Kent Chamber of Commerce CEO Zenovia Harris told members at its annual “State of the Chamber” event on Jan. 6 that the organization is preparing local businesses to capture visitor spending tied to the World Cup coming to Washington in 2026, urging companies to collaborate so money does not concentrate in Seattle.
“We do not want residual income from the World Cup,” Harris said during the program at Highline College. “We are not going to allow all of the money to go to those businesses in Seattle.”
Harris said the Kent Chamber, along with partner chambers, plans to help businesses get “prepared” through resources and programming, with staff member Taylor Sageman leading much of the work connected to the World Cup.
Sageman, the chamber’s Business Engagement and Marketing Manager, told attendees the opportunity extends beyond host cities and that “non-host cities within 50 to 100 miles capture a major share of secondary visitor spending.”
“That puts Kent directly into the mix and not on the sidelines,” she said.
Sageman added that the chamber wants Kent to be a destination for visitors seeking “experiences that feel local,” pointing to ideas such as block parties, watch parties, music and cultural programming, and coordinated promotions among businesses. “The strongest outcomes will come from collaboration and not competition,” she said.
Incoming Board President’s Message
Incoming 2026 board president Raj Sidhu of Intech Consulting told members the local business climate remains challenging, citing “rising costs, workforce pressures, and economic uncertainty,” and encouraged continued engagement with chamber advocacy, education and networking.
“If owning or running a business ever feels like playing a game where the rules change every quarter, you’re doing it right,” Sidhu said.
Chamber Metrics, Membership & New Offerings
Harris also reviewed 2025 chamber metrics, saying the chamber has “current membership of 470,” with retention at 80%, and 122 new members added in 2025. She said the chamber held 112 events in 2025, including events it hosted and events where it tabled, with more than 1,500 unique attendees and a 75% attendance to registration rate.
Harris highlighted partnerships intended to provide practical support for members, including monthly free business coaching through Business Impact Northwest and no cost business assessments through Intech Consulting and Agency Security, which she described as services that could otherwise cost about $5,000.
She also said the chamber pursued new revenue without raising dues by partnering with Idemia to offer services such as “TSA pre check” and other credentials at the chamber, calling it “a really big deal.”
Outgoing Board President’s Message
Outgoing 2025 board president Yvonne Walker of Heritage Bank said the chamber’s signature events, including the women’s conference, business expo and president’s awards gala, were successful, and highlighted the chamber’s first Civics Bee, which she said sent a local winner to the national stage for a third place finish.
Harris said 20 students competed locally, five advanced to state, and two advanced to nationals. She said the third place national finisher, Maanha Nasir, received $500 locally, $1,000 at state and $15,000 for the national finish, along with a trip to Washington, DC.
Harris and government affairs chair Carmen Goers of Washington Trust Bank urged businesses to sponsor the program in 2026.
“Imagine what your investment of $500 or $1,000 can do for a young adult in our community,” Goers said.
New Nonprofit Arm ‘Emerging Leaders of Kent’
Harris also announced the chamber’s new nonprofit arm, Emerging Leaders of Kent, describing it as a 501c3 created to support youth programs and allow donors to contribute to a charitable entity connected to chamber education work. Planned programs include a Civics Bee in spring 2026, a youth leadership academy, youth and young professional support, and an economic development trip tied to the youth leadership program.
Looking ahead, Harris said the 2026 Women’s Conference will be a two-day event on March 5 and 6, with a fashion show on Thursday and the conference on Friday. This year the regional business expo will add a city tour component and a summit element, and the chamber plans to add two awards categories for 2026: Nonprofit of the Year and a Civic Leader award.
Harris said the chamber’s strategic priorities remain focused on advocacy, membership, organizational sustainability, youth education, workforce development and community.
Learn more about the Kent Chamber here: https://kentchamber.com/
Video
Below is video of the event, as filmed/edited by Scott Schaefer (running time 1-hour, 15-minutes):
