How does your business stand out in a crowded, distracting digital world? What if you could tell a dream story that makes your clients pause, feel seen and say, “I need to work with them!”? Imagine having visuals and messaging that spark real conversations and generate more business. Build trust before a single sales call and attract the type of loyal repeat clients who become your biggest advocates.

Drawing from my background in PR and experience as a portrait and branding photographer, you’ll learn how to craft a brand that isn’t a dream but rather a reality. Learn practical tips to help you grow a brand that’s relatable, inviting, and most importantly… you. Bringing together incredible visuals and your voice, your brand doesn’t just become recognizable, it becomes unforgettable.

Jaimié Birtel has over a decade of experience in PR and communications, helping global brands tell their stories and connect genuinely with their audiences. She’s led brand campaigns, media relations, executive coaching, and worked behind the scenes to build strong visibility for global companies. Now, she combines that expertise with her love for portrait and branding photography to help entrepreneurs share authentic, compelling stories through visuals and words. Jaimié knows what makes a message resonate—so your brand feels real, relatable, and unforgettable. She’s all about empowering clients to show up confidently and consistently everywhere they go.

Celebrating Dreams is Business Impact NW’s annual showcase event highlighting women-owned businesses across Washington. It’s an evening that brings together entrepreneurs, partners, and supporters to connect and strengthen the relationships that move businesses forward.

This year’s theme, “Nurturing Our Networks,” reflects what makes the event meaningful: the connections that turn conversations into opportunity.

Coffee & Conversations with Sound Transit Representatives.

Wednesday, May 6th
11:00am -12:00pm
Mercer Island Community & Event Center 

Join us as we hear from Sound Transit and discuss the new 2 Line operations, readership, and advertisement opportunities for small businesses.

The Coffee & Conversations series allows business leaders in the community to engage in an intimate setting with city and regional leaders for discussions that are affecting businesses directly. Such conversations bridge the gap, allowing views, voices, and conversations to take place in the ever-changing economic map of our community.

**Members only event.

Are you thinking of starting a business?

Do you already have a business but want it to grow?

Are you facing a business puzzle that you’d like help with?

Schedule your free 30-minute session with one of our talented business coaches!

Drop-In Coaching sessions are held at the Mercer Island Community Center, 8236 SE 24th ST, Mercer Island, WA 98040.
Tuesday, May 12th
10am - 1pm

Note: Please limit reservations to one session. Sessions are free and open to all businesses. 

Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities will be made if requested at least two weeks in advance. Contact coaching@businessimpactnw.org or call (206) 324-4330

The Chamber’s Board of Directors meets monthly to review organizational business, financial reports, and strategic initiatives. These meetings provide an opportunity for the board to discuss ongoing programs, evaluate progress toward goals, and make decisions that guide the Chamber’s operations and community impact.

This is a regularly scheduled governance meeting of the Chamber’s leadership team.

This is a closed meeting. 

If you have been enjoying the new Amplify Mercer Island reel series, then you won't want to miss this workshop.

Film Better Content in 60 Minutes — No New Phone, Gear or Creativity Required 

Video is king on Instagram, but what if everything you take looks a little… “meh?” Well good news: you do not need a new phone, expensive gear, or track down your high school niece to capture good content. You just need 60 minutes and a no-fail filming technique. 

This month’s chamber meeting features a hands-on video skills session with Sheena Kalso of Behind Your Scenes. Sheena teaches business owners, retailers, and service professionals how to film content that actually looks good — using nothing but the phone already in their pocket. 

She calls it the BYS Method. It is a repeatable, no-fail formula that removes the guesswork from content creation and replaces it with simple habits you can use every single day. 

In 60 minutes you will learn: 
How to hold your phone like a pro (this alone changes everything) 
Which lens to use and when 
A simple filming framework that gives every video a beginning, middle, and end 
How to capture great footage in any environment, any lighting, any situation 

No experience required. No creative instincts needed. Just bring your phone. 

Sheena has helped dozens of non-techy, non-creative business owners become confident content creators. You won’t consistently show up on social media if you don’t feel confident in what you capture. This session fixes that. 

Thursday, May 21st
11:30am-1:00pm
The Rock- Mercer Island
                7605 SE 27th St
Members: $15
Guests: $20

Light snacks and water provided, but feel free to bring your own lunch to enjoy. 

Photo Disclaimer
Please note that promotional photos will be taken during this workshop for use by the venue and event organizers. By attending, you consent to being photographed and acknowledge that these images may be used in marketing and promotional materials. If you prefer not to be photographed, please inform a staff member upon arrival.

Registration and payment required before workshop. Registration is non refundable. Please make sure you are able to attend before pruchasing tickets.