A Great Night of Networking at Our October Business After Hours

The Pittsford Chamber’s Business After Hours, hosted by Todd Longwell at Longwell Properties, was a wonderful evening of connection and community!

Local business owners and professionals gathered at the historic Pittsford Grain Tower to network, share ideas, and strengthen relationships within our vibrant business community. Guests enjoyed engaging conversations, refreshments, and a warm, collaborative atmosphere.

We were also joined by Town Supervisor Bill Smith and Village Mayor Alyssa Palmer, who shared updates and insights about what’s happening in Pittsford — making the evening even more meaningful.

A big thank you to Todd Longwell for hosting and to everyone who attended, contributed raffle items, and helped make the night such a success.

We look forward to seeing everyone at our next event — another chance to connect, collaborate, and grow together as a business community!

💼 Not yet a Chamber member?
Now’s the perfect time to join! Become part of a supportive local network that helps your business grow through events, partnerships, and community visibility.
👉 Join the Pittsford Chamber today

📸 Check out a few highlights from the evening below!

Business After Hours with Author Jennifer Collins

Local entrepreneurs gathered at Lock 32 Brewing Co. for a lively Pittsford Chamber Business After Hours event along the Erie Canal. The evening attracted local entrepreneurs with a book signing by author and business owner Jennifer Collins, sparking great conversation and new connections.

Guests shared what they do, explored ways to collaborate, and one lucky attendee won a signed book and custom 30-day nutrition plan.

Want to host a future Chamber event? Let us know—your business could be next!

Pittsford Youth Services Looking to Add New Board Members

Pittsford Youth Services

Pittsford Youth Services board members meet 10 times a year and may be on a subcommittee if interested for a particular topic. We are looking for interested Board Member that have an interest in supporting mental health services for kids and families. Any additional expertise such as HR or technology background would be helpful but not required. Board members are encouraged to help support the agency in either a fiduciary capacity or in-kind through our events, fundraisers, etc.

Anyone interested should contact Graig Roberts at 585-233-8394.

Learn more about Pittsford Youth Services at pittsfordyouthservices.org.

Pittsford Chamber’s “Courtside Connections” Social

We had a fantastic turnout at The Pittsford Pub & Grille for the Pittsford Chamber’s “Courtside Connections” Social on Thursday, March 20, celebrating the kickoff of March Madness! Members enjoyed great company, food, and drinks while catching the tournament action.

The evening also featured a fun raffle, and several lucky winners went home with cash prizes to make the night even sweeter.

Stay tuned for more Chamber socials in the coming months — all upcoming events will be posted on our website calendar. You won’t want to miss them!

Celebratory Luncheon at Village Hall

Every January, over pizza, chicken tenders, subs and soda, the Pittsford Chamber of Commerce salutes the employees of the Town and Village Departments of Public Works who help make every Candlelight Night a rousing success for the community. 

This ever-popular December Chamber event simply could not happen without the significant efforts of Public Works employees behind the scenes.

The celebratory luncheon at Village Hall was Wednesday, January 29.  Shown are members of public works and Town and Village administrators, who also played pivotal roles in the success of Candlelight Night!

Mark your calendars now!  Candlelight Night 2025 is Tuesday, December 2!  

Annual Rayson-Miller Post 899 New Year’s Brunch

Pittsford Chamber of Commerce members saluted our veterans and welcomed the CEO of the Greater Rochester YMCA, Ernie Lamour, to Pittsford for the annual Rayson-Miller Post 899 New Year’s brunch on Sunday, January 19, 2025.  Mr. Lamour, the guest speaker, talked about how YMCA programs benefit the youth in our community.  

The Chamber also wishes to acknowledge the Schottland Family Branch of the YMCA (corner of Clover and Jefferson Roads) for being a most valued Pittsford Chamber member and extraordinarily positive influence on everyone of all ages.

Left-to-Right: Greg Messner (Chamber President), Matt O’Connor (Chamber Treasurer),  Ernie Lamour (CEO of the Rochester YMCA), Abdullah Ijaz (Chamber Member), Jeff Cogan (Executive Director, Schottland Family Branch).

Opportunities for Business Owners and Entrepreneurs in the Wake of the Pandemic

Business owners and entrepreneurs in Pittsford, New York, who are looking to expand their investment potential across market sectors are poised for a breakout year as American society continues to gradually recover from the worst of the coronavirus pandemic. But some legwork is still necessary as you and your team chase new opportunities in any sector of the overall market.

Create a DBA

A DBA, or doing business as name, can be a great opportunity for your business to expand into new market segments or participate in opportunities beyond your existing sales model. This can help you launch a new product range under the umbrella of your company but existing as a standalone product line.

If you operate as a sole proprietorship or a general partnership, using a DBA helps you trade with a brand name that differs from your full, legal name. Sole proprietorships and general partnerships don’t need to file entity formation papers, so these businesses often fall back on a “doing business as” moniker to incorporate a brand name that differs from their own personal identities. This is an important step for many businesses, as 81% of all small businesses in the United States are “non-employer” businesses and therefore trade as sole proprietorships or in other singular fashion.

Add New Marketing Techniques

Marketing approaches are an essential ingredient in the success of any type of business. Reaching out to a graphic designer to help create new marketing materials, for instance, is a great option. Recapturing the energy that saw your brand flourish before the pandemic is going to take all your energy, but with the help of great third-party experts in fields such as marketing, this is easier than you might think. Marketing is a core competency in any business model, and it’s used to great effect to drive new interest in brands all around the world. Creating new digital and print content that can help spark community engagement with your brand is one of the most cost-effective and historically successful measures you can take under these circumstances.

It’s helpful to use an image conversion tool when working with a marketing company. You may need to compress images to share them, but compression can wreak havoc on image quality. With a converter, you can convert JPG to PDF online and protect pixel quality with ease. It’s even possible to convert bulk files with this type of software.

Think About Your Approach to Customer Service

Customer service is one of the primary factors in a brand’s ability to maintain high-quality consumer relationships over the long term. Businesses that take pride in their customer service strategy are poised to enjoy great successes for many years to come. Consumers are turning toward businesses that can solve their problems and add a friendly face to the transaction. Working to secure partnerships and ongoing relationships with customers is a surefire way to enjoy maximum success in any new business expansion or opportunity.

The Future of Business

The future looks bright for brands that have a finger on the pulse of the marketplace. Use these strategies to ensure your business is ready for the future.Visit the Pittsford Chamber of Commerce for more ideas to enhance your business.

Image via Pexels

This is the heading

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.

This is the heading

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.