2023 Program of Work
2023 Plan of Action
MISSION: Helping your business thrive.
VISION: Making Glenwood Springs an ideal mountain community.
WHY WE EXIST:
- To be the CHAMPION for a thriving community.
- To be a CATALYST for sustainable business growth and development.
- To be the CONVENER of leaders and influencers to get things done.
WHAT WE DO:
- Create a strong local economy.
- Promote the community.
- Provide business building and educational opportunities.
- Represent business interests with government.
- Political action.
CORE VALUES:
- Communication
- Dedication to the community
- Professionalism
- Leadership
- Problem Solving
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
In 2022, the GSCRA Board adopted a 3-year Strategic Plan (2022-2024). In December 2022, a membership survey was sent in advance of the GSCRA Board’s strategic planning session. Members responded that their TOP CONCERNS are:
- Finding skilled employees.
- Inflation and recession.
- Retaining employees and attainable housing for staff.
When asked what the TOP PRIORITIES should be for the GSCRA in 2023, members responded:
- Work to build a strong, healthy, diverse, and welcoming community.
- Economic Development – helping retain existing businesses, helping them grow and creating jobs.
- Collaborative partnerships resulting in solutions to community challenges.
This 2023 Plan of Action is a combination of goals set in the 3-year strategic plan, retooled and prioritized to reflect top concerns and priorities of members in alignment with our mission. 2023 Special Priorities include:
- Intentionally engage in diversity equity and inclusion.
- Maximize the potential of the Glenwood Springs Chamber Foundation.
- Continue to support workforce housing initiatives.
A fourth special priority has been included, which is to create a new and improved Welcome Center in partnership with CMC. This partnership opportunity has become available and therefore has been added as a special priority.
In addition to the special priorities, the 2023 Program of Work is a continuation of our three priorities, which include:
- Make Glenwood Springs an even better place to live and visit. Sustainably promote Glenwood Springs and its businesses by maintaining visibility, promoting its unique assets and creating venues to attract visitors and locals.
- Help small businesses thrive by providing access to networking, visibility, education and other resources.
- Facilitate sustainable community/economic development by being the voice of small and large businesses in the community.
A major component of our Program of Work is the completion of our agreement for professional services to perform Tourism Promotion and Management Services and to operate the Visitor Center for the City of Glenwood Springs.
Finally, the 2023 Plan of Action specifically outlines general operations, which ensure our “house is in order” and that we are consistently communicating the value of the chamber and tourism to the community.
2023 SPECIAL PRIORITIES
- INTENTIONALLY ENGAGE IN DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION:
Chamber board and membership as well as community leadership roles are diverse and reflective of the community. Both Visit Glenwood and GSCRA marketing and communication are reflective and inclusive of diverse audiences.CORE COMPETENCIES: Create a strong local economy. Promote the community. Provide business building and educational opportunities.
- MAXIMIZE THE POTENTIAL OF THE GLENWOOD SPRINGS CHAMBER FOUNDATION:
Create a strategic plan in alignment with the mission of the Foundation that is intentional and proactive. Foundation will be in a place to take advantage of funding opportunities to help support the needs of businesses and the community.CORE COMPETENCIES: Create a strong local economy. Promote the community.
- CONTINUE TO SUPPORT WORKFORCE HOUSING INITIATIVES:
Ensure workforce housing remains top of mind in the community and that best practices from other communities are explored/implemented. Continue to support workforce housing initiatives as appropriate.CORE COMPETENCIES: Create a strong local economy. Represent business interests with government. Political action.
- CREATE NEW & IMPROVED WELCOME CENTER IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CMC
Partner with Colorado Mountain College to create a new and enhanced Welcome Center with improved visibility, public restrooms, increased CMC presence, dual language signage and technology, Zoom room and other features.
2023 PROGRAM OF WORK
MAKE GLENWOOD SPRINGS AN EVEN BETTER PLACE TO LIVE AND VISIT. SUSTAINABLY PROMOTE GLENWOOD SPRINGS AND ITS BUSINESSES BY MAINTAINING VISITIBLITY, PROMOTING ITS UNIQUE ASSETS AND CREATING VENUES TO ATTRACT VISITORS AND LOCALS
CORE COMPETENCIES: Create a strong local economy. Promote the community.
HELP SMALL BUSINESS THRIVE BY PROVIDING ACCESS TO NETWORKING, VISIBILITY, EDUCATION AND OTHER RESOURCES
Provide programs, education, resources, events and services consistent with the needs/wants of members in alignment with the GSCRA mission. Consistently evaluate programs and services and make necessary changes to ensure relevance.
CORE COMPETENCIES: Create a strong local economy. Promote the community. Provide business building and educational opportunities. Political action.
FACILITATE SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY/ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BY BEING THE VOICE OF SMALL AND LARGE BUSINESSES IN THE COMMUNITY.
Consistently and effectively advocate on behalf of local business community on state, local and national issues utilizing strategic partnerships such as Colorado Chamber, U.S. Chamber and Mountain Chamber Alliance.
CORE COMPETENCIES: Create a strong local economy. Promote the community. Represent business interests with government. Political action.
Operations
ENSURE CHAMBER OPERATIONS ARE EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE:
The foundation of the GSCRA is the basic but all-important operations of the organization that keeps it running efficiently and effectively. These include our governance structure, systems, financials, people and processes.
COMMUNICATE, COMMUNICATE, COMMUNICATE:
Consistently communicate the value of the chamber and tourism to the community. Ensure members, visitors and other community stakeholders receive timely and relevant information.
Staff will continue to represent the chamber and community in various leadership roles.
Angie Anderson, President & CEO
- Chair, Association of Colorado Chambers of Commerce (ACCC)
- ACCC Annual Conference Committee (Fall 2023)
- Chair, Mountain Chamber Alliance (MCA)
- Prosper Glenwood Steering Committee
- Colorado Mountain College’s Roaring Fork Campus Advisory Board
- Glenwood Springs Housing Stability Coaltion
Tara Harman, Director of Operations and Special Events
- Kirstie Ennis Foundation Board of Directors
- Kiwanis Club Member
- Junior Achievement of the Roaring Fork Valley Volunteer
Lisa Langer, Director of Tourism
- Secretary-Treasurer CADMO (CO Association of Destination Marketing Organizations).
- Colorado Tourism Office (CTO) International Promotion Committee
- Roaring Fork Valley Destination Alliance
- Prosper Glenwood Steering Committee
- CMC Theatre Advisory Council
- Defiance Community Theatre Board
Heidi Pankow, Tourism Project Manager
- Colorado Scenic Byway Commission – Western Colorado representative and Chair
- Colorado Tourism Leadership Journey Alumni Ambassador
- Colorado Tourism Office Inclusivity in Travel Coalition
Sara Teel, Director of Marketing and Membership Development
- Board Member, Junior Achievement of the Roaring Fork Valley
- WACE Emerging Leaders Council