Earlier this year, Rebecca Ivins was named chair of the Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce, a group that says its mission is to support local businesses with a “simple but clear vision… of a prosperous regional economy.”
ivins
Ivins first joined the board in 2022 and was appointed chair earlier this year.
Ivins has been in the construction industry for over a decade. Today she is Client Solutions Manager at Hourigan, a Richmond-based construction company.
She spoke to The Daily Progress about her new role and the state of Charlottesville’s economy, which continues to recover from the pandemic.
This interview has been edited for clarity and conciseness.
Describe your role in the Chamber? Why did you take it and what is expected of you?
People also read…
So the role of each Chair is broadly the same, but the job is to work with the Executive Committee to identify broader regional needs. What we want to do is we want to try to understand it, right? We want to be consensus builders. We have a really good board. We have great, intensive discussions.
The reason I wanted to do it this year is because I was asked to do it and I gladly accepted because I believe in the region. I like to align interests and I think all ships rise when the tide rises. I knew it would be an important time to hold us all together. And I think that’s what we did.
How is the general economic situation in Charlottesville?
So I think the economy is excellent. It’s a perfect blend of beauty and intellectual stimulation from the college and university ecosystem. I think our local economy is smart, committed and engaged. The economy is quite engaged. And I think we’re building closer relationships with our city and county leaders, and that’s important. I look forward to where we will be in a year, three years and five years. And when you go out and talk to people, you can feel the excitement building. That’s why I’m proud and happy to be a part of it.
What is your impression of how far the economy has come since the pandemic?
There has been a lot of tenacity and flexibility to succeed during and after the pandemic and I think there has been a great recovery and I think we’ll continue to see how that evolves. For example, if you look at the service industry, it is anecdotally found that workforce challenges in the service industry drive innovation. So if you’re thinking about the creative solutions to wages, hours, benefits, hours of operation and flexible delivery of goods and services, then we’ve found a way to meet workers where they are and their unique needs. We are a resilient region. We’ll find out.
Why do you call it “a great recovery”? What do you base that on?
Our business world, the marketplace. I’m not an analyst, but when you go out and talk to the business community and see how we’ve grown and the changes we’ve made, it shows how flexibly we were able to respond to something that was impacting our entire globe, which is pretty cool. Charlottesville is a good place to live.
Many different industries are struggling to find enough workers. Why do you think this is?
I would probably need a crystal ball. I do not know why. I don’t think this is an issue unique to Charlottesville, so it’s difficult to find an answer. You could call someone in Phoenix, Arizona and they would have the same problem.
But here’s what I know. I know that there are many people involved right now, from the state level to solving the problem. So I think that’s what we need when we engage in conversations and in people stepping out of their normal everyday lives to be a part of that determination and that conversation. I think we’re seeing it and that’s encouraging to me. I don’t think we can solve it overnight. But when you talk about labor, labor is a decades-old topic. I mean, if you look back 20 years, staffing was an issue.
So again, I don’t think it’s currently unique to our time. I don’t think it’s worse than before. I think it’s actually something that a lot of groups want to change. They are determined to make it through together. I sit on many different boards and committees, and the workforce is central to all of them. So it’s something that a single person can’t solve, we solve it together.
In your opinion, what role does housing play in the current job market?
It’s not my area of expertise either, but I know it’s a pressing need everywhere. The housing of workers is a big problem. And I think we’ve all seen the news bring up the subject. And I think you could talk to 10 different people and probably get 10 different opinions.
What impression do you convey as a consumer and in your professional role when you speak to entrepreneurs and employees?
I think there’s an ever-present theme of opportunity. Of course there will always be ups and downs, positives and negatives, but overall I think the feeling is energetic and positive. Right now there is an opportunity for everyone to be part of a rising tide. All. So I think a lot of people are working together to create this synergy for everyone. So my keyword would be opportunity. I think there is a big chance.
And what are your biggest concerns?
You’ll think that sounds like Pollyanna. I don’t really have a lot of concerns because I prefer to see the positive. But I’d say we need to make sure we’re all part of the conversation about change and that we’re good listeners, right? That’s why I always want to try to understand. I think that we all have to do the same for this. I don’t have a negative attitude towards anything. I think there are many people who see a bright future and so do I.
Where does your positive attitude towards the future of the economy come from here?
Being outside, listening to people and talking to them. Notice the diversity of people working together beyond their normal day-to-day lives. I think everyone is working hard to make Charlottesville the best place to live, sleep and work.
Jason Armest (717) 599-8470
@rmest0 on Twitter
The business news you need
Get the latest local business news delivered to your inbox for FREE weekly.
Comments are closed.