(By Linda Blum) In Sonoma, the Chamber of Commerce has been around since 1909, promoting its mission of ensuring a “thriving economy by providing advocacy, promotion, networking, education and economic development services” to the business community. In that more-than-a–century period, the Chamber’s members have skewed away from primarily agricultural producers and mom–and-pop stores to upscale wineries, restaurants, and boutiques.
Will this evolution changed the philosophy of the Chamber?
The organization’s new executive director, Patricia Shults, shared some insights with The Sun, and it seems that she will be bringing a fresh outlook to her job.
Shults came to this position in that old-fashioned way: she earned it. Beginning when her two children were in preschool (they are now in their twenties), she has been involved with community activism. Even though her college major was Computer Tech, her focus turned to community organizations when she took on the post of PTA president at her children’s school in Raymond, Washington (her hometown) and later formed an after- school program for at-risk youths, which led to a ten year stint as the founder and director of the Willapa Bay Youth and Community Services.
But after 9/11, liability insurance requirements became so overwhelming that the program sadly had to be disbanded. Still, her talents hadn’t been overlooked, and she was offered a job as executive director at the Willapa Harbor (not Bay) Chamber of Commerce, with a membership of 175.
In 2008, Shults and her husband felt they could use a change of climate from all the Washington rain, and made a dramatic move to Austin, Texas, with no confirmed jobs in sight. It was a leap of faith that led to the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce and the title of Director of Membership, with a staff of 15 in her department alone, and a membership of 3,000.
Settling in nicely in Austin, with her son and daughter in college, and a newly bought house, in 2012 she got a call from colleague about “her dream job!” Her friend had seen the ad for the opening in Sonoma, and knew it would be perfect for Ms. Shults. Fast forward, and here she is, only three months into the job, but very happy with Sonoma.
The laid-back, close to nature lifestyle suits her, she says. She even walks to work. Her staff is now down to one full-time and one half-time person, but this gives her the chance to be more hands-on and engaged with the 425 members of the Chamber, and its board of directors.
Fortunately, the Board, which is elected by the members, has given Ms. Shults leeway to manage the Chamber’s business without any “sacred cows” to avoid, she says, although this Chamber does involve itself in arbitrating positions on local issues that concern its members.
On economic issues facing residents, such as raising the minimum wage, limiting the number of winery tasting rooms, or addressing traffic congestion around the Plaza, (automobile and pedestrian), Ms. Shults says that she will take her cues from the board members, who have been here longer. But, she emphasizes, the Chamber’s stance is to bring all sides of an issue into a public forum for discussion.
When asked about her views on the relevance of the Chamber to non-member residents, she replied,“ The Chamber’s business members provide the basic services that are the foundation of a community,” and without which a town will die.
And Patricia Shults’s hope for her future in Sonoma and in her capacity as executive director of the Sonoma Valley Chamber of Commerce? She said her goal is to be “a catalyst for doing good things”.
Be First to Comment