Charlie Owens had his work cut out for him.
Owens was enjoying his retirement after years as the executive general manager of the Afro-American newspapers when he was called upon in January to become president and executive director of the Baltimore City Chamber of Commerce.
“When I walked into the board of directors the first day, I said ?My expectation level is very high, I expect everyone?s best effort,? ” he said. “I had to separate myself from what came before.”
He referred to a roller-coaster ride of identity changes of the chamber going back decades.
Owens joined with new board Chairman Maurice Dixon to re-brand the organization as the “new” chamber, focused on supporting small and midsize businesses in the city, rather than larger regional firms.
The chamber?s 2007 annual meeting, held Thursday, was the first since 2004, and Dixon said planning has begun to resurrect the chamber?s golf tournament.
Chamber membership totals more than 200 companies, Owens said, up approximately 30 percent since January.
“It?s been tough,” Dixon said. “If people don?t know you?re there, people don?t seek out your help. They?re told they should ?call the chamber,? and they?ll say I didn?t know there was a chamber there.”
The chamber also unveiled a three-year strategic plan Thursday that includes a business mentorship program, development of its member benefits, and an annual citywide Business Expo.
“Right now, our capacity is low,” said Amanda Zinn, president and CEO of ECubed, which developed the plan. “We have to have a firmer grounding with funding to take the risks and achieve these goals.”
The chamber maintains a relationship with the city council and political leaders, said former Chairman Francel Smith. “I think we as a chamber have maintained strong ties [with the council], which is what other business organizations weren?t doing.”
Owens said the chamber would be an umbrella organization for the city?s gender-, racial- and neighborhood-specific chambers of commerce.
“The goal was to keep the chamber alive, to keep the doors open,” Smith said. “And now we?re on the verge of a re-emergence.”
