Chamber bridges together Flagstaff businesses
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lagstaff is built of businesses of many sizes. The business climate varies drastically from large businesses employing thousands to small storefronts and shops run by only a handful of people. Regardless of size, many face the same challenges. The Greater Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce has helped them navigate whatever arises for the last 130 years. The Chamber is an independent, non-profit organization focused on promoting Flagstaff businesses and advocating on their behalf on the local, statewide and national levels. Chamber President and CEO Julie Pastrick explained that the Chamber’s business relationships are diverse working with large institutions like Northern Arizona University and APS to fledgling businesses navigating their first year. The Chamber Advocacy Division led by Joe Galli creates a solid base of research for Flagstaff by conducting surveys and convening meetings around important topics that directly impact the business community, such as labor force, environmental sustainability, healthcare, affordable housing and other similar topics. Conducting this research and collaborating with businesses makes it easy for the Chamber to make decisions that directly benefit business growth in Flagstaff. “We are solely privately funded, therefore our relationships with our investment partners are quite strong,” Pastrick said. “Representing business before government is a major role the Chamber plays daily. Chamber programming serves as a catalyst for businesses and nonprofits’ success and growth. We believe a healthy business
climate and a vibrant community are inseparable.” The Chamber engages the community on issues important to the local economy, leading to many collaborations by connecting businesses to one another. The more than 800 members come from throughout the business sector, encompassing Flagstaff’s restaurants, insurance companies, banks, large corporate retail shops, apartment complexes, and so many other industries. This has benefited companies like OneAZ Credit Union numerous times in recent decades. OneAZ Regional President Northern Region Miguel Maldonado explained that working with the Chamber has been critical to developing relationships with other Flagstaff businesses and the community. The credit union currently works with more than 9,000 businesses throughout Arizona, and Maldonado contributes their reach to the long-term partnership with the Chamber. “The Greater Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce is such an important part of the Flagstaff community,” Maldonado said. “The Chamber truly connects
Nestle Purina Plant Manager Bill Calloway presented the Business Achievement Award for economic impact in 2012. business owners and leaders throughout Flagstaff. This allows us to build bonds with businesses and makes our entire community stronger. Whether it’s connecting businesses or organizing events to give back, the Greater Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce helps to make Flagstaff a friendlier and better place to live.” NAU is another such community partner. NAU President José Luis Cruz Rivera said the relationship between the Chamber and NAU has greatly benefited the advocacy of education in Flagstaff. With the help of the Chamber, NAU has been able to connect students with local internships while they are in school and find jobs after grad-
uation, allowing them to stay in Flagstaff and contribute to the community. “The Greater Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce has supported NAU’s initiatives to address critical education and workforce needs for the community and region,” Cruz Rivera said. “As a convener to help identify the needs of businesses and bring organizations together to partner on internships and job placement, the Greater Flagstaff Chamber serves as an important partner in advocating for increased access to postsecondary education and the connection to a vibrant economy.”
See CHAMBER OUTREACH, Page 18
To learn more about the Chamber and its community engagement efforts, visit www.flagstaffchamber.com/about-the-chamber/ 16 December 2021
Chamber of Commerce 130th Anniversary
