestri-an are all getting started as well. So manygames, so little time…
K-State spring game is set for April 27th!Kick-off is 1:10 pm, and then head to nearbyTointon Family Stadium for the 4:00 baseballgame against TCU!
Wildcats on Parade!Stop by our office at 501 Poyntz Ave to seethe “Tradition” Wildcat on display! There are150 of these cats all over town, and we canprovide a map to all the others out there.Can’t come during office hours? We’ll leavethe shades up so you can see it through thewindow!
Upcoming events to get on your calendar
March brings some excitingnew hotel openings toManhattan! You’ve likelynoticed the new hotel property going in on ThirdSt. and Ft. Riley Boulevard.
The new Candlewood Suitesproperty is an extended-stayfacility. Guests have fully-equipped kitchens, access toa free movie library, an exec-utive desk with speakerphone and free high speedinternet in each room.
“Much larger than the averagehotel room and more afford-able than a corporate apart-ment, the Candlewood Suites isthe perfect ‘home away fromhome’ for relocation, project,temporary assignment or train-ing needs. The CandlewoodSuites does not require a leaseor minimum length of stay.Whether traveling for businessor leisure, for one night or sev-eral months, CandlewoodSuites Manhattan is the solu-tion to your temporary housingneeds.” Beth Lohman,General Manager.
"I am absolutely delighted
that we are nearingthe date whenManhattan's FirstExtended StayHotel will open.The CandlewoodSuites has a fabu-lous location over-looking the BlueEarth Plaza, thefountains, and theFlint Hills Discovery Center. Itis just a short walk from greatlocal restaurants, shops, andHistorical DowntownManhattan.” Colin Noble,Owner of CandlewoodSuites.
But that’s not the only property with news!
The Clarion Hotel is gettingready to reopen as the first-ever Four Points bySheraton in the state ofKansas. The hotel has spentmore than $5 million in ren-ovations since May 2012.
The atrium (formerly the"holidome") received thebiggest cosmetic upgrade,with the removal of theputt-putt golf course, foun-
tains, and bridge. This areaadded close to 10,000 sqfeet of additional space forgroups and conventions forvendor expos, hospitalityareas, etc.
“As the Manhattan communitycontinues to grow, the hotel iscommitted to their mission ofproviding first-class services tothe thousands of guests thatcome through the doors, annu-ally. As they go through thisvast and exciting transforma-tion to a more upscale facility,the hotel will significantlyenhance the experience fortheir valued guests while main-taining the same outstandingcustomer service and individualattention that visitors havecome to expect.” Jenn Alley,Director of Sales &Catering.
Congratulations to the Mills family, recent winners ofMcCain Performance Series tickets to Shrek! Follow us onFacebook, Pinterest, and our blog for YOUR chance to winMcCain tickets, Country Stampede tickets and more greatofferings in Manhattan!
Enjoy Kansas OutdoorsCalling all Outdoor enthusi-asts. We have a publicationfor you! The ManhattanConvention and VisitorsBureau is an advertisingpartner with Kansas Traveland Tourism and ispleased to announce thefirst annual issue ofKansas Outdoors isready for you toenjoy!
Kansas Outdoors is the perfect pieceto attract outdoor enthusiasts to our great stateof Kansas by highlighting Kansas’ diverse outdoor recreation-al opportunities. A great day in the Flint Hills begins righthere in Manhattan at the Flint Hills Discovery Center!
100,000 copies of Kansas Outdoors will be distributedthroughout 2013 at outdoor sports shows, the ManhattanConvention and Visitors Bureau office or if you are aKANSAS! magazine subscriber, you may have alreadyreceived your copy.
Festival of WinesThe 14th annual Flint Hills Festival of Wines will take place March 8 and 9 for a weekend ofwine tasting events. Friday kicks off events with a wine dinner and live auction at theManhattan Country Club at 6:30.
Saturday festivities include the Private Tasting Room and the Grand Tasting & Silent Auctionheld at the Four Points by Sheraton (formerly Clarion Hotel). You won’t want to miss thisevent so grab tickets now. Coming from out of town? Check out our Book Direct system onthe new website. Find a room from the convenience of your desk or couch.Visitmanhattanks.org.
The Flint Hills Festival of Wines benefits the Homecare and Hospice Foundation, ensuring theprovision of in-home health and support services to families in north central Kansas. Festival ofWines is their largest fundraiser of the year. Contact Christina Nolte for tickets, 785-537-0688, or [email protected].
Hotel Openings and Updates
Are you ready to Retire?Manhattan is perfectly poised to wel-come you as you retire. Manhattan wasfeatured in “Where to Retire” maga-zine! The March/April issue contains aprofile of Manhattan as one of eightcities in “Farmers Markets—A Fun Link to the Social Scene.”
700,000 Americans relocate tonew towns to retire each year.Congratulations to Manhattan!
Karen Hibbard, [email protected]
Christy Chase, ConventionSales Manager
Marcia Rozell, Tourism SalesManager
Autumn Shoemaker,Marketing [email protected]
Kendra Dekat, AdministrativeAssistant/ Service Coordinator
Manhattan Convention & Visitors Bureau Staff
March 2013
Vision Statement:Destination Manhattan!
Mission Statement:To expand the local area economy by
attracting visitors.
Chuck Scott, ChairmanBrad Everett, HotelJennifer Fritchen, HotelDave Lewis, Ex-OfficioCurt Loupe, Ex-OfficioJackie Murrell, HotelMiranda Lies, Hotel
Julie Powell, HotelWayne Rouse, EntertainmentEvan Tuttle, AttractionTodd Holmberg, K-StateBernie Haney, Ex-OfficioLynda Spire, Ex-Officio
Manhattan CVB Steering Committee
5 Flint Hills Christian School Visitors' Day, K-4 & KindergartenRound-UpFlint Hills Christian School9:00 AM and 6:30 PM785-776-2223
5 K-State Mens Basketball vs. TCUBramlage Coliseum7:00PM800-221-2287
5-6 K-State Baseball v. NiagaraTointon Stadium3pm800-221-2287
6-9 2-A State Basketball TournamentBramlage Coliseum785-776-8829
7-9 Mozart’s The Marriage of FigaroMcCain Auditorium, K-State7:30PM785-532-6878
8 Hale Library Concert SeriesHemisphere Room, KSU Hale Library7:30pm785-532-7442
8 13th Annual Flint Hills Festival of Wines - Wine Dinner & Live AuctionManhattan Country Club785-537-0688
8-9 14th Annual Flint Hills Festival of WinesHilton Garden Inn785-537-0688
8-10 K-State Baseball v. Cal PolyTointon StadiumFri. 3pm Sat. 2pm Sun. 12pm800-221-2287
9 13th Annual Flint Hills Festival of Wines - Grand Tasting & Silent AuctionFour Points by Sheraton (Formerly Clarion)785-537-0688
10 Kansas State University Wind Ensemble ConcertMcCain Auditorium, K-State3:00pm785-532-3816
11 Kansas State University Concert Band and University Band ConcertMcCain Auditorium, K-State7:30pm785-532-3816
12 McCain Performance Series: MummenschanzMcCain Auditorium, K-State7:30 pm785-532-6428
12-13 K-State Baseball v. Northern ColoradoTointon StadiumTues. 6:30pm Wed. 3pm800-221-2287
13 Sunset Zoo Presents: Zoobiquity Connecting Health in Animals & HumansSunset Zoo Nature Exploration Center7:00pm785-587-2737
14 Our People, our Land, Our Images Short Film SeriesFlint Hills Discovery Center6:00-8:00pm785-587-2726
15-17 K-State Baseball v. West VirginiaTointon StadiumFri. 6:30pm Sat. 2pm Sun. 1pm800-221-2287
16 35th Annual Aggieville St. Patrick's Day CelebrationAggievilleAll Day785-776-8050
16 McCain Performance Series: Celtic TenorsMcCain Auditorium, K-State7:30 pm785-532-6428
18-22 KSU Spring Break Week
19-20 K-State Baseball v. MinnesotaTointon StadiumTues. 6:30pm Wed. 3pm800-221-2287
21 Go See It! Lecture SeriesFlint Hills Discovery Center7:00-8:00pm785-587-2726
22-24 K-State Baseball v. Bethune-CookmanTointon StadiumFri. 6:30pm Sat. 2pm Sun. 1pm800-221-2287
22-30 Easter Bunny Arrival and PhotosManhattan Town Center785-539-3500
22-4/21 Greater Prairie Chicken ViewingKonza PrairieReservations Required785-587-0381
23 Community Appreciation DaySunset Zoo Nature Exploration CenterNoon-9pm785-587-2737
26 Spring Music FestivalManhattan Town Center6:00-7:00 PM785-539-3500
26 K-State Baseball v. NebraskaTointon Stadium6:30pm800-221-2287
27 How to Search for and Apply forCollege ScholarshipsJunction City Library7:00 PM913-608-1406
28 Talk About Literature in Kansas 3Manhattan Public Library7:00pm785-776-4741
30 Unstock the Bar! (Reservations Required)Harry's Restaurant8:30-11:30pm785-537-1300
Through March 11Butterflies ExhibitManhattan Town CenterMall Hours785-539-3500
Through March 162011 K-State Department of Art Faculty BiennialBeach Museum of Art, K-StateRegular museum hours785-532-7718
Manhattan Convention & Visitors Bureau501 Poyntz Avenue Manhattan, KS 66502(785) 776-8829 • (785) 776-0679 fax
Konza Keeps VisitorsAmazedWhen was the lasttime you paid a visitto the Konza Prairie?Did you know lessthan 4% of tallgrassprairie remainsunplowed or unde-veloped? The Konza Prairie is a huge tourist draw forManhattan- it draws visitors and researchers from all overthe country, and the world.
Thursday through Sunday, March 21-April 21 visitors areinvited to a season of Greater Prairie Chicken Viewing.Guided tours from an observation blind can be set up by call-ing 785-587-0381. Reservations are required.
Upcoming Conferences, Sports and Special Events in The Little Apple®
February....................................................Anticipated Attendance NumbersConferences4 EPA Region 7 Radon Stakeholders ..............................................1007-8 Mid-America Association for Computers .................................550
& Education (MACE) Annual Convention13 Kansas Bankers Association...........................................................15015-16 Master Farmer/Master Homemaker Annual Meeting..............20021-24 Heart of America - Single Square Dance Association .............500
Annual Meeting24 Kansas Department of Health and Environment .....................300
Annual WORKS! Conference30 Kansas Beef Expo Spring Expo .....................................................200Sporting Events6-9 Kansas State High School Activities Association.................10,000
2A State High School Basketball Tournament16 Manhattan Optimist Kids Wrestling Club ..................................400
Sub District Tournament
March 2013 Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce Little Apple® Business Review Page 9
The Chamber is made up of…
The Chamber’s 795 members – representing 17,002 employees - include all types andsizes of companies throughout the region and the Midwest.
92% of our members have fewer than 50 FTE
85% of our members have fewer than 25 FTE
70% of our members have fewer than 10 FTE
53% of our members have fewer than 5 FTE
Nine out of 10 Chamber members run small to mid-size enterprises. So, serving smallbusiness members isn't a "program" here, it's what we do every day.
Page 10 Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce Little Apple® Business Review March 2013
Effective OnlineEducational Marketing
Content development foronline and social mediamarketing is time-consum-ing work. Sure, you havesales and new products topost about, but what aboutthe rest of the time. Howdo you stay engaged withyour online audience whileproviding meaningful con-tent? I like to encourageclients to use educational
marketing as one compo-nent of their online andsocial media marketingstrategies.
Educational marketing cantake on many forms but atit’s core is about establish-ing you as an expert andgiving your customersinformation that increasesthe chances they need yourproduct or service. Forexample, a plumber mightpost regularly on Facebookabout small do-it-yourselffixes around the house.When you have a realplumbing emergency you’llprobably call the serviceprovider who saved you afew dollars with an onlinevideo on troubleshooting aleaky faucet.
Another approach to edu-cational marketing is creat-ing product need aware-ness. Remember that fea-tures tell and benefits sell.
So educate your customerson the benefits of utilizingyour product or service.Make these benefits tangi-ble – money and timesaved, increased efficiencyor changes in status.
Continuous educationalmarketing can be monoto-nous, so be careful. Youwant your audience atten-tive and engaged. Studiesshow that boring content isthe number one reasonpeople delete or unsub-scribe from online andemail marketing efforts. Somix it up – educate oneweek but highlight an onlineor in-store special the nextweek.
Daryn Soldan501 Poyntz AvenueManhattan, KS [email protected]/sbdc
Business BarometerJanuary 2012 January 2013
BUILDING PERMITS - source: City of Manhattan
Total Issued 20 26
Residential $2,705,077 $4,951,908
Non-Residential $1,682,495 $4,013,729
Permit Fees Paid $22,594 $40,975
RETAIL SALES (Manhattan) - source: City of Manhattan
Retail Sales $96,939,100 $88,786,500
Sales Tax Collections $969,391 $887,865
MANHATTAN AIR PASSENGER TRAFFIC - MHK airport
Enplanement 4,836 4,560
Deplanement 5,518 5,272
The Small Business Council, a council rep-resenting businesses of 50 employees orless, met on Feb 13. Information from theSmall Business Association on theAffordable Care Act and the 2012 ACCRACost of Living Index comparing Manhattanand surrounding communities and compa-rable Midwest college towns was distrib-uted. A discussion of housing costs inManhattan illustrated that the highturnover of houses coupled with limitedamount of developable land in Manhattan isleading to higher housing prices.
The topics brought up at the Januarymeeting in response to the question“What keeps you up at night as a smallbusiness in Manhattan, KS?” were catego-rized into four broad categories: FederalGovernment, State & Local Government,Top Line (revenues), and Bottom Line(expenses). In order for the SmallBusiness Council to be a council of actionthat will have a positive effect on the small
business community, Chair Patrick Lee,asked the Council to select a few topicsthat the Council can focus on and developaction items. Two topics were chosen:shopping locally and building codes. JeffKoenig, Danielle Runnebaum and RandyMartin will research the issues of shoppinglocally. Therese Adams and Patrick Leewill focus on building codes. Each groupwill report back at the March meeting sospecific aspects of shopping locally andbuilding codes can be further developed.
The next meeting of the Small BusinessCouncil is March 13 at 7:15 am in theChamber Board Room. Small BusinessCouncil meetings are open to all membersof the Manhattan Area Chamber ofCommerce. If you have any questionsregarding the Small Business Council,please contact Patrick Lee at N ZoneSportswear (776-3234 ext. 201 or 341-9177) or Trent Armbrust at the Chamber(776-8829).
Small Business Council Update
Why Join? The Top 10 Reasons
1. Networking. High-profile net-working opportunities at theregion’s best business events.
2. Advocacy. Strengthens thecommunity by providing a repre-sentative voice for the businesscommunity on issues that affectyou and your business.
3. Business Referrals. Businessreferrals from the Manhattan AreaChamber of Commerce and theonline Business Directory andWebsite.
4. Education. Your Chambermembership entitles you and youremployees to attend informativeseminars on timely subjects.
5. Credibility by Association.When people know you are amember of the Manhattan AreaChamber of Commerce, theyknow you are a part of a group ofprofessionals working together topositively impact both the econo-my and the quality of life in ourcommunity.
6. Economic Development. A shared commitment to theregion’s economic vitality and qual-ity of life for employees and their
families. Providing business attrac-tion and retention for Manhattanand the surrounding region.
7. Visibility. The Chamber offerscost-effective opportunities foryou to maximize your company’sexposure and to reach your cus-tomers and potential customersthrough targeted advertising, mar-keting and sponsorships.
8. Business Resources &Assistance. The Chamber hasviable business partners that helpto provide our members with themost comprehensive and up todate business resources and assis-tance. The Manhattan AreaChamber of Commerce is anindispensable resource for itsmembers and the business com-munity.
9. Staff. Being a Chamber mem-ber offers you access to our pro-fessional staff. Use our staff as anextension of your business staff tohelp solve your business problemsand address your business needs.
10. Special Events. TheManhattan Area Chamber ofCommerce offers special events tohelp you and your business effec-tively network with other areabusiness owners and employees.
Member Advantages
Military UpdateMarch 2013 Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce Little Apple® Business Review Page 11
The chill of February did not stop ourMilitary Relations Committee from continu-ing its work! Our February luncheon fea-tured Mrs. Sandy Risberg. Sandy is a facultymember at Kansas State University and spe-cializes in educating educators on the specialcircumstances of our military children. Sandyhas a wealth of knowledge, both from educa-tion and personal experience. Her presenta-tion brought in the largest number of atten-dees to our luncheon in over 2 years and wewere so appreciative of her message and herpassion for her work and our military schoolchildren.
As the winter months come to a close, weare in the beginning planning processes ofour most popular annual event- the 2013Kaw Valley Rodeo Association Military FamilyAppreciation Night. This night brings aunique experience and an opportunity forfun to our military community and we lookforward to this event annually.
Eggs andIssues
Sponsored by the Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce
Saturday, April 67:30 a.m.
Union Pacific Train Depot
No admission chargeOpen to the public • Free coffee
In attendance will be Senator Hawk and Representatives Carlin, Phillips and
Swanson.
This event is partially underwritten for theChamber by:
at&t
AAA receives top nationalhonor
Celebrity Cruises Travel agencyawarded AAA Allied Group withKansas offices in Lawrence,Manhattan, Topeka and two inWichita, “Overall Field SalesPartner of the Year.” The awardrecognizes the outstanding effortsby AAA travel professionals as thebest out of nearly 10,000 travelagencies nationwide.
Southwestern CollegeProfessional Studies OnlineDegrees Ranked in U.S. Newsand World Report
“U.S. News and World Report’s”2013 rankings of the best onlineprograms have been announcedand Southwestern CollegeProfessional Studies (SCPS) hasbeen listed in two of the six cate-gories, including overall best onlinebachelor’s program.
SCPS earned a #30 ranking out of1,767 schools polled for bestonline bachelor’s program and #64out of 1,043 schools polled forbest online education program.
Southwestern College has beenoffering online bachelor's degreeprograms since 2001. All of theclasses are delivered via the inter-net, so students can access coursematerial at their own convenience.
Southwestern College ProfessionalStudies offers online programsdesigned for adults and their
unique needs. Online learning pro-vides the flexibility to completeeducational goals while meetingwork and family obligations.
For more information contactDeb Stockman at (888) 684-5335ext. 214, e-mail [email protected], or visit the websiteat www.southwesterncollege.org.Southwestern College is a privateinstitution granting undergraduateand graduate degrees and is affili-ated with the United MethodistChurch.
GTM Sportswear UnveilsNew, State-of-the-ArtUltraFuse Sublimation Centerin the Midwest
GTM Sportswear® (GTM) ispleased to announce the openingof a new, state-of-the-artUltraFuseTM Sublimation Centerat the GTM Sportswear Campusin Manhattan, Kan., the first of itskind in the Midwest.
GTM’s new UltraFuse uniformsare created with an advanced dyesublimation technology in whichteam graphics, names and logosare heat-infused directly into fab-ric. The sublimation process allowsfor greater range of design andcolor possibilities and results in alight-weight, breathable uniformmade for lasting performance. UltraFuse uniforms are part of theGTM SelectTM line of customsports apparel currently availablefor volleyball, track, basketball andfootball teams at the youth, school
and club levels nationwide.UltraFuse cheerleading uniformswill soon be available in 2013.
The new UltraFuse SublimationCenter and the relocation of theGTM Select cheerleading uniformcut-and-sew facility from Texas toKansas, will lead to significant jobgrowth within the state of Kansas,Manhattan and surrounding com-munities. Utilizing an incentivepackage from the KansasDepartment of Commerce valuedat over $2 million, GTM looks tocreate nearly 650 new jobsbetween 2013 and 2017.
Contact a GTM SalesRepresentative at 800-336-4486 or go online towww.gtmultrafuse.com.
Noteworthy NewsNoteworthy News
Page 12 Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce Little Apple® Business Review March 2013
Ribbon Cuttings & GroundbreakingsRibbon Cuttings & Groundbreakings
CivicPlus Headquarters 302 S. 4th Street(785) 587-1853www.civicplus.com
Texas Roadhouse200 Manhattan Town Center
(785) 537-7427www.texasroadhouse.com
Thrivent Financial for Lutherans314 Tuttle Creek Boulevard, Suite D
(785) 537-7969www.thrivent.com
Linde Beauty Supply 116 S 4th Street (785) 320-5353
What are members are saying!When asked “What is the most positive experience you have had as a Chamber member?” our members said…
The most positive experience I’ve had as a
Chamber member is simplythe comfort of always knowingsomeone at any event – or almostanywhere. Also, the opportunity toexpand relationships through networking events provided
by the Chamber.Kansas State Bank
The young professional events I attended were a fun way
to meet others.Scott Lake, Sink, Gordon &
Associates LLP
Chamber committees. This has allowed me to learnmore about the Chamber and give back to community through my committee memberships.Jay Terrill, Community First
National Bank
