YEAR IN REVIEW
YEAR IN REVIEW
Feature
Feature
ADVOCACY
WORKFORCE & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Workforce is an ongoing area of focus for the Rochester region and as the Chamber evolves we will expand our resources and opportunities in the areas of talent attraction and retention, career exploration, employer resources, industry and education partnerships, and more. A significant step in this effort took place in 2023 with the expansion of the Chamber team to include a director focusing on workforce initiatives. Kaytlyn Anzivino joined the Chamber team in June as the new Workforce Initiatives Director and has been essential to the launch of the Chamber’s Rochester Area Young Talent Network (RYT Network) and developing future workforce initiatives of the organization. Select Chamber workforce programs will launch in 2024 and Kaytlyn and the Chamber team are excited to share details in the months ahead. Read more about the RYT Network on page 10. Since 1987, the Chamber’s Leadership Greater Rochester (LGR) program has propelled leaders in the community to further be inspired, connected, and enlightened. The LGR class provides regional leaders with the tools and interactive experience to take their leadership skills to the next level. The over 1,000 alumni who have graduated from LGR have gone on to serve in various civic, community, and business leadership positions. The LGR network stretches across the community, present in almost every sector. The 10-month program immerses three dozen leaders in sessions examining everything from economic development and the local arts scene to workforce development and building a sustainable community. In 2023, participants in the program engaged in the Community Impact Project (CIP), which allows participants to apply their leadership skills and work collaboratively through their strengths to form partnerships, grow their brand, and ultimately meet a community need. 2023 marked a change in the CIP process where two projects moved forward. The class of 2023’s cohort projects included Ped Hub, which aims to increase access to bike repair and connect underserved areas of the community and TechConnect, which is a partnership between AARP’s Senior Planet, 125 LIVE, and the University of Minnesota – Rochester with a goal to increase accessibility, build community, and bridge gaps in technical knowledge.
During the 2023 Legislative session , the Chamber was very active in communicating and working with legislators to advocate on behalf of Chamber members on various issues. Items of focus from the 2023 legislative session included support of HF1938 (Tax Finance and Policy Bill) which served as the host of the language to support the renewal of Rochester’s local sales tax.
Business Development Exchange (BDX) is a quarterly program that provides Chamber members an opportunity to highlight their best practices in specific fields and to share their insight with other members to improve their business operations. Topics covered in 2023 include interview best practices, customer service, employee engagement, and workplace emergency preparedness. Senior Director, Membership & Development Kali Aldrich stated, “This year, we saw an increase in attendees from both small and large businesses and the topics presented have been well-received by members, enabling individuals to share ideas with their teams to improve their company functionality and morale.”
Throughout 2023, the Chamber has increased our communications with our federal delegation . Representative Finstad, Senator Klobuchar, Senator Smith, and their respective offices have been fantastic partners of the Chamber and have worked with us to support local requests for funding. The staff of the three offices have been very engaged, attending chamber events, listening to Chamber members, and sharing that feedback with the Congressman and Senators. This engagement has resulted in the Chamber progressing our strategic plan objectives of fostering relationships between the Chamber and our federal delegation and their staff. This year marked the launch of The Advocate , a newsletter from the Chamber focused on sharing information on the advocacy efforts of the Chamber and informing members of
The Chamber was also involved in strong opposition to legislation such as HF2 (Paid Family and Medical Leave), a sentiment shared by many of our members. This legislation will impose a mandated paid family and medical leave on employers of up to 20 weeks. Fortunately, the implementation of this legislation was pushed back until January 1, 2026, allowing time for the legislature to revisit and amend the
In November, approximately 110 exhibitors and over 3,000 students participated in the Chamber’s STEAM Summit , an event that connects middle school and high school students in the Southern Minnesota area with area businesses within STEAM industries (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics). This year’s attendance by businesses and students was record setting and the Chamber is thankful for our partnership on this program with Mayo Clinic and Rochester Community Technical College (RCTC). “It was great to see so many students interacting with hands-on experience. The STEAM Summit provides the opportunity for students to explore and find fields in the careers they might not have
program to better suit the business community.
relevant news stories on the local, state, and federal levels. The Advocate is a monthly communication
"Your support for our work and signing onto our coalition letters of support/opposition made a great impact in our efforts"
To wrap up the session, the Chamber worked closely with our
local healthcare partners to oppose SF2995 (Health and Human Services Omnibus Bill). In its introductory form, this bill would have imposed additional oversight boards and legislation that would mandate unnecessary rates and staffing levels within the healthcare industry. “I’d like to recognize and applaud our members who remained active and engaged with our advocacy throughout the year. Your support for our work and signing onto our coalition letters made a great impact in our efforts” noted Jonathon Krull, Public Affairs & Leadership Development Director at the Chamber.
when the Minnesota legislature is not in session but is sent out bi-weekly when the legislature is in session. “ The Advocate will play a key role in assisting in informing members of the issues and policies impacting the business community. It is another avenue for us to share resources that can inform and educate members on various advocacy-related issues” stated Jonathon Krull, Public Affairs & Leadership Development Director at the Chamber.
known existed.” said Ally Sheehan, Senior Director, Events & Programs at the Chamber. Mark your
calendars, the 2024 STEAM Summit will be held on November 12, 2024.
8 | ROCHESTER AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ADVANTAGE MAGAZINE — FEBRUARY 2024
FEBRUARY 2024 — ROCHESTER AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ADVANTAGE MAGAZINE | 9
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