ARTICLE
In an era of economic transformation the Santa Cruz region’s business opportunities are enormous, its challenges complex, and its strategies for the future a mixture of long-held expectations and emerging visions. With the retirement of current CEO Bill Tysseling in the first quarter of 2017, a new executive will have the opportunity to lead the Chamber and the business community it serves in addressing the challenges and opportunities and developing these strategies and their implementation. The new CEO will be charged with managing the current administrative staff and hiring at least one additional key staff member. They will lead the more than 100 Chamber board members and volunteers in fulfilling the Chamber’s objectives: to shape our economic environment, to connect members with customers and colleagues, and to build a prosperous community. The Chamber Board is actively recruiting local leaders for this position and encourages Chamber members to recommend the job to individuals they believe would be good candidates. The Chamber’s principal tools are its “ARC” – advocacy, resources, and, connections. Chamber advocacy melds the economic community’s needs and opportunities into a widely-shared vision. It seeks to temper public decisions with business realities and economic opportunities and to shape the future by initiating policy development to improve jobs, housing, transportation, local capital investment, and other core elements of a successful economic system. Chamber resources provide the data, analysis, and local knowledge necessary to grow jobs, invest capital and thrive. The Chamber provides its members and the community information about public processes, policies and strategies and analyzes the forces, threats, trends, and opportunities that influence economic vitality in Santa Cruz County. The Chamber also provides its members with an array of marketing opportunities, regulatory assistance, and other business consulting services. Chamber connections join its members with customers, suppliers, colleagues, public decision makers, and the community. It facilitates connections to public offices and office holders and other who influence the business environment. And, it brings together member businesses and industry segments to achieve shared interests and goals and to build mutually supportive relationship throughout Santa Cruz County. For more information contact the Chamber CEO, Bill Tysseling at 831 239-7455 or Board Chair Chris Maffia at 831 457-5003 ex 2123. Job Description POSITION: President and Chief Executive Officer ACCOUNTABILITY: Board Chair and Executive Committee STATUS: Exempt POSITION OBJECTIVES AND PURPOSE: The President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Santa Cruz Area Chamber of Commerce, (Chamber), a 501(c)(6) not for profit corporation located in Santa Cruz California, and is responsible for the fulfillment of Chamber’s purpose and mission as determined by its board of directors and more fully described by the Chamber’s strategic plan. The CEO is responsible for all aspects of the Chamber’s administration, management and activities. The CEO develops and administers the Chamber’s annual program of work and budget with, and subject to the approval of, the Chamber’s Executive Committee and Board of Directors. The CEO’s responsibilities, more fully described below, include the strategic positioning of the Chamber in the community and the development and implementation of its marketing and branding strategies, its inventory of products and services for its members and other constituencies, and the sale of those products including memberships and sponsorships. The CEO is also responsible for ongoing analysis of the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of the Santa Cruz County economic community and for the development and implementation of Chamber strategies and programs to sustain and improve that community’s economic vitality and prosperity. The Santa Cruz Chamber CEO reports to the elected Chair of the Chamber’s Board of Directors and its Executive Committee. The CEO works closely with the Board to ensure that the mission and goals of the Chamber are clearly defined, that the Chamber’s activities are consistent with that mission and those goals, that the organization remains fiscally sound, and that it maintains the highest ethical standards. CEO’s ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: Administrative • Serves as an ex-officio member of the Board of Directors and Executive Committee • Serves on or directs other Chamber employees to staff the Finance Committee and other standing and board-initiated project committees of the Chamber • Initiates and/or assists the Board in the development of policies as required or requested • Executes Chamber policies as adopted by the Board • Ensures the preparation of accurate and timely, monthly and annual financial statements with at a level of detail requested by the Board Strategic • In concert with the Board, develops and maintains a strategic plan consistent with the Chamber’s purpose and mission that clearly communicates the Chamber’s promise to its members and the community • In concert with the Board, develops and implements an annual plan of work consistent with that strategic plan Advocacy • Identifies important community issues and represents the economic community’s interests in advocating for a satisfactory resolution of those issues • Seeks to achieve community consensus in resolving such issues whenever possible • Promotes the county and region through local, state and national media • Develops and maintains a strong, open, respectful working relationship with Chamber members, the business community, the leaders and administrators of local governments and agencies • Analyzes, develops Chamber positions, and advocates for or against local, regional, state, and national legislative solutions that have significant local economic impact, subject to the approval of the Board of such positions Membership • Understands the needs and interests of local and regional businesses industries, and the economic communities served by the Chamber through research, analysis and strong personal relationships with business property owners and business managers, local governments’ and institutions’ principals, and other community leaders • Develops, implements, and analyzes marketing and communications strategies to recruit and retain Chamber members, sponsors, contributors, and participants • Develops a portfolio of Chamber services, benefits, programs, and activities that will serve and be attractive to businesses and others in the Santa Cruz County economic community • Represents the Chamber and its members on committees, in meetings, and at conferences of governments, commissions, business and economic development organizations, and other forums of interest to the Santa Cruz economic community Administration of Employees, Contractors, and Suppliers • Designs and evaluates, at least annually, the Chamber’s organizational structure to ensures it efficiently addresses the strategic objectives, market conditions, and competitive requirements of the environment in which it operates • Designs and implements a strategy for division of responsibilities among employees, contractors, and suppliers for the effective operation of the Chamber • Designs and administers an efficient management system insuring o realistic promises of Chamber performance, o timely and effective completion of administrative requirements, o delivery of products and services to the Chamber’s customers that meet or exceed expectations, o timely completion of projects according to specifications, within budget, and on time, and o successful advocacy on behalf of the economic community. • Employs, supervises, discharges, evaluates, establishes compensation for, and assigns responsibilities to all employees, contractors, and vendors of the Chamber and its subsidiaries • Develops and maintains an equitable compensation and performance appraisal process for all Chamber employees, contractors, and subsidiary organizations, if any Presence • Ensures the Chamber offices enable efficient operation and project the Chamber as an attractive "front door" to the community • Maintains a dialogue with the Chamber’s members and others in the economic community • Plans and implements communications strategies that inform the Chamber’s members and constituencies and promotes the Chamber and its interests • Reflects in his or her personal deportment the values and best interests of the Chamber Other Responsibilities • Performs other related duties as determined by the CEO or directed by the Board. The preceding statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by the CEO. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all job duties performed. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: EDUCATION Bachelor's degree and experience reflecting strong leadership, business administration, and communications skills PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS: Completion or current enrollment in the W.A.C.E Academy program, the A.C.C.E. Certified Chamber Executive program or equivalent business association education or experience. PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS The CEO should exhibit exemplary characteristics in the following areas • Commitment to economic and community vitality • Demonstrated leadership skills reflected in project and organizational accomplishments • Successful planning, business administration, and project management experience • Excellent written and verbal communication skills • Proficiency with up-to-date computer and online-based administration and communications programs (e.g., productivity tools such as Microsoft Office Suite or Apple Works, CRM such as SalesForce, event management systems such as EventBrite, surveying tools such as Survey Monkey, and social media such as Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram) • Ability to build consensus and communicate tactfully and persuasively with a variety of stakeholders • A high “EQ” (emotional intelligence) • Creativity in problem solving and conflict resolution • Skill and enthusiasm for working collaboratively, without political-partisanship, as a fair-but-tough negotiator to achieve the Chamber’s goals and objectives • Comfort in dealing with both the public and private sectors The CEO should exhibit current capacity or interest in and a dedication to continuous improvement of knowledge and skills related to • General business and key industry-specific needs and interests • Effective communications and marketing • Public administration and local political processes • Community politics (both city- and county-level) in Santa Cruz County or a similar economic community • Analysis of business, economic, demographic and political data