Lake County Chamber outlines tourism, business outreach; board signals closer partnership

Amanda Martin, chief executive officer of the Lake County Chamber of Commerce, told the Lake County Board of Supervisors that the chamber is focusing on tourism promotion, business retention and expanded outreach across the county.

"We are a private, not for profit organization," Martin said, noting the chamber’s designation as a 501(c)(6). She said the chamber currently has 284 members, two full‑time staff and a 10‑member volunteer board.

The chamber highlighted several programs and metrics. Martin said the Lakeport Visitor Center recorded 266 in‑person visitors in April 2025. The chamber and the Tourism Improvement District, doing business as Visit Lake County, will publish the 2025 edition of Lake Life magazine later this month or next month, with 20,000 copies planned for print and distribution inside and outside the county. "Last year, 10,000 copies were distributed in county and 10,000 were distributed out of county," Martin said.

Martin also described the chamber’s Certified Tourism Ambassador (CTA) program, which she said is volunteer run and has produced two international CTA of the year award winners from Lake County. "The 2025 recipient is sitting right next to me. That's Colleen Yorba Lee," Martin said. Colleen Lee, the chamber’s operations manager and a CTA leader, confirmed the next CTA training is scheduled for June 13 at Jazzercise on Armstrong Street in Middletown and said the fee is $25; Martin gave a sign‑up deadline of May 30.

The chamber listed legacy events and promotions that it manages or supports, including the Clear Lake Seaplane Splash‑In and the annual Clear Lake team bass fishing tournament, which this year awarded nearly $17,000 to tournament winners. Martin said monthly mixers and ribbon cuttings also serve to connect businesses, nonprofits and community groups.

On future priorities, Martin told supervisors the chamber wants to conduct countywide business visits — modeled on the Lakeport Economic Development Advisory Committee’s business walks — and deliver a monthly business report to the board so supervisors can see local economic conditions. She also proposed launching a young professionals network for residents ages 21–40.

Board members responded by praising the chamber’s work and urging closer cooperation. Supervisor Sabatier said, "I feel we don't hear enough from the Chamber," and asked the chamber to provide quick, broad canvassing of businesses on county policies such as fees. Greg Folsom, a Lake County Chamber board member and former city manager, urged a stronger relationship between county government and the chamber, saying, "The success of business is the success of the county." Several supervisors said they would consider county membership in the chamber and expressed interest in partnering on housing and other economic initiatives.

No formal board action was taken during the presentation. The chamber confirmed the Lake Pillsbury town hall will be May 28 at the Soperis Theater from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., and said it will publish the Lake Life magazine and continue events and CTA trainings.

Future steps discussed included the chamber providing more regular business feedback to the board, exploring county membership in the chamber and coordinating on upcoming events and the housing strategy the board said it expects to release to the public later in the summer.