Board of Directors Celebrate Positive Results from Marketing Survey

Lucky Larry – Dr. Larry Kutina, DDS, is shown above accepting the $250 Chamber Gift Certificate from Board president Mark Mingenback in mid-September. Dr. Kutina was randomly selected out of the pool of submitted surveys as the contest winner. Kutina’s dental office is located at 3820 6th St., Great Bend.

On September 15, 2008, the Board of Directors collected and reviewed a large pool of responses to the Chamber’s member feedback survey sent out earlier in September. Member responses were not only positive and encouraging, but were very insightful as to how the Great Bend Chamber of Commerce & Economic Development can better serve local businesses.

“I was pleased to learn that so many of our Chamber members provided their feedback on our current member services and on the direction our Board of Directors has taken us,” Chamber president and CEO Jan Peters says. “In addition, our members gratefully acknowledged the hard work and dedication of our professional staff whose efforts continue to grow our organization.”

The brief but comprehensive survey sent out at the beginning of September was an attempt by the Chamber of Commerce & Economic Development Board of Directors to garner feedback as to what programs are most important to the members. Currently, the Great Bend Chamber of Commerce & Economic Development offers countless services to its members in an effort to promote and improve the business climate in Great Bend. Out of all of these services, members were asked to vote on the six they felt were the most important to their business.

The most highly rated service is the Chamber’s networking opportunities such as Chamber Coffees and Business After Hours. Following closely behind is the Chamber’s efforts in Economic Development and business recruitment and retention. Ranked third are Chamber-related events such as the Annual Banquet, the Big Bend Bike Rally, the Gary Gore Memorial Golf Tournament, Kids Ag Day, and the 3i Show. The last three programs members rated include traditional marketing through the Outlook Business Journal, e-marketing through weekly e-mail Updates and the Chamber web site, and finally the Chamber membership directory that is available in a printed format and also on the Chamber’s web site, www.greatbend.org.

"It was interesting to learn that networking opportunities were the most valued service that we provide," Chamber member services director Lori Waters said. "We make it easy for any member business to showcase their products and services through Chamber Coffees and Business After Hours events. I’m glad to know that our members value these opportunities."

Members were also asked about potential involvement with future Chamber services and committees. One of the prospective services that members were asked about was customized web pages on the Chamber’s Web site. These static web pages, once implemented, would offer businesses that don’t have the time or resources to maintain a web site the ability to do so very inexpensively. Even businesses who already have a web site can take advantage of the extra coverage it would give them. “We will definitely consider implementing these static web pages in the near future,” Chamber board of directors president Mark Mingenback says. “More and more, people are looking to the internet to find information. These pages would allow member businesses to get their information out there.”

In addition to answering these specific questions, members were given the opportunity to provide their opinion on the Chamber’s services. While some of the comments received were just friendly reminders of the services that our members enjoy the most, many contained fresh new ideas and constructive criticism that will definitely be taken into consideration in the upcoming year. “We thrive on feedback from our members,” Mingenback says. “Without our members, our organization would cease to exist. It is our job to make sure the Chamber is adequately satisfying their needs.”

With the suggestions received during this marketing outreach, the Board plans to choose the most pertinent and attainable goals to reach within the next year. “Our goal is that every member is presented with the opportunity to share his or her opinion on the services provided by the Chamber,” Mingenback says. “It is important that we are always operating with open ears and an open mind.”

Members may provide their unique opinion about the Chamber’s services at any time by emailing Rachel Mawhirter at rmawhirter@greatbend.org.

“Evident Success”

“The current staff is the most friendly and helpful group for several years. They are a good ‘front door’ for our community.”
– Barry Bowers, Holste & Bowers

“The weekly e-mail has been a very useful reminder of things that are going on. Since we are a non-profit with a limited advertising budget, the chance to get our news out to Chamber members has been immensely valuable.”
– Karen Neuforth, Barton County Arts Council

“The Great Bend Chamber of Commerce is a great asset to our community. It has helped our business in numerous ways.”
– Staci Bownes, Becker Tire & Treading

“I am duly impressed with the work that goes into the functions put on by the Chamber. The variety of social and professional functions that are put on speak of an incredible effort that few chambers that I've seen would got to the trouble to produce. I feel very fortunate to be a member.”
– Taber Stephenson, Stephenson Construction

“I've noticed some very positive changes with the Great Bend Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development in the past couple of years. I think the key to continued success is to be proactive, innovative and forward thinking.”
– Kala Steffan, Barton Community College