The Sunriver Area Chamber of Commerce made significant improvements in 2022 to provide businesses with an increased value to their memberships.
Projects in 2022 included:
- Launching Shop/Savor Sunriver campaigns
- Starting networking events including Sunriver Social Hour, Coffee Klatch and Lunch and Learn
- Partnering with nonprofit organizations to host events including the Aaron Meyer Concert with the Sunriver Music Festival and joint breakfast with the La Pine Chamber of Commerce
- Featuring businesses in the monthly Sunriver Scene newspaper
- Continuing to upgrade the webpage
- Strengthening partnerships with businesses and nonprofits
- Making improvements to the Sunriver Magazine, the area’s visitor’s guide
- Hosting ribbon cutting events for new members and businesses
- Highlighting businesses on the chamber’s Facebook and Instagram pages
- Adding a Wednesday email newsletter to feature events happening in Sunriver and South Deschutes County, in addition to the Monday newsletter
- Working with businesses and government agencies to discuss workforce development, childcare and affordable housing
“During my first year as the executive director, I was dedicated to listening to what chamber members and nonmembers required from the chamber and determining how to provide those services,” Kristine Thomas said.
The chamber closed its physical office in the Sunriver Business Park and moved to a virtual model in 2022, a move designed to better serve members and the community.
“I have found businesses like the virtual model because I visit them at their place of work for meetings,” Thomas said, “to discuss what they need assistance with from learning how to use a program like Canva to brainstorming on marketing ideas and more.”
With a strong foundation in place, Thomas shared the chamber plans to continue with what it started in 2022 while continuing to work on longer-term issues including workforce development, the need for childcare and the housing shortage.
“When I worked for a nonprofit economic development agency in the Willamette Valley, I was taught economic development is a team sport,” Thomas said. “Workforce development, childcare and housing are all issues that require everyone to come to the table to provide their ideas and experiences to find solutions.”
The Sunriver Area Chamber of Commerce is partnering with the La Pine Chamber of Commerce to host Workforce Development: A to Z on Thursday, February 16 at the SHARC. Doors open at 7am, breakfast is served at 7:30am and the presentation begins at 8am.
Guest speakers are:
- Josh Lehner, Economist with the Office of Economic Analysis
- Deschutes County Commissioners Patti Adair, Phil Chang and Tony DeBone
- Jaime Eder is the director of workforce development and community engagement for Visit Central Oregon and Visit Bend.
- Larry Holeman is the Youth CareerConnect Regional Managing Director with EDCO.
The cost is $25 per person and reservations can be made at emailing exec@sunriverchamber.com.
In March, the chamber is hosting Women of Wonder: A Day of Career Exploration and Inspiration from 11:30am to 1pm Thursday, March 16 for the middle school girls at Three Rivers Elementary School in Sunriver.
The chamber is seeking 75 women to attend the lunch and share information about their careers with the students. This is for women who are currently employed and retired. There is no cost to attend, just a willingness to answer questions and talk about your career with middle school girls.
If you are interested in attending, please email exec@sunriverchamber.com with your name and your career title.
Sponsorships for the lunch are available, please contact Executive Director Kristine Thomas if you are interested at exec@sunriverchamber.com.
