What a year of making connections that count! This month we welcomed more than 500 people to our Holiday Chamber Connect with our friends at the Minnesota Black Chamber, the Minnesota Hmong Chamber, and the Oakdale Chamber. Every year my gratitude grows; thank you so much for your continued membership, friendships, and partnership. I used to think our humble tagline, “Making Connections that Count,” was too modest. Through you, I’m learning that connections are everything. As our year winds down, I wanted to send a note of gratitude and assure you that we remain motivated and focused on serving you!
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2022 was a year of both amazing highs and some real challenges.
- We continue to push hard on our public safety priorities, including this public safety survey, and welcomed our new Police Chief with call to improve public safety outcomes.
- We laid out our Advocacy efforts for 2023 with a focus on public safety, housing, and the benefits cliff and we celebrated dozens of ribbon-cutting events.
- We came back together for in-person events which have been marvelous. We heard from fabulous speakers at nearly 100 Chamber events. From Chamber Connect networking happy hours to our new and wildly successful Career Connect Day, we brought members together in meaningful ways at interesting venues and really fun events
- We dramatically grew our Young Professionals network, we golfed, boated, enjoyed our hometown teams, and we continue to provide resources/programming to help members in your DEI efforts.
- We created a Small Business Committee whose purpose is to strengthen the ecosystem for robust entrepreneurship and small business growth.
- WorkStream, our professional services division, continues to grow in its service to mission-aligned nonprofits in the region.
- According to our 2022 Class (Best Class Ever), Leadership St. Paul was engaged as ever – and happily in person this year. We still have a few spots available for the 2023 Leadership St. Paul class.
- We have room at so many tables, opportunities to serve and plug in, so please ask! If you're interested in being engaged in committee work, please contact us.
See all of this and more in our 2022 photo albums. You will find yourself smiling as I did, because you all are SO amazing.
So, what’s ahead for 2023?
Three things right away:
1. Your Chamber team is taking a well-deserved break the last week of December, to recharge and get ready for January.
2. You will be seeing modest dues increase in 2023, our first in over 10 years. This will apply to all levels except for our Entrepreneur Membership level.
3. Mark your calendar now for Breakfast with the Mayors on January 26th and our Annual Meeting on March 2nd. Stay up to date by following us on social media and subscribing to our newsletters.
How can you get ready for 2023 with your Chamber?
- Make sure you’re getting the news tailored to your interests – sign up here to get connected and forward to others in your organization.
- Make sure your member listing is updated on our member directory! See instructions for how to manage your Chamber Portal here.
- Invite us to help promote your important moments: ribbon cuttings, renovations, relocations, anniversaries, business successes, or expansions. We love to celebrate you!
- Stay engaged and help spread the word through your entire staff that Chamber benefits apply to everyone in your organization.
I look forward to meeting more of you in 2023, advocating on your behalf, doing all I can to ensure your organization and your people thrive here!
B Kyle
President & CEO
St. Paul Area Chamber
President & CEO
St. Paul Area Chamber