February 24, 2017

Chamber President & CEO, Jerry Sanders

As the national conversation surrounding U.S.-Mexico relations continues to dominate headlines, San Diego – and with it, the San Diego Regional Chamber – has received much recognition for its role as a binational collaborator.

Last week, POLITICO ran a story highlighting the cross-border business community’s efforts to bridge the economies of San Diego and Tijuana, which featured our Cross-Border Vision for 2017 Luncheonand the Cross Border Xpress, a project the Chamber helped facilitate. The story, “How San Diego Built a Bridge Over the Wall,” really shows how our region is a national model for successful cross-border commerce and how communities on both sides of the border can thrive by working together.

Earlier this month, I also joined San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer and Tijuana Mayor Juan Manuel Gastélum for a press conference to reaffirm our cities’ commitment to binational collaboration and the projects and initiatives that benefit both economies.

We’ve seen firsthand that binational integration is a strong contributor to San Diego’s economic vitality. In fact, at $5.5 billion in exported goods per year,Mexico remains our number one export market. The press conference was an excellent opportunity to educate the public on economic strategies that work, and I look forward to our continued collaboration with both mayors.

If you’re interested in adding your voice to the discussions surrounding cross-border policies and binational trade agreements, I highly recommend applying to join our Binational Delegation to Mexico City on March 26 – March 29.

As a delegate, you will meet with federal officials, organizations, and other policy influencers to discuss trade and investment opportunities as we cultivate political and business relationships. Don’t hesitate on this unique opportunity –submit your application now to take advantage of our early bird special pricing which ends tonight.

In addition to being a strong advocate for binational economies, the Chamber team has been working hard to put together programs to develop San Diego’s next generation of business leaders. Yesterday, we announced Advance, our newest professional development program designed to elevate women in the workforce through training and mentoring.

If you – or someone you know – is interested in taking advantage of our women’s professional development program, I invite you to learn more at sdchamber.org/advance and pass along the information to a friend.

I also want to take a moment to thank the following local businesses for inviting me to get a behind-the-scenes look at their operations:

• American Heart Association
• BV Accell
• Extreme Game Truck
• Hyatt Regency La Jolla
• Intersection, Inc.

And I’d like to congratulate Gaspar Physical Therapy, the Chicago School of Professional Psychology, and Union Bank for their grand opening ceremonies this month.

Coming up, we have some great events and networking opportunities ahead. First, today is the last day to register for the Chamber Leadership Delegation to Sacramento taking place February 28 – March 1. If you’re interested in taking the lead on ensuring the priorities of Sacramento reflect the needs of San Diego’s business community, I highly recommend that you apply.

Next, workplace performance expert, Dr. Maureen Orey will host a Time Management & Productivity workshop at Coleman University. If you’re constantly feeling worn out by emails and to-do lists, this workshop is definitely for you.

Finally, we’re teaming up with the American Red Cross to host a Disaster Preparedness Academy on March 3 to help business owners create a disaster recovery plan. With topics including cyber security, active threat responses, disaster kit building, and more we aim to give the business community the necessary tools to protect their businesses, employees, and family from the potential impacts of emergencies.

Until next time, have a great weekend and hope to see you at a Chamber event soon.

Jerry Sanders
President & CEO
San Diego Regional
Chamber of Commerce