Incoming Chairman of the Board Tim Ronan with outgoing board members Jeff Mirasola, Kelly Lorenzen and Aqeel Shahid
This past July, members of the Tempe Chamber of Commerce gathered to celebrate the accomplishments of the previous year that have helped strengthen our commitment to the community as well as plans for the future. We took a moment to thank those volunteers who have served on committees and our board of directors, as we welcomed our leadership for the year ahead.
In addition to some motivating words by incoming Chairman of the Board Tim Ronan, guests were entertained by stories from local Valley icon Ted Simons, Emmy Award-winning host and managing editor of the “Arizona Horizon” news program on PBS Channel 8, who served as the keynote speaker.
Below are some of the major accomplishments of the Tempe Chamber and its committees over the past year:
The Ambassadors Committee engaged in 53 ribbon cuttings and grand openings and hosted 24 Chamber mixers. They also introduced Restaurant Rush Week, where, for one week of each month, the Ambassadors Committee spotlights a Chamber member restaurant and offers incentives to have a meal there.
The Business Development Council continued the success of the monthly Hot Topics lecture series by offering 11 educational presentations from community leaders and industry experts, including Mayor Mark Mitchell, Arizona State University President Michael Crow, past Business Women of the Year recipients, members of the Tempe City Council and Tempe Fire Chief Greg Ruiz.
The Business Owners Forum provided a confidential environment where business owners offered free advice and suggestions to their peers to help build and improve their business, as well as kept business owners up to date on current topics affecting the economy and business community.
The Government Relations and Transportation Committee continued the Tempe Chamber’s presence at the Arizona Legislature and U.S. Congress through coalitions and direct lobbying; developed policy agendas for the federal, state and local levels; supported moving forward on the Tempe Streetcar; supported the Central Arizona Project four-cent tax extension; and much more.
The Military Affairs Committee continued its longstanding role as liaison between the business community and the various military units within the Valley by hosting nine luncheons to recognize the accomplishments and commitment of outstanding men and women serving in military units throughout the area. The committee also presented scholarships to outstanding cadets from the Army and Air Force ROTC and a midshipman from the Navy ROTC.
The Tempe Links Classic Committee planned and executed a dynamic golf tournament at ASU Karsten, which continues to serve as one of the Chamber’s most exciting networking fundraisers.
The Women in Business Council ensured the continued viability of the Women in Business Conference and its mission of focusing on reaching, achieving and celebrating success; identified and honored the 20th Business Woman of the Year; completed another successful six-month Mentoring Program to assist women in attaining their personal and professional goals; and hosted a four-part leadership speaker series featuring guest speakers and seminars designed to guide participants on becoming leaders through positive transformation at work and at home.
Learn more about the Tempe Chamber and its committees at www.tempechamber.org.
