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.
Linda 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.
00:00 Welcome and Introduction
01:00 Meet Kristi Simon: President and CEO of the Howard County Chamber
02:00 Kristi's Path from Volunteer to Chamber Leader
04:00 What Keeps Her Passionate About Chamber Work
05:00 Meeting Members Where They Are
07:00 Growth to Nearly 800 Members
08:00 Lessons from Leading a Chamber Through COVID
10:00 Why Advocacy Matters for Small Business
13:00 Testifying in Annapolis
14:00 Building Relationships with County Government
18:00 Making the Case for a More Business-Friendly Maryland
23:00 A Look at Chamber Committees
26:00 The Young Professional Network and Chamber Games
28:00 Who Makes Up the Chamber's Membership
30:00 Inside the CEO Dinner Series
32:00 Stepping Into Leadership After Leonardo McLarty
36:00 Supporting the County's Nonprofit Community
38:00 Goals for the Chamber's Future
40:00 How to Get Involved
Connect with Kristi Simon and the Howard County Chamber of Commerce at: https://www.howardchamber.com