April 24, 2008

Chamber Connection

The value of membership: what top companies already know

By Pat Dando
President/CEO, San Jose Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce
Special to the Times

According to a recent study by the American Chamber of Commerce Executives, 94 of the companies listed in Fortune magazine's “100 Best Companies to Work For” in the United States and Canada this year are members of their local chambers, including all of the top 24. Further studies showed that in a random sampling of Fortune 1,000 companies, 75 out of 100 surveyed also belonged to local chambers.

This is a testament to the value of a membership, where a collaboration of businesses come together to network, learn from like-minded peer companies and work to improve the local economic climate. Those that care about their employees and their communities believe that business-led civic organizations like the chamber are the most effective way to invest in both.

Member businesses are also perceived to be better companies by consumers and statistics show that nearly 65 percent of the buying public is more likely to do business with chamber members than those who are not.

Of those companies on the Fortune 100 that are members of the San Jose Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce, several have employees who serve on our board of directors.

For Clifton Clark, general manager of the San Jose Marriott, the hotel business relies on relationships with people and the community.

“The San Jose Marriott will celebrate its fifth birthday on April 23,” he says. “The chamber has played a vital role in integrating our new hotel into the San Jose business and social community, thus expediting our success.”

“Membership in the chamber helps me stay in touch with local issues and assist with government relations,” adds Michelle Mann, senior group manager of community relations for Adobe Systems.

Brian Baer, Deloitte San Jose office partner in charge, says, “I believe we have a responsibility to be active in our local community. The chamber not only allows us the opportunity to have a voice in matters affecting business, but it also provides an avenue for working to improve the local community in which our employees reside.”

Nationwide, chambers provide important avenues for members to participate in programs that will make a difference on a community-wide level. Our members join the chamber to collaborate on public policy issues that affect their ability to do business in San Jose. They also seek out opportunities to improve the community through programs that support education, health care, workforce development and the arts, while sharing best practices.

Laura Ipsen, senior vice president of global policy and public affairs for Cisco Systems, agrees, saying that membership with the chamber is “representative of Cisco's belief that public-private partnerships and local engagement brings communities together to create economic growth and new jobs.”

The SJSV Chamber of Commerce is fortunate to have some of the Fortune 100 “best companies to work for” in our valley. Many of these companies are active chamber participants that have been instrumental in growing our economy, generating jobs, building our community and making our chamber stronger.

Thank you to all our members on the Fortune 100 list for your continued support and congratulations on being named a “best company to work for.”