This spring and summer, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Greece Regional Chamber of Commerce’s business networking events, meetings and presentations for members and the general public were converted to virtual events on the Chamber’s Zoom platform.
Several Greece Regional Chamber business members were featured in virtual meetings and networking events, including WellNow Urgent Care, Peregrine Senior Living at Crimson Ridge, Spectrum Sounds, and The Village at Mill Landing. Attendees gave brief overviews of their companies and leaders from the featured business gave in-depth presentations on their organizations with an opportunity for Q&A. The events have provided important opportunities for the Chamber and attendees to learn how others in business community are faring and coping during the pandemic and to express support in a variety of ways for each other.
The Greece Chamber has also hosted multiple virtual meetings with regional, state, and federal officials to share information of key resources and sources of funding for businesses impacted by COVID-19 and to advocate for business and community needs, especially during this difficult time. The Chamber’s virtual meeting guests have included Virginia Smith of the U. S. Small Business Administration, who presented a three-part series on Economic Injury Disaster Loan Funds and Payroll Protection Program Funds; Robert Duffy and Vincent Esposito, representing New York State and charged by Governor Andrew Cuomo with advising on, and coordinating the reopening of, the Rochester/Finger Lakes Region; U. S. Congressman Joseph Morelle; and New York State Senator Joseph Robach, Dean of the New York State Delegation.
The Chamber offered and continues to offer webinars on topics of special relevance such as health insurance, supplemental health insurance, financial planning, PPE equipment and local suppliers, and digital marketing – and has compiled resource lists of member businesses in a variety of key industries that have been pivotal, including the accounting/finance, insurance, financial planning, restaurant/catering, security and technology industries.
The Chamber provided expertise to its membership through webinars led by business members with expertise in these areas, including Security 101; KI Consulting; Aflac; FidelisCare; Parker Law PLLC, which offered a detailed presentation on navigating Community Medicare benefits, presented by Principal Attorney Lori Parker; and Tully Rinckey PLLC, which led a session on being ready to reopen for business presented by Attorneys Robert Rock and Eugene Welch.
In addition, the Greece Regional Chamber of Commerce hosted multiple events organized by the Chamber’s WIN Committee, currently chaired by A Christina Breen-Hale State Farm Agency, including a Virtual Trivia Night led and sponsored by RAC for Women, featuring My Wine and Cheese Bar, and two events led and sponsored by A Christina Breen-Hale State Farm Agent (also with trivia competitions and prizes), both featuring local Historian/Author Maureen Whalen of the Greece Historical Society: one focused on Whalen’s new book, A History of Seneca Park Zoo; the other focused on lesser known Rochester Suffragist Jean Brooks Greenleaf, who teamed up with Susan B. Anthony in fighting for women’s rights – a timely presentation as this year marks the 100-year anniversary of the women’s right to vote.
“The Greece Regional Chamber is proud to have been able to continue to provide multiple ways for business and community members to stay connected and informed since the inception of the COVID-19 pause and pandemic,” said Chamber President/CEO Sarah Lentini. “Never has it been more important for us to be of service and we’ve been working round the clock to ensure that our members and residents have access to key resources and to each other, albeit virtually. We are looking forward to returning to in-person events, with the required and appropriate precautions, as the region reopens fully.”
For information on attending future Greece Regional Chamber of Commerce events, visit www.GreeceChamber.org, call 585.944.5800 or email Info@GreeceChamber.org.
