• Strategic Plan & Committees

  • The Strategic Plan for the San Rafael Chamber of Commerce is coordinated by Chamber committees, divisions, and staff. It helps provide goals, specific tasks and measures of success for the organization. The Strategic Plan is adopted annually by the Board of Directors through Committee Business Plans.

    Interested in joining one of our dynamic committees? Click the link below to sign up.

  • Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Committee (DEIB)

    • Vision: comprised of diverse members who represent the different communities served by the Chamber. This team aims to foster a more inclusive and equitable business environment to ensure all businesses have the opportunity to thrive and contribute to the economic success of the community.
    • Primary Activities & Tasks:
      • Promote diversity that will attract, retain and celebrate businesses owned by people of color, women, veterans, and additional underrepresented groups
      • Championing equity that identifies and addresses systemic barriers by advocating for change to policies and practices that create a more level playing field for all
      • Ensure all businesses have equal access to resources and opportunities like networking events, funding sources and training programs
      • Fostering inclusion by creating a welcoming environment by developing strategies to make the Chamber and its events more inclusive for all members, regardless of their background or identity
    • Priorities for 2024: TBD
    • Impact: We Are One Marin podcast 
    • When: TBD
    • Committee Chair: TBD

  • East San Rafael Working Group 

    • Vision: to promote the importance of East San Rafael to the community’s overall health; foster prosperity and address shared concerns.
    • Primary Activities and Tasks:
    • Priorities for 2024:
    • Impact: What Do We Mean to the City of San Rafael
    • When: 1st Thursday of the month at 10am via Zoom
    • Committee Chair: Stephanie Plante

  • Economic Vitality Committee (EVC)

    • Vision: to promote economic vitality within San Rafael. This is exhibited through showing value to our members and to the San Rafael business community by taking actions to support initiatives that strengthen the local economy. Moreover, to determine the obstacles that exist to businesses’ ability to remain, grow and hire in San Rafael.
    • Primary Activities and Tasks: to implement a core element of the Chamber’s mission: “providing a strong voice in support of the economic vitality of our community”. This will aid in the increase in local agency tax revenue resulting from increase in local economic activity.
    • Priorities for 2024:
      • Decrease barriers to businesses ability to grow in San Rafael
      • Increase in number of employment opportunities in San Rafael 
      • Increase in local economic activity (Retention & Expansion Program)
      • Reduction of vacancy rate of commercial real estate in San Rafael
      • Increase in synergy and collaboration between the SRCC and the Downtown Business Improvement District
      • Strong partnerships with organizations aligned with Chamber priorities including SBDC, CareerPoint Marin and Marin Economic Forum other groups including neighborhoods and schools.
    • Impact: Click here 
    • When: 2nd Tuesday of the month at 12pm via Zoom
    • Committee Chair: Joe McCallum
    • Staff Liaison: Josh Townsend 

  • Governmental Affairs Committee (GAC)

    • Vision: to represent the interests of local business and chamber members to elected officials and governing bodies. Reinforce value to our members and to the San Rafael business community by protecting and promoting their interests, tracking, and taking positions on issues that impact our members and the community.
    • Primary Activities and Tasks: responsible for research, evaluation, consideration and providing position recommendations to the full Board on issues and candidates.
    • Priorities for 2024:
      • Keep informed on mounting transportation, housing, and workforce development issues and work towards solutions
      • Influence public policy by inviting elected officials and key stakeholders to meetings and mixers
      • Create a report card on our performance in advocacy to show how effective our advocacy was and what was advocated for
      • Compare elected officials' voting record with Chamber positions to see how each is voting
    • Impact: Click here
    • When: 3rd Tuesday of the month at 12pm via Zoom
    • Committee Chair: Joe McCallum
    • Staff Liaison: Karen Strolia, President and CEO 

  • Green Business Committee (GBC)

    • Vision: to connect the voice of sustainable business with the Chamber, its members and greater business community, in order to help all these groups gain awareness and progress towards a more sustainable future.
    • Primary Activities and Tasks: to increase the number of Certified Green businesses within the existing SRCC membership. Promote sustainability through training/education/accessible content. Recognize green champions and organizations through managing the Green Business Award application and nomination process. Recommend green business policy positions (initiative or legislation) that are successfully adopted by SRCC Board of Directors. Drive city/county/business network adoption of green business incentives, preferred buying and recognition.
    • Priorities for 2024:
      • Increase committee membership and Green Business certification among Chamber members by 10%
      • Recognize green champions and organizations through managing the Green Business of the year application and nomination process: increase applications by 10%
      • Elevate the Chamber as a green leader, embed sustainability into Chamber practices
      • Promote sustainability through training/education/accessible content
      • Drive city/county/business networks adoptions of green business incentives, preferred buying, and recognition
      • Collaborate with other business organizations on sustainability efforts.
    • Impact: Click here 
    • When: 3rd Wednesday of the month at 12pm via Zoom
    • Committee Chair: Mark Chhabria 

  • Women of Industry Committee (WOI)

    • Vision: celebrates and lift up successful women business owners, professionals, and entrepreneurs in Marin County.
    • Primary Activities and Tasks: recognizes women leaders demonstrating excellence in her field while significantly impacting the community and beyond. All proceeds raised at the luncheon event go towards a scholarship for one woman to attend the San Rafael Leadership Institute (hyperlink web page).
    • Priorities for 2024:
    • Impact: Click here to check out the Women Empowerment in Business Blog 
    • When: 3rd Monday of each month
    • Committee Chair(s): Lynsey Kayser and Courtney Budesa 

  • Health & Wellness Resource Group (HWRG)

    • Vision: Contribute to a thriving community that incorporates health and wellness into daily life and help business owners and managers support the health of their employees, and understand the value doing so.
    • Primary Activities and Tasks: providing health education events and resources that focus on how health and wellness topics can aid their lives and businesses. Provide outreach and educational information to the community at large regarding health and wellness.
    • Priorities for 2024:
      • Better integrate Health and Wellness Resource Group into Chamber activities
      • Events should have more of a business feel and relate to the business community. Emphasize how Health and Wellness relates to productivity in the workplace.
      • Participate in more pre-existing Chamber member affiliated Health and Wellness Fairs and events.
    • Impact: Click here 
    • When: 2nd Monday of the month via Zoom
    • Committee Chair: Jessica Price 

  • Homelessness Committee (NEW)

    • Vision: TBD
    • Primary Activities and Tasks: TBD
    • Priorities for 2024: TBD
    • Impact: TBD 
    • When: TBD
    • Committee Chair: TBD

  • Champion | Catalyst | Convener