Time flies when you’re having fun, as the saying goes. Are we having fun yet?
Fun, well certainly not boring and yes, sometimes it has been a lot of fun. I’m referring to my first year here at the Chamber. A little over a year ago, I came into this role here at the Chamber, and to say it’s been a roller coaster is putting it mildly. My first 12 months have been overshadowed by the pandemic, almost a full 1/3 of my tenure has been under our ever changing stay at home orders.
We’ve felt the pain here at the Chamber, just as most all of us have. We’ve also pivoted just like most all of you have and found a way to continue; we’ve not just continued, but in fact we’re even more focused and lasered in on our role in the business ecosphere here in Escondido. New relationships have been built, old relationships strengthened, and we’ve begun to slightly adjust course and add more value and support to our business community. I’ve said this before and continue to believe that this Chamber has survived the last pandemic over 100+ years ago, and we’re not only surviving we’re improving. Escondido Chamber 2.0, so to speak. We’ve upped the ante on our social media, growing all of our digital assets and following a set course of action to carry out our mission of creating a business environment in Escondido where every business has the optimum opportunity to succeed.
Escondido is not a small town. We are an evolving community much different from the community makeup over 100 years ago when this Chamber was founded. Escondido is evolving, and so must the Chamber.
The Chamber is foundationally a membership-based organization tasked with building a business community in Escondido, which has the highest probability of succeeding. No guarantees but, we are
staunch in our belief that collectively we have a larger voice than we do individually.
We are committed to making Escondido better. We need you to do this. We need you to get involved. To learn more please reach out to me personally, or anyone at the Chamber and we can show how to help.
There are real issues to be dealt with here in our City, County, State, and Nation. Let’s work together to get through this pandemic and continue on our path to a future in Escondido, where we all can be proud.
Thank you for the positive welcome and support I’ve received in my first year.
With Respect,
James Rowten (JR)
o - 760.294.4883