As the Venice Area Chamber of Commerce celebrates its 100th year, President and CEO Kathy Lehner sees a clear connection between strong businesses and a healthy community.
“Thriving businesses make a thriving community,” Lehner said. “You can’t have one without the other.”
That philosophy has guided her since she first joined the Chamber in 1990 with a small cleaning business that she described in a tag line as ‘Cleaning Up from Port Charlotte to Venice.’ “Joining the Chamber was just what you did if you wanted to grow your business and get to know people,” she said.
Over the years, Lehner has chaired committees, served on the board, and eventually became Chair in 2005. “I’m a Chamber person through and through,” she said.
After 25 years in real estate and a lifetime of community involvement, Lehner hadn’t planned to lead the Chamber. But when the opportunity arose, she listened to her gut—and her husband. “He told me, ‘If you don’t do it, you’ll regret it forever’ so I threw my hat in,” she said.
Strengthening the Foundation
When she stepped into the role of President and CEO in 2018, Lehner’s first priority was strengthening the Chamber itself. “The best way was to go through the U.S. Chamber’s accreditation program,” she said.
"Accreditation keeps us accountable and ensures we’re good stewards of our members’ investments,” she explained. After a short pause in applying, the organization returned to the process this year—and earned a prestigious 5-Star designation.
Lehner views the Chamber’s role as broader than economic development—it’s about community vitality.“Healthy businesses create healthy communities,” she observed. “And we wouldn’t have all the amazing nonprofits we do, especially in healthcare and social services, without a strong business base supporting them.”
That synergy inspired the Chamber’s first Nonprofit Rally, launched in January 2020. The idea was simple: give local nonprofits a stage to connect with residents who want to give back. Fifty organizations set up booths in the Chamber parking lot for a three-hour “speed dating” event for good causes.
“It was for folks to find the organization that really pulls on their heartstrings,” Lehner said. “One person commented that it was like the Super Bowl for nonprofits—except here, everyone was a winner. A volunteer today could be a donor tomorrow.”
A Community-Wide Health Perspective
Incoming 2026 Chair Karen Fordham agrees that business and community health are deeply interconnected. A former President and CEO of Venice Regional Bayfront Hospital, and currently Manager, strategic healthcare partnerships at Maxhealth, she is committed to ensuring the community receives the highest quality care.
“The Chamber’s focus should be on fostering strong relationships among healthcare, businesses, and civic leaders,” said Fordham. “That’s how we grow a thriving, healthful community. The biggest thing is to invest in people—and that’s what Venice businesses do so well.”
The Chamber’s centennial celebration comes with a unique twist—it shares the milestone with the City of Venice itself. In 1925, local engineer and visionary Dr. Fred Albee led a group that formed the Venice Area Chamber of Commerce to demonstrate the area’s economic vitality as it petitioned for incorporation.
“Essentially, the Chamber gave birth to the City of Venice,” Lehner said. “Our third Chamber president was also the first mayor. Our histories are completely intertwined.”
Fordham said building on that legacy is an honor. “The Chamber has always been a champion for local business,” she said. “My goal is to continue that championing and expand the focus to overall wellness and vitality.”
Advocacy & the Road Ahead
Advocacy will be a key part of that effort, Lehner confirmed. “At first, I wasn’t sure it was my thing,” she said. “But advocacy doesn’t have to be political—it’s about being connected.”
The Chamber is now prioritizing issues like workforce housing and property taxes, which Fordham believes ties directly to community health. “When a business has access to a stable workforce, one where employees can live where they work and have access to affordable healthcare, it creates a foundation for long-term growth,” she said.
Fordham added that local projects like the SR 681 expansion show how advocacy supports well-being. “It will bring more residents and, in turn, more businesses. We work with local officials to show why those needs exist.”
Lehner said she’s excited for the leadership team that will carry the Chamber forward, including Fordham and 2027 Chair Justin Taylor. “Karen and I are both A-type personalities,” she said, laughing. “We’ll push each other and the Chamber to new heights.”
Fordham sees that energy as a plus. “We’re hands-on leaders who care deeply about this community,” she said. “That personality type helps channel collective energy and steer it toward meaningful progress.”
Her leadership philosophy centers on people and purpose. “Whether in a hospital or a business, it comes down to partnership,” Fordham said. “Healthcare teaches you to think system-wide, and I believe that perspective is invaluable to the Chamber.”
Looking ahead, Fordham envisions growth that’s sustainable and balanced. “Growth isn’t just numbers—it’s about nurturing the ecosystem people and businesses live in,” she said. “If we focus on workforce development, affordable housing, healthcare, and wellness, the whole community benefits.”
She added, “I feel completely blessed to work in collaboration with Kathy. Her passion for the Chamber just drives me to want to help her succeed. When you work with women like that—that’s how things get done.”
Lehner sums it up simply: “You need balance. You can’t have all residential and no commercial. You need businesses to take care of and invest in the place we all call home.”
Because when business health and community wellness go hand in hand—everybody wins.
The Chamber’s role is broader than economic development, it’s about community vitality—healthy businesses create healthy communities.
Growth isn’t just numbers—it’s about nurturing the ecosystem so people and businesses can thrive.