Guest Blog Contributed by Chamber Member:
Daniel Lacy, Executive Director Bob’s Auto Cafe

    Hard to believe but self-driving cars are right around the corner. Meanwhile, siblings, parents, and grandparents will continue to chauffeur kids in their vehicles. All the while, guess who is watching you drive?

    A couple of weeks ago I was behind a vehicle turning right from a four-way stop… but they never stopped, rolled through the intersection at over 5mph. They then proceeded to make an unsafe lane change and go way below the speed limit. Their head was bobbing around distracted by something else. Next turn was into a Kinder Care where they were about to drop off a child. And guess who was watching and learning from the backseat?… Read the rest

Guest Blog Contributed by Chamber Member:
Safe & Hound Doggy Daycare

Summer is right around the corner and all of us here at Safe & Hound are excited for the warm weather ahead! Summer is a great time for outdoor adventures or get together with your friends and family members. Being able to take your canine companion with you on your summer adventures is always a blast! Here are some tips to keep things safe for your four-legged family members so the adventures are safe and memorable!

Plenty of Water

Dogs need access to fresh water throughout the day. Having unlimited access to water is especially important on hot days. Just like humans, dogs can get dehydrated too. Always take water with you on your outdoor adventures, whether you’re on a hike or hanging out in the backyard.… Read the rest

Guest Blog Contributed by Chamber Member Classic Choice Payroll Solutions

EEO-1 Reporting Requirements Finalized

The hotly contested issue of what exactly needs to be filed for EEO-1 reporting this year has been resolved—at least for now. Pay data for both 2017 and 2018 must be reported to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) by September 30, 2019. The data that has been required in years past is still due by May 31, 2019. An appeal of the latest decision has been filed, so it’s possible that there could be yet another change to the requirements, but employers should plan to comply with these deadlines, as described below.

Does my business even need to file the EEO-1 report?

If you have fewer than 100 employees and no federal contracts, you are not subject to EEO-1 reporting requirements.… Read the rest

Guest Blog Contributed by Chamber Member
Chris Mason, President and CEO Integration Engineers, LLC

A decade ago, smartphones (by todays’ standards) didn’t exist. Thirty years earlier, the only computers that existed were large mainframe machines occupying entire buildings. Today we have as much computing power in the phone we carry in our pocket.

Computer chips have become increasingly powerful while costing less. That’s because over the last five decades the number of transistors—or the tiny electrical components that perform basic operations—on a single chip have been doubling regularly. The doubling of computer processing speed every 18 months, known as Moore’s Law, is just one manifestation of the greater trend that all technological change occurs at an exponential rate.

Today, taking advantage of technology to provide a watchful eye on your home has never been easier or cheaper.… Read the rest