On November 21, 2022, the Covington Chamber Board of Directors unanimously approved changes to our bylaws which were last amended on June 27, 2019 and ratified by membership on August 8, 2019.

​The following is a summary of the bylaws changes unanimously approved by the Covington Chamber Board of Directors on November 21, 2022. See marked up version for exact changes and reasons for the revisions.
 
Overall changes

• Correction of minor spelling, punctuation and grammatical errors (e.g., double commas, extra spaces, etc.)

 
Article I – Membership

• Corrected and clarified wording, changing “Non-Profits” to “Nonprofit Organizations.”

 
Article II – Membership Meetings

• Section 1. Removed the word “Election” from “Annual Election Meeting.”
• Section 2. Changed monthly meetings to quarterly meetings to be consistent with our actual practice.

 
Article IV – Officers

• Treasurer: Changed “approve the financial statements” to “accept.”
• Past Chair: Corrected spelling from “existing” to “exiting.”

 
Article V – Management

• Changed “meetings held on an annual basis of the board” to “meetings in one calendar year” for clarity.

 
Article VI – Election of Directors and Officers

• Made substantive changes in Sections 1, 2 and 3 to streamline the election process, ensure the board of directors’ leadership trajectory, and protect board culture vulnerabilities to more closely align the process with industry peers and best practices. See marked up bylaws for specific changes.

 
Article X – Amendments

• Revised for clarity: added “of members present at any membership meeting called for that purpose and/or by electronic ballot.”

To view the bylaws changes unanimously approved by the Covington Chamber board of directors at their November 21, 2022 meeting, download the file below.

​Per our current bylaws, the bylaws may be amended by a simple majority vote of the members of the Board of Directors. Board action amending the Bylaws must be ratified by a simple majority vote of members present at any membership meeting called for that purpose and/or by electronic ballot. 

To comply with our bylaws, we will hold the ratification vote at the May 11, 2023 Networking Luncheon and Membership Meeting. Designated voting members in good standing who are present at the May 11, 2023 meeting will be able to vote by paper ballot. Electronic voting has not yet been approved. Each member only has one designated voting representative, so only one vote per member will be accepted. A simple majority of designated voting members is all that is needed to ratify the bylaws amendments as presented.

If you have any questions in advance of that meeting, please contact executive director Dana Neuts at info@covingtonchamber.org or board chair Bridget O'Connor at boconnor@redcanoecu.com. ​

​Joining a business membership organization like the Covington Chamber of Commerce may seem like an added expense when you're starting out or facing economic challenges, but it can provide the support your business needs to grow and thrive.
Here are three reasons why investing in a chamber membership is a smart move:

1.  Networking
Building a strong network is a great way to raise the profile of your business and capture new contacts, leads, and customers over time. The Covington Chamber of Commerce offers a range of networking events, attended by businesses in the region each month. While you don't have to be a member to attend, members save on the cost. For example, while our Third Thursday Happy Hours are free to everyone, members pay $5 less at our monthly luncheons than non-members, saving $60 per year.
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2.  Marketing Opportunities
A Covington Chamber membership also offers a range of promotional opportunities for members, helping them raise their profile, target new prospects or markets, and capture leads. One of our most popular and high-value benefits is advertising in our Covington Community and Business Guide. Members receive half off so instead of $1,050 for a half-page ad, they pay only $525. This guide is widely distributed throughout the region. We also have a wide range of sponsorship opportunities, starting at $100.
 
3.  Website Marketing
Each Covington Chamber member gets a free listing on our website with an option to upgrade, starting at $25. We also have online advertising opportunities and member-to-member offers. Members who contribute at the $750 level or above are also listed on our Good Work Fund page, giving them extra visibility.
 
Starting at $300 a year, Covington Chamber memberships are a great investment, giving our members access to networking, advertising and promotional advertising opportunities. Learn more about how a Covington Chamber membership can help your business grow today! 

The Covington Chamber of Commerce and the City of Covington are partnering to host the fourth Covington Makers’ Market on Saturday, April 29, 2023 (11 a.m. to 4 p.m.) at Real Life Church. The outdoor event will showcase small businesses, specifically local makers, bakers, creators, artists and artisans. In addition to 40+ vendor booths, this popular community event will feature live entertainment from Sarah Jolk and Hannah Z of EmpowerMe Arts and Tears of Victory, kids’ activities, and food and drink trucks.
 
“We hosted three Makers’ Markets last year, and they were so much fun! We loved supporting  small businesses and providing a free family-friendly event for the community,” said Dana Neuts, executive director of the Covington Chamber.
 
“We are excited to partner with the Covington Chamber on these markets. The community has always wanted these types of events, but the City hasn’t had the capacity to do them beyond the other events we already host,” added Karla Slate, marketing and communications manager for the City of Covington.
 
The day kicks off at 11 a.m. and wraps up at 4 p.m. The itinerary for the day includes:

• Welcome by Mayor Jeff Wagner and Pastor Steve Murray, 11:15 a.m.
• Live music from Sarah Jolk and Hannah Z of EmpowerMe Arts, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Live music from Tears of Victory, 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m.
• Giveaways throughout the day

 
This event is made possible with the support of Covington Chamber partners, sponsors and members including the City of Covington, Real Life Church, Real Kids Learning, Weatherly Inn, Republic Services, Smith Brothers Farms, Jean Wall Insurance, Covington Water District, Stephanie Hunziker Real Estate, Ristrettos Coffee and Wine, Team Marti, Cosmic Bottles, Nikki’s Restaurant & Lounge, VCA Covington Animal Hospital,  Katherine’s Beauty Bar and SpotOn.

Lately, we've been getting questions about the level of commitment required of our members and how a member can get the most value for their membership investment. 

In terms of commitment, we all have busy lives, so there are no requirements or firm time commitments in terms of time, events or participation. We tell our members to consider their goals for joining (e.g., networking, community, visibility) and align their participation with those goals.

For example, if real estate agent Suzie Smith joined to network and network, then we'd recommend she attend one of our networking events like our monthly luncheons, Third Thursday Happy Hour or our new coffee meet-and-greets when she can.

To get the most value out of a Covington Chamber membership, we suggest the following:

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A Covington (Washington) Chamber membership starts at $300, plus a one-time joining fee of $30. Sign up today to see how we can support you and your business!

​Since opening, this business has operated with integrity while making the Covington community a focus. This nominee supports other small businesses with local highlights and events and is a wonderful addition to our city. From hosting dog rescue organizations and Thursday night markets to live entertainment and local musicians, Cosmic Bottles is always striving to make a positive impact in Covington. Congratulations to Brogan Adams and Cosmic Bottles!
 

​This business has such a special presence in Covington. They have delicious food, a great team, and they provide meals to the Kent and Covington communities each Christmas. These free meals are so needed and so appreciated by those who receive them. Nana’s story, in addition to the caring and kindness of family and staff, exemplify why they are the Spirit of Covington. Congratulations to the Minor family and Nana’s Southern Kitchen!

Our advocacy goal for 2023 is to increase our participation and effort to have a greater impact. Here is a simplified list of the partners we work with and our activities.

To date, our advocacy includes the following:

If you have any questions or would like to get involved with our advocacy efforts or our Government Affairs committee, please contact executive director Dana Neuts at info@covingtonchamber.org. 

Jeff Wagner, current Mayor of Covington, has filed with the Washington State Public Disclosure Commission to run for re-election for Covington City Council, Position #7.

Wagner was first elected to the Covington City Council in November 2003, and is currently serving his fifth term on the council. He continues to work locally and regionally to bring awareness to Covington, work with state and county leaders for funding and partnering for local issues.

When asked, Wagner stated, “Our city means a lot to me. I've invested a lot of time and energy in helping to build our community and I wish to see our city continue to thrive both economically and as a great place to live, work and play.  I believe that being involved, not only locally, but regionally, is essential to make sure Covington is heard and that we are at the table for the future of our City, our County and our State. It is not just about us, it is about all of us working together, forming lasting partnerships for the common good.”

“Since being elected to the Covington City Council in 2004, I have continued to focus on developing more activities and parks for our youth, developing a balance between economic development and the needs of our citizens, and to continue addressing the transportation issues of Covington, all while continuing to pursue a balanced budget for our city. And most recently, building a process for our public safety to reassure that we strive to have an even stronger presence in our City for our residents and businesses”
Currently, Wagner is the Municipal Manager with Republic Services. Prior to this, he was a financial advisor for eight years and previously managed Wagner’s, a family business in Covington, for 17 years.

He has been a resident of Covington since 1988. While living here, he has been active in numerous organizations including: President of Covington Days, Covington Kiwanis Club, Covington Merchants Association, Covington Community Council, Chair of the Covington Chamber of Commerce, as well as the co-chair of the Covington Economic Development Council. He has also been involved with Reach Out Covington, Children's Miracle Network Telethon and was voted Kiwanian of the Year in 1993. Previously, he has also sat on the King County Flood Control District Advisory Committee, Kent Chamber Board of Directors, King County Growth Management Planning Council and was chosen as the 2014 Covington Citizen of the Year.

He most recently served as Treasurer of the Sound Cities Association Board of Directors, Board Member of Covington Chamber of Commerce, and a Board Member of the Covington Domestic Violence Task Force.
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Currently, he is proud to serve on the following:

• Communities in Schools Kent, Board Member
• Sound Cities Association Event Committee
• Kent Kiwanis Club
• Puget Sound Regional Council, Executive Board

Jeff and his wife Michele enjoy living in Covington and look forward to continuing to raise their family in this great city. Covington -- Growing Towards Greatness!

​It’s time to vote for your favorite Covington businesses in our annual Business of the Year awards. We are presenting awards for Business of the Year and the Spirit of Covington award. Any business or individual who was a Covington Chamber member in 2022 is eligible for nomination, and anyone 18 or older can nominate a business. You do not need to be a member to nominate a Covington Chamber member for one of the awards.

If you are nominating a business or an individual member, please tell us why you are nominating them (50 words minimum). What makes them different or special? How have they served the community or their customers/clients in 2022 that makes them deserving of the award?
 
We’ll collect nominations from Jan. 31 through Feb. 16, 2023 (firm deadline), and the Covington Chamber board of directors will select the winners at their Feb. 23 board meeting. Winners will be announced at our March 9 networking luncheon!

Written by Erica Miller, EDM Consulting LLC

Have you been overwhelmed and unclear about what your business plan is?  Many business owners start a business because they are passionate about a specific product or service and want to share it with the world. However, you may not be too interested in the “business” of running a business. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) are the quickest way to take your business plan from unclear to strategic. Once your tracking system is in place, you can bring clarity and more hours to your day.
 
KPIs are the barometer for your business forecast. You must keep a constant and consistent eye on specific trends. Always know your numbers if you do nothing else as a business owner. Continue reading to learn the why, what, and how of KPI tracking. Let’s jump in!
 
Why should you track your numbers?

Tracking key performance indicators helps to measure your success and identify areas that need improvement. You can identify trends and quickly see areas of opportunity and growth. Once you have tracked your data for several months, you can make knowledgeable decisions on your next steps.

Tracking your data also provides a resume for your business. You can easily pull out the highlights of your accomplishments.  Share these insights with your clients to help validate your brand and skills.  These numbers can also be used when seeking financing or grant opportunities. Save yourself the time and stress of scrambling for this information by keeping it in one place.

Finally, keep yourself accountable to your goals.  You can’t see the areas you are succeeding or falling short in if you're not keeping track. Celebrate all the accomplishments and milestones as you go to keep yourself motivated and empowered to serve your clients.

What should you track?

You must be specific when it comes to tracking your business data. The primary foundation of tracking data should be your goals. Begin by creating SMART (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Timebound) goals.  Any measurable goals should be tracked. Here are some examples of measurable goals: expenses, revenues, profit margins, conversion rate, reviews, cost of goods sold, inventory turnover ratios, social media stats, and website analytics. Use these as a guide and then get more specific based on your industry. The more specific, the more reliable the data will be. Once you have the goal for the overall year, you must also set specific goals for each time point (daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly).

How should you track it?

Systems are vital to the proper and accurate tracking of your business data. First, you must know where you will get your numbers from and set a schedule for when you will collect the information. The platforms used to run your business should offer a reporting feature where you can collect the information. Compile all the information using a spreadsheet program, like Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets. For your finances, you can use an online service like QuickBooks, and don’t forget the golden rule, keep your business and personal expenses separate. The spreadsheet should include columns for each Key performance indicator, including a total, an average, and a comparison to previous years if you have that information available. For information like conversion, you will need to track separate data sets and then include a field for the ratio—for example, sales conversion = total number of transactions/total clients.

Set a date and time that you will collect your data. For example, you could always plan for the 1st business day of each month before opening for business. This will allow you focused time to gather and review the information.

I’ve tracked everything; now what?

Now that you have accurately and consistently compiled your data, you must put it to use!  This is the most essential part of tracking your KPIs.  Tracking without analysis is a waste of your valuable time.  Review your data and ask yourself analytical questions to help plan your next steps. Here are some helpful questions to ask:

When reviewing your profits, if they are lower than you planned, ask:

• Were my expenses within budget?
• Did I meet my sales goal?
• Was traffic slower for a specific reason?

When reviewing your client traffic, if it was lower than you planned, ask:

• What did I do differently than last month to cause the decrease?
• What’s the source of my leads?
• Were there any significant events in the month that could have decreased traffic?

The list could go on, but the primary point is to ask as many questions as possible and be persistent in finding the cause and the solution.

Once you have completed your analysis, you will have a clear action plan. You can be confident in your numbers and the actions taken to achieve and maintain your success!
If the task of tracking your Key Performance Indicators sounds daunting, you are not alone. I’m here to help; I have a proven system to set goals and create a process to track and analyze them.

About Erica Miller, EDM Consulting, LLC
My mission is to empower ambitious business owners to reach their full potential by building systems and processes to increase their profit and productivity. My clients include cake pop makers, skin care companies, healthcare specialists, and more. I empower clients to clarify their goals using my proven system of creating a profit-driven strategy.  I used over 14 years of customer service and business management experience to create this system. My services include strategic planning, data analysis, process development, sales management, leadership training, and employee development. Learn more about Erica and EDM Consulting LLC online.