By Kathleen Mandig Business Development Manager 

We are so fortunate to have a Chamber of Commerce that is so strong and influential in the community and has been for over 95 years. What has made our Chamber what it is? Our members! Our members are the force that creates this awesome environment where support of local business, community involvement and opportunities for collaborative relationships across all industries are fostered.

We can get stuck in a Chamber bubble though, and take for granted that a lot of people miss out on this opportunity. Before I was member, I’m embarrassed to admit that I had no idea what a Chamber did or what to do with it. I had heard the term “Chamber of Commerce” and mistakenly assumed it was a federal office of some kind. It took a colleague of mine to suggest that I check one out as a place to get involved in the community and help market the business I was in, to understand. Since then I have gained so many things from the Chamber that I never would have imagined before.

As the business landscape continues to change exponentially – it is critical that the Chamber continue to do the same. Like any business, the Chamber needs to remain open and continually grow in order to serve as the unified voice of business. We need to add new ears and eyes to have representation in the Chamber of all types of industries in the community.

It is again our members who are critical to this process. We rely on you to help spread the word and bring in fellow colleagues, clients, acquaintances, family, and friends. The Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce welcomes anybody representing a business to come check us out!  Whether they are large, small, have local clients or international, there are resources in the Chamber for every professional in this community.

By referring companies or organizations, the benefits are twofold; you’re contributing to the vitality of our broader business community, as well as to the continued success of you and your colleague’s business. We recognize the value our members bring in this respect and offer great incentives to reward you for helping your Chamber grow and move forward into the next 95 years. Rewards include: free events, discounts on membership and advertising. Contact the Chamber for details.

We invite you to bring a friend along to the next Happy Hour 2.0 or First Friday Breakfast. Give us a call ahead of time so we can get them registered. With your referrals, you are planting the seeds to help grow the Chamber and strengthen the roots for our members!