It was only a little over a year ago that I first became involved with the Utah State Chamber of Commerce. Last year’s winter conference was the first I had attended and I hardly helped at all in the planning. A year later and a lot has changed for me.
I have now had the privilege of helping to orchestrate two conferences- last summer in Park City and the upcoming conference at the state capitol on February 3 & 4. It has proven a very rewarding experience to help pull together a conference that benefits those that represent so many businesses throughout our state. In addition to what I’ve learned from our speakers at the conferences, I have learned equally as much from my chamber colleagues.
Two years ago I knew a handful of chamber executives in Utah and I can’t even say I knew them well. After a lot of time spent working with the board of the state chamber and reaching out on behalf of the Salt Lake Chamber I have gotten to know so many executives throughout our state and even some from cities I hadn’t even heard of before (I moved here fourteen years ago and have oriented myself pretty well but there’s always a random town that pops up that I’ve never come across before…)!
As this winter’s conference draws near, I believe it will be the best I’ve participated in yet. I think we have amazing presenters lined up and the list of attendees, while still growing, is all I could hope for- with chambers being represented from St. George to Ogden and Vernal to Magna. The Duchesne County Chamber has representation as does the Utah Black Chamber, Utah Hispanic Chamber, and Asian Chamber. A host of chambers throughout Salt Lake Valley will participate and a few chambers will send relatively new executive directors, while Steve Densely from the Utah Valley Chamber has more than twenty years experience.
All in all these conferences are a lot of work but the payoff of bringing together chamber professionals and helping to unify the voice of business makes it all worth while.
Hope to see you on February 3rd!