Voice of Business Newsletter
January/February 2017
Rochester Chamber Executive Outlook 2017: Celebrating a Strong 130 Years in the Business Community
G
reater Rochester Chamber of Commerce Chairman Rob Sands, President and CEO Bob Duffy, and the entire Rochester Chamber board of directors have looked at what lies ahead for the organization in 2017 and beyond. Sands and Duffy shared the following messages:
invaluable. We also have an outstanding board of directors comprised of committed business leaders who provide vision and support for our mission of passionately serving, promoting, and advocating for members in order to secure economic prosperity for our Finger Lakes region.
Rob Sands: Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce celebrates its 130th anniversary this year in a position of great strength with solid leadership and more than 1,300 members. Rochester Chamber is poised to serve as the voice for business across our nine-county region, providing information, advocacy, human resource services, and networking to help employers grow their businesses, their dreams, and our economy. Rochester Chamber continues to be engaged with our membership and we ask that our members also stay engaged with us. As we look to the next 130 years, I believe Rochester Chamber must take on a major role in business and job development in our community and ensure that we have an educated and reliable labor force to meet future demand. We are particularly interested in business development in the City of Rochester and are pleased to see ongoing efforts. Rochester Chamber is working with economic development leaders to ensure that the business environment is as strong and welcoming as it can be in both the city and the surrounding Finger Lakes region.
I expect Rochester Chamber to expand its role as a chamber of commerce by enhancing customer service and creating additional value for members. I want you, our members, to feel as though every penny you spend on Rochester Chamber dues, services, and events has a return on investment. Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce must also work to make an impact on the entire nine-county Finger Lakes region. You will see Rochester Chamber get much more actively involved in efforts to improve the economy and quality of life in our community. A big part of that is serving our member organizations at the highest level possible to help them be successful and grow.
As Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce chairman, I wish you the best for 2017 and pledge Rochester Chamber’s constant effort to support and help your business grow and prosper.
Bob Duffy: 2016 was a very busy year for Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce. We rebranded, launched a new website, and aligned some of the priorities that we have as a chamber of commerce. This allowed us to close out the year financially solid. Our staffing and reference checking business lines are very strong, and now our goal is to focus on the chamber side and pave the way for explosive growth in 2017, our 130th anniversary. There are a number of things that I see as key including our leadership. Board chair Rob Sands leads the third largest beverage company in the world. His guidance is
We also want to help attract new opportunities here by aligning with our government, business, and economic development leaders. This vision goes back to my time as Rochester mayor. We need a much better alignment of economic development efforts in Rochester and the Finger Lakes (Continued on p. 3)
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