By Kami Welch, Greater Arvada Chamber of Commerce President & CEO
The Greater Arvada Chamber of Commerce proudly celebrates 100 years of impactful service in 2025 and I have been grateful to lead this incredible organization for nearly 12 of those transformative years. In recent years, the Chamber has been full steam ahead, experiencing remarkable growth in membership, programs, staff, and community impact. We have much to celebrate and remain proud to be a leader in our industry.
As I reflect on what needs to happen next, the statement “what got you here, won’t take you there” resonates with me. Businesses face significant challenges, and the role of our Chamber to support solutions continues to evolve and grow.
A few months ago, I approached the Chamber Board of Directors with a sabbatical policy to allow for the opportunity to slow down and reflect for all team members once they reach five years of employment.
I know that many of you understand that when you are deeply ingrained in the success of your business, you don’t always have time to get out of the weeds and think about strategic direction and the next steps that will evolve your company. There is immense value not just to the individual taking the sabbatical, but also to the entire organization, as planned time off leads to improved organizational resilience, succession planning improvements, cross-training, and staff independence.
One of the most important reasons for implementing this policy is to ensure we are taking care of our team. Just like the familiar advice to “put your own oxygen mask on first,” we know that supporting our staff’s well-being is essential to continuing to serve our community with energy, passion, and innovation. Our work is meaningful and often demanding, and it’s no secret that Chambers of Commerce across the nation face an industry-wide challenge around staff burnout, especially among CEOs and executive leaders. We hope this proactive approach allows our Chamber to retain our incredible team for many years.
I will be taking a sabbatical from May 29 to July 4 to process the incredible opportunities for our organization and community. This time away will be filled with reading (the book list is referenced below), reflection, and creativity. I will come back inspired and ready to work with all of you to ensure our community maintains its competitive edge and our businesses thrive. This time away would not have been possible without the incredible team that we have built here in Arvada, including our board, staff, and volunteers. I am beyond confident that their expertise, passion, and energy will keep this Chamber moving forward successfully while I am away.
I don’t take lightly what a gift this is and I am grateful for the opportunity to grow and evolve as your leader and take the much-needed time to plan and reflect. I look forward to sharing my thoughts and experiences with you all in July!
Book List
- Abundance by Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson
- Why We’re Polarized by Ezra Klein
- Data by Mark O’Donnell
- The Perfectionist’s Guide to Losing Control by Katherine Morgan Schafler
- Things You Can Only See When You Slow Down by Haemin Sunim
- Plus some juicy page turners 🙂
The Greater Arvada Chamber of Commerce is a community of businesses, organizations, and local leaders working together to solve challenges, foster meaningful connections, and develop the next generation of talent and leadership. Our work – driving action on conversations, resources, and large-scale initiatives that businesses can’t tackle on their own – is central to the long-term success of our community as a whole. When you play a part, we all thrive.
Learn more about the Chamber and ways to get involved.
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