THROUGH CHAMBER VIEW, THE METRO CHAMBER SHARES ITS PERSPECTIVE ON IMPORTANT ISSUES affecting our region's economy and quality of life. The Chamber View is published on Page 2 of the monthly member newsletter, Metro Business. You can comment on a Chamber View. Send to Chamber View Comment

President & CEO
Roger Niello
Sacramento Metro Chamber

RETURN TO THE CROSSROADS:
Priorities for the next chapter in leadership

Do you remember Bobby Vee’s 1961 chart-topper “Rubber Ball?” How about the year 1995? What do these have to do with each other, you may ask. Well, 1995 marks the year that I served as the Sacramento Metro Chamber’s president (as the volunteer leader was called then) and, like Bobby Vee’s rubber ball, I’ve come bouncing back!

The Metro Chamber has honored me in asking that I now take on the role of president and CEO. I am thrilled to return to this preeminent regional business organization that was the crossroad between my business and political careers and to bring the skills I developed in each to lead it.

My priorities will be three, coinciding with the Metro Chamber’s mission. First, I intend to ensure that the chamber continues to provide the excellent level of services to which its members have become accustomed. Whether networking opportunities, high-quality informative events, access to elected officials or assistance with direct business services, our staff and I will be dedicated to our members’ success.

Second, we will continue to be a voice for business—locally, regionally, statewide and nationally. We will diligently lobby our elected officials for business-friendly policies and regulations through our Cap-to-Cap and State Legislative Summit programs with targeted messaging and partnerships with local business organizations and chambers as well as similar organizations around the state and the country.

Third, and something I am most excited about, the Next Economy initiative, created by the Metro Chamber with SACTO, SARTA and Valley Vision, will develop strategies by which regional business support organizations, educational institutions and local governments can work together to foster maximum regional economic growth as we emerge from this most difficult recession.

Economic vitality is central to our full mission: it is why we advocate for business-friendly public policy and it drives the success of our members. It is, as they say, the straw that stirs the drink.

Nearly two decades later, I return to this personal crossroad. I look forward with great enthusiasm to the opportunities ahead of us. I welcome your questions and suggestions. And, if you are not a Metro Chamber member, I welcome you to join us on our road to success.