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Business & Tech

Pacifica Chamber of Commerce: Why Chambers Matter

Business owners attended a Chamber of Commerce networking event on Sept. 29 to let the organization know how to better serve the Pacifica business community.

The Pacifica Chamber of Commerce held a networking event at Nick's Restaurant at Rockaway Beach in Pacifica, Wednesday, Sept. 29, to tell current, returning and prospective members "why chambers matter."

Close to 30 people attended to hear the presentation of guest speaker Keith Woods, titled "Why Chambers Matter… If Not for the Chamber." 

Woods says he travels across the country to speak to chambers of commerce, and has held staff and executive positions in the chamber of commerce of San Antonio, TX, as well as chambers in the California cities of San Jose, Santa Rosa and San Francisco.

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"It really does make a difference how strong a chamber is in the community," Woods said, "because the great chambers are doing all they can do to help small business."

Pacifica Chamber of Commerce CEO, Courtney Conlon, would agree.

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"We are the movers and shakers of this community," Conlon said to the group who met this exclamation with applause.

This group of Pacifica business owners err on the side of community, not capitalism, with a majority of them seeking not just business advancement but also educational and networking opportunities.

Antoinette Cresci de la Torre is a first-time business owner who set up shop in Pacifica just three years ago. Cresci de la Torre's skin care and healing arts practice is based in the Palmetto business district, as the storefront Bella Luce. 

"When I joined the chamber I hoped for education," said Cresci de la Torre, noting an interest in learning more about marketing and business taxes.

Raj Naicker, the owner of a Papa Murphy's Take n' Bake franchise on Palmetto Avenue, had similar ambitions.

Naicker said though he has been a member of the Pacifica Chamber of Commerce for just one year, he has been to several chamber meetings to meet business persons he can "cross-market with" using business to business marketing.

"I want to know what this community is about and how I can let people know about my business," said Naicker.

Martin Anaya, Executive Director of Pacifica Community Television, is on the chamber Board of Directors. Anaya said that his role as a member of the board is to "provide a resource."

"We do a community service," Anaya said.

The Pacifica Chamber of Commerce is in the process of organizing future educational workshops that will meet the needs of members like Cresci de la Torre and Naicker, covering topics such as tax planning or business insurance.

Two new members joined the chamber at the close of this event.

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