PRESIDENT'S LETTER
AS I SEE IT
MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT / CEO • LAUREL ROSEN
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ince 2007, Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce President & CEO Laurel Rosen has led the Chamber to effectively advocate for the business community. Staying true to the Chamber’s purpose to foster, enable, and facilitate the success of Santa Monica businesses, Rosen has brought strong leadership and fresh ideas to the Chamber, and strives to continually improve and invigorate membership benefits. Today the Chamber continues to grow and represents more than 800 businesses and thousands of employees.
Salute to Business “Businesses are what build communities,” Rosen said. “They create the fabric of our neighborhoods, and provide funding for our schools, our infrastructure, and so much more.” In fact, businesses build communities together – business to business, business to city government, and business to community. There are a number of ways that businesses help build a stronger Santa Monica. General Fund Businesses are the economic drivers of the community, and in Santa Monica 9,542 businesses employ 89,853 people. Collectively, Santa Monica’s businesses generated $3.2 billion in taxable sales last year and raised $16 million in funding for schools alone. When looking at the city’s 2018-2019 $734 million budget, 56% came from General Fund revenues, and property taxes made up 15% of that fund, sales tax another 17%, Transient Occupancy Tax contributed 15%, and business licenses accounted for 8% Public Benefits There are currently 33 development agreements in place on completed, under construction, and soon to be under construction projects in Santa Monica. These agreements are resulting in some tremendous public benefits that include participation in transportation management associations, bicycle parking spaces, rental bicycles, showers, lockers, and future bike sharing stations. These benefits also include millions of dollars being earmarked for transit and infrastructure contributions – resulting in a stronger Santa Monica. Direct Giving Charitable donations help better the community, and in Santa Monica, businesses of all sizes support local non-profits and charities, either through direct or planned giving, by serving on boards, or by volunteering. As a result of this involvement, nonprofits throughout the city are able to do more and give more to the populations they serve. Workforce Development Having a competitive workforce is key in Santa Monica, and Santa Monica College is a huge asset to many employers. In order for workforce development programs to be effective, there has to be a strong partnership between education and industry. This is why SMC routinely collaborates with local businesses, and works to bridge the gap between local market needs and workforce abilities. Moving Forward Recognizing the important role that the Chamber plays in the community, Rosen remains focused on ways to build a stronger Santa Monica and help members continue to thrive and grow. “These companies, large and small, bring products and services to the community, to the neighborhoods,” Rosen said. “They support our community, and we need to support them and keep Santa Monica growing in the right direction.”
Laurel Rosen, President / CEO Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce
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SANTA MONICA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
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2019-2020 BUSINESS, RELOCATION & COMMUNITY GUIDE
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2019-2020 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Laura McIver, Chair . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Shutters on the Beach Jeff Klocke, Past Chair . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier Dave Rand, Chair-elect . . . . . . . . . . . . . Armbruster Goldsmith & Delvac LLP Len Lanzi, Treasurer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Los Angeles Venture Association Colby Goff, Vice Chair . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rustic Canyon Family of Restaurants Julia Ladd, Vice Chair . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Santa Monica Place/Macerich Ellis O’Connor, Vice Chair . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . MSD Hospitality Julie Reback Spencer, Vice Chair . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cedars-Sinai Peter Trinh, Vice Chair . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Craftsman
2019-2020 BOARD OF DIRECTORS Daniel Abramson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . RAND Corporation Alisha Auringer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . LAcarGuy Judi Barker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Barker Hangar Josh Bradburn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Charles Schwab Ted Braun . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . UCLA Medical Center, Santa Monica Dr. Ben Drati . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SMMUSD Jeffrey Fritz . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Coldwell Banker Annie Goeke . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Earth Rights Institute Justin Grant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Morley Builders Stephanie Harris . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Carlthorp School Damien Hirsch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . JW Marriott Santa Monica Le Merigot Jeff Jarow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Par Commercial Kevin Kozal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . HLKK Law Kim Koury . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Spin PR Bob Kull . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Lobster Hayden Lee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hayden Lee Coaching International Marcel Loh . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Providence St. John’s Health Center John Loyacono . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bank of America Brian Mac Mahon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Expert DOJO Jennifer McElyea . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Watt Investment Partners Pam O’Connor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Evan Pozarny . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Muselli Commercial Realtors Ali Sahabi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Optimum Seismic Kathy Shepard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . KS Heather Somaini . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lionsgate Nat Trives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . New Visions Foundation John Warfel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Metropolitan Pacific Becky Warren . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Elevate Public Affairs David Woodbury . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Arthur Murray For complete list of past chairs visit: smchamber.com/past-chairs
CHAMBER STAFF
Laurel Rosen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . President/CEO Ext. 1110 / president@smchamber.com Matt Stauffer . Executive Vice President of External Affairs Ext. 1116 / govaffairs@smchamber.com Gigi de Pourtales . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Director of Events Ext. 1114 / events@smchamber.com Mica Munn . . . . . . . . . . Marketing & Events Coordinator Ext. 1113 / marketing@smchamber.com Susan M. Hojer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Director of Membership Ext. 1115 / membership@smchamber.com Rhonda Dans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Executive Assistant Ext. 1110 / info@smchamber.com
Contact us for more information about the opportunities and benefits of Chamber membership at membership@smchamber.com or call 310-393-9825