The tide has turned for the Tuxedo Chamber of Commerce. After several years of successful membership building, the chamber will host its first meeting Wednesday evening in its new headquarters, the Tuxedo Train Station.
The chamber and the Town of Tuxedo recently worked out an agreement that will open the historic Tuxedo Train Station to the local business community, which will then promote the benefits of all things Tuxedo.
“In a small community (we are smaller than Sloatsburg), it can be a challenge to put a spotlight on the things that our business community does well,” said Tuxedo Chamber of Commerce President Bill Sweet. “Competing for attention with the Woodbury Common, Monroe, and Bergen County is no small task, but we do a lot of things from a business perspective that they simply cannot.” Sweet, a Certified Financial Planner, will make a presentation Wednesday to chamber members at 6 p.m. at the Tuxedo Train Statio — the event is free open to the public.
Tuxedo Chamber President Bill Sweet (r), with Executive Director Lisa Favia at the Tuxedo Train Station.
Wednesday marks the first Tuxedo Chamber meeting that brings together members since the group celebrated the end of 2013 during a very packed and popular holiday part in December, held at the Tuxedo Junction Inn (operated by chamber vice president Emily Nichols). Wednesday’s meeting will feature a presentation by Sweet himself, the energetic vision behind the chamber’s growth and consolidation over the last several years (along with chamber Executive Director Lisa Favio, who works behind the scenes to ensure everything runs smoothly for the group).
“Our focus this year is going to be doing a better job for our members,” said Sweet, who said the chamber will roll out a new customized website later in 2014 that will go a long way toward accomplishing that effort.
“In a small community (we are smaller than Sloatsburg), with tons of competition in and around the area, it can be a challenge to put a spotlight on the things that our business community does well. Competing for attention with the Woodbury Common, Monroe, and Bergen County is no small task, but we do a lot of things from a business perspective that they simply cannot,” said Sweet. “Customized services, focused on the individual client, are what most of our businesses are about, and these factors – combined with the unique history and character of Tuxedo and Tuxedo Park – are what we plan to highlight this year.”
Sweet and company will kick off the 2014 with its first membership meeting on Wednesday, January 15th, at 6 p.m. at the historic Tuxedo Train Station. The event is open to Tuxedo, Sloatsburg, Greenwood Lake, and other surrounding area businesses.
The evening’s presentation will be a 2013 Income Tax recap and 2014 tax outlook by Sweet, a Certified Financial Planner (TM) practitioner, and President of Stevens & Sweet Financial — a firm that focuses on individual and small business tax and investment planning and serves over 900 clients in Orange, Rockland, and Bergen counties and beyond.
The Chamber will briefly discuss plans for marketing and developing the Tuxedo business community in 2014.
The event is open to the public and free of charge for anyone, including business people from the Tuxedo, Sloatsburg, Greenwood Lake, and surrounding communities, and will include appetizers and beverages.
“If you think that we can be of service to you and your business, or are curious about what makes doing business in Tuxedo different than anywhere else, please reach out to us,” Sweet said. “Come to a meeting and find out if we might be a good fit for you.”
For more information and to register please email Lisa Favia – lisa@tuxedochamber.org.
