Comments from the Chairman

FROM THE 2022 CHAIRMAN

"Start where you are, use what you have." - Arthur Ashe

This is one of my favorite quotes from the late tennis star Arthur Ashe. For me this speaks to the potential that exists right here in Albany. Like many communities across our great nation, we have challenges. I like to believe that these challenges are potential opportunities to succeed and display our canvas as the Good Life City, where we can continue to nurture enabling a foundation to strengthen our community through positive engagement and plain hard work. Starting where we are now, we are in a good position for small business and economic growth, and the team we have in place is truly the best of us. I am humbled and excited about our upcoming year. It has been a pleasure working with Perry Revell, 2020 chairman of the Albany Area Chamber and 2021 chairman of the Albany Area Chamber Foundation, and Matt Reed, 2021 chairman of the Chamber and 2022 chairman of the Chamber Foundation, over the past two years as we worked with the board to develop #ImpactABY2023, our strategic plan, and then began implementing it under Reed's leadership. This work executed with dogged determination from our president & CEO, Barbara Rivera Holmes, and her staff; and all of our Chamber division chairs, together a truly talented four-star accredited group that has ... this past year; together, we have risen to new challenges. We have risen to challenges and I look forward to implementing our much awaited new tiered benefits model that will give our members more choice, value and control, and engaging in our Diversity, Equity & Inclusion work that will be led by the talented Jeretha Peters, of Wells Fargo, who will takeh elm of the the Chamber's new DE&I division. These are examples of using what we have right here in our own back yard to lean forward in serving our community and the businesses that make Albany a great place to live, work and play. May God continue to bestow grace, mercy, and blessings on us all – I look forward to serving beside you in 2022. Be the best of us. One Team, One Fight for Albany.

- DON GRAY