Comments from the Chairman

from Biz Magazine | Vol. 23, Issue 1

Q&A with Laura Ross

FROM THE 2022 CHAIRMAN

I am honored and humbled to be your chairman for 2023. It is a great privilege to continue on the path laid by previous chairs and I am grateful to Perry Revell, Matt Reed and Don Gray for “vectoring” our Chamber in a new, bold direction. I am thankful for their far-reaching vision in the development of our #ImpactABY2023 Strategic Plan and look forward to continuing its successful implementation. Most of you know my passion for the education of our children and younger generations. They are not only the greatest asset for our community but indeed, any community. My passion is even stronger in 2023, as I believe education is the foundation on which all other pillars in our business community are built, and it becomes a platform from which to continue building. The wherewithal to seize future opportunities and build on the success of our community rests in our youth. In our #ImpactABY2023 strategic plan, we formed a new division — Talent, Education & Leadership — in which the mission and goals are to build a highly educated and skilled workforce and develop competent community leaders. The superb work with programs and events by all our divisions will continue in 2023. To that end, I have asked all division committee chairs and our treasurer to continue in their roles, to build on the momentum and successes garnered in the past year. I appreciate all the division chairs and our treasurer from 2022 accepting continuance in their roles in 2023.

These are exciting times for our Chamber, and we are extremely fortunate and thankful to have Barbara Rivera Holmes as our President and CEO. She and her staff have done incredible work in launching, executing and ensuring we stay on course with our #ImpactABY2023 mission and goals, and the supporting programs and events.

Happy New Year to all our membership.