The Ogden Valley Business Association Invites Local Businesses to attend “You have planned your vacation, how about your retirement?”

Local business owners are invited along with members to the next OVBA meeting on Thursday, May 16th at noon at the Ogden Valley Branch of the Weber County Library in Huntsville.  The cost is $5 for OVBA members and $10 for non-OVBA members, which includes lunch served by Carlos and Harley’s Fresh Mex Cantina.  Please RSVP to terry @ ovba.org May 13th to ensure lunch availability.

With over 14 years of experience, Zion’s Wealth Advisors, Vice President -Wealth Advisor, Maria Recto, will show small business owners, how to develop a comprehensive strategy that suits your circumstances, embracing asset management as well as insurance, trusts and other legal structures and how to successfully achieve financial goals for retirement.

The mission of The Ogden Valley Business Association is to promote and support member businesses of Ogden Valley and Ogden Canyon by providing opportunities for improving commerce, to be an economic resource for the betterment of our community and its visitors, and by fostering a robust economic climate, through the promotion of our natural and cultural resources.

Wildflower and Landscape Photography Workshop offered in Ogden Valley

Bill Singleton of Shutterrific.com

The OVBA in partnership with Bill Singleton of Shutterrific Photography, is pleased to announce the Ogden Valley Wildflower & Landscape Workshop on June 14 – 15, 2013.  This in-depth photography workshop of indoor and outdoor sessions will take your photography to the next level.  Bill will conduct this workshop, meeting indoors at 4 PM on June 14th, outdoors during that evening until sunset, outdoors for sunrise on June 15th, then indoors until another evening outdoor session.

A message from Bill:
“I am thrilled to be conducting a workshop right here in Ogden Valley.  June is a perfect time to capture both landscapes and wildflowers in bloom.”

Attendees of all skill levels are welcome to attend.  The workshop will be geared toward the level of attendees. It is recommended that you own and have at least a basic working knowledge of a digital SLR camera.  Here is what people are saying about Bill’s instruction:

“I’ve shot with Bill Singleton dozens of times on photography safaris, from wildlife to wildflowers, throughout Utah and north to Yellowstone, and can testify to his professionalism, his knowledge of cameras and all the technical facets of great photography.  His skills as a photographer are evident in his images.  Those images are well composed, professionally taken, and correctly processed – all steps that he articulately explains and teaches to those shooting with him.  Bill is a great teacher and those lucky enough to shoot in the field with him will come away with a new determination to improve the level of their own photography.”
Brent Paull, Professional Photographer, Tulare, CA

 “I have done two safaris with Bill. One was to Yellowstone National Park photographing wildlife and landscapes and the other was to the Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve photographing wildflowers. He is a master of photography which is evident in his captivating photos! However, what sets Bill apart from other photographers I have worked with is his ability to teach. Being able to teach is an art form in its own! He does this in a gentle, encouraging manner whereby I felt totally relaxed and was able to improve my photographic skills tenfold. I also appreciated the tips along the way, such as using a noodle for my window when shooting wildlife, to the correct setting to use to capture a bald eagle in flight. Bill is awesome! I can’t wait till our next adventure!”
Debbie Williams, Simi Valley, CA

For more details about this workshop and to register, go to www.visitogdenvalley.com/wildflower-landscape-photography-workshop.

Learn about 2013 OVBA Marketing Initiatives

Local business owners are invited along with members to the next OVBA meeting on Thursday, April 18th at noon at the Ogden Valley Branch of the Weber County Library in Huntsville.  The cost is $5 for OVBA members and $10 for non-OVBA members, which includes lunch served by Harley & Buck’s.  Please RSVP to terry @ ovba.org by April 15th to ensure lunch availability.

OVBA Chair Greg Farley will present current projects and how they benefit OVBA member businesses.  The OVBA has begun efforts in several new areas, including increased promotion of tourism as well as local commerce.  Greg will present some new online presence including videos, an additional web site for visitors and residents alike, Facebook, and Pinterest.  Join us to see what is happening with the OVBA!

The mission of The Ogden Valley Business Association is to promote and support member businesses of Ogden Valley and Ogden Canyon by providing opportunities for improving commerce, to be an economic resource for the betterment of our community and its visitors, and by fostering a robust economic climate, through the promotion of our natural and cultural resources.
 

March Meeting: Huntsville Town’s Past, Present and Future

The Ogden Valley Business Association Invites Local Businesses to Learn about Huntsville Town’s Past, Present and Future! Local business owners are invited along with members to the next OVBA meeting on Thursday, March 21st at noon at the Ogden Valley Branch of the Weber County Library in Huntsville.

 The cost is $5 for OVBA members and $10 for non-OVBA members, which includes lunch served by Huntsville Barbeque. Please RSVP to terry @ ovba.org by March18 th to ensure lunch availability.

Come to meet Mayor Truett and learn about Huntsville Town’s past, present, and future. He will share information about the master plan, controlled growth, annexation, and Weber County Library partnership. With all of the positive things happening in Huntsville, he would love to hear your thoughts.

February Meeting: Learn How to Hire Top Talent

The Ogden Valley Business Association Invites Local Businesses to learn how to hire top talent and avoid bad hiring decisions.

Local business owners are invited along with members to the next OVBA meeting on Thursday, February 21st at noon at the Ogden Valley Branch of the Weber County Library in Huntsville.  The cost is $5 for OVBA members and $10 for non-OVBA members, which includes lunch served by Jackson Fork Inn.  Please RSVP to terry @ ovba.org by February 18th to ensure lunch availability.

Attracting, interviewing and hiring talent is a time consuming and sometimes painful process that is laden with legal and process related landmines. Learning how to prepare for and conduct an effective job interview is the single most important skill for any business owner that needs a team to succeed. This presentation will be interactive and will help you to focus on the critical steps to hiring the best person for your business.

Ed McKenney has trained hundreds of managers worldwide in the art and science of hiring top talent. He is currently a business consultant and teaching assistant at Weber State University in internet marketing.

OVBA Annual Dinner Meeting held at Gray Cliff Lodge

The Ogden Valley Business Association held its Annual Dinner Meeting on January 17, 2013 at Gray Cliff Lodge.  Attendees enjoyed a delicious meal and a presentation by Board Members.  Pamela Mitchell of Website By Design, Past Chair, introduced the 2013 Board of Directors, including Greg Farley (Chair) of Huntsville Barbecue Company, Jim Ormsbee (Vice Chair) of Elkridge Engineering & Copy Center, Sherry Carolan (Treasurer) of Mountain Luxury, Ben Peterson (Secretary) of Peterson Builders, Kim Smith of Snowbasin, and Sue Munson of Wolf Mountain.

 Greg Farley provided awards of appreciation to outgoing board members, including Pamela Mitchell (Board Member 2009-2012 and Chair 2012), Jeff Hyde of The Village at Huntsville Square (2010 – 2012), SharRee Lowe of Lowe’s Property Specialties (2009 – 2012 and Treasurer 2011 - 2012), and Sharon Lewis of Healing Hands of Eden (2011 – 2012).

The Volunteer of the Year Award for 2012 went to Christy Tew.  Christy provided invaluable input to our planning for the 2012 Annual Dinner and setting goals for 2013.  Her work on the FAM tour for the Ogden CVB gave great exposure to our Valley.  She helped in the planning process that led to winning a matching grant from the Utah Office of Tourism.  Her support at the Spring HAFB Expo surely brought more people to the Valley.  Christy gave one of our most popular lunch meeting talks, “Marketing 101.  The Board of Directors thanks Christy for her valuable support during 2012.

The Business of the Year Award for 2012 went Elkridge Copy Center.  At the suggestion of Lisa Karam Fuller, Jim Ormsbee put his engineering reproduction equipment to use as a business, and the rest is history!  Jim and his staff provide a welcomed and needed service to the Valley, and always do a professional and timely job. 

Pamela Mitchell recounted some of the OVBA’s major accomplishments during 2012.  This included more efforts to promote the “Buy Local” theme to help Valley and Canyon businesses.  Monthly meetings provided speakers on important and useful topics, including social media and traditional marketing, hiring high school senior interns, employee engagement, funding opportunities, and networking.  The OVBA held the successful Tenth Annual Snowdance and Auction in January, donating funds to the Snowbasin Adaptive Sports Education Foundation which helps kids and adults with disabilities enjoy mountain sports.  The Second Annual Barn Dance raised funds for Freedom Riders, a therapeutic horse riding program for children with disabilities such as cerebral palsy. The OVBA published new issues of the Ogden Valley Phone Book and the Ogden Valley Map.  The successful Ogden Valley Fall Color Photography Workshop brought participants from Arizona, Wyoming, Nevada Michigan, California and Utah.

Greg Farley talked about plans for 2013. The OVBA plans to continue with our successful events and publications, and add more photography workshops throughout the year.  More “Buy Local” efforts are in the planning as well. The UOT marketing campaign for out-of-state visitors kicks off in March.  New this year will be some structured marketing opportunities for members to learn more about each other’s products and services, thereby keeping business in the Valley and Canyon and enhancing residents’ and visitors’ experiences. Learn more about local businesses and the OVBA at www.ovba.org.

SKI PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP March 15 – 16, 2013

Photograph by Ryan Thompson

The OVBA in partnership with Ryan Thompson of RLT Photography, is pleased to announce the 2013 SKI PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP.  This in-depth photography workshop of indoor and outdoor sessions will take your winter sports photography to the next level, with skills applicable to all types of adventure photography.  Ryan Thompson will conduct this workshop, meeting indoors at Harley & Buck's, Eden, for the afternoon of March 15th (dinner included), and outdoors on March 16th on the slopes of Snowbasin Resort (lift ticket included), followed by additional classwork and critique of your photographs.

A message from Ryan:
“I am excited to be teaching this class and share the knowledge I have gained over the past 15 years of winter sports photography and what it takes to do it right.”

Attendees of all skill levels are welcome to attend.  The workshop will be geared toward the level of attendees. It is recommended that you own and have at least a basic working knowledge of a digital SLR camera, and be able to ski or snowboard a variety of terrain at Snowbasin Resort. Read more about Ryan (lower on this page), and join us for this adventure in photography. Here is what people are saying about his workshops:

“Ryan Thompson has an eye for detail that not only captures powerful images, it captures the story within those images.  He breaks down the elements of effective photography into a series of simple processes that students can understand and apply, personal and professional, he puts students and photo subjects at ease, bringing out the very best in both.”  Jennifer Jones

“Thanks again so much for workshop and class. I learned a lot! I have officially switched over to RAW and I also bought Lightroom and converted to that. I am so glad I took that class because doing those two things has improved my photography a ton!  I really do appreciate your willingness to help those of us that are learning. It really is so awesome of you!”  Melanie Isaac

“You are amazing!  I couldn’t be more happy for the service you provide!  Not many photographers would have put in the extra time and energy that I know you did!”  Scott Waters
“You win best photography instructor of the year hands down!!!” Julie Passey

Click Here for Details and Registration for Ski Photography Workshop