Brengle Consulting

07/01/2020

44 years ago today, I started my Chamber career as Manager of the Cortez (CO) Area Chamber of Commerce. I have been blessed to work with outstanding volunteer leadership and many top notch Chambers & Associations. I have also worked, on staff & as CEO, with some of the best in the business! Thank you to everyone, especially my wife Erin Farrell Brengle, for your support, your guidance and your friendship during this crazy career!

12/28/2019

Our first day in New York City!

03/05/2019

To those in the CofC & Association business who have attended Institute for Organization Management

The Power of Institute!

One of my favorite sayings is:

CFO: What happens if we train our employees and they leave? CEO: What happens if we don’t and they stay?

As someone who has attended or is attending the Institute for Organization Management, I know I am preaching to the choir. But you are also the most knowledgeable to become the evangelist promoting attendance to your peers that have not yet been to Institute.

When I was hired by Dick Albrecht as Assistant Manager of the Fort Collins (CO) Chamber back in the dark ages (yes, we had color TV), one of his “requirements” was attendance at IOM. The previous year I had received the Colorado Chamber of Commerce Executives (CCCE) scholarship to Institute, so it was also one of my “requirements” to take the job.

I think back to how important Institute was in helping me realize how much I love this profession. Not many jobs you can have that when you leave you can list how you made YOUR COMMUNITY better.

Think back to how you felt after your 1st year of Institute?! Wouldn’t you like your friends and peers in the business to have that same experience?

I am encouraging you to personally call those in your state and region that have not attended IOM and encourage them to do so. If they complain that they “can’t afford it” give them a list of scholarships offered by state and regional chamber executives associations and by IOM itself.

For some of the smaller organizations that are worried about how they would pay for year 2 and beyond, encourage them to talk their utilities and cable companies to see if they have any sponsorships available. Ask them if they have an Education Foundation in their community that might help fund their continuing education.

In fact, have them research all the foundations in their community to see if there are any that could help the chamber. For those of us who have our IOM, we know the power of Institute.

As the saying goes, “A rising tide lifts all boats”. The same can be said of continuing education for our profession.

Carpe Diem – seize the day!

03/05/2019

What do you review daily?

I’m sure all of you keep certain quotes, inspirational slogans or posters somewhere in your office. After all, there are certain days, after talking to certain members, that you ask yourself that $64,000 question, “Why am I in this crazy business”.

I have 3 documents pinned to the corkboard above my desk: The Certified Chamber Executives (CCE) Code of Ethics, the Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi and a document entitled “Living the Ground Rules”.

I have introduced “Living the Ground Rules” to my Board and it has become a document we refer to from time to time. I thought you might find it a good conversational piece for your Board planning session or retreat.

Living the Ground Rules

• I will accept and support our vision, mission, values and strategic goals.
• I will openly acknowledge problems and difficulties and focus on desired results.
• I will be 100% responsible for my actions.
• Once a decision is made, I will support it 100%.
• I will commit to and reinforce the principles of Management by Agreement. This means:
• I will only make agreements I intend to keep.
• I will not make or accept “fuzzy” agreements.
• When an agreement has been broken, changed or modified, I will reconcile this with the concerned party/parties at the earliest opportunity.
• I will accentuate the positive and view problems as opportunities.
• I will be open, honest and committed to the principles of win/win.
• I will interact promptly and directly with people or persons with whom I have an issue and will emphasize listening more than speaking.

Carpe Diem – seize the day!

11/19/2018

Check out the new website for Brengle Consulting at www.brengleconsulting.com!

Ken Brengle, CCE, IOM