CEO Message

A Message From The President & CEO

HOSPITALITY AND TOURISM

By Trish Christensen

Summer will officially arrive in just a few days and our eagerness to get out and enjoy it freely is adding to the anticipation. As the state and the county see the results of more of the population being vaccinated, and with the virus finally ebbing, we are collectively beginning to take advantage of the ever-lightening restrictions we have been impacted by during the last 15 months. We are witnessing the happiness meter rise in the people we interact with at the store, a restaurant, at work, and at play.

The timing of this shift is marvelous. Summer is when we traditionally look to travel, visit family, explore the great outdoors and the world around us. We all know things are not “normal”, and we may not feel a hundred percent confident in doing exactly what we did pre-COVID, but we certainly feel a new sense of ability and possibility to leave our homes and live our lives again at some level. This is so uplifting.

As you travel through this month’s edition you will learn of great things to come for our city and county. The city’s General Plan is getting off the ground. Attracting new industry and jobs is one element to be considered through this process. Our city’s ability to host travelers who may visit here is a key element to our economic success. Companies may come here searching for a new community to grow and hire their workforce. A family may visit if they are looking for a better job and a better way of life. We want to always highlight the great things we have going on and the incredible sights and activities we can explore so easily from here. Within these pages you will read about the growth of the rail system passing through town as well as the expansion of the Transit Center. Here they look forward to having patrons from various places and directions come into town to tour our community, and to commute or travel out to other places. We are, as we know, well situated in the center of the valley. The Doubletree by Hilton’s room expansions and renovations are complete, and they cannot wait to host you or your out-of-town guests. As the Gallo Center says farewell to the esteemed Lynn Dickerson, we look forward to getting to know the incoming CEO, Chad Hilligus as well as returning to its beautiful theater and experiencing the multitude of music, culture, and performances that will be featured there.

We have also highlighted the names of a few options for dining, of things to do, and of places to visit for those interested in a new suggestion. Please take some time to read about the great things we have on our calendar. We have stayed very busy with our Rising Professionals, Women in Business, Tech Connect, and Stanislaus Green Team networks. The staff and I are in the process of creating our refreshed list of events and things to come in the next several months. Please watch for information of those to start appearing on our website and social media platforms over the next month.

Lastly, and as always ... I wish you health and wellness. Stay safe and take care.

With warm regards, Trish

MISSION STATEMENT: The Modesto Chamber of Commerce is dedicated to serving the greater MISSION STATEMENT: The Modesto Chamber of Commerce is dedicated to serving the greater Modesto Area,

Modesto Area, regional businesses and community prosperity through advocacy, collaboration, regional businesses and community prosperity through advocacy, collaboration, access to leaders, MISSION STATEMENT: The Modesto Chamber of Commerce is dedicated to serving the greater access to leaders, economic development, connectivity and business education.economic development, connectivity and business education. Modesto Area, regional businesses and community prosperity through advocacy, collaboration, Toexecute our adopted mission we have developed an acronym that helps keep us focused. That To execute our adopted mission we have developed an acronym that helps keep us focused. access to leaders, economic development, connectivity and business education. acronym is “CARES: Community, Advocacy, Relationships, Education and Service.” That acronym is “CARES: Community, Advocacy, Relationships, Education and Service.”Toexecute our adopted mission we have developed an acronym that helps keep us focused. That acronym is “CARES: Community, Advocacy, Relationships, Education and Service.”

COMMUNITYCOMMUNITY EDUCATION EDUCATION

At its heart the Modesto Chamber is a community of likeminded business owners who share the vision for enjoying a thriving economy and creating and maintaining our community as a vibrant place to live, At its heart the Modesto Chamber is a community of likeminded business owners who share the vision for enjoying a thriving economy and creating and maintaining our community as a vibrant place to live, work and play. The Modesto Chamber is the go-to resource and work and play. The Modesto Chamber is the go-to resource and facilitator of ideas and communication for nonprofits, governmental facilitator of ideas and communication for nonprofits, governmental agencies, and community leaders. Moreagencies, and community leaders. than just a business club, the More than just a business club, the Modesto Chamber strives to affect its environment for positive Modesto Chamber strives to affect its environment for positive transformation by supporting change agents in the community.transformation by supporting change agents in the community.

ADVOCACYADVOCACY

Chamber Staff, Board of Directors and many of our topical Chamber Staff, Board of Directors and many of our topical committees, such as Economic Development and Government committees, such as Economic Development and Government Relations, are engaged and proactively representing our members by Relations, are engaged and proactively representing our members by addressing business initiatives, addressing issues in our community addressing and business initiatives, addressing issues in our community working to relieve the regulatory burdens businesses endure due and working to relieve the regulatory burdens businesses endure due to local and state governments. The Modesto Chamber gets results, as to local and state governments. The Modesto Chamber gets results, as shown by recent victories in forming more rational ADA legislation, shown by recent victories in forming more rational ADA legislation, defeating a no-growth measure, electing business friendly candidates, defeating a no-growth measure, electing business friendly candidates, working alongside others to pass Measure L, a local self-help working alongside others to pass Measure L, a local self-help transportation measure, and championing for more water for our transportation measure, and championing for more water for our agribusiness, industry and citizens. By working together, our members agribusiness, industry and citizens. By workingare stronger together than they could ever together,be on their our members own. are stronger together than they could ever be on their own.

RELATIONSHIPS RELATIONSHIPS

The Modesto Chamber specializes in building relationships among business and serving as the nexus to businesses, nonprofit

The Modesto Chamber specializes in building relationships among organizations, and governmental agencies. We host monthly business and serving as the nexus to businesses, nonprofit networking events, annual special events, an annual trade show, and organizations, and governmental agencies. We host monthly our long-running Gala. Members also may serve on committees or go networking events, annual special events, an annual trade show, and through the Leadership Modesto program where they will build long- our long-running Gala. Members also may serve on committeesterm relationships with key leaders in the business world and or go through the Leadership local community. Modesto program where they will build long- term relationships with key leaders in the business world and local community.

The Chamber serves the education community by hosting the annual State of Business and Education event, by fund-raising for local students at the Ag Aware and Harvest Luncheon annual series, and The Chamber serves the education community by hosting the annual State of Business and Education event, by fund-raising for local students at the Ag Aware and Harvest Luncheon annual series, and partnering with local schools and collegespartnering with local schools and colleges to to train and educate youngtrain and educate young men and women, all in keeping with men and women, all in keeping withour ourpledge pledge to help provide a ready to help provide a ready workforce to serve local employers. Additionally, the Chamber workforce to serve local employers. Additionally, the Chamber educates its members on practical solutions and best practices through educates its members on practical solutions and best practices through its Progress Magazine articles, monthly Chamber University and Seeds of its Progress Magazine articles, monthly Chamber University and Seeds of Success speaker series, workshops and seminars, monthly committee Success speaker series, workshops and seminars, monthly committee meetings, and SCORE counseling.meetings, and SCORE counseling.

SERVICE SERVICE

The Chamber believes in service to the community and to its

The Chamber believes in service to the community and to its members. The Chamber Board and staff are active on many nonprofit members. The Chamber Boardand government committees, and staff are active ondonating their business many nonprofit expertise, time and government committees, donating their business expertise, time and resources. The Chamber also serves its individual members by and resources. The Chamber also serves its individual members by hosting ribbon cuttings which introduce a new business to the hosting ribbon cuttings which introduce a new business to the community, valuable and cost effective (free) marketing opportunities, community, valuable and cost effective (free) marketing opportunities, exposure to social media, workshops and training for our business exposure to social media, workshops and training for our business partnersandtheirassociates,andotherfree and discountedresources. partnersandtheirassociates,andotherfree and discountedresources.