(February 18, 2010) Joanne Davis’ advocacy efforts can be traced back to her college days when her constant praise of her hometown Long Beach piqued the curiosity of friends. When Davis went home, Davis brought her sorority sisters and girlfriends with her.
“I used to talk so much about Long Beach that they used to kid me and say I should go work for the chamber because I was such a Long Beach supporter,” Davis said.
Now head of her own public affairs and political consulting firm, The Davis Group, Davis did end up working with the Long Beach Area Chamber.
Chairman of the Board
She will be installed as chairman of the board in June, having served as vice chair of public policy for two years and a member of the government affairs council and political action committee.
Moreover, she has become such a passionate and dedicated advocate for the small businesses of Long Beach that she was a recipient of the California Chamber of Commerce 2010 Small Business Advocate of the Year Award.
Randy Gordon, president/CEO of the Long Beach Area Chamber, praised Davis for having “led one of the most productive and results-driven years in recent memory.”
Davis has done extensive political work and when she grew frustrated that businesses did not seem as engaged to support business-friendly legislation as those fighting against business interests, she looked to the chamber. It was the chamber, Davis said, that stood out as the perfect organized group to fight for businesses in California.
Advocacy
Advocacy is important for chambers because chambers represent business, Davis said. Just as labor groups tend to be organized and structured, businesses also need to have that same degree of organization.
Furthermore, like labor groups, businesses need to express their views and issues. Chambers, from the local to the national level, help big and small businesses alike get their voices heard, Davis said. That is why chambers should not be afraid to voice their opinions and thoughts to elected officials that are in opposition.
“Your job is to promote business,” Davis said. “Don’t be afraid to express that.”
Red Team
To better focus on the economic issues in Long Beach, Davis helped the chamber secure a $200,000 grant to form a “Red Team.” The Red Team looks at ways the chamber can help promote business, identifies opposition for business, and focuses on issues and opportunities the chamber can share with its members.
The committee is made up of both liberal and conservative members, but all have the same interest of promoting business, Davis said.
Long Beach Airport
In spring 2009, JetBlue President and CEO Dave Barger told an aviation blog that “dealing with the Long Beach Airport has been such a headache for his business that he would not rule out the idea of picking up and leaving for good,” the Long Beach quarterly newsletter reported.
Under Davis’ leadership, the chamber garnered the support of more than 1,600 people in a massive letter campaign directed at city officials, urging them to improve the airport’s infrastructure. The campaign worked, bringing city officials to agree to terminal upgrades at the airport.
Davis attributes the success of the campaign to the consultant who organizes the chamber’s website. The site enabled the chamber to receive letters from the community and have them on hand within 48 hours.
A long controversial issue in Long Beach, the airport upgrades are essential because they promote the city, Davis said.
“When people come to California for the first time, the airport is the first image they have of California,” Davis said. “A better airport brings in jobs and tourism.”
Community Organization
The chamber is an important community organization, Davis said. The Long Beach Chamber helps raise money for various non-profit organizations and partners with school districts, implementing a “Principal for a Day” program to instill pride in the community. The program allows community leaders in K-12 schools to “see what our education system is really about,” Davis said.
The residents of Long Beach and the chamber staff want to make the city the best it can be.
“The chamber’s staff love Long Beach and they love promoting Long Beach,” Davis said. “Many have stayed for a long time. It’s truly a testament to the chamber that they’ve stayed so long.”
In 2009 the Los Angeles Economic Development Corporation named Long Beach the most business-friendly city in Los Angeles County. Nevertheless, Davis said, the work doesn’t stop there.
“It’s wonderful to be recognized. But you can’t sit back,” she said. “You’ve got to move forward and move forward.”
Small Business Advocate of Year Award
See what it takes to be an advocate for small business. Read profiles of past recipients of the CalChamber Small Business Advocate of the Year Award. Winners for 2011 will be announced at the CalChamber Business Summit on June 1 in Sacramento.
Submit a nominee for this year's Small Business Advocate of the Year Award.