Chamber President Marty Chapman (left) talks Putnam business with Heidi Cook (BB&T) and Rotarian John Finlayson.

February 24, 2009

The Putnam Chamber of Commerce celebrates thirty years of service with a new perspective and purpose, President Marty Chapman told Putnam Rotarians today.

In 1979 when some thirty business leaders met at Brunetti's to set the wheels in motion, the area was a bedroom community for Huntington and Charleston. "The entire working population split every morning," said Chapman.

Putnam today is a business community in its own right with three to five percent growth every year. The county has developed five thriving business parks with new companies already looking to move into the area.

Chapman represents his members at all sorts of meetings -- county, state and municipal, including sixty days a year at the Legislature.

"You think what they do up there won't hurt," says Chapman, "but as a business person, it can kill you."

Business is factionalized at the state level. "Coal is making one deal. Timber, another. Manufacturing, another." With business pulling in different directions, special interest groups take advantage.

While Chapman lauded recent changes on business taxes and Workers Compensation, he said much remains to be done to encourage business development.

A big part of the Chamber's job is strong communication. "We get information out to our membership," he says. "Most business people don't have time to attend all the meetings." But when a show of interest is needed, the membership rallies to the call.

The Putnam Chamber has been strong because its membership responds quickly and decisively to calls for action.

"Most of our members don't want metro [government[," says Chapman."Putnam County is a good manager of public finances," but some neighboring jurisdictions seem to operate "a day away from bankruptcy."

The driving purpose of the Putnam Chamber, its president explained, "is to create an environment in which business can prosper and grow."

The Chamber, contrary to the understanding of many, is a free-standing organization, and not a government agency. Nor is it tied to the state or US Chamber of Commerce. "Our only support comes from member dues and program events."

While the Putnam Chamber has taken the lead in several projects of high visibility -- the upgrade of US 35 and the additional lane in the Teays Valley section of State Route 34 -- it also supports the community in numerous other endeavors. These include leadership training sessions for business leaders and a small business task force for exchange of ideas and mutual problem solutions.

The Chamber's education committee has sponsored several business symposiums among local high schools, and participation in the portfolio reviews required for all Putnam students are conducted largely by members of the Chamber.