Business & Tech
The Ubiquitous They — Stephanie Christiansen
Stephanie Christiansen is the president and CEO of the Benicia Chamber of Commerce.
Who are you and what is your role in the community? My name is Stephanie Christiansen and I am the president and CEO of the . The Chamber of Commerce promotes business (in the community).
How long have you been in Benicia? I have been in Benicia since 1971…a very long time. My dad got transferred from Santa Rosa and we’ve been here ever since.
What made you stay in Benicia? My job, my family, I love the water, and what the business community can give and does give to make Benicia a better place.
What’s your favorite part about working with Benicia businesses? The support, the variety of businesses I get to work with every day. One day I can be working with a manufacturer and the next day I could be working with a restaurant, and another day a retail gift shop owner. To be able to have the variety and see how the different businesses work and to see what it takes to stay in business, their business practices, so every day is a learning experience.
What are the biggest challenges and biggest advantages for businesses in Benicia? I think the biggest challenge is just, right now, the economy. The advantages are our location. We’re centrally located, right off the freeway in between Sacramento and San Francisco; we’re on the water; crime rate low; schools good; so I think that attracts businesses.
What’s the one thing you would like to make happen in your capacity as president and CEO of the Benicia Chamber of Commerce? I want to change people’s way of thinking as to how important it is to shop in their own community, and what that benefit is, and what it gives back to the community. I think a lot of times we go out of town and we don’t think when we go out of town to spend money, that that’s money taken away from our parks, our streets, our police officers, donations to communities. The more we support our own community the stronger and better place we can be.
