TriCounty Area Chamber launches Chamber Chat podcast
Initiative to allow members to tell their stories, expand their reach
LOWER POTTSGROVE >> The TriCounty Area Chamber of Commerce has added something new for members — a weekly podcast.
The podcast — to be called Chamber Chat — was introduced by Bill Vitiello, business development officer at The Victory Bank, during March 7’s membership breakfast.
“It ties into the message of the chamber and how the chamber listens to what we the membership can offer to the chamber,” Vitiello said.
Vitiello told members that he had approached chamber President Eileen Dautrich in December with the idea of doing a podcast, adding that she was receptive to the idea.
“We’re very excited; this is a cool, out of the box idea for us,” she said.
Podcasting, according to Vitiello, is an audio program that is downloaded and streamed through an audio device, using a web application.
“Podcasting has grown 157 percent over the last few years, and is actually outpacing video right now,” he said. “You don’t need to be tethered to anything to listen to a podcast. You can be working out, in your car or mowing the lawn, whatever you need to do. You don’t have to physically be there and looking at the screen.”
Each new episode of Chamber Chat will be 45 minutes or less and is slated to be released on Tuesdays, according to Vitiello, who will assist the chamber with the technical aspects of creating the podcast.
Each episode will feature a current chamber member as a guest — telling that company’s story. Vitiello added that the podcast can also feature business topics and subject matter experts talking about specific business challenges.
Because the podcast is available on nine platforms, Vitiello said it presents members with an opportunity to “share with their network and reach a larger audience,” including outside the market.
Episode No. 1 features interviews with TriCounty Area Chamber staff. Episode No. 2 was recorded at the conclusion of the membership breakfast, and features three volunteer chamber members. Members can sign up to be part of future podcasts.
“What’s nice about this podcast is that it’s not my podcast — it’s not the chamber’s podcast. This is your podcast,” Vitiello told the members.
“We look forward to reaching people in a different way. And it really, truly is your opportunity,” Dautrich told the membership.
Chamber Chat can be accessed via the following platforms:
Anchor — https://anchor. fm/tcacc
Apple podcasts — https://lnkd.in/gY346Ei
Google podcasts — https://lnkd.in/ggG2T3X
Spotify — https://lnkd.in/gKj_qAN
Breaker — https://lnkd.in/gUwNuvJ
Overcast — https://lnkd.in/gSTQVw5
Pocketcast — https://pca.st/0H0b
RadioPublic — https://lnkd.in/gyr3Waj
In other business, Dautrich officially outlined for members the transition of former Building Industries Exchange (BIE) members into the TriCounty Area Chamber. That decision was made Feb. 26 when Building Industries Exchange members voted to dissolve the 62-year-old organization and combine its membership with the chamber’s.
Christine Elliott, of Whitegate Contracting and former secretary to the board of directors of the Building Industries Exchange, was on hand to talk about the transition and the organization.
“For many years our group was able to be strong and sustain itself,” she said, adding that as networking and the industry changed, it became more difficult to sustain the Building Industries Exchange.
“So we started looking for another way to stay relevant and vibrant and also expand what we do and meet other people,” Elliott explained. “We’re really grateful to now be formally part of the TriCounty Chamber,” Elliott said, adding that she has been a member of the chamber for about 12 years, carrying memberships in both organizations.
Dautrich said the chamber will form a segmented group for the former Building Industries Exchange members and current chamber members in similar industries.
“They’ll have an immediate place to network and reconnect to each other and to connect to members that we already have in those same industries,” she said.
Following the breakfast, held at Sunnybrook in Lower Pottsgrove, chamber members had the opportunity to network and gather information about the chamber and its member benefits and Leadership Tri-County, refer a business and take advantage of “one-day only” discounts to upcoming chamber events.