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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART:20250924T160000Z
DTEND:20250924T173000Z
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SUMMARY:Lunch&Learn - Politics & Business 101 (Sep 2025)
DESCRIPTION:Lunch&Learn: Politics & Business 101\n\nWhat You Need to Know (Without the Partisan Noise)\nJoin Alex Roche\, Director of Advocacy at the Greater Reading Chamber Alliance\, for an accessible\, nonpartisan introduction to the intersection of local politics and business.\n\n\n\nPolitics & Business 101 is designed to help business owners\, entrepreneurs\, nonprofit leaders\, and community stakeholders better understand how government decisions directly impact our regional economy and how you can engage confidently and constructively.\n\n \n\nWhether you're wondering how city council decisions affect your operations\, what a county commissioner actually does\, or how to build relationships with elected officials\, this session will give you the tools and context to get involved without getting overwhelmed.\n\n \n\nYou'll walk away with:\n\n\n A breakdown of how local and state government works (and why it matters to your bottom line) \n Tips for building productive\, nonpartisan relationships with policymakers\n An overview of current advocacy priorities in Greater Reading \n Practical ways to stay informed and make your voice heard\n\n \n\nOpen to businesses of all sizes nonprofits included. Whether you're a solo entrepreneur\, a large employer\, or part of a mission-driven organization\, this session is for you.\n\nThis event is perfect for:\n\n\n Small and large business owners\n Nonprofit professionals\n Managers and HR leaders\n Board members\n Anyone curious about how to navigate the civic landscape as a business or community leader\n\n\n \n\nNo politics degree required just curiosity and a desire to make a difference in your community!\n\n_____________________________________________________\n\n\n\nAlex Roche | GRCA\n\nAlex is an accomplished advocate and strategist with a strong background in public administration\, community service\, and strategic communications. He holds a Master of Public Administration from the University of Colorado Denver and dual Bachelor's degrees in Biochemistry and Forensic Science from Alvernia University.\n\n\n\nCurrently\, Alex serves as the Director of Advocacy at the Greater Reading Chamber Alliance (GRCA)\, where he leads the organization's legislative agenda and strategic communications. He is responsible for shaping GRCA's Pro-Business Advocacy Statements\, fostering relationships with policymakers\, and managing GRCA's advocacy presence across various platforms. His role involves engaging community stakeholders\, providing crucial information on policy trends\, and facilitating discussions through the Business & Community Advocacy Council.\n\n\n\nIn addition to his role at GRCA\, Alex works as a Strategy and Project Consultant at Sustainable Misfits\, developing mission-driven organizational strategies and community-focused educational programs. His prior experience includes a significant tenure as a Project Manager at The Food Trust\, where he managed nutrition education programs\, developed community food access initiatives\, and spearheaded projects that contributed over $200\,000 annually in fresh produce to the Reading community. His expertise and contributions have been recognized through publications\, including a notable study through Downtown Colorado Inc. (DCI) on local economic development and awards such as the Alumni Service Award from Alvernia University\n\n\n\nThank you to our Lunch&Learn Sponsor:
X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:Lunch&\;Learn: Politics &\; Business 101
\nWhat You Need to Know (Without the Partisan Noise)\nJoin Alex Roche\, Director of Advocacy at the Greater Reading Chamber Alliance\, for an accessible\, nonpartisan introduction to the intersection of local politics and business.
\n
\nPolitics &\; Business 101 is designed to help business owners\, entrepreneurs\, nonprofit leaders\, and community stakeholders better understand how government decisions directly impact our regional economy and how you can engage confidently and constructively.
\n \;
\nWhether you&rsquo\;re wondering how city council decisions affect your operations\, what a county commissioner actually does\, or how to build relationships with elected officials\, this session will give you the tools and context to get involved without getting overwhelmed.
\n \;
\nYou&rsquo\;ll walk away with:
\n\n\n - A breakdown of how local and state government works (and why it matters to your bottom line)
\n - Tips for building productive\, nonpartisan relationships with policymakers
\n - An overview of current advocacy priorities in Greater Reading
\n - Practical ways to stay informed and make your voice heard
\n
\n \;
\nOpen to businesses of all sizes&mdash\;nonprofits included. Whether you&rsquo\;re a solo entrepreneur\, a large employer\, or part of a mission-driven organization\, this session is for you.
\nThis event is perfect for:\n\n\n - Small and large business owners
\n - Nonprofit professionals
\n - Managers and HR leaders
\n - Board members
\n - Anyone curious about how to navigate the civic landscape as a business or community leader
\n
\n\n \;
\nNo politics degree required&hellip\;just curiosity and a desire to make a difference in your community!
\n_____________________________________________________
\n
\nAlex Roche | GRCA
\nAlex is an accomplished advocate and strategist with a strong background in public administration\, community service\, and strategic communications. He holds a Master of Public Administration from the University of Colorado Denver and dual Bachelor&rsquo\;s degrees in Biochemistry and Forensic Science from Alvernia University.
\n
\nCurrently\, Alex serves as the Director of Advocacy at the Greater Reading Chamber Alliance (GRCA)\, where he leads the organization&rsquo\;s legislative agenda and strategic communications. He is responsible for shaping GRCA&rsquo\;s Pro-Business Advocacy Statements\, fostering relationships with policymakers\, and managing GRCA&rsquo\;s advocacy presence across various platforms. His role involves engaging community stakeholders\, providing crucial information on policy trends\, and facilitating discussions through the Business &\; Community Advocacy Council.
\n
\nIn addition to his role at GRCA\, Alex works as a Strategy and Project Consultant at Sustainable Misfits\, developing mission-driven organizational strategies and community-focused educational programs. His prior experience includes a significant tenure as a Project Manager at The Food Trust\, where he managed nutrition education programs\, developed community food access initiatives\, and spearheaded projects that contributed over $200\,000 annually in fresh produce to the Reading community. His expertise and contributions have been recognized through publications\, including a notable study through Downtown Colorado Inc. (DCI) on local economic development and awards such as the Alumni Service Award from Alvernia University
\n
\nThank you to our Lunch&\;Learn Sponsor:
\n
\n
LOCATION:Center for Business Excellence 49 Commerce Dr.\, Wyomissing
UID:e.1980.11900
SEQUENCE:3
DTSTAMP:20261023T175239Z
URL:https://business.greaterreading.org/events/details/lunch-learn-politics-business-101-sep-2025-11900
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