A Message From The President & CEO EDUCATION AND LEADERSHIP By Trish Christensen
W
ith a focus on education this month, the timing was perfect to have been invited to join a group of Modesto City School Board members, the Superintendent, members of the citizen’s oversight committee, and fellow community members on a bus trip! I attended a tour day of elementary, junior, and high schools designed to give us an in-person view of all the great work, modifications, and modernizations that have been taking place throughout the district.
COMMUNITY
We saw everything from fresh paint and new school colors to a new cafeteria being built on the oldest school campus. We walked through new classrooms and saw new equipment for hands on career exploration and learning. We were also treated to a behind the scenes tour of the district wide nutrition center and kitchen. Trust me when I say that is an incredibly impressive, welloiled machine! They can manage their own cold storage, a vast amount of non-perishable food storage, and transport all the food needed to each campus every day. In addition to that, there is a fully remodeled kitchen area at Downey High School that has an extremely inviting and enticing atmosphere the students there will clamor to.
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MODESTO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE I MODCHAMBER.ORG
And, on the personal side, I spent a few days away for some education of my own. I attended three full days, plus an evening kick off, at W.A.C.E. Academy 2021. This was held in Sacramento in early August. W.A.C.E (Western Association of Chamber Executives) is overseen by CalChamber and is known to be the go-to resource for Chamber executives, board members, and key staff. Academy is a three-year program that takes place annually. My class of first year attendees consisted of 54 participants who came in from several states including Washington, Alaska, Oregon, and Colorado to name just some. If you engaged with the Modesto Chamber back in the late 80s, you would recognize my first instructor, Dave Kilby. His first job out of college was at the Greater Modesto Chamber of Commerce as the CEO. He has gone on to live and breathe chamber work ever since and is considered a top expert in everything Chamber. I have turned to him for guidance and answers many times. I thank the Modesto Chamber Board for investing in my growth and development by sending me to academy. With warm regards, Trish
