“Every successful town or city has a vibrant inner core. We want that for Santa Rosa.”—Peter Rumble, chief executive officer
The Santa Rosa Metro Chamber of Commerce rose from the rubble of the 1906 earthquake. The community, hard hit, needed an organization to focus on rebuilding the area’s vibrant economy. To take on the challenge, the chamber was founded after the 1906 earthquake by Frank Doyle and a few other prominent business leaders. A hundred years later, fires devastated the area. Once again, the chamber rallied to help. Staff manned the phones directing those in need to aid and emergency resources. The chamber’s website was updated to provide comprehensive information related to business fire recovery, and businesses offering assistance.
Peter Rumble, deputy county administrator, became chief executive officer of the Santa Rosa Metro Chamber in February. “It’s a great job. There’s a great team here, and I get to work on issues that are important to me,” Rumble says. Those issues include housing, education and the community. “Every successful town or city has a vibrant inner core. We want that for Santa Rosa,” he says. The chamber promotes and organizes events in Courtyard Square and Railroad Square. The farmers market, musical shows and art exhibits are all well attended. An annual favorite is Ironman with the largest participation of any Ironman in the country. The event brings in more than $13 million to the local economy.
Mixers and networking events are an important activity for the Santa Rosa Metro Chamber, which has 1,000 members. With a focus on the chamber’s younger demographic, Young Professionals Network (YPN) was formed in 2008. It’s distinct to the region, and with more than 300 active participants, the organization (for ages 21 to 40) provides opportunities to meet and network with young industry leaders.
The chamber stands out among others in the country in its offering of business-supported educational programs. The Worksite Held Employee Learning Program (WHEEL) provides English language classes for employees at their place of employment. The program includes a financial education component and was expanded to offer literacy classes for employees’ families to increase parent participation in their children’s education. WHEEL can be customized based on the needs of the business, and it’s offered at a low cost (or no cost) to businesses participating.
The Mike Hauser Academy was established for ninth grade ESL (English as Second Language) students. It offers a learning experience at various science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) related companies. There, students work directly alongside engineers and other professionals. They see classroom math/science concepts applied to workplace projects and activities. Lessons, conducted by a credentialed math teacher, are conducted in onsite meeting rooms. The academy is held in June each year, and it’s devoted to strengthening a student’s math and science skills. Many of the participants go on to pursue higher education and careers in STEM fields.
Advocacy is another important aspect of what the chamber does. The chamber’s Advocacy Council is actively involved in promoting the interests of the Chamber’s members, as well as issues and legislation that affect the business community. There is a long and impressive history of success. Important undertakings have included: spearheading plans for the Golden Gate Bridge, donating land for Santa Rosa Junior College and assisting in the founding of Memorial Hospital. Currently, there is a focus on initiatives to encourage the private sector to build affordable housing enabling companies to continue to hire and attract talent locally.
“We are very excited to receive the “Best Chamber Award,” CEO Rumble says. “It’s a tribute to our staff’s dedication and commitment.”
