"Hope is not a strategy," said Vince Lombardi. "Failing to plan is planning to fail," said Benjamin Franklin.

Running a business is hard. From the moment you open until the end of the day, the organization focuses on activities that make money or will lead to making money. There are customers to attract and support, bills to pay, the need for adequate supplies to ensure everything that needs to get done will, and more. If you are a boss you may have employees that you oversee as well. Are these activities driven by strategic organizational goals? Or are they simply the product of sales goals that are updated each year?

As a long-time Chamber executive, I have known many wonderful businesses that appeared poised for success, only to fail. They had passionate owners and staff, a strong product or service, and the drive to be successful. They worked hard every day, often late into the night just to make sure everything was done. What they often lacked, however, was a set of strategic goals to guide their decision-making.

Year-end is a natural time where we can express our gratitude and give to non-profit organizations. Whether it be giving monetarily or giving our time, giving has been shown in studies to have a positive impact on our health. The Chamber has dozens of non-profit members and I encourage you to find an organization that aligns with your values and make a commitment to give and make a difference right here in the Tri-Valley. Companies of all sizes are offering employer matching dollars for monetary donations, so be sure that you don’t let this opportunity to maximize your contributions pass you by. Click here for a list of Chamber non-profit members making a local impact in our community. 

Kim Damiani, CFP®

Financial Advisor

Summit Financial Group, LLC

1st United Credit Union is celebrating 90 years! As a local, not-for-profit Credit Union, 1st United offers affordable financial services with low fees and great rates. They believe in being a good neighbor, giving back by volunteering, and supporting the communities where you work and live.

If you’re an employer and you’re interested in offering free Credit Union benefits to your employees, simply stop by and meet the Pleasanton branch manager, Sapna Nand, or email marketing@1stunitedcu.org. They’ll get you started with your new employee benefit. It’s that simple.

Join us in congratulating 1st United Credit Union on their 90th anniversary! Learn more at 1stunitedcu.org.

Get On the Bus breaks down financial-and-transportation barriers so that kids can play recreational soccer on a team in their community, while ensuring participants have an opportunity to learn valuable life skills, good study habits, and access to healthy snacks all through the free GOTB after-school program which services Title 1 schools to ensure Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB).

Get on the Bus has partnered with Ballistic United Soccer Club and the Rage Girls Soccer Club to provide this opportunity for kids at Valley View Elementary School in Pleasanton.

Contact Shelley Goldblum, Boisset Collection Wines for your marketing and gifting needs.

In August 2022, the Pleasanton Chamber of Commerce’s Board of Directors approved formation of a new volunteer working group aimed to align Pleasanton businesses in the bio-medical, engineering, computer science and culinary industries with their linear counterparts in the Pleasanton Unified School District (PUSD) Career and Technical Education (CTE) program.

In November 2022, the Chamber lent its support to a grant proposal to help advance the engineering program at Hart Middle School and increase vertical alignment of CTE pathways throughout the school district.

“The Hart Middle School engineering program will provide a great foundation for students to explore multiple career opportunities within the Engineering and Architecture Sector during a formative time in their lives,” says Chamber CEO, James Cooper. “We look forward to helping expand this experience within the PUSD middle schools by ensuring the engineering companies who are members of the Chamber are available to assist in the following ways: aligning their curriculum and equipment to industry standards, hosting field trips at their place of business and ensuring engineering professionals from these companies are available to connect with students as guest speakers, mentors, or other advising capacities.”

PUSD was recently informed that they will receive the $75,000 grant. Dr. Amos Nugent, Director, Career Pathways & Adult Learning, expressed his gratitude, “I want to personally thank the entire Pleasanton Chamber for your partnership in this effort as it marks our first joint victory, and I am looking forward to many more victories in the future that will benefit the entire Pleasanton community.”

The Chamber would like to thank Nina Pomeroy of Nina Pomeroy Photography and Kim Falahati of Family Matters for hosting a wonderful mixer in October. Hear from both of our hosts on a reel from the mixer here and view photos from the mixer here.

Nina Pomeroy Photography - Headshots for ambitious people. Personal Branding portraits can really help tell your story and allow your potential clients to get a sense of you, your personality and what your story is.

Family Matters - We put the pieces together. Family Matters is your local Bay Area specialist for your junk hauling, donation pick up, moving and organizing needs. Your downsize and senior specialist.

The Pleasanton Chamber would like to thank the Alameda County Fairgrounds and Event Center and OVG Catering for hosting our Fall Tradeshow Mixer in November. We appreciate Angel Moore, Melissa Glickman and Erika O'Bryan and their team from the Fairgrounds for hosting the event.

Special thank you to all of the companies that participated as vendors as well, especially to the following that provided delicious food tastes are Bocado – Un Petit Bistro, Locanda Amalfi, Mochiholic, Much Ado About Pizza and Simple Elegance Catering.

Thank you, also, to Amos Productions for partnering with us for all of the audio.