Walnut Creek Chamber losing a ‘star’ after 40 years
Marcie Hochhauser founded East Bay Women’s Conference and has organized countless events since 1980
After 40 years, Marcie Hochhauser will retire Oct. 15 from the Walnut Creek Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau. Starting in 1980 as manager of member services and now the chamber’s senior vice president, she’s instituted and contributed to programs important to the city’s business growth, including the East Bay Women’s Conference, Leadership Contra Costa, the Walnut Creek Art & Wine Festival, Trips Around the World, trade fairs, education and more.
Hochhauser says that thanks to the variety of each day and the people she’s worked with, the time has flown, describing her experience as positive, rewarding and fun, knowing the chamber’s work has made a difference in the community.
“It’s gone so fast, it’s been amazing to see the growth and the different things we did 40 years ago and what we’re doing now. Walnut Creek has come a long way in 40 years, and
I think the chamber’s programs and activities have helped Walnut Creek grow to the city it is today,” she said. “It makes you feel really good at the end of the day, making a difference.”
Jay Hoyer, the chamber’s president and CEO, says one of Hochhauser’s greatest streng ths has been her adaptability, her ability to evolve into any area in which she was needed, calling her the best program manager he’s seen across the country. This comes as high praise from a man who’s been in chamber duties for 45 years, having worked in Colorado, Iowa, Idaho and Washington before starting in Walnut Creek 30 years ago.
“Marcie was hired in a membership sales position; back then she had produced over $1 million for the Chamber of Commerce, which is remarkable in itself. She accepted a job and did it with passion, energy and expertise,” he said. “I’m a guy who’s been around this industry for a really long time, and I’ve seen a lot of people; Marcie has done things that others only wish they could do; s he ’s been head and shoulders above them.”
Hochhauser has appreciated the opportunity to implement her own programs and be creative with the job. Such is the case with the East Bay Women’s Conference, which she founded 15 years ago. Sponsored by the chamber, it has sold out to about 600 people every year, offering women the opportunity to come together, be inspired and receive networking opportunities and tools to go forward in life and business. Describing it as a very inspirational day, Hochhauser remembers one poignant moment.
“A woman came over to me and took my hand; she was crying and said, ‘ Thank you, you changed my life today.’ Those are the kinds of things, even on a bad day, that make everything worthwhile, that make you feel you’re making a difference, and the chamber on a whole has done that,” she said.
Hoyer also gave high praise to Hochhauser’s ability to identify demand for the conference and obtain sponsorship for it by contacting about 25 of the most prominent women throughout the country and getting their support on the spot.
“She pointed out that there are particular needs to women in business. It’s impressive that she’s able to read the community and see where there might be soft spots that need help,” he said.
Hochhauser served 33 years as program coordinator for Leadership Contra Costa. The annual program addresses the need to develop future community leadership by exposing people to issues so that they can be better equipped to get involved and make a difference in the communities in which they live and work. More than 800 have graduated; many have gone on to serve as city managers and mayors and give back to their community.
As coordinator for the Walnut Creek Art & Wine Festival for 38 years, Hochhauser and the chamber have provided a community event that’s fun for the entire family and gives businesses an opportunity to market and promote their products and services. She’s also worked closely with the education committee, trade fairs, business links and Trips Around the World.
Hoyer credits Hochhauser’s personality, as a perfectionist and visionary and her ability to be empathetic to an audience as great assets when organizing events and other chamber work. Another strength is always taking calls and addressing issues immediately, regardless of the answer, especially important during this COVID-19 pandemic.
Looking back on her career and how the chamber and its programs have changed and keeping pace with the changes in the community, Hochhauser ref lects that the variety has been rewarding and has kept her interest and enthusiasm on the same high level throughout the 40 years. She describes it as an amazing journey and cites the relationships she’s made along the way as being of even greater importance.
“Some of my dearest friends are people I’ve met through the chamber, and I’m always blown away by the level of dedication of volunteers; they’ve always inspired me,” she said. “For me, the best part of the job is the people; we have an amazing staff, we’re a team, we all work together.”
With coronavirus restrictions, planning for retirement is a bit uncertain, but Hochhauser says she plans to spend time with family and contract back with the women’s and leadership conferences, staying involved for a little while longer.
“I’ll miss everyday waking up and doing something I love, the activity and making a difference with so many people. This may sound corny, but when I look back at the journey, sure we all have bad days, but it’s been an incredible experience, and I enjoyed almost every single day of it,” she said.
And she will be missed. “T he Wa l nut C r e ek Chamber of Commerce has been lucky to have Marcie’s strengths the past 40 years,” Hoyer said. “Sometimes chambers will have a star come and go, but to have a star come and continue to rise and grow in the organization, that’s absolutely unheard of.”