CEO Message

A Message From The President & CEO

Our Summary Of 2022

By Trish Christensen

2022…. What a great year, in oh so many ways. Here at the Modesto Chamber of Commerce we feel as though we survived the unknowns of the dicey river of 2020, the white-water rapids of 2021, and are now rowing our way down stream to great new adventures as we end 2022. Along the way we have been discovering new views, green pastures, and brilliant scenery.

The year started strong… with a covid outbreak that halted in person settings yet again. So, our Annul Soiree was moved to March. The ripple effect then followed. Events started sliding forward on the calendar. Things were moving slower than the pace we wanted. Our newest collective strength prevailed. We moved forward with tolerance, patience, and acceptance, and our partners, hosts, and attendees moved forward with us with a supportive smile. We have all become quite nimble and adaptable, haven’t we?

We were excited to bring the 25th annual Future Farmers of America (FFA) High school scholarship luncheon back with Ag Aware in April. The committee and chamber team were back at the pavilion, serving a fabulous meal, listening to amazing students and keynote speakers, and we shared the moment with over 350 people.

In June we held our inaugural “From the Ground Up” Sustainability Symposium. We heard from a collection of very diverse speakers who were specialists in their fields, oversaw cutting edge programs, and/or provided services which improve the world around us and protect our natural resources which sustain us all. We had close to 140 people present for this.

September brought us to our first cohosted Candidate Forum. The partnership with Opportunity Stanislaus was a great fit for this concept. We heard from State Assembly and Senate candidates as well as a city council candidate. For election season the Modesto Chamber invested time in the Modesto Irrigation District race by hosting one hour in person interviews with each candidate that chose to participate. Candidates in all races this season were invited to submit written interviews which can be found on our website.

We launched another inaugural event in early November with our Family Cycling, Health, Wellness, and Sustainability Festival. The opportunity to highlight the beauty and accessibility of Tuolumne Riverside Trail to bike and walk was appreciated. We highlighted the new location of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Stanislaus County, as well as their new program partnership with First Tee of the Central Valley at the same location. Simultaneously we highlighted youth and community organizations that have missions that align with the theme of our event, and have a focus on family, youth, and safety.

Throughout the year we hosted quarterly Rise and Shine with the CEO breakfasts to inspire and enthrall our attendees. This is the business/professional’s community impact focus of our Rising Professionals Network. Our Women in Business Network community impact program brought a mini workforce readiness conference to women that were clients of Haven Women’s Center. Both networking programs enjoyed a mix of lunch and learns, coffee and conversation, and networking mixers. Our Tech Connect evolved to quarterly meetings where participants hear from specialists in various areas of the industry while networking.

Leadership Modesto recently announced the class of 2023 participants. They will be participants of the 40th year of this incredible program. Our standing Economic Development Committee (EDC) and Government Relations Council (GRC) continue to provide insight on the great work being done in our city, county, and region. Mixed throughout the year was the return of Member Mix and Mingles. We held a long list of red ribbon cuttings conducted for new businesses, new members, grand reopening, and anniversary milestones ceremonies.

Stanislaus Green Team continued to provide information at monthly lunch meetings. Our California Green Business Network, Stanislaus program has awarded an official green certification to over 20 businesses throughout our county. We held numerous green ribbon cuttings where we celebrate the businesses who complete their industry’s sustainability checklist. Once our in-house coordinator verifies and records their accomplishments, and we approve them, we celebrate their accomplishment with a ceremony.

For all this positive energy and activity, we know, as we look towards 2023, The best is yet to be for the Modesto Chamber of Commerce, our members, and the difference we strive to make for our community.

With warm regards,

Each member of the Chamber is important, no matter the size of business. We desire for local businesses and organizations to succeed and thrive. To reach this goal we provide exposure, opportunities to engage with Regional Electeds and community partners, as well as networking with businesses and organizations across industries. We work to better our community by providing up-to-date education and training, certifying qualifying businesses as Green, and providing advocacy on City, State, and Federal levels. The Chamber is a family of dedicated professionals striving to make a difference in their business and way of life. Whatever your business needs are, we invite you to join us.

To execute our adopted mission we have developed an acronym that helps keep us focused. That acronym is “CARES: Community, Advocacy, Relationships, Education and Service.”

C - Community At its heart, the Modesto Chamber is a community of like-minded business owners who share the vision for enjoying a thriving economy and creating and maintaining our community as a vibrant place to live, work and play. With over 100 years of history and experience in the Greater Modesto Area, we understand what it means to be a business owner and customer in our community, with featured events such as local and regional forums, Ag Aware, Harvest Luncheon, and Family Day. Chamber members get the opportunity to actively engage in and influence the community they live and work in.

A - Advocacy The Modesto Chamber supports local businesses and is an active advocate for the common interest of its members. The Chamber has an Economic Development Committee and a Government Relations Council. These advocacy committees are dedicated and proactive in representing our members and community. They work to address business initiatives and relieve the regulatory burdens businesses face may face. The Chamber is also honored to certify local businesses and organizations through our California Green Business Network Stanislaus Program. Through this we create more conscientious and sustainable ways of life while lowering the cost of doing business for our community and future generations.

R - Relationships The Modesto Chamber of Commerce specializes in building relationships and serving as the nexus to businesses, nonprofit organizations, and governmental agencies. With over a dozen Committees, Programs, and Events in which our members can participate, the Chamber offers ample opportunity to meet and connect with other business owners in our community. As a relational organization, the Chamber works with its members to ensure the opportunity to connect and grow in every niche and industry to help build and cultivate long-lasting relationships among business owners and community partners alike.

E - Education The Modesto Chamber of Commerce values education and offers members the opportunity to stay on the leading edge with new and emerging information and training that will set your business apart from the rest. In partnership with Modesto Junior College, the Chamber is pleased to offer an assortment of trainings applicable to any business or industry for credited completion through our Chamber University platform. Our Chamber also works with members to provide a platform to speak to their own industry expertise and invite other members to learn from those leading our local industries.

S - Service The Modesto Chamber of Commerce offers its members a wide range of opportunities to promote and engage their business across industry and community lines. The Chamber Weekly E-Blast, Website, and our Progress Magazine provide opportunities to advertise and promote your business, keep up to date with articles about local businesses in our community, and stay in the loop about up-and-coming Chamber and community events. Our Chamber also offers indemand materials, such as Member contact list, Federal and State compliance posters, export document services, and so much more. Chamber members can also personalize their business profile within our website and have access to our Member-Only Information Center, where members can connect with other members, boost their social media presence, promote job postings, public events, and member-to-member discounts.