Chamber Connections is a quarterly series that focuses on the political environment within the State Capitol. Each program is designed to be a non-partisan, informational presentation that addresses topics that directly and indirectly affect Chamber members. The goal of Chamber Connections is to inform and educate members while encouraging their participation in the political process.
March 20th Beth Bordowitz, MERIT state of Maine Retirement Investment Trust- What do you need to know? Register here!
May 15th Berkeley Almand Hunter, How can AI help your business?
August 21st Peter Gore, Maine Street Solutions- Paid Family Media Leave
November 6th DEI
Sponsorships are available for the 2024 Chamber Connection series! If you are interested in sponsoring Chamber Connection, please email .>
Thank you to our 2024 Chamber Connection Sponsor!
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The Chamber's Women's Network meets monthly to strengthen business relationships, hear topical speakers and develop leadership. The Women's Network is all about business and building relationships! This event is usually held on the second Wednesday monthly, from 11:30 to 1:00 p.m. at the Kennebec Valley Chamber's new office in Hallowell (105 second Street, Suite 1b, Hallowell, Maine 04347).
$25 for Members | $35 for Non-Members
Lunch Provided
IMPORTANT: Your reservation guarantees your seat at the Women's Network Luncheon. To cancel, please notify us three (3) business days before the event, or you will be invoiced.
January 19th - Sharon Fusco, CEO of Maine Veterans' Homes presenting on Leadership Resolutions- Words to lead by. - Thank you for attending!
February 14th - Sandra Dwight-Barris from Grey Goose Gourmet- Sharing her Journey on running a successful in-home Business - Thank you for attending!
March 13th - Driving Growth: The Impact of Manufacturing on our Regional Economy. Panel Discussion- Corey Vose (VP of Operations PFG), Amy Marston (Director of Community Relations CMP), Ryan Smith (Production Manager JS McCarthy) Thank you for attending!
April 10th- Micaela Schweitzer-Bluhm, The Maine Monitor - Presenting on From Nepal to Nonprofit News: How a 26 Year Career as a U.S. Diplomat Led to Champion Local, In-Depth News for Maine- Register here!
May 8th- Cindy Homer, Maine State Police Crime Lab- Register here!
June 12th- Allison Kinnear- You are not a Fraud: Overcoming Imposter Syndrome- Register here!
July 10th- Kelly Flagg, AGC- Maine Putting Together the Leadership Puzzle- Register here!
August 14th- Lee Anne Szelog, Simply Put, LLC- Replace Stress with Success- Register here!
September 11th- Kim Wiggin, Snow Pond Center for the Arts- Register here!
October 9th- Breast Cancer Awareness- Register here!
November 13th- Non-Profit Panelist: Kate Vickery, President & CEO Make A Wish- Bob Moore, Executive Director Augusta Food Bank- Anthony Gause, CMP- Register here!
December 11th- Cherie Scott, Mumbia to Maine- Register here!
Thank you to our 2024 Women's Network Luncheon Sponsors!
The Chamber organizes free monthly networking receptions for members by pairing with host businesses. The host business pays a nominal fee to the Chamber and agrees to host the reception with food and drink in a proper venue. Attendance may range from 75 to 300. Business After Hours occurs monthly on the fourth Wednesday of the month, 5:00-7:00 p.m.
Chamber members host – hospitality members, banks, some non-profit organizations, and more. Size of venue, available parking and membership in good standing are considerations in determining if a business can host.
Allows members to show off their business, what they do, and how they do it. In addition, it provides valuable KVCC networking opportunities for all who attend.
January 17th at our Kennebec Valley Chamber office in Hallowell (105 Second Street, Hallowell, ME 04347) Thank you for coming!
February 28th at Gagne & Son LLC co-hosted with Bangor savings Bank. Event will be held at 1583 Augusta Rd, Belgrade, ME Thank you for coming!
March 27th at Johnson Hall Opera House, 280 Water Street, Gardiner, ME 04345 Register here!
April 24th at Children's Center, 1 Alden Ave., Augusta, ME 04330 Register here!
May 22nd at YMCA Camp of Maine in Partnership with Winthrop Lakes Region Chamber, 305 Winthrop Center Rd, Winthrop, ME 04364 Register here!
June 26th at Kennebec Valley Humane Society, 168 Leighton Rd, Augusta, ME 04330 Register here!
July 17th at 1st Choice Storage, 165 River Rd, Chelsea, ME 04330 Register here!
August 28th at Rocky's Stove Shoppe, 14 Brick and Mortar Dr, Augusta, ME 04330 Register here!
September 25th at Maine State Credit Union, 200 Capitol St, Augusta, ME 04330 Register here!
October 23rd at The Ice Vault, 203 Whitten Rd, Hallowell, ME 04347 Register here!
November 20th at Augusta Teen Center (Boys & Girls Club), 244 Water St, Augusta, ME 04330 Register here!
December 18th at Kennebec Savings Bank, 150 State St, Augusta ME 04330 Register here!
Thank you to our 2024 Business After Hours Sponsors!
BEVERAGE SPONSOR:
What are The Kenney Awards?
So you’ve experienced the Grammys and the Emmys, but are you ready for the Kenneys?
The Kennebec Valley Chamber of Commerce is proud to present the Kenney Awards! The Kenney, named for the region we hail from, will be awarded annually to area businesses and professionals that are deserving of our attention and recognition.
The 2024 Kenney Awards will be held on January 26, 2024
at the Augusta Civic Center with the Cocktail hour starting at 5:00pm
$80 per person | $640 per table
Only a few tickets left! Email to reserve!>
The Kenneys will recognize six awardees; The Peter G. Thompson Lifetime Achievement, Large Business of the Year, The Special Service Award, President's Circle Award, Community Service, and the CYNERGY Professional Award. You are guaranteed to feel like a star from the moment you arrive and step onto our very own red carpet—from the ‘paparazzi’ snapping pictures of your grand entrance into the awards ceremony to the custom-designed Kenney award—this will be the formal affair of the season.
The winners of the The Peter G. Thompson Lifetime Achievement, Large Business of the Year, and The Special Service Award will be announced prior to the ceremony and the remaining awards will be chosen via live voting from 3 nominees during the show. The formal announcement of the nominees and winners will be in the December issue of the Business Insider. This event is the premier opportunity for the Kennebec Valley Chamber of Commerce to highlight and celebrate the success in our community.
August 5, 2023
2-6pm at Mill Park in Augusta
check out Kennebecriverbrewfest.com for all the details!!
SAVE THE DATE FOR 2024:
SEPTEMBER 9 | THE MEADOWS GOLF CLUB
IN LITCHFIELD, MAINE.
Thank you to our 2023 event sponsors!
PRESENTING SPONSOR
PLATINUM SPONSORS
HOLE IN ONE SPONSOR
GOLF CART SPONSOR
AIR CANNON SPONSOR
GOLD SPONSORS
Augusta Natural Gas | Day's Jewelers | PERFORMANCE Foodservice NorthCenter | Serra Public Affairs | University of Maine at Augusta
GREEN SPONSORS
Augusta Civic Center | Harvard Pilgrim Health Care | HydraPure Infusions | James & Whitney Co. | Sprague & Curtis Real Estate | Vickerson Appraisal Services | Wipfli, LLP
HOLE SPONSORS
A Partner in Technology | Augusta Natural Gas | Brookewood Realty | Casella Waste Systems | Connected Credit Union |Cross Insurance | Dragonfly Rose Graphic Artist | D.R. Struck Landscape Nursery | G&E Roofing | Gosline Insurance Group | Macomber, Farr & Whitten | Maine Mobile CPR LLC | Maine State Credit Union | Pickle's Potions | Sam's Club | Snow Pond Technology Group Inc. | STEVE SMITH Trial Lawyers | Union Office Interiors | Woodlands Senior Living
No refunds or transfers of payments
The Kennebec Leadership Institute (KLI) goal is to assure a continuing flow of able, committed, and resourceful leaders to serve our communities. As the oldest leadership program in the state, KLI draws prospective leaders from a broad cross-section of businesses, organizations, and the community. Its purpose is to inspire these promising individuals to work more effectively within their spheres of influence while expanding their civic and community participation. To see the program overview, click here.
OUR 2023 KLI GRADUATES:
Dylan Abbott
Snow Pond Center for the Arts
Nathan Archibald
Kennebec Savings Bank
Melanie Aubuchon
University of Maine at Augusta
Karren Briggs
Performance Foodservice - NorthCenter
Thomas Cook
Performance Foodservice - NorthCenter
Amanda Cooley
Kennebec Savings Bank
Kristie Grant
MaineGeneral Medical Center
Charlie Hippler
Bangor Savings Bank
Melinda Jorgensen
Augusta Food Bank
Mara McGowen
Maine Public Employees Retirement System
Cathy Milojevic-Kaey
Augusta Colonial Theater
Roxanne Perrault
MaineGeneral Medical Center
Lauren Roderigue
Central Maine Power Company
Thank you to our Host Sponsor: