Hello, Pleasanton! My name is James Cooper, and I am the new President/CEO of the Pleasanton Chamber of Commerce. I am excited to be part of the chamber team, and I am looking forward to the challenges that lie ahead.

The chamber of commerce is a membership-based, non-profit organization whose overall focus is to improve its community’s quality of life. We do this by supporting and growing local businesses. We know that if our business community succeeds, our city will thrive due to increased tax revenue and local job availability, among many other benefits.

The quest, then, is to figure out which resources are best able to support local businesses as they fight to get established and expand. Pleasanton, like other cities, is unique in its makeup of businesses and residents. The chamber, which is made up of those businesses, reflects the spirit and focus of its community.

As a long-time chamber executive, I am familiar with the role we serve in our community. I will spend my first months as the new President/CEO learning about our members and how the community supports them. I invite you to share your thoughts and ideas with me. What is working well for your business? Where are you struggling? And how can the chamber be of service? Your input will help us better understand the issues we confront while also serving as a guide for our future work focus. Together, we can make a difference – for our members and our community.

I look forward to serving you as Chamber President/CEO for years to come!

Chamber members are coming together this summer for a great cause. Girls Soccer Worldwide (GSW) is a local non-profit helping empower girls through sports, education, and leadership opportunities. They host a dollar-a-mile campaign throughout the month of July, where participants pledge a one-dollar donation for each mile they walk, run, swim, hike, row, etc.

The chamber groups, Pleasanton Young Professionals and the Chamber Ambassadors, have each decided to each create a team and will participate with the friendly goal to out compete each other with miles logged. We invite anyone who has a desire to participate in the fun to sign up as an individual or join one of the chamber teams. Row House of Pleasanton will also host a class for those looking to earn extra miles.

To end their summer campaign, GSW will be partnering with Fleet Feet and Prodigy Fitness to host a 5k-for-a-Cause at Ken Mercer Sports Park on August 7, 2022. In addition, GSW has partnered with the running specialists at Fleet Feet and personal trainers with Prodigy Fitness to provide an 8-week training focusing on endurance and strength conditioning prior to running the 5k. Training program begins June 15 and all participation fees will benefit GSW and their efforts in our community.

It is exciting to see how much good can come from collaborating with our fellow chamber members! Learn more here and sign up to participate here.

Kim Damiani, CFP®

Financial Advisor

Summit Financial Group, LLC

The ACE 10-Trip Pass offers passengers a new fare solution that responds to changes in workers’ commuting patterns post COVID-19. Ideal for workers who need to get to their workplaces less frequently than the traditional daily commute, the 10-Trip provides the convenience of ten one-way rides passengers can use whenever they need to travel.

If your new normal means telecommuting more and taking the train less, then the new 10-Trip pass might be the perfect pass for you. You can take the train when you need to with ten one-way passes. And you save more than purchasing multiple round-trip tickets. Purchase in advance on the ACE Rail mTickets App or at an ACE Station.

The Alameda County Fair presents the Sun’s OUT Fun’s OUT Fun Run on June 18, 2022, benefiting Sunflower Hill, a local non-profit co-developing affordable housing and creating programs for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities! Open to athletes of all abilities, the Fun Run features a run or walk around the historic race track and through the Fair with fun stops along the way! Sponsorships available. Register to run or walk and then sign-up to fundraise for Sunflower Hill!

Goodness Village is a Tiny Home Community that provides affordable and permanent housing options for individuals who have experienced chronic homelessness in the Tri-Valley. We strive to improve the lives of our formerly unhoused neighbors by providing a supportive living community in partnership with local businesses, cities, faith groups, civic clubs, community members, and partner service agencies.

Congratulations to the team at Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate - Reliance Partners on your ribbon cutting ceremony for your new Pleasanton office location.

The new location is 5502 Sunol Blvd. Suite 100 in Pleasanton. Call (925) 463-9500 or check them out online.

Congratulations to James and Diego of Bocado - Un Petit Bistro on your six-month anniversary ribbon cutting ceremony.

A modern American casual bistro in downtown Pleasanton with exciting flavors inspired by a variety of cuisines from around the world. Featuring crepes, paninis, ceviches, salads, coffee and espresso drinks, parfaits, charcuterie boards, and more

The chamber would like to thank OMRON Robotics and Safety Technologies for hosting our first in-person tradeshow mixer since the fall of 2019. Yani Liaskos and his team went above and beyond, opening OMRON's doors to nearly 40 vendors and 200 attendees at the Spring Tradeshow Mixer.

Thank you to all of the companies that participated as vendors and also to everyone that attended and volunteered. View photos from the Tradeshow Mixer here on our Facebook page.

OMRON's mission is to improve lives and contribute to a better society. OMRON is solving social issues through their businesses, and creating innovation through technological evolution. Learn more about OMRON here.

Special thank you to the entire team at Chabot Las Positas Community College District for hosting our April networking event along with the Dublin, Hayward and Livermore Chambers of Commerce for a joint mixer and new offices ribbon cutting ceremony.

Chabot Las Positas Community College District Economic Development and Contract Education (EDCE) works “at the speed of business” with both public and private sector organizations to provide a broad range of educational, training, consulting and fiscal-related support services. We empower individuals and communities to thrive by creating career, education and economic opportunities. View more photos from the mixer here.