Ep. 14 - Chris Romer (Vail Valley Partnership)

In today's episode, we're joined by Chris Romer, President and CEO of Vail Valley Partnership in Colorado. We discuss how chambers can move beyond traditional advocacy, when it makes sense to lead on major community issues, and how Vail Valley Partnership helped build and pass a regional transit ballot initiative. Chris also shares why chambers should not let fear prevent them from taking bold, mission-aligned action for their members and community. Takeaways Chambers can be more than listeners — they can be community problem solvers. Major initiatives should start with mission alignment, board support, and clear member needs. Coalition-building works best when stakeholders are involved from the beginning. Ballot campaigns require planning, fundraising, legal structure, polling, messaging, and strong communication. Taking public positions may not please everyone, but it can also strengthen member trust and clarify the chamber’s value. Chambers should avoid making decisions from fear and focus instead on mission, impact, and community needs. Chapters 00:00 Don’t Let Fear Stop Chamber Leadership 00:56 Introduction to Beyond the Ribbon Cut 01:29 Introduction to Vail Valley Partnership 02:19 Chamber, EDO, and Tourism Bureau Under One Roof 04:15 Chris’s Journey in Chamber and Community Leadership 06:45 Going Beyond Traditional Advocacy 07:50 Why Chambers May Need to Lead Ballot Initiatives 11:35 Building a Coalition Across Jurisdictions 13:42 What It Takes to Run a Ballot Campaign 18:37 Handling Member Concerns and Public Policy Risk 21:56 Measuring Advocacy Value for Members and the Board 24:31 First Steps for Chambers Considering Advocacy Action 27:35 Staff Bandwidth and Choosing the Right Level of Engagement 28:36 Final Advice for Chamber Leaders Website: https://www.vailvalleypartnership.com/ Facebook:   / vailvalleypartnership   Instagram:   / vailvalleypartnership   LinkedIn:   / vail-valley-partnership   About Diagonal Diagonal builds software shaped around the way chambers actually work. Our all-in-one platform helps chambers spend less time on administrative work and more time serving members, growing local businesses, and strengthening their communities. Learn more about Diagonal: https://godiagonal.com/for/chambers?u...