Chair's Column
WE NEED TO CONTNIUE TO LOOK TO THE FUTURE

By Dave Fleck
2008-09 Chair of the Board

Dave Fleck 2008-09 Chair of the Board

Serving as the Chair of the Chamber of Commerce this past year has been a rewarding job for me. I've thoroughly enjoyed meeting and working alongside the members and volunteer leaders of our organization.

Attending mixers, ribbon cuttings, Good Morning Sioux Falls events and the numerous programs the Chamber sponsors each year, I've learned a lot about the businesses and people who make up our Chamber.

Sioux Falls is truly special. We are graced with community leaders who have strong vision – I've witnessed this first-hand with discussions at our recent planning session for the upcoming year as well as the planning session we held last August. We are a community that learns from the past as we look to the future. We have a lot of opportunities ahead of us, from developing necessary infrastructure as our city grows to determining the new events center.

Despite the economic changes and challenges our country and community have experienced this past year, there are positive things taking place: the Sioux Falls area continues to grow, from school enrollment to neighborhoods to businesses.

We continue to plan for the future with our ever-growing Young Professionals Network. Since kicking-off in April, this group of motivated, young professionals has grown to nearly 400 members and I'm excited to see where they will go. I encourage all Chamber members ages 21-39 to look into the YPN – it's a great network of people. A key part of getting younger people engaged in the Chamber and the workings of the community is by having their boss or executive invite them to participate. For those of us who have been involved, it is our responsibility to include the next generation and invite them – there is a lot we can learn from one another.

After 103 years, the Chamber has become skilled at bringing the right people together to improve the community. We can't take credit for all of the accolades our community has received, but we have certainly been part of the process. We often take for granted the recognition Sioux Falls is given because it happens quite frequently. In the last year alone, we were recognized as the best small city for business and careers, in the top 20 for towns for sportsmen, as "America's Safest City" based on our drivers, and as a "next city" for people ages 20-40. We are fortunate to live in a city that is still making the lists and getting noticed as a community that knows how to do things right.

As I prepare to leave my volunteer role at the Chamber, I need to thank my wife, Mary, and my colleagues at Sioux Falls Construction Co. for allowing me the freedom to serve the Chamber this past year. I also have some suggestions for our community and our Chamber. We need to continue to work together and collaborate with other groups in our community and other communities across the state. We want, as a leadership orgaization, to remain the leading business advocate and stay ahead of community issues and progress. We need to engage emerging leaders in community dialogue, including getting the younger generation of leaders involved, so they can build on the traditions of Sioux Falls. Perhaps most importantly, we can't let negativity set the tone for community discussion.

I think much of what we learned and discovered in the last 12 months will help us continue to build on our success. Thank you to all of our members and volunteers for your efforts this past year.