Office Doors: A Day with Todd Sanders

President & CEO of the Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce

6 A.M. >> GOOD TO THE LAST DROP

I am an aspirational morning person, so in my perfect world, I get up and run three or four miles. But that’s not what happens. I get up and make a beeline to my coffee machine. I’m a self-described amateur espresso fanatic. I’m self-taught, which tells you something about the quality of my espresso. I’m originally from Bogotá, Colombia, so it’s in my blood and mandatory with my citizenship.

I scan local and national media to get a broad-based look at what’s happening and get set for what might be coming down the pike. I look at what’s happening at the office and prepare for my meetings.

8:30 A.M. >> THE SECRET SAUCE

We have a weekly chamber and foundation meeting with the entire team, and it’s structured as a “top three” type meeting so everyone doesn’t operate on a need-to-know basis and instead a “know” basis. We talk about what the week looks like, where we need assistance and spend time on other items, such as a health tip of the week.

I’ve led the Phoenix Chamber since 2009, and it has evolved from a transactional organization that a company joined to a business association focused on growing the economy, providing opportunities for our members, good policy and workforce. The secret sauce of chambers is we’re a convener and connector for big solutions.

Doing this work is the greatest honor of my life. My team is an incredible group of individuals who get up every day and do amazing things. They and our members are what keep me here.

10 A.M. >> BUILDING A PIPELINE

I spend about half of my time on the Greater Phoenix Chamber Foundation’s work. The foundation is different and not traditional chamber work. But it goes back to our mission that we’re catalyzing the community and economy for big solutions, and it is a big part of that mission.

About four years ago, we decided that we needed to go down a level in our workforce work in a number of industries. We began conversations with Phoenix Union High School District about bringing the business community and education together to provide kids with actionable pathways in their lives and give them a sense of what careers are like. 

We introduce different career opportunities in the freshman and sophomore years because kids have no idea what they want to do or where they want to study. By their junior year, we bring companies to talk to our kids and get them well-versed in these careers. Our goal by their senior year is to get them an internship that gives them a good sense of what that career is about while earning a paycheck. We started with one Phoenix Union high school and are currently in 21 high schools and will expand to 27. They believe in us, and we believe in them.

12:15 P.M. >> OPENING DOORS

We also work with a variety of industries, including financial services, construction, cybersecurity, IT and healthcare on boutique workforce solutions beyond high school. Through our Connect to Work AZ program, we take underemployed and unemployed individuals and provide opportunities with partners who give them an interview once we’ve screened them. We are ramping up this program, which includes the financial services and healthcare industries, and expanding into advanced manufacturing.
It’s about getting people who want to contribute to the system a career.

1:30 P.M. >> WALK THIS WAY

We’re continuing to grow the foundation and are out there every day pounding the pavement, talking to schools and the business community. All this work takes funding. As chamber people, we love asking for money and it’s a natural extension of our work. The results speak for themselves in terms of the impact and growth of the program.

I participate in many policy-based meetings. Right now, we’re working on extending Prop 123, and this includes strategy meetings with my team regarding where we are in discussions with the Governor’s office and the legislature. We meet with those interested in moving this forward as well as those who aren’t about why education is important to the business community and the economy. This is the sausage-making that no one likes to think about. You must have a lot of conversations and be willing to compromise. It’s figuring out how we can come together for the benefit not only of our members, but for the state.

3 P.M. >> STRONG TIES

Valley of the Sun United Way and the Arizona-Mexico Commission are organizations that are important to me and ways that I can give back. My work on the United Way board has a significant connection to the chamber’s workforce work. They’re an important partner and engaged in areas where we’re not and are, in many ways, the first responders.

My Latin American connection is strong, given where I come from. Arizona’s relationship with our friends in Sonora dates back to the 1950s. To lead the Arizona-Mexico Commission board of directors and continue to strengthen our economic and cultural ties with Mexico is really important.

6 P.M. >> POWERING DOWN, CHARGING UP

As soon as I get home, I throw on workout gear and spend 30 to 45 minutes on the stationary bike or take a hike or bike ride. If I stop and relax, exercising is not going to happen. When I’m done, I have an uninterrupted dinner with my wife and son, when he’s home from college. This is the time for us to be together, which is tremendous.

To learn more, go to phoenixchamber.com.