DOWNTOWN The Chamber of Commerce has a new president in Laurel Rosen, the director of sales and marketing for The Lobster restaurant and a member of the executive committee for the chamber’s board of directors.
Rosen, who will assume the presidency on Monday, Nov. 5, replaces former President Jim Lynch, who was fired in September after spending just 10 months at the helm of the organization, which boasts roughly 1,000 members.
The chamber advocates business interests and issues affecting the commercial community.
“The chamber is extremely fortunate to have someone of Laurel’s character, talent and experience to serve in this crucially important position and we are all very excited about the future under her leadership,” said chamber Chairman Tom Larmore. “Her active involvement in all aspects of the community will enable her to provide outstanding leadership.”
Rosen has served as director of sales and marketing for The Lobster for eight years, after having acted as catering director and food and beverage director for various hotels and restaurants, and establishing her own catering business. She has served on the chamber’s board of directors, executive committee and homeless committee and has overseen the chamber’s popular “Taste of Santa Monica” event since its inception seven years ago.
In addition to her work with the chamber, Rosen has served on the board of the Convention and Visitors Bureau, currently chairs the “I Know Santa Monica” branding committee and represents Santa Monica around the world as a part of “Team Santa Monica,” which encourages tourism.
Rosen has also been very active with local non-profits, serving as chair of the OPCC’s Turning Point program, and sitting on the board of the annual bowl-a-thon to raise funds for homeless services.
“While I enjoyed my work at The Lobster and all of the people there, I was ready for a new challenge, and this position seemed ideal because it combines my experience in marketing and event plan-ning with an opportunity to expand my involvement in the community,” Rosen said. “My work in the local business arena, combined with active participation with various non-profits, will, I believe, give me a solid foundation for leading the chamber with its almost 1,000 members, including many non-profit organizations.”
Rosen said she had no plans of becoming president when Lynch was let go. She was serving as a member of the selection committee charged with finding a replacement when she was approached by several members of the community who asked that she throw her hat into the ring.
“I realized then that it was a perfect transition for me at this point in my career,” Rosen said. “I think one of the things that is really important for me is to focus on the emerging leaders — the young entrepreneurs in our community — and make them recognize that the chamber today is different from what many people perceive it to be. Not only can it contribute to their business growth, it also can help them develop their character and commitment in their life and their career.”
Rosen said she looks forward to strengthening the relationship between the business community and City Hall, a well as promoting sustainable business practices. In addition, Rosen will continue the chamber’s work on homelessness, traffic and parking — three key issues for Santa Monicans.
In other action, the chamber board voted to reverse its four-year policy of endorsing candidates for City Council, school board and college board.
“Given the substantially improved working relationship between the chamber and City Hall, we believe that endorsing candidates is not a good use of valuable volunteer time and effort and is potentially counter-productive in terms of promoting the chamber’s mission,” Larmore said.
Larmore noted that the chamber will be advising its members regarding actions taken by the Council that affect the business community and positions taken by the chamber on those issues.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on October 26, 2007. Read the original PDF.