Fluno Center to host U.S. Chamber of Commerce Institute

The Fluno Center on the University of Wisconsin–Madison campus has been named host of one of the United States Chamber of Commerce’s Institute for Organization Management programs beginning in 2005. This annual program will be held for one week in June and attracts nearly 200 association and chamber of commerce professionals from throughout the United States.

Midwest Institute is one of five regional programs the U.S. Chamber holds throughout the U.S. that provides management and leadership training for association, chamber of commerce and other nonprofit professionals. The training consists of four one-week sessions and more than 90 hours of classroom training in nonprofit organization excellence.

Ted Beck, associate dean of executive education and corporate relations, says, “We are pleased to assist in bringing a program with national scope and reputation as the United States Chamber of Commerce’s Institute to Madison. We feel the combined resources of the university and the city will provide an excellent home to Midwest Institute.”

The Fluno Center, which was ranked first internationally for food and accommodations for custom programs by the London-based Financial Times in May 2004, was a key attraction.

“As stewards of the leading professional development program for chambers and associations, it is our responsibility to ensure that institute campuses provide the right learning environment, and we are delighted by what the Fluno Center has to offer,” says Raymond P. Towle, IOM, CAE, U.S. Chamber executive director of federation relations. “The classrooms are state-of-the-art, the onsite support is beyond comparison, and the campus community in Madison offers a top quality learning and networking environment.”

The Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce and the Greater Madison Convention and Visitors Bureau have worked in cooperation with UW–Madison in bringing this event to Madison and the Fluno Center.

Jennifer Alexander, president of the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce, says, “We look forward to welcoming nonprofit leaders from across the country as they experience the assets of our community, including its strong business climate, exceptional recreation and entertainment and educational excellence.”

“The selection of Madison, Wisconsin, for one of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce premier programs is important news. This indicates the national notoriety Madison is attaining as an excellent location for training and development events,” says Deb Archer, president and CEO of the Greater Madison Convention and Visitors Bureau. “We look forward to welcoming these national, private sector leaders to our community on an annual basis.”

The U.S. Chamber is the third member-based organization this summer to announce that it’s bringing its training programs to the Fluno Center. Both the Edison Electric Institute and the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association began offering training programs at the Fluno Center in August.