[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 4]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 4943-4944]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 CONGRATULATING THE STERLING HEIGHTS REGIONAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND 
                   INDUSTRY ON THEIR 50TH ANNIVERSARY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. SANDER M. LEVIN

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 31, 2011

  Mr. LEVIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Sterling 
Heights Regional Chamber of Commerce & Industry in recognition of their 
50th anniversary.
  Beginning in 1961 as a small, localized Chamber, the Sterling Heights 
Regional Chamber of Commerce & Industry has grown over the last 50 
years to become a leading business organization in Macomb County with 
more than 1,600 members and sixth-largest in the State of Michigan.
  The organization started out as the ``Greater Utica Chamber of 
Commerce,'' becoming the ``Shelby-Utica-Sterling Chamber of Commerce'' 
in 1967, and in 1972 the ``Utica Area Chamber of Commerce,'' 1977 
``Northwest Macomb Chamber of Commerce,'' 1986 ``Sterling Heights Area 
Chamber of Commerce,'' and in 2009 the ``Sterling Heights Regional 
Chamber of Commerce & Industry.'' The Chamber's ``Heritage 
Communities'' of Sterling Heights, Utica, and Shelby Twp. are still 
home to almost 50 percent of the Chamber's membership, and the Chamber 
now has members in every Macomb County community.
  As a testament to the Chamber's ability to evolve and strengthen with 
time, in 2010 they partnered with the Anchor Bay Area Chamber of 
Commerce and formed a collaborative relationship that capitalizes on 
the strengths of both Chambers.
  The Chamber's mission over the last 50 years has been simple: To 
bring features, benefits and value to their members, and each and every 
day strive to bring a Return on Investment (ROI) to their members, and 
to make

[[Page 4944]]

their Chamber the best business organization possible.
  I have witnessed firsthand the success the Chamber has with 
accomplishing this goal. As we have all worked together to move Macomb 
County forward, the Chamber has been on the forefront working with 
multiple partners across the community toward common goals for the 
betterment of the businesses, communities and residents they serve.
  In addition, I came to personally know longtime former Executive 
Director Lil Adams whom I was pleased to work with on a number of vital 
local transportation projects, and current President Wayne Oehmke. Each 
has provided the Chamber with active, dedicated leadership in the 
promotion of its mission.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the 
Sterling Heights Regional Chamber of Commerce & Industry in recognition 
of their 50th anniversary and wishing them many more years of effective 
service to the Macomb County business community.

                          ____________________