The Butler County Chamber of Commerce stands at the center of the business community here.

With about 650 members, the chamber is involved with business in all corners of the county.

“We're a business advocacy organization that promotes its members and members' businesses so they are successful,” said Stan Kosciuszko, president of the chamber.

Kosciuszko said the diversity of the county is what makes it a viable place to do business.

“If you drive from Petrolia down to Cranberry, it looks like you've gone through six different states,” he said. “We have everything here.”

That diversity is evident in the membership of the chamber.

“We have such a diverse group of businesses, ranging from small nonprofits to MSA,” Kosciuszko said.

The strength of the business community in the county is shown in its consistently lower unemployment rates than other counties in the region, and its growing business population.

“Two years ago we were the sixth-fastest growing county in the U.S.,” Kosciuszko said. “Quality of life is good so businesses want to be here.”

Kosciuszko and his administrative assistant, Jennifer Monaco, are the chamber's only two staff members.

“For me it's wonderful, but for Jen, who has to answer the phone all day, it's probably a little aggravating,” he joked.

The chamber continued to experience growth last year, increasing its membership about 10 percent.

Kosciuszko said about 95 percent of its members are located in the county, while the remaining 5 percent do business here.

Becoming a member of the chamber is beneficial for businesses, Kosciuszko said.

“It's good exposure, good PR for them to be a member of the chamber,” he said. “But we're able to help provide services in more ways than that.”

Kosciuszko said the chamber serves much like the Better Business Bureau in Pittsburgh.

“If someone has a complaint against a company, we will contact that business to see if we can avoid (similar problems) in the future,” he said.

One of the major aspects of the chamber is its focus on leadership.

Its Leadership Butler County program is in its 21st year of training business professionals.

Each year the program enrolls 20 to 25 people, almost always chamber members, to learn about the county and tackle community projects.

“Every month the group explores various aspects of the county,” Kosciuszko said.

Work in the program pays off for its participants.

“About 40 percent of our board members are graduates of the program,” Kosciuszko said.

The 18-member board helps organize and manage the chamber.

“We have a wonderful board,” Kosciuszko said. “It's a really hands-on group.”

Brian McCafferty of Kenmac Rentals in Butler is the new board chairman this year. He replaces Tammy Schuey of the Butler Eagle.

“We had a very good board chair last year,” Kosciuszko said.

Board members are made up of representatives from different businesses and agencies.

“A lot sit on other boards, so they bring in that outside information as well,” Kosciuszko said.

While the chamber board is active in many other aspects of the community, Kosciuszko said it remains confidential in chamber matters.

“In the 12 years I've been here nothing has gotten outside the board meetings,” he said.

One of the ways the chamber helps serve its members is by hosting symposiums on the issues facing businesses.

“(We) try to get on top of what's topical,” Kosciuszko said.

An agent from the FBI spoke last year at a symposium on security checks, while the chamber also hosted a technology symposium.

This year, the chamber is planning sessions on energy and disaster preparedness.

It sponsors a variety of networking and social events, including luncheons.

“We do a lot of social networking,” Kosciuszko said. “The more you socialize, the more prone people are to do business with you. People like to do business with someone they trust.”

While networking with other businesses in the county is a key element to the luncheons, the chamber also uses them to network with other chambers and agencies in the region.

“We get exposed in a more regional manner,” Kosciuszko said, adding many companies in the chamber do business outside the county as well.

While the Butler chamber extends a welcoming hand, not all regional chambers are as sociable.

“Some don't want to be part of cooperative efforts,” Kosciuszko said. “They're a little more territorial and don't like that.”

However, cooperation is not difficult to find in the county.

“It's very easy to get cooperation here if you have a good idea,” Kosciuszko said. “And there are a lot of clever people in Butler County.”

<b>Address</b>: 101 E. Diamond St., Lower Level, Suite 116<b>President</b>: Stan Kosciuszko<b>Board chairman</b>: Brian McCafferty of Kenmac Rentals in Butler<b>Employees</b>: 2<b>Mission</b>: To preserve, enhance and extend the quality of life and economic vitality of business in Butler County.<b>Website</b>: www.butlercountychamber.com