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2019 A Year of Gratitude The Santa Cruz County Chamber of Commerce board of directors just held our last meeting of 2019. At the meeting, the Chamber announced the 2020 Board Officers and new board members starting in January. We welcome our new board members: Kenny Au — Bay Federal Credit Union, Keisha Frost — United Way of Santa Cruz County, Steve Gray — Sutter Health, and Laura Marcus — Dientes Community Dental Care. You can see the 2020 Board member list here: 2020 Santa Cruz County Chamber Board The Chamber, led by the board, made tremendous strides during our 130th year serving the greater Santa Cruz County business community. Here is a quick recap of 2019 as we gear up to celebrate this holiday season and welcome in the New Year. We held our annual membership breakfast in early February 2019; we acknowledged new board members as we prepared the Chamber’s vision for our 130th year as well as listen to Santa Cruz Mayor Martine Watkins and Santa Cruz County Supervisor board chair Ryan Coonerty share what is up around the city and county. The Chamber held four quarterly luncheons in 2019 — each to a sold-out crowd. We heard from Congressman Jimmy Panetta about the happenings in Washington DC at a Seascape Golf Club hosted lunch; we listened to the vision and actions in our four cities with an interactive conversation with our city mayors, Martine Watkins, Jack Dilles and Jacque Bertrand at the Back Nine Bar & Grill. Unfortunately, Watsonville Mayor Francisco Estrada was able to join because of a family issue. In late summer, Congresswoman Anna Eshoo visited our county as Chamber member, Poly hosted a wonderful lunch event. Last month, the Governor’s Economic Advisor, Lenny Mendonca came to Santa Cruz County to talk about the health of California’s economy hosted at the Best Western Seacliff Inn. During the year the Chamber held numerous business after hours and ribbon-cutting events highlighting our Chamber members. In March, we held our annual county-wide Business Expo to an overflow audience where over 100 chamber businesses and non-profit organizations were showcased to a crowd of over 1,500 guests. In June, the Chamber launched the Forks, Corks and Kegs Festival at the Kaiser Permanente Arena home to our Santa Cruz Warriors. The event was such a success it will become an early summer tradition for the Chamber. In the early fall, the Chamber team lead our annual Community Leadership Visit (CLV) to the central coast cities of Oxnard, Ventura and Goleta. In October, the Chamber celebrated our 130th anniversary at our annual Community Recognition Gala Dinner where we honored community leaders. Thank you to the sponsors and the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk for making this annual dinner a success. Last night, the Chamber kicked off the holiday season in grand style with the annual Santa Cruz County Bank’s holiday party. The Chamber can be proud of our accomplishments during 2019 — a year of gratitude to our members’ continued generosity that provides the resources to your staff to create innovative programs, projects and plans. On behalf of the Chamber staff — thank you to our dedicated board members, the amazing ambassadors and to all of our members for a very successful year. As Oliver Wendall Holmes stated: “To reach a port we must sail, sometimes with the wind, and sometimes against it. But we must not drift or lie at anchor.” As we head into the holiday season, please know that your Chamber is moving forward; looking into the New Year with a sense of purpose to ensure that we stay true to our mission of bringing economic vitality to the Santa Cruz County business community. Sail on my friends.
2019 A Year of Gratitude
The Santa Cruz County Chamber of Commerce board of directors just held our last meeting of 2019. At the meeting, the Chamber announced the 2020 Board Officers and new board members starting in January. We welcome our new board members: Kenny Au — Bay Federal Credit Union, Keisha Frost — United Way of Santa Cruz County, Steve Gray — Sutter Health, and Laura Marcus — Dientes Community Dental Care. You can see the 2020 Board member list here: 2020 Santa Cruz County Chamber Board
The Chamber, led by the board, made tremendous strides during our 130th year serving the greater Santa Cruz County business community. Here is a quick recap of 2019 as we gear up to celebrate this holiday season and welcome in the New Year.
We held our annual membership breakfast in early February 2019; we acknowledged new board members as we prepared the Chamber’s vision for our 130th year as well as listen to Santa Cruz Mayor Martine Watkins and Santa Cruz County Supervisor board chair Ryan Coonerty share what is up around the city and county.
The Chamber held four quarterly luncheons in 2019 — each to a sold-out crowd. We heard from Congressman Jimmy Panetta about the happenings in Washington DC at a Seascape Golf Club hosted lunch; we listened to the vision and actions in our four cities with an interactive conversation with our city mayors, Martine Watkins, Jack Dilles and Jacque Bertrand at the Back Nine Bar & Grill. Unfortunately, Watsonville Mayor Francisco Estrada was able to join because of a family issue. In late summer, Congresswoman Anna Eshoo visited our county as Chamber member, Poly hosted a wonderful lunch event. Last month, the Governor’s Economic Advisor, Lenny Mendonca came to Santa Cruz County to talk about the health of California’s economy hosted at the Best Western Seacliff Inn.
During the year the Chamber held numerous business after hours and ribbon-cutting events highlighting our Chamber members. In March, we held our annual county-wide Business Expo to an overflow audience where over 100 chamber businesses and non-profit organizations were showcased to a crowd of over 1,500 guests.
In June, the Chamber launched the Forks, Corks and Kegs Festival at the Kaiser Permanente Arena home to our Santa Cruz Warriors. The event was such a success it will become an early summer tradition for the Chamber. In the early fall, the Chamber team lead our annual Community Leadership Visit (CLV) to the central coast cities of Oxnard, Ventura and Goleta.
In October, the Chamber celebrated our 130th anniversary at our annual Community Recognition Gala Dinner where we honored community leaders. Thank you to the sponsors and the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk for making this annual dinner a success.
Last night, the Chamber kicked off the holiday season in grand style with the annual Santa Cruz County Bank’s holiday party.
The Chamber can be proud of our accomplishments during 2019 — a year of gratitude to our members’ continued generosity that provides the resources to your staff to create innovative programs, projects and plans. On behalf of the Chamber staff — thank you to our dedicated board members, the amazing ambassadors and to all of our members for a very successful year. As Oliver Wendall Holmes stated: “To reach a port we must sail, sometimes with the wind, and sometimes against it. But we must not drift or lie at anchor.” As we head into the holiday season, please know that your Chamber is moving forward; looking into the New Year with a sense of purpose to ensure that we stay true to our mission of bringing economic vitality to the Santa Cruz County business community. Sail on my friends.