Troy Chamber, Walsh College celebrate new partnership

TROY — A new partnership between the Troy Chamber of Commerce and Troy-based Walsh College was celebrated Oct. 4.

The Troy Chamber will now have its offices on the campus of Walsh, allowing a new level of cooperation and coordination between the two organizations.

“Having the chamber here, having members of the chamber come and go, having events and having a collaborative space truly exemplifies the best of teaching and learning,” said Suzy Siegle, Walsh’s president and CEO. “Walsh takes an applied approach to education, with real-world experience. The ability to have businesses on our campus will add so much.”

“I’m really excited about this partnership between Walsh College and the Troy Chamber of Commerce,” added Troy Mayor Ethan Baker. “I spend a lot of time with the Troy Chamber and their amazing team, and I know the good work they are doing in our business community both in Troy and in our region and state. To know that they are now on the campus of another major institution in our city is giving themselves the opportunity to become a business hub here in Troy. It sets our city apart, which is only going to be good for everybody.”

The ribbon-cutting also featured an announcement about a 15% discount in graduate, master’s and doctoral-level courses, training and certificates for Troy Chamber members, their employees and their families. They also will receive a 15% discount on room rentals, a 5% discount on Walsh’s undergraduate courses and training, as well as complimentary booths at Walsh College career fairs.

“The partnership between Walsh College and the Troy Chamber of Commerce is extraordinary,” said Siegle. “It truly is a collaboration of business and education. Not only will it serve members of the Troy Chamber, but it will provide access and opportunity for higher education and technology for their families and employees. It will also elevate the reputation of Walsh in the community.”

“What I think is good about it is that these educational discounts are going to really help the community,” added Tara Tomcsik-Husak, the president and CEO of the Troy Chamber. “Education can be costly. There are a lot of classes, like continuing education courses, that people need, and now as a Troy Chamber member, they can not only take (those), but work with Walsh on improving or growing.”

Tomcsik-Husak said this could be particularly beneficial with Walsh being the collaborative partner, since so much of what they offer are online classes.

“A lot of Walsh is online classes,” she explained. “So, you can actually join the Troy Chamber and not even be in Troy. There are other communities and other businesses that can join, and we will welcome them from everywhere. You join the chamber where you want to do business, and Troy is the right place to do business.”

Tomcsik-Husak said the goal was to improve both organizations and the community as a whole.

“I think (this new partnership) is more about benefiting the community than benefiting the chamber,” she said. “The Troy Chamber of Commerce moving into one of the best business schools in the country makes perfect sense. … We’re trying to fund the best ways to serve our business communities and business members and giving them what they want.”

Thus far, both Siegle and Tomcsik-Husak said the partnership has been great.

“I think the synergy has already been spectacular,” said Tomcsik-Husak. “We’ve only been here a month, and even in that month we are already seeing collaborations come to life. Suzy (Siegle) has a really good vision for the future, and when you put vision and energy together, the world is your oyster.”

Both believe this will not only set their respective organizations apart but drive job creation and further opportunities in Troy.

“Nothing like this has ever been done,” said Siegle. “We’re opening access and opportunity. A critical need in this state is to expand educational opportunities, especially where workforce development is key. … We really believe we can serve the chamber and the businesses in the chamber by better preparing students for what the industry and the market needs. … We are trendsetters. We are going to create the future of what business and education looks like. There are so many questions these days about the value of higher ed. We want to tell people we deliver a return on investment second to none and you can see that through having the chamber on our campus.”

“If we are looking at our economy as a whole and our community as a whole, making sure we have the right education and collaborations are really important for our future,” added Tomcsik-Husak. “When you join the Troy Chamber, our job is to help connect you to the things you need. Now we can also work with Walsh to connect you to the educational things you need.”