JAN 2019 – President’s article by Marissa Kramer

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Happy New Year Redlands Chamber Members!
By Marissa Kramer, President

It is such an honor for me to be addressing you as the 2019 President. As I pre-write this article I’m anticipating still being in a daze from the New Year’s Eve Drop and I can’t say that it isn’t from the Orange Drop Martinis! What a fun event this has been to plan with the rest of NYE Committee Drop-ees! It has definitely been one of the best committees to Chair and, although I welcome a break, I cannot wait to begin planning the festivities for the next one!

The Board of Directors definitely has its work cut out for themselves this year as we will take a more active role in assisting the Chamber staff while we try to fill the role Executive Director position. Please keep in mind, that we will never fill Kathie’s shoes, but we are searching for someone with (hopefully, at least, half) her tenacity and dedication to the Chamber, its membership, and the City of Redlands. We certainly wish her well in her retirement and hope she really does take up those golf lessons or yoga classes that she’s been speaking so fondly of over the past few months.

The Executive Director Search Committee has been selected and is comprised of past Chamber Presidents; they will accept, review, and interview the candidates for the position. We are looking to fill the position by April so if there any viable candidates please do not hesitate to send them my way.

The Young Professional Network is on a roll and if you aren’t a part of it, you’re missing out (plain and simple). The YPN Committee has scheduled out the first quarter of 2019 and will have some amazing “Coffee with Fill, (In The Blank)” speakers and more Workshops to come. Please inform the younger professionals you know to be a part of this as this is a group that is really going places.

Business to Business and Rise and Shine are still scheduled as normal and going strong, and are both (by far) two of the best Networking events that the Chamber hosts each month. I cannot tell you how invaluable these two events are, not only professionally, but personally as well. These two meetings offer such a great atmosphere to meet new people, see and visit with already-established Chamber members, and hear about events and goings-on that are upcoming.

I’m so excited to see what 2019 has in store for the Chamber, its various Committees, and membership. I understand the legacy of this organization that well pre-dates me and hope that I can provide a year of growth and development of the existing events and committees. Like I said, I am honored that I have been entrusted with this position and will do my very best to keep this train on the tracks and moving forward.