Dear Friends,

As chairman of the Santa Fe Chamber of Commerce, I’m writing to share with you an update and a vision for 2023.

I’ve had the privilege of meeting many of you, whether in person or online, and of course there are many of you I haven’t yet had the pleasure of meeting. For those who don’t know me yet, I’m a 16th-generation Northern New Mexican, from a proud family of educators, entrepreneurs, and small business owners. And I’m both passionate about our local traditions and cultures, and optimistic about opportunities here in New Mexico for our next generations.

I’m excited at the potential I see in 2023 for local businesses in our greater Santa Fe community. As you probably know, the chamber’s mission is to strengthen our local economy and serve as the voice of business in our Santa Fe community. To fulfill that mission, our primary focus is supporting and guiding positive business initiatives that help business owners and the community. We encourage a diverse and sustainable Santa Fe economy that works for everybody. These are ambitious goals, of course, as well they should be. Meaningful progress requires ambitious goals. Meaningful progress also requires a practical plan, and I’m pleased to report that we have a plan that makes me feel optimistic. I’d like to share that with you in broad strokes:

First and foremost, we’re building collaboration with allies, old and new — because as we all know, it really does take a village to create a healthy, sustainable community. Our collaborative initiatives include projects such as: Educating the next generation about sustainability and responsible business growth Assisting local businesses and employees with access to affordable child care and home ownership Participating in public safety initiatives Ensuring that our voice is heard in state and local policy initiatives Ambitious? You bet. Achievable? If we work together, absolutely. And we’ll need your help to make it all happen. It’s a cliché, but it’s true: we’re all stronger together.

As you know, the chamber is a community where members often become friends and mentors as well as colleagues and patrons. Whether you’re interested in networking, advocacy, public policy, advertising, or working to improve oversight and accountability, you can make a difference using your unique assets. And of course, we’re also here to help with your specific issues and needs, in whatever way we can.

The chamber continues to be the voice of our local business community, and I’m proud to serve as your chairperson. I deeply appreciate your continued membership and participation in the Santa Fe Chamber of Commerce. And if you’re not yet a member, please give us a call so we can discuss how our activity can be a benefit to you and your business, and how we can help you become a more influential part of the Santa Fe community. I look forward to hearing from you and of course continuing to keep you updated on our activities and outreach.