My first job was at Hot Cookies when I was 14 (who else misses getting a Hot Cookie Pass in their stocking on Christmas?). Since then, I’ve been lucky enough to build my career right here in Steamboat. Connection to our local business community is what fuels our work at the Chamber, supporting the people that make this valley thrive.

Every day, our Chamber team works alongside local businesses to understand what they’re facing, where they want to go, and how we can help them get there. Our programs and events are designed in direct response to what we hear from employers, entrepreneurs, and employees throughout the Yampa Valley. From one-on-one conversations, specific industry advocacy groups to communitywide collaborations, we’re constantly asking: What knowledge, skills, and connections do our businesses need most right now?

In 2025, we’ll dive deep into the many topics and issues our members have asked us to address in a variety of formats and settings. Our Business Education Series, Thrive Together Luncheon Series, and Professional Development Summit Series explore everything from navigating employment law and leading through change to marketing your business more effectively. They’re practical and purposeful, built for real people solving real problems right here in our community.

We also host summits that tackle the big-picture trends shaping our economy. The Economic Summit on May 9 will spotlight the forces influencing our local landscape. We’re especially excited to welcome Justin Farrell, author of “Billionaire Wilderness,” to share insights that could resonate deeply within our region. Later in the year, Empower Yampa Valley and the Thrive Together Women’s Leadership Summit will bring together hundreds of professionals for conversations that blend innovation, inclusion, leadership and lifelong learning.

Our support goes beyond workshops and keynote speakers. We know that one of the most valuable resources in business is connection, and that often starts with a conversation over coffee or a handshake at a mixer. Events like our Chamber Mixers, Winter Expo, and Summer Showcase create space for those moments. They offer a chance for business owners to drum up new business, share ideas and create allies in the business community.

We believe when our business community is strong, our entire community is stronger. The Chamber is here to host events and insightful programming but also to be a steady, informed partner for the people driving our local economy forward. We’re proud to offer tools, share knowledge, and create space for connections and we’ll keep doing that work, day in and day out.

We’re proud to be investing in our community’s future, and we hope you’ll be part of it. Let’s make 2025 a year of learning, connection and shared success.

Sarah Leonard is the CEO of the Steamboat Springs Chamber.