Morning Schmooze is a morning networking event. Each Schmooze is held from 7:45-9:00 am and is an opportunity to make business contacts over a hot beverage and a morning snack. On January 28, the Morning Schmooze was hosted by Mini Price Self Storage. The 2014 Morning Schmooze sponsor is Sam's Club.

The Chamber's monthly Business After Hours in February, sponsored by MEAC, was held at the Norfolk Waterside Marriott. Over 60 people networked while enjoying food and drinks.

The Hampton Roads Chamber’s annual State of the City series kicked off with the Norfolk address on February 21 at the Norfolk Waterside Marriott. A sold out crowd of 1,000 business and community leaders heard Norfolk Mayor Paul Fraim provide an update on the city’s key business development initiatives, municipal progress updates and opportunities. 

The Chamber’s annual State of the City Luncheon was held in Virginia Beach on Thursday, March 13 at the Virginia Beach Convention Center. Virginia Beach Mayor Will Sessoms highlighted key business development initiatives, provided strategic municipal progress updates, and addressed challenges and opportunities in the city.  This year, Mayor Sessoms also revealed his bold vision to pave the way to a more successful future. A sold out crowd of 1,000 of the region’s business, political, and community leaders attended. 

The Chamber's annual Chesapeake State of the City Luncheon was held on Tuesday, March 18 at noon at the Chesapeake Conference Center.  Chesapeake Mayor Alan P. Krasnoff highlighted key business development initiatives, provided municipal progress updates, addressed challenges and opportunities in the city, and provided a glimpse into the city’s future.  Approximately 700 of the region’s business, political, and community leaders attended the event. 

Learn more about Chesapeake State of the City

The Chamber's monthly Business After Hours in March, sponsored by NCM, was held at Bahama Breeze at Pembroke Mall. Over 40 people networked while enjoying food and drinks.

On March 25, the Chamber held its morning networking event for members and prospective members from 7:45am-9am at Bayside Harley Davidson in Portsmouth.

The Military Transition Job Fair was held Tuesday, March 25 at the Westin Virginia Beach Town Center. The Chamber would like to thank all the businesses who participated!

Governor Terry McAuliffe addressed more than 80 business leaders on a wide array of topics impacting businesses in the region at the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce in a special session of the Chamber on April 1.

The Chamber’s annual State of the City luncheon was held in Portsmouth on April 2 at the Renaissance Portsmouth Hotel & Waterfront Conference Center. Portsmouth Mayor Kenneth Wright highlighted key business development initiatives, provided municipal progress updates, addressed challenges and opportunities in the city, and provided a glimpse into the city’s future. A crowd of 500 of the region’s business, political, and community leaders attended. 

The Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce and TowneBank presented the 2nd annual Valor Awards on April 25 to honor local law enforcement, firefighters and EMS personnel. This breakfast event provides the business community with the opportunity to thank and recognize public safety heroes who put their lives on the line every day to keep our community safe. Awards were presented for extraordinary acts of courage and resourcefulness in the line of duty this year include: Lifesaving Awards, Investigative Merit Awards and Gold Medal, Silver Medal and Bronze Medal Valor Awards. 

The Chamber hosted its first annual Spring Business to Business Expo on April 8 from 4 - 7p.m. at the Chesapeake Marriott. Of the 500 people who attended, nearly 100 were exhibitors showcasing community businesses.

Small businesses are a vital piece of Hampton Roads economy and the Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber will host its Small Business of the Year Award Luncheon on May 21 at noon at the Marriott Chesapeake. Winners of the "Top 10 to Watch," Young Entrepreneur Award and Impressions in Print Leadership Award will be honored.

The Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce’s annual State of the City Luncheon was held in Suffolk on May 6 at the Hilton Garden Inn Suffolk Riverfront Hotel and Conference Center with a sold-out crowd of nearly 500 in attendance.  The Suffolk luncheon was the final event in the five-part State of the City series. This series, hosted by the Chamber, allows networking among business professionals, elected officials and provides information of each city's progress over the past year and glimpse into the future.

Nearly 150 members of the business community and Chesapeake school system attended the Chesapeake State of the Schools breakfast on May 14 at the Chesapeake Marriott to hear Dr. James Roberts, Superintendent of Chesapeake Public Schools, provide a closer look into Chesapeake schools’ successes, challenges, and impact on the Hampton Roads community.

On May 20, the Chamber held its morning networking event for members and prospective members from 7:45am-9am at The Salvation Army Ray & Joan Kroc Corps Community Center in Norfolk.

Small businesses employ 50 percent of the U.S. workforce.   The Chamber understands the importance of small business to our economy, and honors their efforts each year. The Hampton Roads Chamber, in partnership with the Small Business Development Center of Hampton Roads (SBDC), held its 30^th annual Small Business of the Year Awards luncheon on Wednesday, May 21 at the Marriott Chesapeake.  Nearly 300 people attended the event, which coincided with the U.S. Small Business Administration’s National Small Business Week.

Nearly 200 people attended the Chamber's annual Mingle on Main Street which was held at the Historic Suffolk Visitors Center on May 29th.

The Chamber held a Professional Womens Leadership Luncheon featuring Valerie Salembier on June 5 at the Holiday Inn Virginia Beach-Norfolk Hotel & Conference Center. Nearly 250 business professionals gathered to hear Valerie share her remarkable, yet bumpy road, to success.

The U.S. Small Business Administration Richmond District Office recognized small business owners and advocates that have made critical contributions to Americas entrepreneurs and small business owners as part of their Heart of a Champion Small Business Awards luncheon on June 13 at the Richmond Omni. Nearly 300 business men and women from all over the Commonwealth were in attendance. The Small Business Development Center of Hampton Roads, (SBDC) an affiliate of the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce, was honored with the Small Business Development Center Excellence and Innovation Center Award. 

The forum, “From Macro to Micro: The 2015 Defense Budget and Beyond” was held at the Chesapeake Conference Center, and provided the most up-to-date information and current trends for the U.S defense spending from content experts as it impacts not only the national, but state and local economy.

 Nearly 50 people enjoyed breakfast while connecting with other local professionals. Troy University hosted this fun, caffeine charged business networking event.

Nearly 60 people enjoyed breakfast and learning or refreshing their memory on all the benefits the Chamber has to offer. Holiday Inn Virginia Beach-Norfolk Hotel & Conference Center hosted this fun, caffeine charged, informative event.

Dr. David Danielson, Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy from the U.S. Department of Energy, briefed members of the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce and area business partners on August 1. He discussed the President’s Climate Action Plan and Department of Energy efforts to reduce energy use, and ways they could work with the business community to improve efficiency across the board.

Chamber paid tribute to 150 service members from the region on August 8 as a part of its biannual Military Recognition Reception. 

Members connect over coffee and bagles at the TCC Regional Automotive Center. 

Nearly 25 business men and women enjoyed a light breakfast while connecting with other local professionals at the Morning Schmooze on August 26. Goodwill Harbourview in Suffolk hosted this fun, caffeine-charged business networking event. 

The Hampton Roads Chamber hosted a membership luncheon with both of the Commonwealth's United States Senators, the Honorable Mark Warner and the Honorable Tim Kaine on August 28 in Norfolk.

On September 18, the Hampton Roads Chamber hosted its annual “Beach Bash” at Neptune Park on 31^st Street from 4-8pm.  Nearly 1,000 people enjoyed more than 70 business exhibits, beverages and entertainment by the Janitors.

The Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce and the Hampton Roads Sports Commission held a Sand Kickball Tournament on Friday, September 18, 2014, from Noon-6pm on the beach at 31^st Street at the Virginia Beach oceanfront. Eleven teams from non-profit organizations, small, mid-size and large corporations competed in a high energy, sand kickball tournament. The event concluded with an awards presentation on the 31^st Street stage of Neptune.  The team from ESI won first place in the tournament. The event was held in conjunction with the Chamber's Beach Bash event.

The Chamber’s second annual Wild Wing Fling event, was held on September 11 at the Bayside Harley-Davidson in Portsmouth. This year, there was a special tribute to honor the victims and heroes of 9/11. 

The Chamber held a Professional Womens Leadership Luncheon featuring Alexis Gelber on September 10 at the Holiday Inn Virginia Beach-Norfolk Hotel & Conference Center. More than 300 business professionals gathered to hear Alexis present, "What Kind of Leader are you?"

Nearly 250 members of the business community honored local military personnel at the 21st Annual Virginia Beach Armed Forces Awards Luncheon held at the Virginia Beach Convention Center on July 31