Connect with the Chamber: Celebrating 70

The first time the phrase “chamber of commerce” was used, according to the International Chamber of Commerce, was around 1599 in Marseille, France. Our story doesn’t date back centuries, but the Greater Naples Chamber of Commerce is currently celebrating a huge milestone: 70 years of working to make Collier County a great place to live, work and visit.

Founded in 1886 by General John S. Williams and Walter Haldeman, Naples was a winter retreat. Collier County was established in 1923, and it wasn’t long before the growing business community decided they needed a local chamber of commerce to help foster business and community growth. While that first attempt proved unsuccessful, community and businesses leaders banded together in 1947 to form the Naples Chamber of Commerce. It didn’t take long before the chamber hired its first paid staff member, and in 1951 established itself as a nonprofit corporation.

Edith Hinson remembers when the Chamber was considered the community’s social center. The life-long Neapolitan said back in the 1950s the Chamber focused less on business advocacy and professional development. Instead, Hinton explained it was the place to go for verified references, even calling it the “original reservation desk.”

Technology has changed over the years, but the Chamber continues to be a go-to place for information. Volunteers at our Visitor Information Center provide tourists, visitors and even residents with recommendations about where to eat, visit and shop in Southwest Florida. Our staff understands the changing landscape of the community, and regularly fields questions from businesses and individuals looking to relocate to the area.

As Collier made the transition to a vibrant year-round community from a sleepy tourist town, the Chamber’s role in the community also changed. Over the years, Chamber leadership worked to make sure membership and board representation reflected the changing community. Businesses and individuals from diverse backgrounds and a wide variety of industries – including the legacy industries of tourism, agriculture and real estate – are represented by the Chamber.

Russell Burland remembers that Chamber leadership encouraged the “introduction of interconnection between businesses, government and nonprofits.” And throughout its history, the Naples Chamber has worked to bring the community together.

One way that happened was through our well-regarded Leadership Collier program, which graduated its first class of 20 community leaders in 1989. In the nearly 30 years since that first graduating class, it has grown into a nationally regarded program. The Leadership Collier Foundation incorporated as its own non-profit entity in 2003, and now the Foundation runs five programs -- Leadership Collier, Growing Associates in Naples (GAIN), Youth Leadership Collier, Emerging Leadership Council, and Campaign for Leadership​ -- as well as the and the LCF Alumni Association, which has over 2,000 alumni.

Although we have evolved over the years, the Chamber is – and always will be – an advocate for businesses and business professionals. We supported the Economic Development Council; and in 2013, the Chamber joined forces with the county to develop a strategic plan for business retention, expansion and overall growth. We are the proud sponsors of the annual Excellence in Industry Awards, and work with the Board of County Commissioners to recognize a “Business of the Month” each month.

We know there is much more we can do to ensure Collier remains a best-in-class community. That is why – as we mark our seventh decade in operation – we are expanding our advocacy efforts. We believe that the best way to fulfill our mission of making Collier County the best place in America to live, work and visit is to not just identify problems, but propose solutions and work with community, civic and elected leaders to put them to action.

We will look back on the past 70 years and look forward to the next 70 during the Greater Naples Chamber of Commerce’s annual dinner next month. The annual meeting – scheduled for May 17 at the Ritz Carlton Golf Resort – is an opportunity for the Chamber and its partners to celebrate where we’ve been and where we’re going. We hope to see you there.

For more information and to register for the Naples Chamber Annual Meeting, visit www.napleschamber.org/annualmeeting.