Lynch aims to keep connected
DOWNTOWN — A former corporate executive and publisher of a local weekly newspaper will assume control over the Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce today, representatives of the organization said.
James Lynch, who stepped down as publisher of the newly created Westside Chronicle on Tuesday, will become the business community’s leading advocate when he takes over for the outgoing Kathy Dodson, the chamber’s president since 2001.
Dodson has accepted a position with the city of El Paso, Texas, where she will serve as the director of economic development.
Lynch has an extensive background in business and economic development. The 54-year-old has served as the executive director of the nationwide health care company Schick Laboratories, Inc., and as a partner in the computer and accounting services firm Lynch, McFadden & Company. He has also served as president of several Southern California business districts and chambers of commerce.
“Jim not only knows the Westside and Santa Monica very well, but he has extensive experience leading chambers. Those two variables were critical in our decision to select him as the next president,” said Mary Ann Powell, a member of the chamber’s board of directors. “Beyond that, he struck me as a good-natured guy who can lead a young, talented team at the chamber.”
Lynch will be called on to continue the work of Dodson, who has been credited with reinvigorating a chamber that had grown stagnant, raising its membership from 846 to more than 1,000 during her reign.
Under Dodson’s watch, the chamber has become more active in the community and in politics, hosting job fairs and promotional events that celebrate the culture and richness of Santa Monica’s business community, as well as organizing a campaign to defeat a controversial living wage law that would have forced most businesses in the coastal zone to pay an hourly wage of $10.50.
Dodson has also been praised for her leadership on homelessness and improving ties with City Hall, a relationship which had oftentimes been described as adversarial.
Lynch’s first major move will be the selection of a governmental affairs representative for the chamber who will work closely with City Hall on the formation of new laws and regulations that affect businesses. The staff person will also act as an ombudsman for chamber members with projects before City Hall.
To fund the position, the chamber has established a “Business Roundtable,” where up to 30 chamber members pay an annual fee of $2,500 to have quarterly meetings with City Manager Lamont Ewell, elected officials and city department heads.
The position was created following the chamber’s decision to dismantle its political arm in favor of a less con-frontational approach to working with City Hall.
“Jim is intimately familiar with the Westside’s governmental affairs activities, although not specifically in Santa Monica, but we expect him to pick up and learn our particular concerns and initiatives quickly,” said John Bohn, president of the chamber’s board of director. “It is my hope that Jim can make a smooth transition, because with a change in leadership, there is always concern. The chamber is in sound financial shape and the team there is great.”
LynchsaidhisworkwiththeWestsideChroniclehasenabled him to reach out to city officials,businesses and residents,helping him better understand the issues facing Santa Monica,such as homelessness and the lack of parking downtown.
As president of the Beverly Hills, Century City, Tustin and South Pasadena chambers of commerce, Lynch plans to use his contacts throughout the region to create a strong network of businesses which can work together to keep the economy thriving.
“I look forward to maintaining the momentum and all the good work already in progress,” Lynch said. “There has been a lot of work with outreach to local businesses, there has been coordination with the city and other neighborhood and community groups and I would to make sure the chamber has a good, trusting working relationship with all of those organizations... and the Convention and Visitors Bureau to help promote tourism and the hospitality business.”
While helping to establish a newspaper was important work, Lynch said his passion lies with the chamber. He has vowed to work closely with all media outlets, showing no favoritism to former colleagues.
“I will be involved with each of the papers in town equally, sharing information and trying to help (them) fulfill their mission to readers, which is providing good and accurate information in a timely manner,” Lynch said. “I will not be employed or have any type of officer, director or ownership capacity with the (Chronicle).”
Lynch is a graduate of the 80th anniversary class of the United States Chamber of Commerce four-year Institute for Organization Management at the University of Notre Dame and holds both master’s and bachelor’s degrees in criminal justice and public administration from California State University, Los Angeles.
Additionally, he has earned the designation of accredited chamber executive from the Western Association of Chamber Executives, the nation’s largest regional accreditation body. Of the nearly 1,000 chambers of commerce within its region, there are fewer than 40 accredited chamber executives.
Lynch resides in South Pasadena with his wife Beverly and two daughters, Patty and Annie.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on November 1, 2006. Read the original PDF.