In March, the Santa Rosa Chamber of Commerce suffered a devastating blow when long-time chief executive Mike Hauser passed away after a battle with cancer. But thanks to his tenacity and vision, Hauser left a legacy of excellence that culminated in the chamber receiving a five-star accreditation rating from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce—the only one awarded in California this year.
It’s recognition like that, as well as the innovative programs the chamber sponsors for local businesses and residents, that explain its repeat victory in the Best Chamber category.
“We received a four-star rating in 2004, but just before Mike passed away, we got the news about being elevated to five stars,” says Sue Nelson, the chamber’s chief operating officer. “I think that tells our members and prospective members that we’re implementing best practices across our operations, and we’re measuring ourselves against the best of the best.”
With a budget of $1.2 million, the chamber has nearly 1,050 members, more than 30 standing committees and seven major divisions. Besides operating the Santa Rosa Convention and Visitors Bureau, it also conducts a number of community initiatives aimed at providing coaching and mentoring skills to small and mid-sized businesses, securing investors for promising startups, serving as an advocate for members on public policy and legislative issues, and improving the English language skills of working adults and school children who will one day make up the local workforce.
“We have several hundred volunteers who make all this happen,” Nelson points out. “It’s their hard work—from sitting on the board of directors to participating in the Business Expo—that makes the difference. The volunteers really deserve the accolades.”
Winning this award for a second consecutive year was not only an “incredible honor” in Nelson’s view, but a giant boost to the staff, who were reeling from the loss of Hauser, who had served as president since 2000. “We haven’t quite returned to business as usual, but we’re continuing to do the work that our members depend on us to do.”
Besides helping members survive the current economic crisis, the chamber also strives to form solid working relationships with the city of Santa Rosa as well as county and state legislators. “We try to find common ground, so when we agree, we can agree together, and when we disagree, we can do so with understanding and respect,” Nelson says. “We’re always looking for partnership opportunities, whether between educators and business, small and large companies, or any other groups that share common goals. We’re very much conveners. By bringing together groups, we find ways to leverage each other’s resources and overall effectiveness.”
The chamber, which was founded after the 1906 earthquake, just completed a major survey of its members to determine their needs within the current economy. “We’ve just begun to review the results, and we’re discussing ways to respond,” Nelson says. “It could range from holding seminars and workshops to providing mentors to companies that are having difficulties. The important thing is, we’re listening to our members and continuing to look for ways to improve their success and ultimate prosperity.”
www.santarosachamber.com
