by David Chapman
Staff Writer
When he was installed as chair of the Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce in January, Mike Hightower noted that one of his goals as leader in 2009 was to help strengthen and focus on the importance of the organization’s nine area councils.
He reaffirmed that position and other points of Chamber goals in person to more than 40 members of the Downtown Council on Friday during its bimonthly meeting in the Aetna Building.
“There’s 4,200 members of the Chamber and 39,000 businesses,” said Hightower, “but area councils are the heart and soul of the Chamber of Commerce.”
Hightower went on to note that 93 percent of Chamber members are small business owners like many of those members who comprise the area councils – a huge difference from his early days in Jacksonville 52 years ago when many like him considered it the “banking and insurance capital of the Southeast.”
“We’re no longer that,” he said, “but we’re a great city of small business.”
Even being the second largest Chamber in the U.S., Hightower told members there is still progress to be made to get where the Chamber wants to be.
He also gave encouraging words to members regarding the current down economy.
“We’re going to get through this,” he said, then added: “We’ve all been dealt a hand and we’re all going to have to re-engineer how we do business.”
Hightower noted that council members could do something as simple as make a suggestion and give input on how the Chamber can improve, such as making time to reconnect with vendors and clients.
“Building strong personal relationships is not just about the good times,” he advised. “It’s also about the bad times.”
In addition to his committment and praise of the area councils, Hightower spoke of his other two priorities he established when he became Chamber chair: a dedication to the area military and their services and a commitment to helping the leaders of tomorrow in programs like IMPACTjax.
“The military provides a $7 billion economic boom to the area,” he said, “and that’s money that doesn’t fluctuate with the economy.”
For IMPACTjax, it’s about getting young professionals on track quicker to compete with companies from other countries – India, Russia, China, Brazil – that are the main competition for U.S. business now.
To do so, he’s asking for other Chamber members to step up and act as mentors to the younger professionals.
“Share with them the do’s and dont’s,” he said. “They’re still going to make mistakes along the way but by learning it can take years off the curve and will help take this city to the next level.”
For Downtown Council President Jepp Walter, having Hightower speak to the council was beneficial.
“He’s definitely been involved in the area councils like ours,” said Walter. “He’s helped us a lot and knows a lot about Jacksonville ... from day one he’s had our interests in mind.”
356-2466