n DISCOURSE
volunteer hours over this last year, and
staff, [to] distill down, distill down, dis-
till down, what are those core issues? We
came to our four-point business plan.
Then at our board retreat, we did a future
experiment, where we imagined five years,
10 years, 20 years from now, what might
the business environment look like if we
had environmental change? If how we do
business changes? If everything is now
online and there are no more storefronts?
If your infrastructure changes? And we
vetted our four-point focus, and found in
that exercise these are just as relevant in
20 years as they are right now.
The specific ask [at Cap-to-Cap] will
change year over year — because it will be
topically relevant and budget relevant and
timeline relevant — but at the core these
are our four areas of focus .... If you really
understand that vibrant communities are
essential to us, that inclusive economic
development is an essential focus for us,
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that being able to bring everybody up to-
gether is essential for us, then we can start
to have a different relationship in D.C. that
is not so transactional and is more of a
proactive partnership. The same is true
at the state level.
You’ve spoken about the need for in-
creased diversity within the chamber
— how do you propose the chamber
creates a more inclusive environment?
We have to do that intentionally, that
doesn’t happen by itself. Something I’m
very excited and proud of is Nicole How-
ard, chief customer officer of SMUD, [is in]
a new position on our executive commit-
tee that is vice chair of equity and inclu-
sion. … As we create programming, [we
have] to continue to bring the lens: Have
we been inclusive in how we’re doing this?
Does the room look representative, and if
not, let’s address it. That in itself is going
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to help us never lose sight. So bringing in
[Howard’s] expertise and leadership is a
game-changer. We also are very intention-
al in our staffing, and we’re making some
new hires. So are the voices in the room
internally bringing perspectives from all
communities — from our nonprofits, from
our large businesses, from our small busi-
nesses, from our rural, from our urban?
I’ve got a large board, which is great
because I have a space to have diverse
perspectives. But if we’re talking about
the future of workforce, is the future of
workforce in the conversation? Are they
represented? If we’re talking about small
business and innovation and supporting
our startup entrepreneurial community,
are they here? Because they need to be. If
you get feedback that it’s just a big-busi-
ness perspective, well, look at the table.
Our large employers are essential to our
region, but they’re not the only part of
the conversation, so how are we active-
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