What You Think

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What You Think About the Partnership

I’d like to share with you the results of two recent surveys of our members. 

Mid-May we commissioned a phone poll to learn how members feel about a number of matters – from our advocacy efforts, to the way we communicate with you.  The survey results are based on responses from 300 randomly selected Partnership members, 83% of whom represent small companies (which is a fair representation of our membership:  84% of our total members employ fewer than 50 people).  The poll was conducted by Barry Zeplowitz & Associates, a Partnership member company. 

Here are a few highlights:

We were pleased to learn that 82% of those polled “strongly agreed” that the Partnership fights to improve the business climate, and that 88% “strongly agreed” that the Partnership is made up of local employers working together to create economic growth for the region.

When members were asked which one issue impacts their business the most, the answers ran the gamut.  The top five responses were: high taxes, health care costs, lack of skilled workforce, regulations and insurance costs.  And while there wasn’t one issue that stood out as the business community’s biggest challenge, the good news is that your priorities are where our staff and volunteers are putting the most effort advocating for reform.

That said, 88% of respondents were not aware of the Partnership’s NOW Campaign by name.  Hopefully, that’s changed in the last week, as Partnership members have all received a copy of our 20th NOW quarterly report in the mail.  If you’d like to read the report, or learn more about the NOW Campaign – our initiative focused on improving the local and state business climate – please visit http://www.thepartnership.org/Home/GainInsight/TheIssues.

Other Partnership initiatives that far fewer respondents are aware of than we’d like, are our Small Business Procurement Program and Diversity Supplier Programs.  These web-based programs link Partnership members seeking a product or service, with small local companies and/or women or minority-owned firms that can meet their needs.  It’s a perfect way for local businesspeople to patronize each other.  For more information visit: http://www.thepartnership.org/Home/Growyourbusiness/Procurement

Finally, more than 70% of those polled recalled hearing from the Partnership more than 10 times in the last year.  And while 50% of CEOs and owners found the communications very useful, close to 90% of folks at the “manager” level do; another reason to forward information from us throughout your organization (remember: every employee of a Partnership member company can enjoy membership rates and benefits).

The Zeplowitz poll found that 41% of our members initially joined to take advantage of our health insurance services.  In late May and early June, 198 members responded to a web-based poll conducted by Performance Management Partners, Inc., also a member company. That poll focused on our insurance offerings, and found that approximately 85% of respondents believe the Partnership’s team of insurance associates provide good or excellent service (courteous, knowledgeable and responsive), and that approximately 75% believe the Partnership’s health, dental and vision insurance product offerings were as good or better than those offered elsewhere. 

While the survey information above is useful to the Partnership staff as we constantly seek to improve, we know the results are just a glimpse at the full picture of what our members think.  Because of that, I encourage you, as always, to send me a reply and let me know directly what you think about how we’re doing.

Sincerely,

AJR