|
 |
Focus On Members
|
For all sizes
of members, invaluable networking, educational and marketing opportunities
are available through the RCGA. For companies that are just starting,
and others that are branching out, the RCGA helps members increase
their profitability, provides business contacts and exposure, and
offers resources on how to run and grow businesses more successfully.
Networking Opportunities
The RCGA’s Business After Hours networking events, informal
gatherings held at member companies, are a popular way to meet new
people. Promoted by KMOX Radio and St. Louis Commerce Magazine,
RCGA Business After Hours blends fun and business. RCGA members
also have the opportunity to purchase exhibit tables for a nominal
fee to present their products and services first-hand to other members
and guests. Business After Hours events during 2001 included those
hosted by the Family Arena in St. Charles, Crown Hotel at the Casino
Queen and the Southwestern Illinois Tourism and Convention Bureau,
The Westin St. Louis, Midwest BankCentre, Laclede’s Landing,
St. Louis Carousel at Faust Park by Saint Louis Events Magazine,
The Enclave at WingHaven, Edgewood Children’s Center, Westport
Conference Center by West Port Plaza and the Sheraton Westport Hotel,
and the Sheraton St. Louis City Center Hotel & Suites. Another
was hosted with the Creve Coeur/Olivette Chamber of Commerce at
the Creve Coeur Country Club. These events are often held in cooperation
with local chambers of commerce and other St. Louis area organizations,
which means RCGA members have an opportunity to expand their network
of business contacts.
Business Resources
Programs include the ever-popular Breakfast with the Gazelles series,
and other ongoing workshops to meet the identified needs of members
such as the St. Louis Opportunities Fair sponsored with the Small
and Disadvantaged Opportunity Committee of the Federal Executive
Board, the U.S. Small Business Administration and several local
businesses.
The RCGA is a co-sponsor with KMOX Radio of the St. Louis Speaker
Series presented by Maryville University. The current series, which
runs October 4, 2001, through April 25, 2002, features seven of
the world’s best-known personalities and offers insight into issues
and current events. The programs are held at Powell Symphony Hall.
This season’s speakers are Erin Brockovich, Walter Cronkite, Henry
Kissinger, Stephen Ambrose, Anna Quindlin, Carl Reiner, and Richard
Holbrooke.
RCGA Town Hall Forums feature nationally-known speakers who address
issues that impact the St. Louis Region. Donald J. Carty, chairman,
president & CEO, AMR Corporation and American Airlines, Inc., addressed
“The TWA/American Airlines Merger” to a sold-out crowd on February
15, 2001, just prior to the two airlines merging.
Above:
Don Carty, chairman, president and CEO of American Airlines shared
his thoughts and vision at an RCGA Town Hall Forum in February,
just prior to the merging of American Airlines and TWA.
Breakfast
with the Gazelles
Breakfast with the Gazelles - Programs are offered throughout
the year for members of younger, start-up, and growth-oriented
companies. Outstanding St. Louis-area entrepreneurs, “The
Gazelles,” share the secrets of how they successfully turned
their ideas and hard work into growth and profits. Co-sponsored
with the St. Louis Small Business Monthly in 2001,
the program is in its sixth year. Gazelles during 2001 were
Paul McKee, Jr.,P.E., chairman & CEO, Paric Corporation; Richard
Jensen, chairman, CEO & Managing Director; John Bachmann,
managing partner, Edward Jones; Robert Archibald, president,
Missouri Historical Society; and David Steward, chairman &
CEO, World Wide Technology.
Annual RCGA “Try St. Louis…Buy St. Louis” Golf Tournament
One of the region’s largest and most successful events—and
always a sell-out, the Annual RCGA “Try St. Louis…Buy St.
Louis” Golf Tournament is a great day of golf, prizes, networking
and fun. Sponsored by AT&T, Mercy Health Plans, and Marsh
Advantage America (a service of Seabury & Smith) in 2001,
the Thirteenth Annual attracted 300 players. The Fourteenth
Annual Tournament will be held Monday, June 17, 2002, at Whitmoor
Country Club. Hole sponsorships, contests, competition and
attendance prizes, raffle and auction items are all a part
of this successful annual St. Louis RCGA event.
Above:
Pat Whitaker, RCGA Vice Chairman Business Services President
Arcturis
Membership
RCGA members support the St. Louis region’s growth as well
as receive exclusive services, programs and discounts.
Supporting the growth and prosperity of our St. Louis region
is of utmost importance to all of the RCGA’s nearly 4,000
members. All of us subscribe to the RCGA’s key initiatives
and mission of creating jobs as well as sustaining an outstanding
quality of life. At the same time, the Membership Department
works to provide value-added benefits to RCGA members that
directly assist their companies.
Firms can offer competitive employee benefits thanks to programs
in which the RCGA has partnered with several suppliers to
provide substantial discounts. Simply by being RCGA members,
businesses can receive discounts on essentials, such as medical,
dental, life, and disability insurance, and wireless phone
services. These programs can help large and small businesses
alike, bringing them significant bottom-line savings.
In addition to receiving discounts, members may have the opportunity
to be featured in the RCGA’s monthly magazine, St. Louis Commerce,
a high-profile member publication that is a valuable source
of local business information. Each issue explores the 12-county
region’s economic development opportunities and highlights
the area’s growing companies and business successes. St. Louis
Commerce also includes RCGAction, a monthly newsletter that
highlights the programs available to members. All members
receive a free subscription to this publication.
Above:
Larry Katzen RCGA Vice Chairman Membership Managing Partner
Andersen
Leadership Circle
The RCGA’s Leadership Circle provides added membership value
by providing a unique and invigorating opportunities to connect
executives of small, medium and large companies to the broad
base of influential leaders in the St. Louis region.
Candidates for Leadership Circle are top ranking executives
who desire to network and build relationships with other top
ranking executives, and who also desire to be connected to
the inner workings of the St. Louis business community.
Leadership Circle members receive priority invitations to
key RCGA events and are encouraged to participate in exclusive
events such as:
Leadership Circle President’s Breakfasts—Leadership Circle
members are invited to join a select group of 10 to 15 of
their colleagues for an informal breakfast, hosted by the
Hyatt Regency–St. Louis, along with Dick Fleming, RCGA president
and CEO. Leadership Circle members discuss industry issues,
regional issues and receive an update on the RCGA’s initiatives.
New Business Reality Speaker Series—Held exclusively for Leadership
Circle members, this series features prominent national and
local speakers who address issues important to Leadership
Circle members. During this past year, presenters included
Anne Warhover, president & CEO, Downtown Denver Partnership;
Richard Baron, CEO, McCormack Baron & Associates; Tom Reeves,
Executive Director, Downtown Now!; and Mike Jones, Executive
Director, Greater St. Louis Regional Empowerment Zone.
St. Louis Speaker Series—Leadership Circle members receive
complimentary tickets to the Speaker Series, presented by
Maryville University and sponsored by KMOX Radio and the RCGA.
Before each Speaker Series, members are invited to a private
reception held at Powell Symphony Hall.
Leadership Circle members also receive priority invitations
to the annual RCGA Leadership Exchange, invitations to Town
Hall Forums and the RCGA Annual Meeting VIP receptions. In
addition to receiving priority and exclusive invitations to
events and programs, Leadership Circle members receive high-level
recognition for their support of the RCGA’s initiatives. Leadership
Circle members are highlighted in our annual report, Roster
and Membership Directory, and Annual Meeting. They are introduced
in Monday Memo and receive special recognition in St.
Louis Commerce Magazine through profiles and business
questions. Finally, the names of all Leadership Circle companies
are prominently displayed in the lobby of the RCGA and at
all membership events.
Annual RCGA Leadership Exchange
Since 1996, many of St. Louis’ regional business, civic and
elected leaders have participated in the St. Louis RCGA’s
Leadership Exchange. The trips are a unique opportunity for
the region’s leaders to learn from the experiences of other
regions as St. Louis continues to address the issues it faces;
facilitate peer-to-peer networking of civic leaders from various
regions; and encourage relationship-building among participants.
1999 was the inaugural year for the RCGA’s Regional Leadership
Summit, which provided more than 100 local leaders with the
opportunity to reflect on the experiences of prior Leadership
Exchange Trips; the Summit also examined “best practices”
in the St. Louis region.
To date, delegates have visited Cleveland, Seattle, Baltimore,
Denver and Toronto. The 2001 Leadership Exchange was scheduled
for Boston, Massachusetts September 30 through October 2.
Our nation’s tragic events of September 11 caused the postponement
of the trip to April 28, 29 and 30, 2002. |
|
|
|
|
|
-
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
-
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
-
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
-
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
-
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
|
