North Bay Woman

NORTH BAY WOMAN 33 with the Board of Directors and staff, planned to mark the occasion with large, in person celebrations. Instead, the CEO had all of her skills tested as COVID-19 became a health and eco- nomic crisis. Webster and her staff had to make sacrifices to stay in business. Not only has this brought the staff, the board and its committees closer as a team, it has also helped them better understand what local businesses are experiencing during the pandemic, Webster says. The chamber partnered with Keep Marin Working, a collaboration of business and economic development organizations, for a study of the stability and financial needs of the county's businesses. Of the 1,200 businesses that responded, 70% reported a decrease in revenue of 10% or more since the coronavirus shutdowns began. Of those, more than a third reported a drastic decrease of 50% to 100% in revenue loss. Nearly 60% of Marin's business- es reported using personal funds, credit card debt or family loans to continue operations. Knowing the severity of the impacts, the chamber updates its online business resource hub daily. Webster and her staff quickly turned many traditionally in-person pro- grams virtual, from the San Rafael Leadership Institute to the Women's Empowerment series. Perhaps most importantly, advocacy continues in earnest. The chamber has driven policy changes around workforce housing, training of next gen- eration leaders and promot- ing the awareness of BIPOC owned businesses through a county-wide diversity, equity and inclusion task force. The San Rafael cham- ber's affiliated Educa- tional Foundation was the first in the county to launch a small busi- ness disaster relief grant program, distributing over $250,000 to nearly 70 local business owners early in the pandemic. This served as a model for other chambers to replicate, helping hundreds of local business owners across Marin. Among these impacts, Webster is most proud of the chamber's growing influence. "Our voice is being sought before policy decisions are made. We work with the city, county, the Economic Development Department and vari- ous developers directly and I am most proud of that," she says. Newly elected San Rafael Mayor Kate Colin has worked with Webster since joining the city council in 2013, and for many years prior while she served on the San Rafael Planning Commission. "San Rafael is extremely fortu- nate to have Joanne at the helm of the chamber of commerce because she has that unique blend of deeply understanding what is important to our community as well as knowing how to advocate for the needs of the local businesses," Mayor Colin says. "She is a complete joy to work with because of her keen insight and deep economic expertise all overlayed with a great sense of humor." CHALLENGES TAKING THE HELM Despite the organization's progress, there have been personal challenges along the way. When Webster started at the chamber in 2011 and was promoted to CEO three years later, her biggest roadblock was the perception that she wasn't up to the job. But colleagues say she has proven herself and Above: Charlie Garfink, Joanne Webster, Meghan and Anna Garfink in 2018 at Double Rainbow Ice Cream in San Rafael. Below: Anna, Charlie and Meghan Garfink with Joanne Webster after winning Small Business of the Year at Spirit of Marin in 2008. – Photos courtesy of Joanne Webster, Bank of Marin/Spirit of Marin

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