Note from the President
D ear Members, Well, the old adage “drinking from a fire hose” has certainly applied to my first two months here leading the Rochester Area Chamber of Commerce! From meeting with as many businesses as possible and visiting with civic leaders, to developing new programming and working with the team to chart our course for the next year, there has been no shortage of work to be done on behalf of you, our Chamber members. As I pass the 60-day mark, I would like to recognize those who have helped welcome my family and me to the Rochester community. The opportunities to connect have been important as we have made the transition to Rochester. Chamber Board Chair Lizzy Haywood and the entire Chamber Board have been very helpful plugging me into the local community and making connections. As we progress, I look forward to continuing this work with our Board in serving Chamber members. I want to thank our Rochester-area elected officials and the administration teams from the City and County for welcoming me. I appreciate their collaboration in developing open communication with the Chamber and providing resources to the area business community. Continuing a positive working relationship with the public sector is key to advancing the business community in Rochester, and I look forward to future collaborations. Also, thank you to all our members for your support and involvement in the Rochester Area Chamber of Commerce -- your membership
in the organization is greatly appreciated. I’ve had the opportunity to connect with and learn the stories of members, and I look forward to continuing to meet members in the months ahead. Finally, thank you to the team here at the Chamber. Since my first day, this team has welcomed me to the organization and their excitement in growing the organization has been outstanding. The Chamber team will be hard at work in the months ahead continuing to provide business resources, advocacy and engagement opportunities, including new opportunities for members. As I continue to familiarize myself with this community, I look forward to connecting with our small business and industry members to learn how we can partner to develop the Rochester business community in the months ahead. The past year has been challenging and there will be obstacles ahead, but through collaboration, inclusivity, and positivity, we will work together to set our community on a path forward to recovery. Let’s roll up our sleeves and get to work! If we have not yet connected, please feel free to email me at the following address: rparsons@rochestermnchamber.com.
Ryan Parsons President
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