2022 went by so quickly I feel like I just started my term as your Chamber Board President and it’s already over. When I took office in January 2022, we were finally starting to come out of the COVID-19 pandemic. The chamber kicked off the year with our first in person Breakfast with the Commissioners event in January at the new Boy Scout facility in Exton.
We were a part of many ribbon cuttings last year including Kings Tavern in Coatesville, Everybody Yoga & Wellness in Downingtown, Atglen’s new Public Library, The Nth Innovation Center, and Poured Out Cafe in Parkesburg. We visited The Point in Parkesburg and Cleveland Cliffs in Coatesville for our Time for the Trades events, helping to connect businesses to educational institutions. SCORE helped us to bring back educational programs in person with topics ranging from Social Media, starting a non-profit and later this month pricing strategies. The rain cleared just in time for our June Gala on the Green, an event that gets bigger and bigger every year.
We brought our Taste of the Fam event back to the 4H Center in Honey Brook highlighting local farms and agriculture in our area. We had good weather for our Golf Outing at Coatesville Country Club and we co-hosted the Prix-View Party for the 6th Annual Coatesville Invitational Grand Prix in September.
This was a year of change for our chamber staff as we said goodbye to Donna Steltz, our Executive Director for almost 20 years. Our new Executive Director, Rachel Cathel and our Membership and Communication Coordinator, Ashley Pierce are working hard to keep our chamber growing. We hired our newest employee Morgan Wallace as our Program Development Coordinator in December and we are excited to have her take over responsibility for our events and programs.
We added our 400th member business in 2022, that’s pretty impressive!
There are many Chambers of Commerce in our region where you can invest your time and dollars. I think what sets this chamber and our community apart is the people. When you attend our events and get to know our business owners, non-profits, and government officials you’ll find they care not just about their own companies but the region and the community as a whole.
As a member of this organization for over 6 years. I’ve found my second family here. I come out to our events not to “network” but to reconnect with friends and to learn what’s new with our businesses and community so I can help spread the word about the exciting things that are happening here.
Every chamber president brings their own skill set, experience, and personality to the job. For me, I really enjoy getting to know people one on one and connecting them to others. Helping others succeed makes our entire business community grow and thrive and that’s what we are all here for. I spent this year meeting with businesses, capturing video for our Checks In series and attending many committee meetings.
Checks in had me out touring JGM Steel Fabrication & Construction, visiting the re-opened Courtyard Marriott, Hydraterra, The Point in Parkesburg, Coatesville Flower Shop, Penn Rise Advisors, Little Chef, The Wright Agency, ServPro of Kennett Square, Honeybrook Golf Club, Pieris Day Spa, Growing Roots farmers market, Homestead Studio in Parkesburg and the 2nd Century Alliance.
I will continue my volunteer work for the chamber, my office is in the same building as the chamber office so it’s not hard. I know our chamber is in great hands with president Brenda McNeil (Mahoney Environmental) who has become a very good friend through our work with the chamber. We have a strong board leadership team with president elect Mikaila Szkil (Citadel Credit Union) and vice president John Lymberis (Harry’s the Neighborhood Place).
I’ll end by saying it’s great that we have gotten to the point in our history where I can be president of this organization and be who I truly am. I was the first member of the LGBT community to serve in this position…and the first person of Chinese heritage.
Regardless of your sex, race, age, sexual orientation, political party we will welcome and support you and your business at our chamber. Our members set the tone for our chamber and you are an amazing group of people that have created a very welcoming community .
I’m proud to have served as your 2022 president and look forward to seeing what continued success 2023 brings!
Sincerely,
Justin Chan
Valley Creek Productions