Outgoing Message from Steve Van Dorn, President and CEO

After 13 years of being in charge of the Santa Clara Chamber of Commerce and Convention – Visitors Bureau, I have made a very difficult decision and decided to move on to a new opportunity effective March 31, 2015.  I have been fortunate to experience so many positive changes in my almost 20 years in Santa Clara, working with the Chamber of Commerce and Convention – Visitors Bureau and the Santa Clara Convention Center.

I was fortunate enough to play a visible role in supporting Levi’s Stadium, appearing in TV commercials for Measure J and conducting a joint economic benefit study of the stadium with Team San Jose. I have also had the pleasure of serving on the San Francisco Bay Area Super Bowl 50 Host Committee.

My career started out in the hospitality industry so it was a great honor to be awarded the Hospitality Achievement Award in 2012 by the Silicon Valley Concierge Association.  I was also very happy to give back to the chamber industry as the Chair of the Western Association of Chamber Executives this last year.

I was also fortunate to oversee the construction of Santa Clara Convention Center’s Mission City Ballroom expansion and to be part of numerous accolades such as being named Best Event Venue from the Silicon Valley Concierge Association and receiving top meeting planner awards.

Most importantly, I will miss working with all of our stakeholders and staff in making Santa Clara a better place to work, live and play.  Thank you for all of your support over these many years and my best wishes to your continued success.

National Tourism Week Luncheon – May 8, 2015

Please join us on May 8^th to celebrate the economic impact tourism has on Santa Clara and the region. Santa Clara benefits greatly from leisure, business, and convention visitors who eat at city restaurants, shop at city businesses, visit city attractions and stay in city hotels.

Santa Clara visitor attractions include Levi’s Stadium events and tours, California’s Great America theme park, Intel Museum, retail shopping, art museums, Mission Santa Clara, Santa Clara University, numerous special events, and much more. The economic impact will be greater than ever in February, 2016 when Super Bowl 50 is played at Levi’s Stadium. See details below for our planned National Tourism Week Luncheon. You can register online at http://goo.gl/CDgxsz

GUEST SPEAKERS:

• Santa Clara Mayor Jamie Matthews
• California’s Great America General Manager Raul Rehnborg
• Special Guest Speaker: Keith Bruce, CEO of San Francisco Bay Area Super Bowl Host Committee

Member Referrals – March/April 2015

We would like to recognize and acknowledge member referrals for the Santa Clara Chamber of Commerce. The following new members were referred by an existing member of the Chamber, and we would like to recognize and thank them for their support.

Vice Mayor Debi Davis, council committee liaison for Santa Clara Sister Cities Association, referred Peter Kuo of Silicon Valley International Group, Inc.   If you need help with your business, contact Peter at (408) 746-5713 to learn more about the services they offer.  Peter specializes in assisting with marketing to retail and offers an analysis and strategic plan for businesses.  To find out more about the Santa Clara Sister Cities Association, call Debi at (408) 554-9964.

Ravinder Lal with The UPS Store referred Adriana Tayamen with All Pro Janitorial Services.  If you are looking for a cleaning service for your home, contact Adriana to learn about “green cleaning” and experience having your home sparkling clean without harsh chemicals.  You can contact her at (408) 917-9662 to learn more.   For shipping, packaging, creating signs, brochures and more, contact Ravinder at (408) 247-4010.

Want to see your name here?  If someone you know would benefit by joining the Santa Clara Chamber of Commerce, please refer them to Carol Zimring at (408) 380-1236.  Every month we publish new member referrals, listing both the new member and the Chamber member who referred them.   When a member has referred a total of three new members, they will receive a $100.00 advertising credit for use in our weekly and monthly publications.

Spotlight on Pyramid of Leaders: UCSC Silicon Valley Extension

Dr. Lynda Rogers, Dean of UCSC Extension

For the past 50 years, UCSC Silicon Valley Extension has provided high-quality career development for working professionals in more than 40 fields. UCSC Extension made Santa Clara its home in 2009, thanks in part to the community support and leadership of the Santa Clara Chamber of Commerce.

“As a provider of higher education, we exist to serve the community,” says Dr. Lynda Rogers, Dean of UCSC Extension. “Understanding and connecting with local business leaders is critical, not only to our success, but to the success of the city. The Chamber introduced us to local service organizations and helped anchor us in the community. Over the last five years, we’ve felt very supported, and our staff and students have really thrived.”

As Santa Clara grows, UCSC Extension plans to grow too, expanding its courses and programs to reflect the job skills that the community needs the most. That’s why Extension’s involvement with the Chamber of Commerce is so vital; by learning about the challenges and opportunities facing local professionals, it is able to best serve the needs of the community.

Spotlight On Pyramid Of Leaders: Irvine Company

With roots dating back to 1864, the Irvine Company is one of California’s oldest and most successful real estate companies, best known for the master-planned communities we’ve planned and developed in the state.  For nearly 20 years, we’ve applied our design and planning expertise to the Silicon Valley, with a focus on creating special live and work communities featuring a balanced mix of housing near jobs, stores, restaurants, trails and other community amenities.

Unlike many community planners and builders, we never sell our properties, choosing instead to invest and reinvest in them to ensure they retain the same outstanding quality and appeal as the day they opened.  This unusual commitment to long-term ownership, combined with our proven master-planning approach to each project we undertake, is guiding our efforts in the City of Santa Clara.

Our goal is to build upon the sense of community felt by those who live in Santa Clara, and create great places to live, work, shop and play.  These include communities that:

• Are walkable and attractive
• Provide new housing choices near the City’s growing job base
• Expand residents’ specialty retail and dining options
• Attract both established and up-and-coming companies to Santa Clara and its highly-educated workforce

We are proud to work with the Santa Clara Chamber of Commerce as we provide some of our most ambitious master-planned projects locally to date and the benefits they provide to the City. 

Silicon Valley Chamber Business Xpo 2015!

The second annual Silicon Valley Chamber Business XPO will take place on Thursday, April 23 from 5:30-8:30 p.m. at the Santa Clara Convention Center. Featuring over 125 exhibitors from various chambers in Silicon Valley, attendees will have the opportunity to network with local business representatives and owners. Participating chambers include: Cupertino Chamber of Commerce, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Silicon Valley, Morgan Hill Chamber of Commerce, Mountain View Chamber of Commerce, Palo Alto Chamber of Commerce, San Jose Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce, Santa Clara Chamber of Commerce, Silicon Valley Chamber Coalition, and the Sunnyvale Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce. There is no cost to attend the XPO, but advanced registration is recommended. Prior to the XPO there will be seminars ranging from how to promote your business through the media (radio, print and television) to HR essentials to Networking 101. Separate registration is required for the seminars. Cost to attend the seminars is $10 per session. Seminars will run from 3:30-4:30 p.m. and 4:45-5:45 p.m. More details are available at tinyurl.com/ChamberXPO2015.

Sponsors of this year’s event include: Luxul Technology (Silver Sponsor), Silicon Valley Business Journal (Media Sponsor), and Alaska Airlines (Business Sponsor). Sponsorship opportunities are available through April 10 – please contact the Chamber office at (408) 244-8244 to learn more.

Chamber of Commerce and Convention- Visitors Bureau President & CEO Resigns

Van Dorn, former CEO of the Santa Clara Chamber of Commerce & CVB.

After 13 years in charge of the Santa Clara Chamber of Commerce and Convention Visitors Bureau, President & CEO Steve Van Dorn ended his tenure on March 31, 2015. Van Dorn has overseen much in his time in Santa Clara, managing both the Chamber of Commerce and Convention-Visitors Bureau and the Santa Clara Convention Center.

Van Dorn was a visible proponent of Levi’s Stadium, appearing in TV commercials for Measure J and conducting a joint economic benefit study of the stadium with Team San Jose. He also serves on the San Francisco Bay Area Super Bowl 50 Host Committee. Van Dorn was awarded the Hospitality Achievement Award in 2012 by the Silicon Valley Concierge Association and recently completed a year as Chair of the Western Association of Chamber Executives.

In his management of the Santa Clara Convention Center, Van Dorn oversaw the Center’s construction of its Mission City Ballroom expansion and numerous accolades such as being named Best Event Venue from the Silicon Valley Concierge Association and receiving top meeting planner awards.

He leaves at a time when Santa Clara hotels are coming off their best occupancy and Average Daily Rate (ADR) year ever recorded.      

The Chamber of Commerce and Convention-Visitors Bureau Board of Directors is working to re-imagine the organization and is committed to continuing its advocacy and support for its key stakeholders. Roy Truitt will serve as the interim CEO until a new CEO is hired permanently.