Years ago, sponsorship meant a logo on a t-shirt, an ad in program, a sign at an event, or a “brought to you by…” announcement. Today, technology has created many more opportunities in the form of website banners, display ads in emails, and social media features, along with traditional signage and complimentary event tickets. Sponsorship also supports search engine optimization (SEO) with backlinks from trusted sources, which Google rewards with higher rankings in search results.

Sponsorship with the Princeton Mercer Regional Chamber of Commerce does indeed deliver these measurable business benefits and more. There are five tiers of Sustaining Sponsors, each offering a unique level of visibility and opportunity, as well as event-specific sponsorships. Perhaps the greatest value, however, is the opportunity to engage the community and show who you are on a deeper level.

“Chamber sponsorship shows you’re a good community partner,” said Christine Curnan, Vice President, Membership and Business Development for the Princeton Mercer Chamber. “You engage members and potential clients where they live, eat, and play. By supporting the Chamber, you help to facilitate opportunities for the community to come together, network, build relationships, and get business done.”

Meet Cecilia Jackson of Forte, a local Salesforce consultancy and new Chamber sponsor, and Robin Lefkowitz of Northfield Bank, a long-time Chamber sponsor and full-service community bank, with branches in New Jersey and New York. Their stories speak directly to the true meaning of sponsorship.

Cecilia Jackson, Forte (Platinum Sustaining Sponsor)

Six years ago, Cecilia Jackson restarted her career after taking a break to focus on her family as a stay-at-home mom. After working in the pharmaceutical industry as a systems, applications, and products (SAP)-certified human capital management (HCM) consultant, she decided to shift gears with Salesforce.

Cecilia founded Forte, a Salesforce customer relationship management (CRM) consulting partner that provides implementation and managed services with key Salesforce products, such as Sales Cloud, Service Cloud, Nonprofit Cloud, Education Cloud, and Health Cloud. To re-engage the business and nonprofit community, she joined the Princeton Mercer Regional Chamber.

“My family needed me and I took a break,” Cecilia said. “Not everyone gets that opportunity. But coming back to the workforce is hard because you still have to be a mom. After I opened my own shop, I joined the Chamber and became a sponsor to get back out there, meet people, and build awareness for the business.”

Sponsorship is not the exclusive domain of large corporations. It gives small businesses like Forte a level of visibility that Cecilia would not be able to achieve on her own. She can also choose to sponsor events that align with her values and business priorities, including Women in Business Alliance events and technology-related events that can connect Forte with potential partners and clients.

“I can’t cover the Mercer County region the way the Chamber can,” Cecilia said. “The Chamber puts me in the right places at the right times, and they do the marketing. When I can’t be physically present at an event, sponsorship gives me that visibility and creates opportunities even when I can’t be there. I’m very happy with how this partnership has evolved.”

From Cecilia’s perspective, the value of Chamber sponsorship goes far beyond business development.

“I want my story to inspire women, including my own daughters,” Cecilia said. “Being part of the Chamber as a member and a sponsor allows me to share my story. Women should know that you don’t have to choose between work and life. I want to be one of those stories that proves you can do both. You just have to make good decisions with calculated risks, and work hard to get back.”

Robin Lefkowitz, Northfield Bank (Chairman’s Council Sustaining Sponsor)

In 2016, Northfield Bank merged with Hopewell Community Bank, which had previously been a sponsor of the Princeton Mercer Regional Chamber. Continuing the sponsorship was an easy decision.

“When Northfield Bank first absorbed Hopewell, we wanted the community to know that we’re here to support them,” said Robin Lefkowitz, Executive Vice President, Chief Branch Administration, Deposit Operations, and Business Development Officer at Northfield Bank. “We wanted to support what was already being done, maybe in an even bigger way. In fact, we increased the sponsorship level and the number of employees at each event.”

Of course, increased visibility and presence create more opportunities for business development. Every event, banner, display ad, email, and social media post builds awareness and trust through Northfield Bank’s partnership with the Chamber. Sponsorship shows their team is accessible and eager to engage.

“We always find new customers and stay in touch with existing customers through the Chamber,” Robin said. “I’ve told Hal (English) that I feel the Princeton Mercer Chamber is the best when it comes to supporting businesses, sponsors, and local communities. That’s why the movers and shakers attend Chamber events. These events are meaningful and help members make a difference.”

Northfield Bank wants to reinforce how much they care about the community by not only attending events, but showing leadership as a sponsor. This speaks volumes about the trustworthiness and commitment of Northfield Bank to the Chamber and the people they serve.

“Sponsorship is an honor,” Robin said. “We hear our name announced at events and we get a little more face time with members and speakers. Participation in Chamber events and activities is wonderful, but sponsorship elevates the relationship to a true partnership with the Chamber. We’re very proud of that.”

See the Princeton Mercer Regional Chamber’s Sustaining Sponsors here. To learn more about sponsorship opportunities with the Chamber, contact Christine Curnan at christine@princetonmercer.org.