Events & Programs

Leverage ongoing programming offered by the Napa Chamber of Commerce to connect with peers, enhance your network, and gain valuable skills.

Make new connections and strengthen existing ties with hundreds of local business people at our informal Business After Hours networking events. Alternating Chamber member venues.

Leads Over Lunch is ideal for engaging, connecting, and collaborating. You’ll hear a relevant member presentation and have an opportunity to give your own introduction. Please bring your business cards and collateral. Leads Over Lunch is open to members & non-members.

The Napa Chamber of Commerce conducts Ribbon Cutting Ceremonies as a complimentary service to Chamber members at the Entrepreneur level and above. Ceremonies can be performed by themselves or as a part of an open house or grand opening. We bring the camera, official scissors, our enthusiastic ambassadors and, of course, the ribbon!

To qualify, you must meet at least one of the following criteria:

  • A member of the Napa Chamber of Commerce at the Entrepreneur level or above
  • Within your first year of opening your business
  • Within one year of purchasing an existing business
  • An existing business in a new business location or remodel

Chamber Responsibilities:

  • Send out a broadcast email to Ambassadors, Chamber Board Members, and dignitaries to notify them of your opening
  • Promote the event beforehand on NapaChamber.com, on our Event Calendar, blog, and social media
  • Provide the giant scissors and ribbon
  • Attend the event and take pictures
  • Supply framed photo and piece of the ribbon for you to display
  • Share the event with a photo in the blog and social media

Chamber Ambassadors and a Chamber staff member attend ribbon cutting ceremonies on behalf of the Chamber Members. The Mayor, City Council, Chamber Board and President are also invited, as their schedules allows.

Member’s Responsibilities:

  • Coordinate a date and time with the Director of Programs and Engagement well in advance to avoid conflicts. The best date and time to schedule a Ribbon Cutting is right after end of business day, Monday–Thursday. We have found that weekends are difficult to attend for most people and therefore, we do not encourage Ribbon Cuttings on weekends.
  • Invite neighboring businesses and community.
  • Provide refreshments for those in attendance — this is entirely up to you. Great creative! We are happy to brainstorm with you.
  • Prepare an agenda and anything you might like to say (see below).
  • Provide background information on your company ahead of time to those who are speaking so they can prepare remarks.

HOW IT WORKS. Your agenda could be something like this…

  1. Welcome guests.
  2. Introduction of Chamber Representatives in attendance, dignitaries, and Chamber staff.
  3. Introduction of the owner, president, manager, company rep.
  4. Brief congratulatory remarks by dignitaries or Chamber CEO (1-3 minutes).
  5. Cut the ribbon, usually done by dignitaries and head company rep. Some choose to have all employees do the cutting.
  6. Thank you for attending – by a company rep.
  7. Intro on the company – done by a company rep. Explain what you do if a new business, or if a second location or a move, explain your hours. Introduce your staff.
  8. Offer everyone to come take a look at your facility or tour if appropriate.

Things to keep in mind:

  • The further ahead you contact us, the more publicity we can provide.
  • Weekend grand openings (including Friday after 5:00pm) are harder for the Chamber to draw attendance to than weekday events. We strongly discourage them.
  • Keep in touch with the Chamber as your plans progress.
  • If you’ve asked for RSVPs, people will typically wait until the last minute, or show up without RSVPing.
  • If parking is an issue, please let us know where you would like guests to park so we can inform them in advance.

Contact Philippa Perry about your upcoming Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at 707.254.1145, or email at [email protected].

The presenter, Richard Rybicki, is an employment attorney who advises management on labor and employment-law issues throughout Northern California. Mr. Rybicki will share his thoughts on new developments and steps employers should take to deal with them.

www.rybickiassociates.com

California has been identified as crafting one of the most progressive – and most onerous – set of new laws in the country. All employers will be affected by these developments and these informative seminars cover important federal, state and local changes such as:

  • California’s Parental Leave Act;
  • Restrictions on obtaining applicants’ salary history and requirements to disclose incoming salary ranges;
  • Harassment prevention training requirements;
  • Prohibitions on criminal conviction and background checks;
  • Human trafficking posting;
  • Protection of records from federal immigration investigations;
  • Minimum wage, salary and related minimum pay changes;
  • Military personnel protection;
  • Construction industry employer changes;
  • Expanded Labor Commissioner enforcement power;
  • Posting requirements;
  • Significant regulatory and judicial developments.

There will also be time for discussion of attendees’ experiences and questions.

The Napa Chamber is committed to keeping you informed and supporting your business that is why we keep you updated on what you need to know so you can get back to what your business does best!