What We Do
The Chamber Of Tomorrow
In 2021, our Chamber leadership, members, and community leaders worked closely together to develop the recently launched 2022-24 Strategic Plan –a roadmap to The Chamber of Tomorrow.
The process leveraged several strategic planning documents, research on best practices in the industry, surveys, and interviews to identify specific strategic initiatives. These initiatives focus on four areas: Economic & Workforce Development, Advocacy & Government Relations, Member Engagement, and Leadership Development.
Strategic Pillars
ECONOMIC & WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
Initiatives that drive economic value, including job creation, education partnerships, workforce, business sustainability, and growth.
GOAL: Serve as a catalyst for economic growth and sustainability.
ADVOCACY & GOVERNMENT RELATIONS
Initiatives that position the Douglas County Chamber as the sole voice of business issues in the community with local, state, and federal partners, agencies, and groups.
Goal: Strongly advocate for and increase the visibility of key business issues.
MEMBERSHIP ENGAGEMENT
Initiatives that help grow and retain members and drive overall value, satisfaction, and engagement with Douglas County Chamber's offerings, using a strategically tailored journey.
Goal: Provide an exceptional and diverse set of engagement opportunities.
LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
Initiatives that help identify and cultivate existing and future leaders within the Douglas County Chamber and surrounding community.
Goal: Develop an intentional pipeline of capable leaders who transform Douglas.
Top Initiatives
- Analyze the ability to expand DouglasJobs.com to drive job awareness campaigns for companies with open positions.
- Develop Job Creation recognition/award.
- Refine and organize additional industry-specific round tables and events to provide resources that are specific to that constituency's needs.
- Expand how the DCC educates & informs businesses on the opportunities & challenges regarding economic growth & re-development.
- Dedicate a full-time resource to focus on identifying, coordinating, and promoting small business initiatives.
- Develop a plan to strategically engage and inform Local and State elected officials on DCC initiatives in order to position the DCC as an essential community resource.
- Develop a plan to strategically engage & inform State elected officials on DCC initiatives in order to position the DCC as an essential community resource.
- Refine DCC's annual Legislative Priorities by gathering input from Douglas business constituents.
- Identify & educate businesses on policies (local, state, & federal) & regulations that create barriers to business success.
- Communicate policy and legislative agenda - marketing & communications strategy on who & how we share details.
- Dedicate a full-time resource to focus on policy, advocacy, & government relations.
- Restructure DCC's DEI Committee in order to develop a clear purpose relative to the needs of DCC's business community.
- Build DEI into each area of the DCC membership experience.
- Update DCC's business/business leader recognition/awards program(s) to highlight successful minority business owners.
- Review, refresh and simplify existing benefits for joining and getting exposure from DCC.
- Develop additional membership opportunities; providing access to Chamber resources to all businesses in Douglas.
- Review and refine DCC's organizational structure to ensure long-term sustainability and to best meet the growing needs of the DCC.
- Identify and develop an internal talent professional development plan for DCC staff to ensure leadership growth & continuity.
- Create a structure that oversees the approach and implementation of the strategic plan objectives.
- Enhance the existing Young Professionals Program to attract and engage more 'Millennials' and 'Generation Z' throughout the Douglas region.
- Expand & enhance partnerships outside Douglas to encourage regional leadership development.