Grow Business in Your Backyard

A Chamber of Commerce is an organization made up of thousands of leaders from businesses and community groups right in our backyards. They work together to sustain a supportive business and networking environment in which Management Consultants can survive and thrive. Chamber membership through active participation provides opportunities to network with key business leaders and actual decision makers. They also provide resources for Consultants to excel in every type of business segment and climate.

Many Chambers have made significant changes to their membership model in the last 5-10 years. As a result, they are often segmented by industry and offer many client generation points of contact through Boards and Committee engagements as well as dozens of programs. They don’t require significant travel, and for Consultants who also desire to "give back” the Chamber is an excellent vehicle to improve your communities and quality of life.

This month’s speaker will address the many ways in which Consultants can grow their practices through Chambers of Commerce in the Metropolitan area thereby influencing the business climate throughout the National Capital Region (NCR).

Our speaker this month is Ms. Laurie Wieder, President of the Prince William Regional Chamber of Commerce. This Chamber is the third largest in the Washington, DC metropolitan area and after the planned merger with the Manassas Chamber of Commerce it will be the largest Chamber in the entire region. Ms. Wieder is an innovator who has overseen the turnaround and 100% membership growth at The Region’s Chamber. She also has first hand knowledge of other Chambers throughout the Metropolitan DC area including their leadership, practices, and how they compare to The Region’s Chamber. Her experience also provides examples for the future growth of The Institute of Management Consultants, National Capital Region.

Ms.Wieder has served as President of the Prince William Regional Chamber of Commerce since November 2000. Prior to her service as President she served on the U.S Chamber of Commerce as Director of Marketing, and worked as an independent management consultant for select Washington-based and International clients. In 1987, she received the American Society of Association Executives’ "Award for Excellence”.

Ms. Wieder serves on various Boards of Directors, including the Prince William Regional Chamber and the Virginia Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives, among others. Ms. Wieder is a graduate of the College of William & Mary in Virginia.