Our Very Own CEO, Lisa Riggs, Reflects on This Year’s Chamber Event!
On January 30th, 2025, Lisa Riggs was privileged to attend this year’s coveted “Leaders and Legacy” event with the San Jose Chamber of Commerce this past weekend for “Celebrating Leadership and Building the Future.” This year’s Annual Dinner was held at the Marriot Downtown San Jose, California, applauding all the incredible businesses, leaders, and partners that make the local community thrive.
“As we raise a glass tonight, let us celebrate the power of unity and shared purpose. Together, we will continue to make San Jose a vibrant, dynamic place to live, work, and grow. Thank you for being an integral part of this journey!”
The 2025 San Jose Chamber of Commerce Annual Dinner was particularly special since it was the one-year mark for the Chamber’s new CEO, Leah Toeniskoetter. The positive recollection of the previous year was filled with gratitude towards the entire city’s unconditional support and commitment to improving the lives of everyone around us. In addition, the night was spent praising the future for San Jose and illustrating what 2026 opportunities lie ahead for everyone.
Lisa was most excited about the thrilling news that 2026 is a year filled with unsurmountable business opportunities through the FIFA World Cup, Men’s NCAA Basketball, and the Super Bowl:
“The main topic [of the evening] was that next year the Super Bowl, Men's NCAA Basketball Tournament, and 6 FIFA World Cup Games will be coming to San Jose over a 3–4-month period. There is A LOT of work to do to be ready to welcome millions of visitors from around the world and make sure they have a great time in our city.”
The spotlight on sports and entertainment included a panel discussion with the Chamber of Commerce’s esteemed members sharing exclusive insights into the evolutionary power of sports. This included conversations regarding building championship teams, fostering community unity, and driving economic growth in our beautiful city of San Jose. (Lisa was over the moon when she met one of the NFL 49ers’ Executives!)
“The Chamber has come a long way in just a year with 200 people attending the dinner last year and 400 this year. I liked and resonated with their messaging, so Spirit Sox will be joining and becoming a Chamber member. It'll be a great opportunity for me to build relationships with local businesses.”
2025 brings bright possibilities to all local businesses and community members. The Chamber is committed to propelling a meaningful impact for all by investing deeper into the sports and entertainment industry, unlocking a wider range of support for all business sizes, emphasizing diversity through the 12 districts, and examining more groundbreaking ideas for more economic development in San Jose.
Overall, the night of celebration was incredible for all attendees, including our very own CEO. The energy in the air exuded motivation and collaboration that left everyone ready to take on the world and make major impactful changes to California. We are beyond excited about what the new year brings and can’t wait to report on Lisa’s application to The San Jose Chamber of Commerce.
