You've probably heard many times over about the generational differences in the workplace and how employers have to treat Millennial (born 1980-1994) and Gen Z (born 1995-2012) employees differently than the generations that have come before them.
   Personally, I have found much of the information about the younger generations and their work ethic to be critical or negative, and in conversations with people in these age classifications, many of them have felt a bit attacked by the stereotypes as well.
   I'd encourage employers to stop paying attention to the stereotypes and start paying attention to the individual people.
   Hopefully the following doesn't come as a surprise to you: you will find unengaged, lazy, entitled, highly sensitive employees in every generation. But there's good news! You will also find committed, hard-working, enthusiastic, adaptable employees in every generation.
   I am a believer that everyone is shaped by their upbringing. You model the behavior of those you learned from growing up - parents, siblings, extended family, friends, peers, teachers, adult mentors, and so on. Everyone is also shaped by their surroundings, circumstances and educational opportunities.
   While the "people" part of this equation may not change drastically through the decades, the "opportunities" part of it most certainly does.

Neighborhood National Bank is a local, community bank with six locations including Alexandria. Del Mari Runck is the Chief Operating Officer/Market Manager/Director of Neighborhood National Bank and currently serves as President of the Alexandria Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. Hear why Neighborhood National Bank is unique to other banks, what they feel is most beneficial about their Chamber membership, and why the Alexandria Lakes Area is the ultimate destination to live, work, play and prosper.

   When I meet new people and tell them where I work, I often see the question forming in their minds: "What's a Chamber of Commerce and what does it do?" But usually, they are too embarrassed to ask.
   To put it simply, a Chamber of Commerce is a network of businesses and organizations that join together with the goal of furthering the business interests of those members. In a broader spectrum, these entities work together to improve the economic well-being of the entire community.
   The first Chamber is said to have formed in 1599 in France. The oldest Chamber in the U.S. started in 1768 in Jersey, followed by the New York City Chamber later that same year.
   The Alexandria Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce got its start as the Commercial Club of Alexandria in March 1907.
   The Chamber is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit funded by membership dues and fundraising events and governed by a board of directors representing the many different business sectors in the community.
   So that's what a Chamber is, now let's talk about what it does.