The San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce hopes a local rally next week will galvanize community action and influence Google to bring its fiber optic trial to San Luis Obispo. 

The “Make SLO Faster” rally, organized by San Luis Obispo-based business-to-business networking group Tech Networking, will provide insight on what Google fiber can offer the community and send a clear message to Google that San Luis Obispo is the place for this opportunity. The rally is at Mission Plaza on March 16 from 5 to 7 p.m. 

“This Google Fiber project is the greatest potential economic, cultural and social enhancement opportunity that I have ever seen for San Luis Obispo,” explained Jeff Buckingham, a local entrepreneur who helped form the Chamber’s ad hoc Google fiber group and has volunteered with the Bring Fiber to San Luis Obispo initiative. “To make it happen, we need our community to create and attend multiple initiatives and events just like the Make SLO Faster meet-up before the March 26 deadline.”

Speakers include: Buckingham; Chamber President Dave Garth; Susan Opava, dean of Research and Graduate Programs at Cal Poly; Howard Gordon from Surveyor Corporation; and Digital West CEO Tim Williams. The event will be moderated by Tech Networking President Amy Kardel of Clever Ducks. 

The San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce membership boasts a weighty representation on a list of the world’s most innovative companies this year.

Chamber members First Solar and Pacific Gas and Electric Company were both ranked in the top 10 most innovated companies by Fast Company magazine. First Solar, a solar module manufacturer, ranks No. 6, while Pacific Gas and Electric Company ranks No. 7. Both companies are working locally on the Topaz Solar Farm project, a 550 megawatt solar power plant, proposed the Carissa Plains.

“These companies are known locally as leading-edge and inventive, but this ranking quite literally puts them in a whole new category,” San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce President Dave Garth said. “We’re very proud that not just one, but two, of our 1,400 members are listed among the top companies in the world."

Overall, Fast Company recognized 250-plus companies, including more than 75 non-U.S. businesses. The magazine analyzed information on thousands of businesses across the globe. The result identifies creative models and progressive cultures, as well as revenue growth and profit margins, to define the many forms of innovation that exist across the business landscape. 

Chamber staff joins Sunset Magazine, VCB and other major sponsors for Victory Garden Groundbreaking Ceremony

A Groundbreaking Ceremony kicked off major upscale food and wine event Sunset’s Savor the Central Coast last week.  

Sunset Magazine has partnered with the San Luis Obispo County Visitors & Conference Bureau on the creation of Sunset’s Savor the Central Coast, scheduled for Sept. 30 through Oct. 3, 2010. 

On February 26, the groundbreaking was situated at the Santa Margarita Ranch, located 10 miles north of San Luis Obispo, and the same location where the main event will be held in September. Sunset Magazine’s Editor-In-Chief, Katie Tamony, along with forty major sponsors, planted their shovels in the ground to celebrate the creation of a two-acre Victory Garden, which will include the planting of fresh fruits and vegetables.

Feb. 9, 2010 ---

The San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce was honored with a 2009 Web Site Award from the Western Association of Chamber Executives (W.A.C.E.) at a conference last week.

Out of the more than 100 entries, the SLO Chamber received a Special Merit for its comprehensive, interconnected Web sites slochamber.org, slo-business.com and visitslo.com. The only higher award was received by the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce, the largest chamber in the West.  

The site was judged by four individuals who rated the overall design, content and Search Engine Optimization. The chamber scored points for certain features like the integration of streaming videos, placement of an event calendar, social networking links, a site map and an online version of the newsletter.

Feb. 1, 2010 ---

The San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce’s 105th Annual Dinner was a big hit late January with 410 of the county’s movers and shakers in attendance.

This annual dinner gala is a celebration of the past year’s accomplishments, installation of new officers and directors, and the announcement of the Citizen of the Year Award. This year, the Chamber officially released its new Economic Vision at the gala.

The San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Dinner is the longest running event of its kind in the county. It was hosted by the Chamber at the Embassy Suites Hotel on Jan. 23, and the 2009 Citizen of the Year Award was sponsored by Kevin Main Jewelry.

If you missed it, here’s a recap of the ceremony:

Jan. 25, 2010 ---

The San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce has named former city CAO John Dunn its 2009 Citizen of the Year for his exemplary contributions to the community.

The Citizen of the Year Award is the Chamber’s most prestigious award and is the only honor given at the Chamber’s Annual Dinner gala in recognition of unparalleled service to the community of San Luis Obispo.

Dunn, former chief administrative officer for the City of San Luis Obispo, has given to the community for more than 20 years in every facet, including private, public and nonprofit sectors. His community work is often considered to be the gold standard in community contribution.

“Community service is one of the best things people can do in their lives,” a slightly stunned Dunn said to the Annual Dinner audience. “We are blessed that we have such a strong sense of community here in San Luis Obispo. There are a lot of people out there who aren't nearly as fortunate as we are. Anything we can do to help those who are in great need will be appreciated. Volunteer. Provide your time, your talent, your money to helping a lot of folks in our very good community.”

Jan. 12, 2010 ---

There’s a new addition to the San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center: a 65-inch high-definition LCD Sharp Aquos television accompanied by a video about San Luis Obispo that was produced by the Chamber in partnership with the City of San Luis Obispo.

“We need to make visitors aware that San Luis Obispo is the center of many activities, like wine tasting, that may not be obvious to someone who doesn’t live here,” Chamber President Dave Garth says. “The goal is to encourage visitors to stay a little longer.”

The Chamber’s Visitor Center is one of the busiest Visitor Centers in the state of California. It receives more than 1,000 phone call and e-mail inquiries per month, and greets more than 100,000 in-person visitors per year.

The San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce is the largest and oldest business organization in the County with more than 1,400 members and a paid staff of 16. The organization works to use community-enhancing tourism to spur economic development.

Jan. 11, 2010 ---

Former Las Vegas culinary heavyweight Chef Timothy Hulbert will showcase his skills for the first time in SLO at the Chamber's January 23rd Annual Dinner.

Hulbert recently prepared the Annual Dinner's menu that includes filet mignon, hazelnut crusted halibut and more. Click here to see the full menu.

Until recently, Chef Timothy Hulbert was the executive chef of the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, which is one of the busiest food and beverage operations in the country. He was responsible for managing the entire food operation at the resort. He has been cooking professionally for nearly 30 years and boasts an impressive resumé.

“I was in the mix as a professional chef among the busiest properties in the country,” Hulbert says. “I learned a lot about leadership, managing multiple outlets and leading a very large team. I enjoyed taking care of the numerous celebrity guests as well.”

Hulbert will showcase his skills for the first time in SLO at the Chamber’s January 23rd Annual Dinner.

Jan. 5, 2010 ---

The San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce has elected long-time local business owner, former City Councilmember and City Planning Commissioner John Ewan as chair of the 2010 Board of Directors. Ewan is owner and president of Pacific Energy Company, a local solar and alternative energy retailer that he founded 1980.  

The Chamber recently elected Ewan and nine other local business leaders to join the 11 members currently on the Board of Directors. Ewan brings more than 20 years of business and community leadership experience to his one-year position.

“Typically, chambers are viewed as a group of conservative business people, but the reality is that our membership is so much more than that,” Ewan says. “The SLO Chamber’s membership consists of every facet of the business and non-profit community. While its focus is business oriented, it has always considered quality of life in a larger context. I think my selection of chair strengthens that connection.”