Looking back on 2022, what was your chamber’s biggest success/accomplishment?
Patrick Ellis, ACE
President/CEO
Murrieta/Wildomar (CA) Chamber
Our Chamber continues to be the catalyst for business growth in our region, but what stood out the most in 2022 was the success we have had with leveraging our foundation and tourism organization to champion for our business community. With our foundation, we convened a public/private partnership to bring $3 million to our Innovation Center for the development of businesses in the Life Sciences sector. Our chamber and our tourism organization worked together to attract and secure a large national natural hot springs resort operator to our city for a newly listed property.
Cyndi Bester, MEd
CEO
Lethbridge (AB) Chamber
2022 was a year of adventure for our chamber — just like many of our colleagues throughout the network. I use the word adventure because we had many opportunities to expand past the “known” and past the comfort of tradition.
Our office had the opportunity of bringing on new energy with both new board members and new employees. It was also the year of our strategic plan development and launch. The fresh ideas were in full force.
One of our greatest successes was the ability to gather again in person. All our events exceeded attendance goals, which facilitated our businesses to reengage and assisted our team with showcasing our new initiatives.
We focused on four areas: SpendLocal, ExploreLocal, InvestLocal and BuildLocal. These focus areas gave a great foundation for our policy and advocacy development. Every policy we presented at the provincial and federal level passed! Even better, we have seen policy wins from our initiatives at all levels of government. Action from grassroots policy development. Win.
On the financial side of our chamber, we were able to build up our reserve and earmarked even more resources toward member advocacy. We head into 2023 with confidence in our team and our members.
Scott Parker
Executive Director
Chehalem Valley (OR) Chamber
In 2022 the Chehalem Valley Chamber of Commerce created a monthly variety show called Chehalem Valley Vaudeville. This is a family-friendly and nonpolitical evening of entertainment. It is a collaborative partnership between our cultural center, park and rec district and the chamber.
The show consists of music, juggling, magic, improv and comedy, all done by locals. In these tumultuous times we feel that the more we can gather as a community and have a good laugh, the more we will find out that our similarities outweigh our differences.
Our business community stepped up to sponsor these shows and we got a grant from the Ford Family Foundation to continue them in 2023!
Bridget Dixson, IOM
President/CEO
Santa Fe (NM) Chamber
To celebrate Santa Fe, New Mexico’s Hispanic heritage, the Santa Fe Chamber of Commerce led the formation of Feria Southside (Southside Fair), a successful community initiative developed to connect Southside’s Spanish-speaking entrepreneurs and small businesses with the resources they need for a healthy and thriving business environment.
Moving into 2023, the chamber will continue this important work by hosting business resource workshops in Spanish and an ongoing Mercado (Market), where businesses can sell their products.
We are thrilled to recognize and celebrate the continued expansion of the Southside of Santa Fe, acknowledging the lucrative businesses that are working hard and growing our economic well-being, even earning the Southside’s Airport Road the title of a “Main Street.”