{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"Real Talk, Real Growth","title":"Advocacy & Growth: A Conversation with Kristi Simon of the Howard County Chamber","html":"","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":2584,"description":"In this episode of Real Talk, Real Growth, host Linda Ostovitz sits down with Kristi Simon, President and CEO of the Howard County Chamber of Commerce, for a conversation about advocacy, membership growth, and what it takes to lead a chamber through change. Kristi shares her path from volunteer to chamber executive, including her years away leading the Central Maryland Chamber during the early days of COVID, and what she learned navigating remote engagement during that time.\n \nLinda and Kristi dig into the chamber's advocacy work in Annapolis and at the county level, how the chamber tracks and testifies on legislation, and why Maryland's business climate remains a focus for elected officials and business owners alike. They also cover the chamber's committee structure, the Young Professional Network, the CEO dinner series, and new efforts to support the county's growing nonprofit membership. Kristi closes with her goals for the chamber's next chapter, including a push toward 900 members and national chamber accreditation.\n \n00:00 Welcome and Introduction\n01:00 Meet Kristi Simon: President and CEO of the Howard County Chamber\n02:00 Kristi's Path from Volunteer to Chamber Leader\n04:00 What Keeps Her Passionate About Chamber Work\n05:00 Meeting Members Where They Are\n07:00 Growth to Nearly 800 Members\n08:00 Lessons from Leading a Chamber Through COVID\n10:00 Why Advocacy Matters for Small Business\n13:00 Testifying in Annapolis\n14:00 Building Relationships with County Government\n18:00 Making the Case for a More Business-Friendly Maryland\n23:00 A Look at Chamber Committees\n26:00 The Young Professional Network and Chamber Games\n28:00 Who Makes Up the Chamber's Membership\n30:00 Inside the CEO Dinner Series\n32:00 Stepping Into Leadership After Leonardo McLarty\n36:00 Supporting the County's Nonprofit Community\n38:00 Goals for the Chamber's Future\n40:00 How to Get Involved\n \nConnect with Kristi Simon and the Howard County Chamber of Commerce at: https://www.howardchamber.com","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/6yjjRCbONQAdFaQOAkFwTMcNZ705xwvDiPb9vjKNqSw/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS8yOGVm/MGVlMzY2ZjRlZjY2/OTFkZDRkYzU2MDZl/NzJmNy5wbmc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}