Steve Queior is president of the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce

Back in 2009, when we were in the tight grasp of the Great Recession, some people said it would take until 2014 or 2015 for the economy to regain its full footing.  And while some statistical measures showed the recession technically ending two to three years ago, numerous employers told me that 2014 was the first time they felt good about business activity for a full year.

We are, in fact, poised for a very positive economy this calendar year.  Consider these factors:

1. Employment has been growing steadily and is at its highest levels – both regionally and nationally – in six years.
2. Interest rates are still relatively low, making it easier for both consumers to buy and businesses to invest in new facilities and equipment to increase their productivity.
3. Oil prices have dropped dramatically, making billions of dollars available for multiple and diverse uses.
4. In greater Sarasota, new businesses are starting and existing firms are expanding – and not just in one business sector.  Manufacturers have built new capacity, retail has substantially grown, and the first hotels to be built in our downtown in many, many years are well underway.

The list of positive trends goes on, but how do we best sustain and leverage this favorable momentum?

First, we certainly can carry forward the (often painful, but necessary) changes we made to be more efficient during and coming out of the Great Recession.

Second, we can work together – through the Chamber, other organizations, and directly firm-to-firm – in 2015 in strategic alliances to continue to improve our business climate, take care of our infrastructure needs, promote our region, and make member firms more successful.

Third, we can understand, as much as possible, where existing trends are taking us and what the future holds.  This may be the most integral factor to our success in the second half of this decade and into the 2020s.  To help all Chamber members view the future without leaving our community, the Chamber and Ringling College have arranged for noted futurist David Houle to be the keynote speaker at a special breakfast early on Friday, February 13^th at the Polo Grill in Lakewood Ranch.

David Houle had an extremely impressive business and media career before becoming renown in his current work as an author, consultant, and speaker about the future.  He routinely speaks to top corporate executives and other leaders around the world, so we expect the event at which he’ll present to be stimulating and memorable.

Wherever you obtain your information to plan for the future, let’s work together to make the second half of this decade great!

Steve Queior is president of the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce