Eight Years of Vision and Leadership

by Maria S. Salinas

Eight years ago, I stepped into this role with a clear vision: to position Los Angeles for the global stage in 2028. We took a fresh look at our regional economy and asked a simple question: How do we ensure that as our economy grows, opportunity grows with it for everyone? That belief has guided every decision we've made.

The Chamber began by developing a strategic plan anchored by a simple but ambitious vision: A Thriving Region for All. That has been our North Star ever since. We've stayed focused on creating broad-based economic opportunity by supporting businesses of every size – especially our small businesses – and helping our communities respond to disasters and crises. We've also championed the needs of one of the world's great regional economies through investments in infrastructure, advancing an employer-led approach to workforce development, and preparing Los Angeles to seize the opportunities of 2028.

Eight years later, the mission is even bigger, and I couldn’t be more excited. It means there is more to build and more to accomplish.

Our work continues. We must ensure businesses of every size – from neighborhood small businesses to the region's largest employers – share in the economic opportunities of 2028. We must rethink how we prepare people for the future of work by advancing employer-led workforce systems that reflect how jobs are evolving, especially as AI and emerging technologies reshape industries and redefine the skills employers need. And we must continue championing the regional priorities that strengthen Los Angeles' economic competitiveness in areas like infrastructure, transportation, housing, and public safety, to embracing innovation and the creative economy that is a hallmark of Los Angeles. We must ensure our region remains the best place to invest, grow a business, create jobs, and compete on the global stage.

This is more than a moment to prepare for 2028. It is a moment to define what comes next for Los Angeles. Time and again, our region has demonstrated its resilience, its innovation, and its ability to welcome the world. We have shown that Los Angeles can host the world's biggest moments while remaining true to the spirit and diversity that define our region.

Now we must be just as ambitious about what comes after the Games. We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to advance a bold vision for Los Angeles: the most competitive, innovative, and inclusive regional economy in the world. A region where businesses thrive, talent is developed here and stays here, infrastructure connects opportunity, and economic growth creates prosperity for every community.

If we seize this moment, 2028 won't be the finish line. It will be the launchpad for the Los Angeles we love.