This is the first installment of a weekly column about business and economic development in the New River Valley. The column will feature rotating authors who will be business leaders and from business organizations across the NRV. We hope you look for the “Honest to Business” column each and every Monday in 2010.

We are constantly barraged with news and opinions about such business topics as the economy, budget cuts, layoffs, foreclosures, business closings, stimulus packages . . . the list could go on and on.

In order to survive and even succeed in times like these, we have learned that we must get outside our old, familiar comfort zones and work together to develop and carry out more creative and often innovative solutions to the challenges we all are facing in our various businesses.

One trend that we at the Pulaski County Chamber of Commerce have noted among our membership is a renewed sense of co-operation, community, and working together to offer hope and encouragement to each other. Our businesses support each other in various ways, limited only by the creativity of the parties involved. We offer our members innovative ways to market their businesses in low-cost/no-cost fashion. Some members seem to be increasingly bartering their goods and services among themselves.

When members work out such things as bartering arrangements, they find themselves returning to some of the more old-fashioned considerations in doing business on which this country was built. They are getting to know each other better, relying on old-fashioned trust and ethics, and referring each other to members of their business network.

We are all in this challenging economy together: no-one is exempt. If we combine the benefits of innovative ways of doing things with the tried and true old-fashioned basics of cooperation and trust, we will glean the best from both worlds and eventually gain more stability as individuals, businesses, and a society.

In a competitive marketplace, credibility may be the key factor that sets your business apart from the rest. Small businesses are extremely important to our local and national economy. They employ half of all private sector employees, and pay almost half of the total U.S. private payroll.  Credibility is more often given as the key to their on-going success. Resist the urge to peddle a truly valuable commodity (your reputation) in pursuit of quick profits. Always keep your mind on the big picture, and you will be more successful in the long run.

We all make mistakes, and everyone understands that. A key factor to maintaining your credibility in business, however, is to admit rather than cover up or lie about errors. It is also important to do whatever is necessary to make the transaction right.

You must also consider your associations. You do not want to team up with other businesses or business persons who have credibility issues or honesty problems.

If people are not sure if a business is legitimate and trustworthy, they will tend to avoid that business. One challenge facing many business owners today is the process of establishing credibility on-line. One way to do this is to align yourself with reputable business associations.

Credibility is not something that happens overnight. Think of creative ways you can get involved in high-profile activities to build your credibility. To build up your credibility stock, you also need to get involved in the community. It is important that customers and potential customers see you supporting the community that supports you.

On Thursday evening, Jan. 14, the Pulaski County Chamber of Commerce will gather at Baker’s Best in Fairlawn to celebrate the 2009 year and kick off 2010. The theme of this year’s Annual Meeting is “Standing the Test of Time.” The reception will begin at 6 p.m. with dinner at 7 p.m., followed by the presentation of awards. We will be presenting awards for Small Business of the Year, Business Executive of the Year, Business Excellence Award, and Student Leadership Award.

For reservations to the Annual Meeting and/or more information about the Pulaski County Chamber of Commerce, please contact the Chamber at 540.674.1991 or e-mail: claudia@pulaskichamber.info. Cost is $35 per person.

Everyone is cordially invited to join us at this gala event to enjoy a great evening of food and fellowship, and to help honor the award winners. It will also give you an opportunity to learn more about some of the things we do throughout the year. We have learned that all of us working together can do so much more than we can accomplish alone or in small numbers.

We plan to work hard on a number of initiatives in 2010, and at the end of the year, we will all be feeling good about ourselves and each other as we reach new heights individually and collectively.

When better economic times return, we hope some of these old-fashioned common-sense methods and values remain. When we maintain that sense of community and offer hope and practical encouragement to each other, our sense of pride and togetherness makes our area an even better place to live, work, and play.

Peggy White is Executive Director of the Pulaski County Chamber of Commerce.