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Dear Chamber Members and Business Community,
I want to take a moment to reflect on a strong year of growth, collaboration, and momentum for our Chamber. Together, we’ve accomplished much, and I couldn’t be more proud to represent this dynamic community of commerce.
Since its founding in 1886 as the Santa Clara Valley Board of Trade, our organization has undergone several name changes, but the heart of our mission has remained constant: providing a space for our members to shape and guide the vision and impact of their businesses and the city and region we call home. This year has been no exception, as we’ve continued to make a meaningful difference in San Jose and beyond.
We kicked off the year with our annual dinner and community impact awards, gathering 200 engaged leaders to honor the contributions of businesses and individuals in our region. It was a fantastic way to set the tone for a year filled with opportunity. I hope to see you at our 2025 event on January 30.
In April, our annual Study Mission took us to Los Angeles, where we listened, learned, and brought back fresh insights on implementing bold ideas in the San Jose metro area. Be on the lookout for several of these big ideas to come to fruition in the coming months.
One of the year’s highlights for many of our members was the return of our beloved annual BBQ to History Park. It was fun to celebrate with 700 business leaders and share in the spirit of making meaningful connections and driving commerce.
Our advocacy arm also came back this year, as we worked with our San Jose City Council to incentivize housing starts, support new Business Improvement Districts throughout the City, and study, debate, and endorse ballot initiatives–like supporting Prop 36–aimed at making a lasting impact in our city and region.
We launched the Bob Kieve Chamber Building Preservation Foundation, an independent 501(c)(3) that underscores our commitment to the future of the Chamber’s physical footprint in San Jose. In partnership with world-renowned architecture firm Gensler, we’re reimagining our Chamber building as a hub for collaboration and bold ideas—a space that will convene dynamic conversations and strengthen our community.
I want to take a moment to express my gratitude to our president & ceo as well as our chairman-elect for their work this year. And to our board of directors, the caretakers of our organization. Their contributions have been vital to our success this year and will undoubtedly drive our Chamber forward in the years to come.
To all our members and partners, thank you for your time, energy, and vision for the future of our Chamber and our city. Your commitment is what makes our organization so impactful, and I’m truly honored to have served as Chamber chair in this critical, renaissance time.
Happy Holidays and New Year to you and your families. May 2025 be a year we all work together for the common good of our business community.
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