October 3, 2022

Binational Creative Industries Driving the Economy Forward

In the San Diego-Tijuana region, geography and proximity have created complementary characteristics and shared assets in the economy. The region’s Creative Economy has laid a foundation for one-of-a-kind services, opportunities, products, and strengths resulting in further stimulation for innovation in today’s global marketplace. Before the pandemic, the Cali-Baja creative economy had a total annual economic impact in San Diego of $11.1 billion. Investments in cultural infrastructures-such as funding arts and culture programs- have historically been prioritized to enhance tourism in the region.

As a result, San Diego-Tijuana’s design-driven, innovative culture and economy has been granted the bid as the first binational World Design Capital in WDO history. Not only will our region be recognized for the close relationship between our two cities, but also for its ability to mobilize human-centered design to address major global problems like climate change and social inequity through engineering, science, art, architecture and more. In addition, our region consists of a hotspot of notable gastronomic experiences and an internationally renowned brewing scene allowing for partnerships including the opening of the first independent American brewery with a tasting room and full-time brewing operations in Mexico.

Join us on November 17 for a conversation on regional strategies to create more diverse and resilient creative and cultural sectors. Speakers will also share an overview of our region’s most recent designation: World Design Capital 2024 and its exciting programme that will showcase San Diego-Tijuana in a new light and emphasize the ways design can connect us. 

About the International Business Affairs Forums

Through the International Business Affairs Forums, the Chamber provides business leaders with the essential knowledge and resources needed to thrive within the binational marketplace. Attendees also have the opportunity to build and strengthen new relationships, exchange ideas, and debate policies that are relevant to the Cali-Baja business community. Meetings are held monthly, at the San Diego Regional Chamber office or in Tijuana

Registration is open to Chamber members and business and community leaders in our region. If you are not a Chamber member, please contact Joshua Peters, Membership Benefits Coordinator, at jpeters@sdchamber.org to discuss membership opportunities and attending as a guest.

Event Details

Date: November 17, 2022
Time: 10:00am – 11:00 am

Location:
Online

Contact Details:
Jimena Villaseñor
Phone: 619-544-1361
Email: jvillasenor@sdchamber.org

REGISTER

April 20, 2022

A Conversation on Enhancing SME International Trade

Did you know that SMEs represent 98% of San Diego businesses? An SME, or small to medium enterprise, is a business with fewer than 100 employees that currently employ 59% of our city’s workforce. Some of the top SME industries include professional, scientific, and technical services; finance, real estate, and insurance, and of course, retail. In fact, 27% of the region’s workforce are in businesses with fewer than 20 employees. SMEs are projected to be the primary driver of regional economic growth, but often lack the resources and support of their larger counterparts.

The pandemic highlighted San Diego’s global interdependence, impacting a variety of industries and resulting in tremendous job losses. Access to customers and markets is key for any firm’s long term resilience, yet the multiple challenges of digital acceleration and interrupted supply chains hit SMEs hardest. In response, regionalizing production closer to consumer markets has become an option to attract new customers and increase sales. By supporting the internationalization of SMEs, firms now have the opportunity to become more resilient and employ more people, creating more quality jobs for San Diegans.

Join us on May 25 to support national projects and initiatives that enhance international trade for SMEs, such as the U.S. Department of State’s tools and resources; learn about its Office of Commercial Business Affairs; and discuss the agency’s role in helping SMEs export. We will be hearing from Dilawar Syed, Special Representative for Commercial and Business Affairs at the Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs. He will also share a high level overview of the Ninth Summit of the Americas that will take place in June 2022 in Los Angeles, California, that brings leaders together from the countries of North, South, and Central America, and the Caribbean to promote cooperation towards region-wide, inclusive economic growth and prosperity.

About the International Business Affairs Forums

Through the International Business Affairs Forums, the Chamber provides business leaders with the essential knowledge and resources needed to thrive within the binational marketplace. Attendees also have the opportunity to build and strengthen new relationships, exchange ideas, and debate policies that are relevant to the Cali-Baja business community. Meetings are held monthly, at the San Diego Regional Chamber office or in Tijuana

Registration is open to Chamber members only. If you are not a Chamber member, please contact Joshua Peters, Membership Benefits Coordinator, at jpeters@sdchamber.org to discuss membership opportunities and attending as a guest.

Event Details

Date: April 25, 2022
Time: 10:00am – 11:30 am

Location:
Zoom

Contact Details:
Kenia Zamarripa
Phone: 619-544-1316
Email: kzamarripa@sdchamber.org

REGISTER

Sponsors

[logo-slider logo_category=”cbforum0217″]

February 15, 2022

On January 1, the California Privacy Rights Act went into effect, which provides new requirements for how businesses disclose and maintain employees’ data and personal information. If you are an employer with California residents working for you, you’ll want to be here to learn about the policies and procedures that will keep you in compliance and out of court.

Register Now

Featured Speaker:

Jenn Shaw | Shaw Law Group

Jennifer Shaw is the founder of Shaw Law Group, and a 2019 recipient of the Sacramento Business Journal’s “Women Who Mean Business” award.

A well-respected expert in employment law for more than 25 years, employers regularly rely on Jennifer to counsel them on a broad range of employment law issues. Jennifer’s practical advice covers subjects such as wage-hour compliance, anti-discrimination and harassment policies and procedures, reasonable accommodation/leave of absence issues, and hiring/separation processes. She is a trusted advisor to in-house counsel, HR professionals, and leadership across a broad spectrum of public-sector and private-sector employers.

Jennifer, a member of the Association of Workplace Investigators, has considerable expertise in conducting neutral investigations. Other attorneys and employers frequently engage her to assist with challenging and high-profile matters. Jennifer also teaches HR professionals how to conduct effective internal investigations. 

Widely recognized for developing and conducting innovative, effective training for executives, management, and non-supervisory employees, Jennifer uses case studies, audience participation, and storytelling to bring employment law to life. Through private, on-site sessions, open public sessions, and webinars, she trains thousands of people each year. She also trains and coaches senior executives on an individual basis.

Register Now

February 15, 2022

Want to learn about lactation policies and best practices for small businesses? Curious how other businesses have implemented innovative lactation programs to create comfortable environments for their employees? Join us to hear from lactation policy expert Lisa Bandong, MPH about resources your business can use to establish effective lactation policies in the workplace.

Our webinar will have two components: the first covering workplace lactation policies, and the second covering a new mini-grant program in partnership between the County of San Diego and the Regional Chamber. This mini-grant will provide $5k for up to 12 business-supporting organizations (i.e. chambers, business improvement districts, etc.) to promote opportunities and tools for the businesses they serve. To learn about this program, we encourage you to join in on the webinar to ask questions so you’re ready to apply for this partnership!

Register Now

Featured Speaker:

Lisa Bandong

Lisa Bandong, MPH is a Lactation Policy and Program Strategist for the County of San Diego’s Health and Human Services Agency. She has a depth of knowledge on lactation policy creation and implementation for businesses, specifically the creation of lactation-supportive environments. Lisa earned a Master’s Degree in Public Health with an emphasis in Health Promotion and Disease Prevention from Cal State Fullerton. Before joining the County of San Diego, Lisa was the Founder and Executive Director of the City of San Marcos’ Prenatal Yoga Program, which served over 200 women and families. Lisa is also a Public Health Lecturer at Cal State San Marcos, where she teaches graduate-level courses about health systems and social and behavioral determinants of health. In addition to lactation policy, Lisa has research experience relating to maternal and child health.

Register Now

January 5, 2022

The Border Dynamic: A Conversation on Global Competitiveness & Regional Opportunities

Border cities around the world not only benefit from a close proximity to a different country, but also the presence of diverse cultural traditions and endless opportunities for collaboration. For our next Forum, we’ll look at how border cities in different parts of the U.S. and the world are fostering greater peace and prosperity in their region. Our guest speakers will share perspectives from Arizona-Sonora, Sha’ar HaNegev, Israel, and the Port of Algeciras in Spain to discuss the opportunities, common challenges, and best practices to boost economic competitiveness in border regions world wide.

From pilot programs that allow Mexican citizens to travel without processing an I-94 permit in Arizona, to industrial zones to improve living conditions in Sha’ar HaNagev, border regions and ports around the world are finding innovative solutions to address local challenges. Taking the lead as the highest ranked European port and one of the largest commercial ports in the Mediterranean, the Port of Algeciras is renowned for its ongoing infrastructure investments to accommodate almost 29,000 ships every year.

Join us on March 10 for a conversation on border efficiencies from a global perspective and how border regions around the world collaborate to reach common goals. Speakers will provide an overview on their significant efforts to facilitate trade, improve border infrastructure, and binational diplomacy of their respective border region. The Chamber is proud to partner with the San Diego Diplomacy Council, the MARICOPA Association of Governments, the Jewish Federation of San Diego, and the Embassy of Spain in the U.S. for this month’s International Business Affairs Forum.

About the International Business Affairs Forums

Through the International Business Affairs Forums, the Chamber provides business leaders with the essential knowledge and resources needed to thrive within the binational marketplace. Attendees also have the opportunity to build and strengthen new relationships, exchange ideas, and debate policies that are relevant to the Cali-Baja business community. Meetings are held monthly, at the San Diego Regional Chamber office or in Tijuana

Registration is open to Chamber members only. If you are not a Chamber member, please contact Joshua Peters, Membership Benefits Coordinator, at jpeters@sdchamber.org to discuss membership opportunities and attending as a guest.

Event Details

Date: March 10th, 2022
Time: 10:00am – 11:30 am

Location:
Zoom

Contact Details:
Kenia Zamarripa
Phone: 619-544-1316
Email: kzamarripa@sdchamber.org

REGISTER

Sponsors

[logo-slider logo_category=”cbforum0217″]