By Brad Anderson
As I take the reins as President and CEO of our Vail Chamber of Commerce, I want to say hello! It’s great to be a part of the Vail community.
I’ve been part of the Chamber and the Vail business community for more than 10 years. During this time, I have developed a real passion for this community. We are unique. We have one of the best school districts in the state. We are home to families, individuals, teachers, students, scientists, members of the armed forces, retirees, service and business professionals, and a host of others. We have growing retail and business sectors. We have a real sense of community.
Ahead of us are many challenges and opportunities. We are already dealing with road and transportation issues, zoning and annexation concerns, student needs and teacher scarcity. There are numerous other issues we are facing. These will only expand as our community grows.
How does the Vail Chamber fit in?
The Vail Chamber’s tagline is influencing Vail’s future.
It is our belief now, more than ever, we need an active, influential organization. One that understands the heart of our community. One that will fight for our identity and influence our future. We do not take our tagline lightly. We have expanded upon it to create our mission statement: “Influencing Vail’s future to enhance growth opportunities and advance economic development in the Greater Vail Area.” We bring in and meet with stake holders and influencers from around Arizona to share current conditions and direction of our community, county, state and nation. We are a strong voice in the greater Vail area, helping foster a healthy community to enhance our economy, schools and our rich history.
Our chamber was founded on a simple idea: The community needed an organization beyond a networking club to be the eyes, ears and voice of the economic development in the greater Vail area.
We work hard to create an environment where the community is informed. When appropriate, we host town hall events to provide a format where the community can attend and gather information about important issues affecting the area.
We support local organizations including the Vail Preservation Society, IMPACT of Southern Arizona, Vail School District Foundation, Angel Tree, the Arizona Trail, Coyote Creek Ride and Fiesta, and others.
Each year, the Vail Chamber grants scholarship to local seniors in the Vail School District. In total, we have awarded over $23,000 in scholarships to students in the greater Vail community since 2013.
As you know during this pandemic, businesses are having a tough time. There isn’t a person or business in our country who hasn’t been impacted, some more than others. We all hope things return to normal quickly. But for many, normal will never be the same.
The Vail Chamber of Commerce is doing everything possible to assist our business community. Last week, the Chamber hosted a Zoom meeting with Senator Martha McSally. We are meeting with other businesses and organizations to share information and find ways to return to work – responsibly.
Our chamber is here for the long haul. We will work with our businesses and residents to enhance our community. I look forward to being a part of it all.
