Message from the CEO

Dear Costa Mesa Chamber Community,

I want to take this opportunity to personally introduce myself as the new President and CEO. At the end of 2022, I was hired by the Costa Mesa Chamber Board of Directors, succeeding Scott Mikelonis, who was offered a rare opportunity for a position that was his lifelong passion. I value the trust the Costa Mesa Chamber Board of Directors placed in me, and it is an honor and a privilege to lead this organization. 

I come to the Chamber with over 25 years of experience working for national and state-wide nonprofit member-based financial trade associations, with 16 years as a senior executive.  More importantly, I am a multigenerational native of Costa Mesa, with my great-grandparents having moved here in the early 1900s. Born at Hoag Hospital, I attended Monte Vista Elementary (now Back Bay High School), Christ Lutheran, and Newport Harbor High. I was the 3rd generation and 14th family member to graduate from Newport Harbor. I also attended Golden West College and Orange Coast College before transferring to the University of California, Riverside, earning a degree in economics.

As we move forward, my goal is to build on the many successes achieved by the Chamber and take the organization to even greater heights. Over the past few months, at the direction of the Chamber Board, we have been exploring new progressive and innovative ways to enhance our member value proposition.

This year, we will begin to deploy additional tools for the business community, including:

• Increasing political and community outreach programs
• Signature events and conferences
• A web-based and classroom-style professional development/education platform
• Access to a new member business solutions group
• Enriched business promotion opportunities

In addition to these tools, we will continue our commitment to our members through the delivery of our existing core benefits of:

• Advocating for businesses at the local, county, state, and national levels
• Networking through Chamber events
• Business retention and economic development
• Referral services of our members’ goods and services
• Community development
• Member promotion via our website, phone app, and social media platforms

These business and networking tools reflect the growing needs of our members, their businesses, and the broader community we serve.

In the upcoming days, kindly keep an eye out for a member assessment questionnaire from the Chamber. Our organization encompasses various professional sectors, and your input will significantly contribute to our future strategic guidance.

I look forward to engaging and working with all of you in this collective endeavor to build a vibrant and sustainable business environment in Costa Mesa. If you have any questions regarding the Chamber or if we can be of assistance to you, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with me at dhaithcock@costamesachamber.com