Christian Chamber - Salem/Keizer Meeting
How do you teach entrepreneurship in middle school?
Our special guest speaker for February is Chip Conrad of Capitol City Theatre! Chip is a business owner, civic and community/business promoter/organizer-of-fun, comedian/actor, husband, dad and Executive Director of Lemonade Day in Salem-Keizer. Conrad has been the driving force behind this community's participation in a growing national movement for youthful entrepreneurs. "Lemonade Day is a program that helps kids to develop skills," Chip told the Statesman Journal, which is an event sponsor. The curriculum culminates on May 4th when hundreds of kids will host lemonade stands.
Conrad attended Liberty University in Virginia, where he studied Youth Ministries. He was working for a church in Florida, which purchased a bar to transform it into a coffeehouse. Chip "voluntarily" ran the coffeehouse, i.e. without pay, and started an improve troupe to generate business for the church coffeehouse. Conrad has been involved in improve his entire adult life. He met and married a Salem girl in 2008. He got active in improve again here in Salem, leading to the creation of Capitol City Theater. It helped generate business for Conrad to be active in the Salem Chamber of Commerce, which has been very supportive of the clean comedy at the venue.
Conrad has applied his creative/organizing energies to pump up summer in the city with Capitol City Couch Races with a 1,000 people turning out for the event, making it an instant annual event since 2010, with the fourth anniversary event set for Saturday, August 2nd. As business owner in live theatre, it may seem a natural event for him to help create a live investment event similar to the TV show "Shark Tank" that was held at the Grand Theatre on June 1, 2013. After funding $150,000 worth of startup business in one night, another Salem Sharks event is planned for the fall. To get more focused and formal on starting new businesses locally, the dramatic entrepreneur and a small group of friends created a nonprofit organization called CEED, the Center for Entrepreneurial Education and Development last September.
Conrad is excited about the new venture, "There is no other Lemonade Day in the Northwest. The closest ones to us are Alaska, Denver, and the Bay Area." Conrad is gifted with the ability to get others interested, excited and involved. With the couch races, the theatre, and Lemonade Day, "it's unbelievable that people can be that creative, charming, funny, and natural. He doesn't just talk, he backs it up," said business owner Leslie Venti.
You could be our Featured Sponsor & promote your organization here on our website, in the email invitations that are sent out to 400+ marketplace leaders for this meeting & for 10 minutes during the meeting, in exchange for supporting the Christian Chamber with $100 for Members ($200 for Guests & Non-Members). If you are interested in this promotional opportunity for access to new customers and clients, just let us know!
This meeting is designed to help you build your network, wherein you will be invited to introduce yourself & your organization during the meeting, as well as meet with other guests & members before & after the meeting. There will also be a short presentation regarding the Chamber, as well as a special guest speaker in regards to a topic designed to help you Connect, Learn, Grow, Save &/or Engage with your community.
Don't forget to check out your Christian Chamber Northwest Members' latest Hot Deals, Job Postings, Events & your Need Help? Community Resource Directory - the most exhaustive database of Churches, Ministries & Christian Businesses in the greater Portland/Vancouver metro area, as well as for Salem, the Mid-Willamette Valley & Eugene.
We are meeting at the Broadway Commons located at 1300 Broadway NE, Salem, OR 97301.
