Scott Muelrath uses his own business knowledge, experience to guide chamber
HENDERSON, Nev. – Since Scott Muelrath took the reins of the Henderson Chamber six months ago, he’s been busy.
During his time as executive director for the Henderson Chamber, Muelrath has made it his mission to increase the value of having a Henderson Chamber membership.
“My mantra is access and advocacy,” he said. “We are concluding a strategic planning session in which we evaluated everything we do, and we developed the required structure needed to deliver those services in the most effective way possible.”
The chamber also increased its services through strategic partners and recently welcomed the Nevada Microenterprise Initiative into the Henderson Business Resource Center to assist small businesses with micro-loan needs.
“The Henderson Chamber is a large enough organization to be influential in the community, but small enough to connect with members on a personal basis,” Muelrath said. “We are embracing this balance like never before and are truly representing small business in everything we do.”
This attention to business owners, as well as Scott’s ability to lead by example, is something that appeals to chamber member and board of directors secretary Tim Brooks, owner of the Emerald Island Casino.
“When Scott was selected as CEO of the chamber, I was pretty sure he was the right person for the job. Now I’m 100 percent sure,” Brooks said, adding that he’s already learned from Muelrath how to better run his business. “From a business standpoint, I’d follow that man anywhere.”
With Muelrath at the helm, the chamber has restructured some of its committees, from membership to events, to increase the return on investment for membership. For example, the chamber’s Issues Committee worked closely with the City of Henderson’s Development Services Center and Fire Department to collectively address new fire suppression fees that were the source of many complaints from local businesses. Muelrath and the committee held a series of meetings and the City agreed to change the fee structure, proving a measurable economic benefit to all businesses in Henderson that have fire suppression systems. Larger buildings and tenants saved thousands of dollars annually due to this advocacy.
The Henderson Development Association, the economic development arm of the HCC, has also developed some new programs and initiatives. In its efforts to support workforce development, Muelrath and the HDA started a program called Henderson On-Board, where new employees to town are connected to the City’s benefits and business community so they can understand everything Henderson has to offer.
“Helping relocating families settle in allows a higher level of worker satisfaction, and, thus, an improved workforce environment,” Muelrath said. “As an organization dedicated to supporting our member businesses, we felt this would be an excellent and unique way to benefit our members.”
On April 20, the HDA will partner with Harsch Investment Properties and the City of Henderson to organize a large-scale business networking event, The Henderson Business Connection, to promote Southern Nevada’s economic development efforts.
The Henderson Chamber of Commerce is a nonprofit, voluntary organization committed to promoting and supporting member businesses.
For more information on the Henderson Chamber of Commerce, call 702-565-8951 or visit www.hendersonchamber.com.