​(December 16, 2011)  When Gerald “Jerry” Miller retired from serving the city of Long Beach as city manager and helped form a real estate and development consulting firm, he found himself reconnecting with people in the business community.

(left to right) Jerry Miller and CalChamber President and CEO Allan Zaremberg at the 2011 California Business Summit.

It wasn’t long before Miller got in touch with Randy Gordon, president and CEO of the Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce, and the Long Beach Area Chamber. While working for the city, Miller had worked closely with the business community and the chamber.

“I had a long-standing respect and knowledge of the role chambers play,” Miller said.

Helping Business

Soon after meeting Gordon, Miller was asked to join the chamber board of directors. Since then, Miller has actively been involved with the chamber’s efforts.

In 2010, the Long Beach Area Chamber secured a $200,000 grant to fund a layoff aversion program with the regional business community. Miller led the effort, helping establish a “Red Team” of dedicated local business leaders and three other chambers.

He also assisted in the chamber’s outreach efforts on the importance of enterprise zones to the community and state legislators, initiating a call to action that generated letters of support and business testimonials.

Miller also founded the chamber’s Green Business Council, which works to promote sustainable business practices and advocates business development opportunities for companies that produce green products or provide green services.

“The Port of Long Beach has done a number of things, through policy and direct investment, to become greener and support sustainability. We recognized that this focus area is not going to go away,” Miller said. “It’s an area to exploit, in a good way. This is a business opportunity and we look at ways to address environmental needs or solutions to the environmental challenges we face.”

Approximately 30 companies are members of the council and “it’s going to grow,” Miller predicted.

Reaching Out

In June, the California Chamber of Commerce named Miller as a 2011 Small Business Advocate of the Year Award recipient to recognize him for his advocacy efforts on behalf of small businesses.

“[Miller] is one of the most active and passionate advocates for our business  community,” Gordon wrote to the CalChamber. “[He] is most deserving of this award because of his strong desire to make Long Beach the best place to do business. He is a masterful consensus builder and is dedicated to working with others to improve the economic vitality of our city.”

Miller believes the primary role of a chamber of commerce is to support and advocate.

“Clearly, the role of the chamber is to represent to the city or local government the plight of business, to advocate for either assistance or regulatory relief, or to unlock business from problems they are facing,” he said.

Business owners often are too busy running their business and don’t take the time to develop relationships with their local government, Miller said. The chamber puts resources in front of businesses and ensures they get the help they need or make the connection they need to make, he said. “Government doesn’t have all the answers,” Miller added. “However, there are opportunities for businesses to be part of  the solution.”

Life Outside the Chamber

Miller is now chairman elect of the board and vice chairman for economic development. When not running his consulting business, Miller serves on five boards of directors for non-profit organizations in the Long Beach area.

In his spare time, Miller enjoys spending time with family and friends, and playing golf.

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