“We make a lot of opportunity for our chamber members, but we’re small enough to where we can have personal relations with all those who really want to connect and come to our events.”— Lisa Orloff, executive director, Rohnert Park Chamber of Commerce
A great chamber of commerce starts with a vision of business and community, working together to build a socially, economically, and culturally rich environment. In Rohnert Park, the community can boast all that––and more. “We make a lot of opportunity for our chamber members,” says Executive Director Lisa Orloff, “but we’re small enough to where we can have personal relations with all those who really want to connect and come to our events.”
The chamber holds events weekly, says Orloff, which is pretty unusual in the chamber world. These events, such as luncheons and after-hours mixers hosted by member businesses, all serve to keep those in the business community connected and involved. Why so many events? The advantage of having four or five events a month, she explains, is that if someone can’t make it to one, they have a chance to make it the next. So, everyone can stay involved. “We do them on Wednesdays,” she says, adding that people will often say “It’s Wednesday—what’s happening at the chamber?” She laughs, adding that some prospective members, when she’s describing all the possible activities, will ask if they are required to attend them all. “And of course not,” she says. “But it just gives everyone an opportunity.”
As often happens these days, the unexpected will arise, bringing the chamber the “opportunity” to pivot on a dime and become a creative problem solver. When the pandemic shut down businesses in 2020, Orloff knew right away that new ways of communication and connection would be needed. She leapt to the challenge. On Friday, March 13th, “We shut down and I received information about COVID. So, we sent out a newsletter.” On that day and thereafter, the chamber sent email newsletters every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. In addition, knowing how crucial it was to keep business people connected and informed, Orloff figured out new ways––such as Zoom ––to keep their events going and keep members connected.
“I didn’t even know what Zoom was before COVID,” she says. But she learned it and two weeks in, they had their first Zoom event, which they kept going weekly. “So, we did our luncheons with speakers on Zoom.” The chamber also reduced its sponsor fee. “We reduced it quite a bit,” she says. Sponsors had the floor for 10 minutes to address the group, followed by a speaker and a Q&A session. Orloff adds that the chamber also hosted networking mixers, also on Zoom, with a business host who had 15 minutes or so to talk about their business.
Now, that the pandemic is somewhat on the wane, the chamber is back to in-person events. Visit the chamber’s website or follow along on Facebook and Instagram to learn more about upcoming events.
[Duncan Garrett Photography]
