The Strategy of The Chamber of Commerce

"Business is great in Santa Barbara, and Santa Barbara is great for business"

The Santa Barbara Region Chamber of Commerce is a California non-profit corporation. The organization was founded in 1878 and incorporated in 1899. The Chamber is a business association representing some 2,000 local businesses. Governed by a 20 person volunteer board of directors and managed by a professional staff, the chamber operates a visitor center and a resource center. The Chamber's mission is to foster a vibrant economy and improve the quality of life for all who live and work in the region. Through it’s programs the Chamber generates more than $80 million in annual local business referrals. The chamber visitor center hosts 300,000 annual customers. The chamber website generates 14,000 hits per day. The Santa Barbara Chamber is the oldest and largest business organization in the Tri-County Region. In 2008, the Chamber will sponsor a trade mission to China, a speaker’s conference, an expanded virtual business environment, radio and television programs, a book and author festival and youth mentoring opportunities.

The Strategy

1. Provide member services and referrals that exceed member expectations.

2. Maintain exceptional access to elected officials and government agencies.

3. Facilitate collaborative efforts to solve community problems.

4. Serve as the "first source" for community information.

5. Be recognized as the hub for community leadership and advocacy.

6. Solutions not Problems

7. Develop business-to-business referrals

8. Support the non-profit sector to improve quality of life

9. Empower and unify small business

10. Demonstrable Traits: moderately conservative, sophisticated, trust, history of success, social position, polish, professional.