Alameda Chamber & Economic Alliance's 2023 Strategic Plan

STRATEGIC PLAN 2023

Madlen Saddik President&CEO, AlamedaChamber&EconomicAlliance

LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT/CEO

Welcome to the Alameda Chamber & Economic Alliance’s three-year Strategic Plan. This important document ushers in a transformative time for the Chamber and the community.

Over the past year, we’ve been part of difficult conversations during difficult times. We polled members, spoke with former members, got feedback from local stakeholders, and listened to private sector leaders to evaluate what was needed most by our members and our community.

In a day-long strategic planning sessions led by chamber consultant Frank Kenny, we put together goals that would have the biggest impact on business. It was a lot of work but also incredibly exciting as we imagined a new tomorrow with even stronger business relationships and partnerships between the public and private sector.

In this document, we share our new goals and the impact the business community and our members will feel with these efforts. Our Chamber staff and volunteer leadership are unified behind this exciting momentum and Chamber initiatives.

We invite you to check them out and hope that you will be as energized by this plan as we are.

I’d like to thank you for your continued confidence in the Chamber and know that these next three years will strengthen the investment you’re making in your business through Chamber membership.

Your partner in business and growth, Madlen Saddik President/CEO, Alameda Chamber & Economic Alliance

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Letter from the President/CEO 02 04

Strategic Plan

Chamber Strong: Grow Chamber

Objective: Membership Revenue/Staffing Objective: CEO Roundtables Objective: Activate the Board Objective: Resource for Business & City Council

Objective: Emerging Leaders and Leadership Alameda

Business Strong: Giving Voice to Alameda Businesses on Municipal, State, & Federal Levels

Objective: Affordable Housing 09 Objective: Workforce Development Objective: Public Safety

09 10 Objective: Advocating for business

Alameda Strong

Letter from the Board Chair

10 10

ALAMEDA CHAMBER & ECONOMIC ALLIANCE STRATEGIC PLAN 2023

This Chamber Strategic Plan for 2023 outlines the Alameda Chamber & Economic Alliance’s essential focus areas and goals including:

Chamber Strong: focusing on chamber growth, building membership, becoming a resource for businesses, community leaders, and citizens

Business Strong: continuing and expanding the chamber’s role as the Voice of Business in Alameda

Alameda Strong: Taking on a leadership role in tourism, bringing interest and resources to the area

The Strategic Plan identifies the Chamber’s top priorities and goals, serving as a road map to lead the Chamber from where it is now to where it strives to be over the next few years.

The elements of the Strategic Plan are defined as follows:

CHAMBER STRONG: GROW CHAMBER

The Alameda Chamber & Economic Alliance is the preeminent organization behind the building and supporting of a thriving economy for Alameda.

We are a champion for businesses of all sizes and backgrounds, convener of leaders and influencers dedicated to innovative solutions, and a catalyst positioned to spark economic and business growth. In 2023, as the Alameda business community continues to recover from the global pandemic, we are focusing on different aspects of chamber growth including:

OBJECTIVE: MEMBERSHIP REVENUE/STAFFING

The growth and expansion of the Alameda Chamber and Economic Alliance has led the board of directors to conclude that we can better serve our members and future members by adding additional professional staff.

The Chamber will perform tasks that give high visibility to members and interest non-member businesses through activities such as:

Promoting members on social media Providing valuable resources to business

Spotlighting members in Destination Alameda Guide

Highlighting businesses and helping them gain more visibility through the Visit & Shop Alameda Gift Card

Working with members to host member-facing events

Celebrating Small Business Season over the holidays and encouraging buyers to shop small Working with our bio/tech businesses to raise awareness of their presence and contributions to Alameda and beyond

OBJECTIVE: CEO ROUNDTABLES

The Chamber is a resource for business and leadership. To ensure this, it is essential to remain in touch with the major employers and industries in Alameda. The Chamber will strengthen and grow the 12 at 12 CEO roundtables where industry leaders convene to discuss needs, concerns, and possibilities.

Establish schedule for 2023

Invite industry execs

Share conversations and results with the community

An active and engaged leadership board is essential to a healthy chamber

Make changes in by-laws to better

fit current needs including changing meeting schedules and attendance requirements Chamber makes a difference for businesses and help them see they

are a part of something beneficial that impacts the whole community

Ask the board to participate in events and help with word-of-mouth marketing by sharing their chamber experiences and interest in activities and programs

7

OBJECTIVE: EMERGING LEADERS AND LEADERSHIP ALAMEDA

Increase the perception and reputation of the Chamber as an opportunity for young people. Give new professionals and entrepreneurs a reason to stay in Alameda.

Rebuild and strength the Emerging Leaders group by establishing new leadership and direction

Create a calendar of events and opportunities Continue to market and celebrate Leadership Alameda as a pathway to future leadership and servant leader opportunities as well as providing them with the tools and resources they need to maximize the impact they have on our future

OBJECTIVE: RESOURCE FOR BUSINESS & CITY COUNCIL

The Chamber should be a resource for businesses and as such is perfectly suited to serve as a bridge between the needs of business and the leaders who are making decisions on behalf of business.

Report to leaders on the needs of business members

Continue to host and grow the State of City and Economic Forecast Events

Attend City Council meetings and advocate on behalf of members, speaking to their needs

BUSINESS STRONG: GIVING VOICE TO ALAMEDA

BUSINESSES

ON MUNICIPAL, STATE, & FEDERAL LEVELS

The Chamber will continue to advocate for Alameda businesses of all sizes to create a strong economic environment and pro-business community.

OBJECTIVE: AFFORDABLE HOUSING

Make Alameda a more attractive area for business by supporting affordable housing options.

Work with and advocate on behalf of developers looking to provide affordable housing options on the Island. Strengthen committees around new housing areas.

Support legislation and programs that create more affordable housing.

OBJECTIVE: WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

Ensure current businesses and those interested in relocating to or opening in Alameda have the skilled and educated workforce needed to succeed.

Communicate with businesses on their current and future hiring needs. Speak with the educational outlets on the Island to ensure they are focused on business needs.

Work with educational organizations to communicate growing career opportunities here in Alameda such as biotech, space tech, and health care.

OBJECTIVE: PUBLIC SAFETY

Help Alameda shine as the type of community people want to live, work, and play in.

Work with public safety officers to ensure they understand business concerns Bridge the gap between public safety and its constituents through monthly coffee events

Share suggestions from safety officers to businesses

OBJECTIVE: ADVOCATING FOR BUSINESS

Install the Chamber as a hub for government affairs and business interests.

Create a PAC to help fund support for pro-business initiatives

Educate members/community on business impact of pending legislation

Create a forum for discussion by hosting candidate and issue nights

ALAMEDA STRONG

Become the premier leader in promoting tourism on the Island.

Continue to publish and market Destination Alameda magazine, the preeminent resource for relocators, residents, and visitors.

Design, publish, and maintain Alameda tourism website (Visit Alameda). Create content promoting Alameda’s many benefits.

LETTER FROM THE BOARD CHAIR

This Strategic Plan is a compilation of the best ideas from Chamber and community leadership. With it we are poised to take on the growth and opportunities that always follow setbacks.

Alameda is a community of people and businesses that rise to the occasion and challenge. After years of being a quaint enclave, we are entering a new position as a leading location for biotech, aerospace, and life sciences. Yet, we’re also an excellent place to slow down and enjoy the arts, food, and outdoor recreation.

We’re a diverse community and this Strategic Plan will give you better insights into how our Chamber is partnering with the businesses to boldly enter a new time for our Island.

Our many initiatives provide authentic reasons to be excited about the future. This Plan will help you see our vision for a pathway to economic diversity, growth, and vitality in the next three years and beyond. And we’re excited to share it with you.

We would like to express our deepest gratitude to the community for its continued belief in our ability to provide a great environment to launch, grow, and thrive as a business.

Wait until you see what’s up next!

Yours in business, Kelly Lux Board Chair, Alameda Chamber & Economic Alliance

Kelly Lux Board Chair, Alameda Chamber & Economic Alliance

KELLYLUX,BOARDCHAIR KellyLuxStateFarmInsurance

2215-A S Shore Center Alameda, CA 94501 (510) 522-0414

CHRIS MOHLER-KING,TREASURER Owner, Sendell Motors

TOM CHAKURDA,SECRETARY

EX-OFFICIO

DAVIDMIK

PowerEngineeringConstructionCo.

MARGARETSU

ThePrepStation WILLTHOMAS Newmark

by FrankJKenny.com