I am very fortunate to have made my way to this industry. The nature of what we do as a Chamber of Commerce is to help – our businesses and our community. We are here to serve. This idea has been a core part of who I am since childhood. Whether it was raising money for mentoring disadvantaged youth or speaking with incarcerated young men about the danger of child abuse leading to future legal trouble, my role in life has revolved around being of service to others, to help when help is needed and to lead when leadership is required.

While our main purpose – economic development and business growth – is consistent regardless of the community, the challenge for a Chamber of Commerce is to learn what needs to be done to help our members, our businesses, and our community as we strive to grow the quality of living for all who work or live in Pleasanton.

How do we learn? We listen. We survey our members; we hold meetings on specific topics; we host networking events so we can meet and chat. And in late 2022, we started a Strategic Planning Process. This process entailed the Chamber reaching out to our members and business community for their input on the Chamber’s strengths and weaknesses. We want to better understand what we do well, what we should work on, and where opportunities may lie that can help us grow. 

After hearing from many of you, I can report that the State of the Pleasanton Chamber of Commerce is strong in many important ways. Our members use terms like impactful, approachable, and community leaders to describe the organization. It also means being in a good financial position. Networking is a plus, Ambassadors continue to lead the way, the Leadership Pleasanton program is shining, and our Young Professionals present a unique opportunity.

Continue reading a word from our CEO here.

The new housing element approved by the City Council on Jan. 26 includes a wide variety of housing products that will benefit a broad range of Pleasanton’s workforce pay scale. There are 19 sites throughout the City that are now zoned to accommodate nearly 6,000 new housing units, many of which will be affordable for the many talented and cherished members of our economic family.

Workforce housing is defined as affordable for households making 60-120% of the average median income (AMI). Pleasanton’s AMI is $168,000, so workforce housing in Pleasanton is designed for households earning $101,000 to $202,000 annually.

Think of all the firefighters, teachers, police officers, nurses, and tech workers who will be able to become our neighbors, and not just people who come in and out of our community to make it better for current residents. Very soon, graduates of Pleasanton high schools who love their hometown can have a reasonable expectation of raising their own families here.

The City Council and City Staff worked incredibly hard with the entire community to develop a housing plan that will help ensure economic prosperity for Pleasanton for decades to come. This one piece of public policy may be one of the most consequential decisions made by a council in a generation, and they deserve tremendous credit for what this housing element will accomplish.

Hi Pleasanton Chamber, my name is David Wong and I am the newly appointed Board President for the Pleasanton Young Professionals, also known as the PYPs, a Pleasanton Chamber group. We are a premier networking group in the Tri-Valley for emerging and established young professionals and entrepreneurs. We hold monthly mixers every first Thursday of the month for networking, bi-monthly mastermind workshops for professional development, and other standalone events such as volunteer and fundraising opportunities for philanthropy and giving back to the community.

The group was established in 2013, and over the years the PYPs have developed a legacy of learning, growth, and empowerment to our future leaders and our community. This year, we are celebrating our 10-year anniversary of continuing that credo, and coming up with new and fun ideas to exemplify that as we celebrate.

For me, 2023 is about building community, bringing innovation, and gaining more awareness to the group and the Pleasanton Chamber as a whole. With the continued support of the Chamber, and our very talented executive committee team, I have the utmost confidence that we can achieve our goals of this year. If you, or someone you know, are a Pleasanton Chamber member, you can enjoy all of the benefits and success of the group as well.

Visit the PYPs online, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn and check out our upcoming events on the Chamber calendar.

ProSomnus is the leading manufacturer of precision, patient preferred, Oral Appliance Therapy medical devices for the treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). ProSomnus Therapy helps you get a restful night of sleep without noisy machines, masks, or hoses. Learn why hundreds of thousands of patients are ditching their CPAP and sleeping with ProSomnus. Wearing the ProSomnus device (like a mouthguard for your upper and lower jaw) holds your lower jaw gently forward and opens the airway in the back of your throat. Visit prosomnus.com for more information.

Towne Center Books is excited to bring services geared towards your business:

We provide a friendly, personal shopping experience – no algorithms necessary. Independent retailers, like TCB, return $0.53 of every $1.00 spent back to the community – and we donate 10% of our sales to local schools and nonprofits. Your community is our community.

Contact Christina Nystrom via email or visit us in downtown Pleasanton or Livermore.

The civic-minded visionaries behind a new book, Cruising Down Memory Lane: Stories of Pleasanton in the 50’s, in partnership with Three Valleys Community Foundation, are pleased to launch a special philanthropic opportunity that chronicles Pleasanton’s unique history through storytelling while empowering and activating the voices of our next generation.

The project is the brainchild of Donna Kamp McMillion, a fourth-generation Pleasantonian. In 2021, she set out to capture the stories of long-time Pleasanton families before the anecdotes and tales passed out of reach.

The storytellers identified are all descendants of some of the City’s founding fathers as well as longtime ranchers, farmers, and business owners. Most have deep ties to Amador Valley High School and have shared fond memories of their high school years and their teachers. As Amador Valley High School’s Centennial milestone nears, it is fitting to celebrate and merge the talent and creativity of the past in support of current and future students.

The book is set to be released in Spring of 2023 and proceeds of the book sale benefit Amador Valley High School’s AV/Journalism program. You can pre-order your copy today online here through Towne Center Books or make individual donations to support this project through the Three Valleys Community Foundation.

Tri-Valley Conservancy’s Livermore Valley Uncorked is an annual wine competition where local wineries are invited to submit their best wines. What makes this competition unique is that the submitted wines are crafted from grapes grown in the Livermore Valley American Viticultural Area (AVA). The purpose of Uncorked is to promote the excellence of Livermore Valley American Viticultural Area wines.

The Uncorked Celebration is on Thursday, April 27 at the Bella Rosa Event Center, Garré Winery in Livermore, CA. Tickets for Uncorked go on sale March 16, 2023. Learn more about Uncorked here and view the Livermore Valley Uncorked Partnership Benefits here.

Congratulations to the East Bay Regional Park District on the grand opening of your new outdoor interpretive pavilion at Shadow Cliffs in Pleasanton. The new pavilion will serve as outdoor visitor center for naturalist-led programs and provide information about recreational opportunities available in the park's lesser-known 116-acre nature area, including trails for hiking, biking, and nature watching. The pavilion includes educational exhibits highlighting the natural and cultural history of the park and local wildlife, as well as park maps and information about recreational activities.

Congratulations to Nina Pomeroy Photography on your new studio location in downtown Pleasanton. Nina is an award-winning headshot photographer so if for some reason you’re using an old photo or a selfie for your headshot, go see Nina at her new studio at 4725 First Street, Suite 262 in Pleasanton.

Congratulations to ProSomnus Sleep Technologies on the grand opening of your new global headquarters on Gibraltar Drive in Pleasanton. ProSomnus is the leading manufacturer of precision, patient preferred, Oral Appliance Therapy medical devices for the treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). ProSomnus Therapy helps you get a restful night of sleep without noisy machines, masks, or hoses.

The Chamber would like to thank Neil and Vee Meharu of Parktown Pizza Company for hosting a wonderful mixer in December. Hear from our host on a reel from the mixer here and view photos from the mixer here.

Featuring Indian Pizza, Masala Wings and over 50 Craft Beers. Parktown Pizza Company is proud to be locally owned and operated. Available for pick-up, delivery, catering and dining. Follow Parktown Pizza on Instagram and Facebook. Visit them online at parktownpizza.com.

The Chamber would like to thank everyone at Locanda Amalfi and especially Chef and Partner Francesco Esposito and Sam Faleafine for hosting a wonderful mixer in January. Hear from Francesco on this video here and view photos from the mixer here. You can also take a look at a reel from this mixer here.

Locanda Amalfi is an authentic Italian restaurant specializing in pizza Napoletana, pasta, small bites and cocktails in the heart of downtown Pleasanton. Our warm, friendly atmosphere is perfect for date night or family gatherings. Follow #LocandaAmalfi online here and on social media - Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.