2023 Affiliate Chamber Spotlight: Urbandale Chamber of Commerce
Chamber Name + Website
Urbandale Chamber of Commerce
Elected leader for 2023
Jason Parkin, 2022 Chair
Professional Staff Leader of the Chamber
Tiffany Menke, President
Number of Members
750 Members
How Does a Business Join Your Chamber?
Visit uniquelyurbandale.com/join-the-chamber, email tara@urbandalechamber.com or call the Urbandale Chamber at (515) 331-6855.
What Inspired You to First Get Involved with Your Chamber?
One of our Chamber Members, Big Al’s BBQ & Catering, shared their reasoning for joining the Urbandale Chamber. “Determination, hard work, prayer to the good Lord for direction and with the direction of the Urbandale Chamber of Commerce, dreams do come true if one is willing to work, network and take advantage of all the opportunities the Chamber has to offer. The Urbandale Chamber has changed me and my family’s life, and now I am able to make an impact on other people’s livelihood by offering and creating jobs through Big Al’s. What was just a dream has turned into more than I ever could have imagined. The Urbandale Chamber of Commerce, its members, executive staff and Ben Buenzow believed in me before I believed in myself, and for that, I am eternally grateful.”
Al Laudencia Owner,
Big Al’s BBQ & Catering
What is a Signature Offering of Your Chamber?
For the past five years, the Urbandale Chamber of Commerce has organized the Central Iowa Business Conference. This Conference is the premier event for CEOs and executive teams, business owners, investors, community leaders and entrepreneurs to attend and experience a full day of inspiration and education to take their business to a new level. The conference boasts top-level speakers, cutting-edge topics and fantastic opportunities to connect with other leadership teams from across Greater Des Moines (DSM).
The Central Iowa Business Conference is organized by the Urbandale Chamber of Commerce, which strives to provide an educational opportunity for ALL businesses in DSM, regardless of whether the business is a member of the Chamber.
What is Your Chamber’s Biggest Accomplishment in the Past 12 Months?
The Urbandale Chamber is always focused on providing benefits above and beyond networking and marketing benefits to truly impact a business’ bottom line. We continue to increase our Chamber Exclusive benefits which is making a big difference.
This year the Chamber launched a partnership with Paychex to provide members with access to HR services through a PEO at a significantly discounted cost. In one case, the savings of moving to a PEO, coupled with the Chamber discount ended up saving the member $10,000. Partnerships such as this and the Chamber Exclusive Group Retirement Benefit are making a strong impact.
What Initiative/Project Are You Looking Forward to in the Upcoming Year?
We are committed to providing additional Chamber Exclusives to assist businesses of all sizes. Look for more to be released later this year.
We also have some exciting news to be released in May. Stay tuned!
What Partnership Tools/Resources Have Been Most Beneficial to Your Chamber Members?
Every member joins the Chamber for a different reason. When a business joins the Urbandale Chamber, we provide them with a mini marketing package that includes a free radio commercial with Cumulus Media ($1000 value), 100 free custom pens with their company information on them through Allegra, a free business coaching session with an Accelerate Action Coach to provide one on one business assistance and guidance all in addition to the typical new member announcements on social media, in the e-newsletter and promotion at a new member booth during a membership luncheon. This is a unique way we provide businesses with an immediate return on their membership investment.
What Are Your Upcoming Events?
The Greater Des Moines Partnership is the second largest regional Chamber of Commerce in the nation. Learn more about Partnership Affiliate Chambers, browse the Membership directory and read additional Affiliate Chamber spotlights.
Tiffany Menke
Since 2004, Tiffany Menke, IOM, has been the President of the Urbandale Chamber of Commerce. She has served on the boards of and is a Past President/Past Chair of ICCE, CITR, and IMA. She currently represents Iowa on the MACE Board of Directors and serves on the Diversity and Inclusion Council through the Greater Des Moines Partnership.