One month and eight days in. Since joining the Chamber, I’ve had conversations with dozens of business and community leaders. Listening to their insights and perspectives, I’m excited about the trajectory of our Chamber, opportunities for meaningful collaboration, and the future of our region.

I recognize even more fully that I am following a path laid by many generations before me. A particularly poignant moment for our office was one day last month, when the long-time Chamber building on Broadway was taken down to make room for new community development. It was a difficult happening for Chamber staff, volunteers and members who served the greater Eureka area for years from that space. And yet it is symbolic of the ongoing evolution needed to serve our community’s evolving needs.

In a recent article by Leila Roberts, the Director of the North Coast Small Business Development Center, she reflected on opportunities before essentially every sector as our region moves toward the future: construction and engineering, K-16 education and child care, tourism and retail, agriculture and aquaculture, finance and real estate, entrepreneurs and artisans, nonprofits and local government, and more. We will all be impacted by the transformation ahead for our community.

In preparation, I hope you’ll join me and hundreds of other regional leaders for Growing Forward: The Redwood Coast Region Economic Development Virtual Summit being held September 22-23. There you’ll have opportunity to hear from world class speakers, engage in game-changing conversations, and learn what you need to know about what’s happening – and what’s to come – across our region.

We would also love to see you at our next Chamber mixer on Thursday, September 15 starting at 5:30pm. We will be at the Sequoia Park Zoo, where you can visit the animals, enjoy good food and drink, enter to win a prize – and hang out with some fantastic humans!

I look forward to navigating these complex times alongside all of you, and building our vibrant future.