U.S. Chamber of Commerce-2009 Business Civic Leadership Center

Virtually anyone who knows me professionally knows how much I love my involvement with the IFA. Well this week, I’ve been introduced to yet another national business organization, one that has very quickly smitten me. In many ways this organization reminds me of IFA, but in other ways, it is different.

I’m talking about the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and their (BCLC) Business Civic Leadership Center. Last month I was invited to speak at their Annual Convention and now, as I post this blog from Chicago’s Miracle Mile, that conference has just concluded.

This event was attended by just 300, but a more eclectic group of assembled professionals, I have never seen. Among the roster of speakers and attendees were Mayors, C-level executives from America’s leading companies, public and private sector icons, large corporations, small businesses, legacy foundations and start-up non-profits, strategists, economists and even thinkers from academia.

Government officials in attendance represented the White House, the SBA, The Departments of State and Defense and even the USDA. Insurance, healthcare, The Federal Reserve, the media and even the National Governors Association, they were all there too. This conference was a veritable “slice of Americana.”

Similar to IFA’s role in franchising, the BCLC’s mission is to advance the positive role of business in society, but it does so in a much broader sense than IFA. As such, BCLC and the US Chamber works with these leaders from business, government, and non-governmental organizations to address and act on shared goals. Most noteworthy to me and to others that I spoke with as well, was how egos got parked at the door by everyone in attendance at this conference and how engaging and interactive everyone was.

It reminded me of how every year at the IFA Convention, first-time-attendees marvel at how caring and sharing the speakers are and how they are so openly willing to share information, even when potential competitors might be in the audience in the very same room. I got that same flavor at this conference. The difference though , was that while the spectrum here was much broader, the conference much smaller, far more intimate, making the interaction all the more powerful.

I sincerely wish to thank my friend Don Graves for connecting me with Katie Loovis, Director of Business and Society, for the Business Civic, Leadership Center. I hope that Katie, and Stephan Jordan Senior VP of the BCLC will invite me back and allow me to expand my involvement with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. This is one fine group of professionals, working tirelessly to ensure that American businesses thrive, on Main Streets everywhere.