• To The Future: Chamber CEO OpEd

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    January 11, 2016
    To the Future
    By Jill Lederer, President/CEO of Greater Conejo Valley Chamber of Commerce
     
    Brainyquote.com describes a constellation as a sky full of stars or excellences. As President & CEO of the Greater Conejo Valley Chamber of Commerce, I have had the privilege of a birds-eye view of the stars, great and small, that make up the pure energy of our business community.
     
    In a new economy and old regulatory environment that has brought many a business to its knees, our local economy has been strengthened by the diversity and innovation of the businesses that choose the Conejo Valley as their home. Their entrepreneurial spirit, a quintessential American trait, thrives here nurtured by the ultimate business incubator: premier cities that embrace their success recognizing that collectively, we all do better.
     
    Your Chamber, one of the largest in the country, has a mission of singular clarity: economic development, defined by our successes and driven by our failures. Highly competitive by nature, our true north is helping businesses navigate complex times and implement their changing visions.
     
    While the word “vision” or even “implementation” may seem almost laughable to business leaders when confronted with the often consuming impacts of complicated health care laws, muddy employment policies, excessive Federal and state regulations, the safety of our team members and global impacts on the markets to name just a few daily concerns, there is one truth that remains immutable: the free market economy will find a way.
     
    The great businesses that inevitably will be born in and survive changing times are the ones that make connections with other businesses while spotlighting their own, that seek out advocacy on their issues, know how to access leads and impactful knowledge, take their credibility and civic responsibility seriously and want to make a difference for themselves and their community. Your Chamber, recognized among the top 1% in the United States in providing these resources for you, no matter the size or sector of your business, stands steadfastly with you through every step of your businesses journey.
     
    Challenging years leave their indelible tracings on our minds, businesses and the economy but the journey leads us to this day and those yet to come when we look back with pride, relief and the certainly that we successfully navigated a compelling chapter of economic history and in so doing, participated in the creation of something better: a sustainable future.
     
    On behalf of Board Chair Rick Lemmo, the Board of Directors of the Greater Conejo Valley Chamber of Commerce, Greater Conejo Valley Community Foundation and Conejo Valley Tourism Improvement District, I wish you the best of holidays confident that the best is yet to come.
     
    Jill Lederer, President/CEO
    Greater Conejo Valley Chamber of Commerce
     
    Contact:
    Jill Lederer, Pres./CEO, President/CEO
    jlederer@conejochamber.org, (805) 370-0035