Working For & With Oak Ridge
The Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce offers a wide range of diverse initiatives and programs that cater to the needs of businesses and individuals in the community. The Chamber actively supports local businesses through its economic development efforts, providing resources, guidance, and networking opportunities to foster growth and success. It organizes business expos, workshops, and seminars that promote skill development, entrepreneurship, and innovation. The Chamber also plays a crucial role in advocating for the interests and concerns of its members, ensuring their voices are heard by local government entities. In addition to business-focused initiatives, the Chamber emphasizes community involvement through various programs such as volunteer drives, fundraisers, and social service projects. By engaging with both businesses and the community at large, the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce works tirelessly to enhance the overall well-being and prosperity of the region.
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Upcoming Events
Our in-person Small Business Networking is your chance to promote your business to about 25 other businesses in a round-robin introduction. Be sure to bring plenty of business cards and information about your services! We gather in our Joyce Conference Room on the second Thursday of each month from 8-9AM. Attendees have the opportunity to present a 1-2 minute elevator speech, enjoy refreshments, hear from our sponsor and our featured business of the month, and enjoy open networking. In the end, it's all about the networking! Stay as long as you'd like and make new contacts while renewing old ones.
Coffee & Commerce is a brand-new networking event, to be held on the first Tuesday of each month from 8-9 AM at alternating host locations. This event is free and exclusive to Chamber members. Attendees can expect light breakfast, networking, and a short program mid-event. We’re excited to foster more opportunities that will: • Strengthen connections between members • Give the host a chance to showcase their business • Keep members informed with high-profile guest speaker briefings • Give a restaurant/caterer Chamber member a business opportunity Visit our website calendar to register and learn who our monthly speakers and hosts will be! If you are a Chamber member interested in hosting a Coffee & Commerce (with space to accommodate 30+ attendees), contact events@orcc.org . (LINK TO C&C GUIDELINES)
Business After Hours is an informal quarterly networking event for business professionals to connect after work. We encourage our members to bring a guest, which can be a co-worker, client, or prospective Chamber member. Business After Hours is also a chance for the host location to showcase their business, services, and facilities to our Chamber community. Attendees can expect a word from the host, complementary refreshments, beverages, and a chance to win door prizes! You’ll want to make sure to bring plenty of business cards! Visit our website calendar to RSVP! Recent hosts have included the American Museum of Science & Energy, The Backyard, Holiday Inn Express, and Calhoun’s of Oak Ridge! If you are a Chamber member interested in hosting a Business After Hours (with space to accommodate 30+ attendees), contact events@orcc.org.
The Oak Ridge Human Resource Association, a separate nonprofit organization, has been merged into the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce and is re-forming as the Oak Ridge Human Resource Alliance. The new Alliance is led by a steering committee who are HR practitioners or closely associated with the same. This group will guide the programming of meetings and events, under the leadership of its new chairman, Angelia Myers with Express Employment Professionals. The annual membership of $40 will be continued, with funds being used to offset program costs and special projects. The hybrid lunch meetings are held on the first Thursday of each month, at the Chamber (1400 Oak Ridge Turnpike) or online via Zoom and will run from 11:30 AM to 1PM. There is a free in-person and free virtual option for registrants, but guests can choose to pay $15 for lunch to be included. Visit our website calendar to register and learn about monthly speakers and topics! Meeting sponsorships are also available at $75 per meeting. (LINK TO SPONSOR) (LINK TO REQUEST TO BE A GUEST SPEAKER)
We offer a quarterly opportunity to learn how to maximize your membership and hear more about our Chamber's current initiatives. During this event, you will meet our staff, briefly network with other members, learn about ways you can get involved, and see exactly how the chamber can help your business grow! This is ideal for new Chamber members, new employees of an existing Chamber member, or anyone who just needs a refresher on what's included in your membership. For a fun element, we offer mimosas and do a toast to your membership! 2024 Member Orientations : Dates and locations are to be determined, but the time frame will be 3:30-5PM. Visit our website calendar to RSVP!
The growing Nonprofit sector faces different challenges than for-profit businesses and we want to engage and support our nonprofit members and their staffs. We have recently developed a Nonprofit Council of local nonprofit executives that will guide our nonprofit initiatives moving forward. The first event series they’ve developed are Nonprofit Roundtables, to be held on a quarterly basis from 11:30-1PM at the Chamber. These roundtables will include catered lunch, a training component on trending nonprofit topics, and will ultimately foster connections among nonprofits in our community. This is a great chance for nonprofits to share brochures, business cards, upcoming events, current needs, and other pertinent information with those in attendance. Visit our website calendar to register and learn about quarterly speakers and topics!
In celebration of our 75 th anniversary, we are bringing back a fun team-building event intended to get everyone beyond the confines of the office environment. Members can enjoy quality networking time, make memories, and foster comradery with a round of competitive golf at our Chamber’s Golf Classic on May 20. To add to the experience, we’ll have celebrity guest and former football player Lee Smith joining us! (ADD LEE SMITH HEADSHOT AND SPONSOR LOGOS) Save the date and get your teams ready! Sponsorship opportunities are now available, and registration will be open by the end of January. (INSERT SPONSORSHIP FORM) Visit our website calendar to register for our event!
Visit our website calendar to register and learn about quarterly speakers and topics!
The Oak Ridge Chamber is proud to organize the City’s annual Christmas Parade, with the help of many City departments and volunteers. The event has grown each year, and now has more than 100 parade entries – everything from music, faith-based, youth groups, dance, animals, and business floats, many of which decorate in theme and/or to compete for one of the awards below. The 2024 Christmas Parade’s theme is “Home for the Holidays.” Although it’s not mandatory, you may use this theme to tell the story of your old home or your new home in Oak Ridge! Best part of all, parade entry is free! The Oak Ridge Christmas Parade is always held on the second Saturday of December, beginning at 6PM, along the Oak Ridge Turnpike. This year’s parade date is December 14, 2024.
The Oak Ridge Housing Tour is hosted by our Chamber’s Housing Committee to educate attendees on the housing options available, in addition to key attractions and resources that appeal to new residents. This event is ideal for human resource professionals, those involved in hiring new talent and/or relocation for local employers, and real estate agents. We want Oak Ridge to be the first choice for recommendation and consideration! This free tour includes catered breakfast at the Chamber, a guided motorcoach tour of many housing options in the City, and a lunch presentation with several special guests. Participants will have the opportunity to tour and hear from representatives of sponsoring apartment complexes and residential developments featured on the drive. Participants will also receive a bag containing literature and various promotional materials from sponsors and real estate agents. The 2024 Oak Ridge Housing Tour is scheduled for Friday, June 21 from 8 AM – 1PM. Space is limited! Visit our website calendar to register for our event!
