Catch up on what’s happening at the Chamber with this monthly roundup of policy work, events, and member news. Chamber Digest is sent the first Monday of the month.
Newsletters
Supporting leadership is at the heart of what we do, and here at the Chamber, we’re committed to elevating voices across our business community. Building on our efforts to advance regional dialogue and priorities, we’re bringing together women leaders for Voices in Leadership: Women Driving Business, Advocacy & Public Service in CaliBaja.
One of the biggest issues the San Diego business community faces is up for a vote on September 16th. I know I don’t need to tell you how expensive it is to do business in San Diego, and now the City Council is looking to impose a new $25 minimum wage mandate that will only make it tougher to live in San Diego.
From summer celebrations to spotlighting local champions, it’s been a month full of energy and impact here at the Chamber! Last month, we brought the sunshine and the celebration to one of our favorite events of the year, the Small Business Awards & Summer Celebration!
From policy pushes to events and mixers, it’s been a busy and productive first month at the Chamber! We’ve been actively opposing the City of San Diego’s proposed $25 minimum wage, a policy that would create a double standard by exempting City workers while forcing costly mandates onto local businesses and nonprofits.
Today begins my tenure as President and CEO of the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce, a role I am deeply honored to undertake. Throughout my career, I have been driven by a deep commitment to public service and championing San Diego’s economic prosperity.
Did you know San Diego has one of the largest communities of small businesses? Nearly 98% of all businesses in our region are small businesses. This is true for Chamber membership as well. Most of our members are small businesses, which makes the upcoming National Small Business Week especially meaningful to us.
Spring is in full swing, and we’re gearing up for two of the Chamber’s biggest federal affairs events: our Mission to Washington, D.C. and Congressional Luncheon.
Thank you to all who attended our 154th Anniversary Celebration last Thursday! We are so proud of all we accomplished together over the last year and will keep the positive momentum going as we continue to address critical regional priorities with our 2025 Board Chair Chris Howard, CEO of Sharp HealthCare, leading the way.
Tomorrow kicks off our LARGEST delegation group to Sacramento in Chamber history! Nearly 90 delegates will travel to the capital to meet with our state partners. Delegates will hear the latest on California’s healthcare policy, housing initiatives, and the future of AI’s impact on our business community—to name a few of the topics we have up for discussion. We will meet with over 15 policymakers in this quick 24-hour trip!
Start 2025 with impact! I’m personally inviting you to join our first delegation trip of the year: the Leadership Delegation to Sacramento, taking place February 4-5. Together with local, regional, and state leaders, we’ll address the key issues shaping the future of the San Diego-Baja mega-region.
Thank you for the many messages of support and congratulations on my retirement. This role has been one of the greatest joys of my career, especially the chance to meet and support so many of you.
I’m excited to announce our 154th Anniversary Celebration will be held on February 27, 2025, at the Manchester Grand Hyatt. Save the date and join us for an evening of networking with nearly one thousand of San Diego’s premier leaders and changemakers. I hope to see you there!
Our Chamber team is gearing up for the annual Binational Delegation to Mexico City which kicks off in about two weeks. We’re looking forward to engaging with members of the new presidential administration and business industry leaders to discuss issues important to our Cali-Baja region.
The November elections are just a couple months away and the Chamber team wants to make sure you are informed. Perhaps one of the hottest topics on the ballot this fall is Prop. 36, which reforms retail theft by prioritizing mental health treatment and balancing victims’ rights with criminal rights.
At the Chamber, we love recognizing the small businesses that contribute to the cultural and economic success of our region. This year, we honored five San Diego small businesses at our Small Business Awards and Summer Celebration.