As a countywide business association, the CHQ Chamber convenes local businesspeople in a variety of ways throughout the year. For the second year in a row, CHQ Chamber will present the State of Business Breakfast. This event will be Friday, Jan. 30 at 8 a.m. at The White Inn, 52 East Main Street, Fredonia.

The Chamber chose presenters from a range of partner organizations that work with local businesses to provide an overview of the county’s economic climate. Well over 100 businesspeople turned out for that event, and we received some very positive feedback following the breakfast, along with many ideas about how to offer this event in the future.

This year we are moving in a slightly different direction and have selected presenters who may bring a different perspective.

The goal is to bring together knowledgeable, active professionals from a variety of economic sectors in Chautauqua County. Confirmed speakers are, Jennifer Phillips Russo, Cornell Viticulture Senior Extension Specialist and Team Leader of the Lake Erie Regional Grape Program with Cornell Cooperative Extension in Chautauqua County; Ken Morris, President/CEO of Brooks-TLC Hospital for the Healthcare sector; Brad Walters, Director of the Builders Exchange of the Southern Tier for the Construction & Trades sector; and Cathy Kerr, Manager of M&T Bank, Lakewood from the Finance sector. Each speaker will provide an overview and there will be time for a question-and-answer period.

The State of Business breakfast is sponsored by the County of Chautauqua Industrial Development Agency, Gullo Law Office, Media One Radio Group, the State University of New York at Fredonia, and The White Inn.

Pre-registration is required. The cost is $30 per person. Check-in will open at 7:30, with a buffet breakfast planned. The program will begin shortly after 8 a.m. Registration is open now through the Chamber’s web calendar at www.chqchamber.org/events.