Dirk Ahlborn: What hyperloop means to transportation and your business

📅 Two half-days: June 5 & 6, 2017    📍 BMO Centre

Where crowdsourcing collides with Jetsons-esque tech, that's where you find Dirk Ahlborn. Here's the quick facts:

• He's the CEO of JumpStartFund and Hyperloop Transportation Technologies (TT).
• A high-speed transportation concept, a hyperloop would send you shooting down a tube in a pod to get to your destination...at 1,200 km per hour.
• Hyperloop TT, is the largest and most-successful crowdsourced startup in history!
• From investors to research, the tech itself to construction labour, every aspect of Hyperloop TT's project has been crowdsourced.

🆕 Leaders Classic Golf Tournament

📅 June 29, 2017   🕒 11:30 am – 8:00 pm   📍 Silver Springs

The Calgary Chamber's annual Leaders Classic is more than just a golf tournament. It's an occasion that brings our city’s top executives, influential community leaders and politicians together in a fun and relaxed setting to build business relationships, and contribute to the work that makes our city a better place.

Unrivaled in its fantastic food, prizes and superior golf, the Leaders Classic is all about escaping the confines of the office, having some fun, and making connections on and off the green.

Connect at upcoming events

🚨 Rev, Calgary's entrepreneurial growth conference, is sold out!

📅 May 11, 2017    🕒 8:30 am – 4:00 pm    📍 Calgary Zoo

For the third year in a row, Rev is officially sold-out! We can't wait to see many of Calgary's finest business leaders this Thursday.

In advance of the big day, check out the schedule and event map at RevYYC.com to plan out which workshops you're going to hit so you don't miss a minute of the action.

Business After Hours at The Keg

📅 June 14, 2017   🕒 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm   📍 The Keg – Macleod Trail

At our upcoming Business After Hours at The Keg on Macleod Trail, you'll have a chance to release your inner sommelier as you connect with the movers and shakers of Calgary’s business community. Mix and mingle on the patio, experience a wine pairing seminar, take in the sounds of a live DJ, and snack on some of The Keg’s finest appetizers. 

Join us to kick off your summer with some of the finest networking around.

When robots come for your job

📅 June 13, 2017    🕒 7:00 am – 9:00 am    📍 Delta Calgary Downtown

With advances in technology growing every day across all industries from robotics, to artificial intelligence and nanotechnology, the pace of change is set to accelerate. Is your company prepared for what’s coming?

At this event, hosted in partnership with The Talent Pool, you have an opportunity to arm yourself with knowledge. You'll hear from three industry experts on:

• The rise of the gig economy
• Reinventing the HR Function
• The workforce of the future
• Arming your company to take advantage of the digital revolution with the skills to lead the way and seize opportunities

Tips to grow your business

Digital tip: How your business can benefit from micro-influencer marketing

Consumer trust in advertising, and in big business in general, is at an all-time low. There's been a shift to a more authentic two-way conversation – via social media – based on discovery. Consumers prefer genuine recommendations from friends, family and micro-influencers, who tend to hold small, but fiercely loyal followings.

Micro-influencers are a great investment for any company, but especially smaller businesses looking to cultivate a following and get their names out to their target audience.

What we're reading (and watching)...

• [Video] Adam Legge talks all things ONWARD with Breakfast Television
• AI is the future of cybersecurity, for better and for worse
• Avoid fake news: A handy guide to news sources
• How data can help you make better gut decisions
• The importance of structured management practices
• Surge in craft breweries fuels hop farming revival

Member insights

Chamber member: Qualico

Qualico was founded more than 60 years ago by David and Katherine Friesen, who began by building seven houses in Winnipeg’s River Heights neighbourhood in 1950. The Friesens understood the family dream of owning a home and wanted to create homes and communities where people could put down roots and raise their families.

Today, Qualico is one of the largest fully integrated, privately-owned real estate companies in Western Canada. Each year, more than 3,000 Canadian families choose Qualico as their homebuilder.

Members get access to a corporate benefits plan at small business rates

Just because your business isn't the biggest company in Calgary doesn't mean you can't offer amazing benefits to your employees. If you're a member of the Calgary Chamber, you automatically qualify to receive comprehensive coverage from the Chambers of Commerce Group Insurance Plan.

As one of the most substantial benefit plans of its kind available in Canada, you gain access to unparalleled traditional coverage such as life, health, dental and disability, critical illness and so much more. It's like having a corporate benefits plan at small business rates!

New: Guaranteed benefits for one- and two-person companies.

From our partners

[Tomorrow] Personal branding: Selling yourself and your business

📅 May 10, 2017    🕒 5:00 pm – 7:30 pm    📍 Avec Bistro

Whether you’re new to the workforce, or an experienced business owner or leader, having a unique and credible personal brand online allows you to achieve both personal and professional goals. In this workshop, you'll learn:

• How to build a powerful and impressive online presence
• How to elevate your LinkedIn profile and optimize your digital image
• Latest trends in personal branding

Community leaders