Welcoming OUR Community
By: President & CEO of the Atascadero Chamber, Emily Reneau
I don’t think it can be said enough that your Chamber supports OUR community, and the ability for both residents and business owners to feel welcomed and at home. Thank you to everyone who has stood in support of diversity with us. Our goal and mission as a Chamber is to provide resources for our diverse business community. We believe diversity and inclusion are what will make Atascadero a desirable place to live and work. To show our commitment to our community, we are working to bring social and educational opportunities that highlight and embrace our community’s diversity. We believe this work is vital to the success of Atascadero and a significant part of the mission of the Chamber. We will also ensure that moving forward, our board members, councils and staff will be provided training and education to gain awareness on diversity and inclusion, affirming this core value. The recent tragic incidents have brought this necessary conversation to the forefront of our minds and hearts. The Chamber is committed to leading this conversation in the business community and our policies will reflect our values and actions from this day forward.
Did you know that we have a Diversity Council, going on two years strong, that is actively discussing actions OUR Chamber in the community to welcome, support, encourage and celebrate diversity? Learn how you can join us as we advocate and support the diversity in OUR community by being a part of OUR Diversity Council, get started here.
Speaking of welcoming, I want to give a big shoutout to all of our businesses that are beginning to re-open. The County has allowed gyms, bars, wineries and more to open. They’ve also released re-opening guidelines for massage therapy, body art, esthetician, skincare, cosmetology and nail salons (allowed to re-open no sooner than June 19th). You can find guidelines for all re-opened industries here.
As more local businesses are welcoming customers back in, they will be working hard to implement new procedures, potentially working with a less than full staff and all the while prioritizing your health and safety. As you visit the stores you know and love, we ask that you’re patient as they work on new operating procedures to ensure your well-being and that of our incredible community. (Are you re-opening and in need of safety supplies? Check out our list of local businesses that are selling face masks, special signage, sanitizer and more, here.)
In celebration of OUR community opening back up, we want to kick off a local shopping, summer event called Atascopoly! Starting July 1st and running until July 31st, when customers visit or shop in participating businesses, they’ll receive a ticket and be entered in to win prizes. The more they shop and visit stores, the more chances they have of winning! There will be people winning prizes every week until the contest closes.
Participating businesses will be included on the Atascopoly map and receive promotion in our newsletters, on our site, on social media @AtascaderoChamberofCommerce email Marketing@AtascaderoChamber.org. By participating, your business can hand out tickets or donate to the prizes-or do both! This is an opportunity just for Atascadero Chamber members; if you have any questions about becoming a member please email Marketing@AtascaderoChamber.org or visit Atascaderochamber.org/join-our-community/ for more information.
President & CEO of the Atascadero Chamber | Emily Reneau
Emily Reneau is a longtime Central California local, having lived in the area for twenty-three years. She worked previously with HM Holloway and opened their Paso Robles office and coordinated outreach and marketing efforts for the organization’s three regional offices. She also worked as the Business Development Director for the American Heart Association and raised over $150,000 annually for the organization. She discovered her passion for working alongside the community when she worked in Southern California with the Walt Disney Company in Community Relations. Emily Reneau stepped in as acting CEO & President for the Atascadero Chamber of Commerce on April 23, 2020.
