Danielle Bodnar looks back on her first year leading UBCC

BY MELINDA RIZZO

​From the new digital sign out front to more mixers, more networking opportunities, more ribbon cuttings, more connections UBCC Executive Director Danielle Bodnar took a look back at her first year at the helm and considers the vision for 2020.
 
“Danielle is doing a great job increasing the visual presence of the chamber and building many more strong contacts,” said Jason Wehrung, owner of Wehrung’s Lumber and Home Center in Ottsville and Wehrung’s Family of Businesses. He’s also a past president of the UBCC Board of Directors.
During 2019 UBCC hosted 11 mixers, signed on 49 new members, held nine ribbon cuttings and hosted three business ground breakings.
 
Bodnar said one of the biggest hurdles early on was making contact with each of the nearly 500 members, meeting and visiting them to learn about their business needs.
 
“After watching her in action over the past year; we all realized that we under estimated what a great fit she would be for the chamber.  She is engaging, inclusive and inspirational with a focus on partnerships, communication and accomplishments” said Kathy Ramson, network director healthy living and chronic disease at St. Luke’s University Health Network and 2020 UBCC board president.
 
Bodnar said the continuing success of such signature events as Foodie, golf outing, clay shoot, legislative series, transportation forum and the new employer summit meant these opportunities resonated with the community.
“I’m proud of the new events we initiated this year such as the transportation forum, the workforce and employer summit, cash mobs (for retailers) and new initiatives to highlight our chamber members,” Bodnar said.
 
By adding a “people’s choice vote” awards component she brought a Hollywood flare to UBCC’s annual meeting held in November.
 
The warm friendly welcome Bodnar said she received in October 2018 continues.
 
“While I was new to the chamber, I’m not new to Upper Bucks,” said the native of Sellersville and resident of Milford Township, where she makes her home with husband Joe and two children.
 
Bodnar’s mindful that being a chamber member is a conscious choice.
 
“Membership can enhance your business relationships and business culture,” she noted.
 
What’s she’s learned over the past year will drive fine-tuning and new initiatives for 2020.
 
“My top goal is to offer events and programs members feel are relevant, making the chamber something future members feel they can’t live without,” Bodnar explained.
 
From workforce development and helping create a funnel for filling vacant job positions to attracting and retaining employees and highlighting soft skills everyone needs to be successful a business environment, creating partnerships and alliances is key.
 
“The business and education partnership between Upper Bucks County Technical School and our employers is something I’d like to develop more in 2020,” she said.

“It’s really about building relationships and trust,” Bodnar said.