CMBA Meeting Notes

Credit Card Processing, Emergency Preparedness & Highway 217

By Dawn Anderson

During the April CMBA meeting, Eric Jenks with Total Merchant Concepts, Inc. presented information on credit card processing for small businesses. Last year, for the first time, there were more credit card transactions than checks processed. There are 270 different rates businesses pay to process credit cards. Eric recommended that businesses start their search for bank card merchant services by checking with their financial institution and asking for recommendations. The number one concern in the industry is fraud. Credit card losses totaled $52 billion last year. For more information on bank card services, contact Eric at 1-888-249-9919 or check out TotalMerchantConcepts.com. Thanks to Jenny Bevard of Sunset Science Park Credit Union for bringing us this speaker.

Craig Lyon, from Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue, discussed Emergency Preparedness. He went over the “Take 5 to Survive” program developed by The Office of Consolidated Emergency Management. It is available on their website tvfr.com/dept/cs/campaigns/Take5. Craig recommended Taking 5 to Prepare by completing the 5 Minute Projects.

We also heard from Bret Richards and Alex Cousins, with the Oregon Department of Transportation on the Highway 217 Improvement Project. This modernization project will add a third northbound lane on OR 217 from TV Highway to Sunset Highway.  Work will begin this summer and take 3 summers to complete. See www.oregon.gov/ODOT/HWY/REGION1/hwy217 for more information.

The CMBA meeting is being held at the same time as the Beaverton Chamber of Commerce monthly meeting. The board is considering changing the CMBA meeting to the second or fourth Tuesday of each month. An email survey will be sent out soon to gather feedback.

The next meeting of the CMBA will be held on Tuesday, May 15 at noon in the Cedar Mill Community Library meeting room. The topic will be Hiring and Retaining Good Employees (see page 1). Please join us!

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