The Santa Barbara South Coast Chamber of Commerce unveiled its 2026–2030 Strategic Plan at its annual Leadership Forum, held January 27 at the historic Californian Hotel. The event brought together a distinguished group of local, regional, and national business leaders to explore the economic forces shaping the South Coast and to discuss the Chamber’s vision for the years ahead.
The program featured keynote remarks from Marek Gootman, Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution, along with a business leaders panel representing healthcare, hospitality, legal services and financial institutions. The panel included Kevin Davidson, President of Cottage Medical Group and Vice President of Ambulatory Services; Warren Nocon, EVP of Foley Entertainment Group (Hotel Californian); Amy Steinfeld, Managing Partner at Brownstein; and American Riviera Bank’s own Laurel Sykes, EVP and Chief Risk Officer.
With a mission focused on supporting the economic health and vitality of communities from Goleta to Carpinteria, the Chamber outlined a forward-looking strategic framework anchored by five core pillars:
“Over the next five years, we will bring people together, advocate with a purpose, and invest boldly in solutions that grow opportunity, support housing solutions, and strengthen our regional economy for everyone who lives, works, and visits here.”
Kristen Miller, CEO and President of the Santa Barbara South Coast Chamber of Commerce.
Following recognition of retiring members of the Chamber’s Board of Directors and the welcoming of new board members, Marek Gootman provided a data-driven overview of the economic well-being of Santa Barbara County. He noted that Santa Barbara County has 42% of people from working families who cannot cover basic costs without support. He emphasized the importance of balancing growth and opportunity to create a more sustainable regional economy, with the ability to convert investment into opportunity leveraging the “super powerhouse” in our region that boasts both UCSB and Cal Poly. The Brookings Institution, a world-renowned, non-partisan think tank, is recognized for its work in economic development, governance, and public policy research.
During the moderated panel discussion, each panelist offered insights into critical issues affecting the regional economy. Kevin Davidson highlighted the growing need for support services and the importance of expanding housing opportunities for the workforce that delivers those services.
Warren Nocon echoed the housing challenge, underscoring the need to provide local opportunities to retain employees and the value of better connecting Santa Barbara’s economic corridors to enhance the tourist experience.
Amy Steinfeld focused on California’s evolving land use policies, noting recent shifts aimed at addressing the state’s housing crisis and the implications for developers, businesses, and communities.
Representing the financial services perspective, Laurel Sykes outlined four key focus areas: strengthening fraud protection for businesses, advancing workforce development, particularly as it relates to housing availability, thoughtfully integrating artificial intelligence alongside the existing workforce, and the importance of investing locally to foster sustainable economic growth.
The forum concluded with the Chamber’s expression of gratitude to the outgoing Chair of the Board, Randy Berg, and the ceremonial passing of the gavel to incoming Chair Tom Patton of Ramada by Wyndham.
The 2026 Leadership Forum reinforced the interconnected nature of housing, workforce development, public policy, and economic vitality across the South Coast. Through thoughtful discussion and data-backed insights, the Chamber of Commerce has set a clear strategic direction focused on collaboration, resilience, and long-term community success. Events like this continue to play an important role in aligning business leaders around shared challenges and opportunities that will shape the region’s future.
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