At its inception, the Green River Entrepreneur Club was met with enthusiasm and great attendance at monthly meetings. The dynamic and dialogue amongst the regular membership was enriching for the entrepreneurial climate for the seven-county GRADD area. However, attendance dwindled as the meetings continued. When we examined the attendance at each of the meetings, we noticed some trends that illustrated the need for outreach throughout the GRADD Region: 70% of attendees were from Daviess County, 17% from Henderson County, 7% from Ohio County, 3% from Union County, and 3% from Webster County. The pressing question that arises from these statistics is simple: How do we tailor the existing Club to aid and assist entrepreurs in each of the GRADD counties? After careful deliberation, we feel that a new incarnation of the club will allow for expanded membership, a diverse range of events, and, ultimately, provide opportunities for all GRADD citizens to achieve their business goals.
The new structure of the Entrepeneur Club involves a two-tiered approach. Our goal is to establish chapters of the Green River Entrepreneur Club in each of the GRADD counties. We hope that each chapter will include local civic and business leaders, young people who are eager to learn about the business world, aspiring entrepreneurs, Chamber of Commerce members, and the like. Moreover, the club chapters themselves will be autonomous and individual to each county. For example, the preference of one chapter may involve monthly lunch meetings that include a speaker. Other chapters may prefer a more relaxed approach that evolves with each meeting. That is the beauty of this type of organization: each club will embody the individuality of the local community! Once these club chapters are established, the existing Green River Entrepreneur Club (operating out of the GRADD Office) will organize and facilitate larger events that bring each of the chapters together for networking, larger speaking events, learning seminars, etc.
Therefore, GRADD is pleased to announce that--with the invaluable assistance of the Ohio County Chamber of Commerce--we will hold our first organizational meeting of the Ohio County Chapter of the Green River Entrepreneur Club on Thursday, March 11, 12:00 p.m. at the Ohio County Chamber Office (1350 Clay Street, Hartford, KY). This meeting will be a strategy session to define the direction of the Ohio County Chapter. We are in the process of planning the organization of additional chapters in other GRADD counties, and will have news on that front very soon!
We hope to see you on the 11th! Please do not hesitate to contact me at joeberry@gradd.com or at (270) 926-4433 if you have any questions.
I'm looking forward to meeting and working with all of you!
--Joe Berry
About the Green River Entrepreneur Club
- Green River Entrepreneur Club
- Owensboro, Green River Area, Kentucky, United States
- The Green River Entrepreneur Club is open to all business people and entrepreneurs who desire to increase their potential through entrepreneurial endeavors. The mission of the Entrepreneur Club (and this companion blog) is to provide a forum for entrepreneurs throughout the seven-county Green River Area Development District (GRADD) region to network with one another; facilitate educational opportunities through topical discussion, speaking and social events; and to cultivate, develop, and sustain local entrepreneurship. It is our hope that a vibrant, innovative, and passionate entrepreneurial climate for the region will create greater economic opportunities for GRADD citizens. The Green River Entrepreneur Club Blog belongs to you, the citizens of the GRADD Region. We encourage and welcome your ideas, comments, and enthusiasm. Let's work together to make GRADD an "entrepreneurial oasis"!
