Thank you to all who were able to join us for the Chamber Leaders & Legacy Annual Dinner, held on January 30, 2025. Your presence, generosity, and enthusiasm are vital to the Chamber’s mission of strengthening our business community.
From Mayor Mahan’s vision for welcoming hundreds of thousands of visitors to San Jose in 2026, to the passion of our panelists, whose successful sporting organizations are shaping the future of Silicon Valley, the event showcased the energy and innovation driving our region forward. Thanks to the generous support of our attendees and sponsors, the funds raised will directly fuel new programs, resources, and initiatives that benefit all our members.
A heartfelt thank you to our sponsors, in-kind donors, and vendors who made this event possible. You can find a full list of our sponsors below. We also deeply appreciate our Board members and Ambassadors, whose generosity helped create a truly special evening.
We look forward to building on this momentum together—see you at the next event.
Photos coming soon!
SPOTLIGHT ON SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT
These esteemed panelists shared exclusive insights into the transformative power of sports, from building championship teams to fostering community unity and driving economic growth.
Bernard Gutmann
CFO
Bay FC
Jared Shawlee
President
San Jose Earthquakes
Jonathan Becher
President
San Jose Sharks
Stephanie Dittmer Rogers
Executive VP of Marketing
San Francisco 49ers
Cynthia Teniente-Matson
Panel Moderator
President of SJSU
LEGACY LEADERSHIP AWARD
The San Jose Chamber of Commerce is proud to introduce the Legacy Leadership Award, recognizing individuals who drive progress effortlessly, collaborate for success, and make an enduring impact on our community.
This year’s honoree is John Poch, Executive Director of the San Jose Sports Authority—a leader whose work has shaped the region’s sports landscape and economic growth. Under John’s leadership, the Sports Authority has:
- Generated $200M+ in economic impact through major events like the College Football Championship and U.S. Gymnastics & Figure Skating finals
- Hosted 200 sporting events across multiple venues
- Filled 100,000 hotel rooms, boosting San Jose’s tourism economy
- Championed public policy, including Proposition 49, securing $550M for after-school programs
- Awarded $375,000+ in youth scholarships
John’s relentless commitment to bringing world-class sporting events, investing in youth, and strengthening our local economy is truly remarkable. Congratulations, John, on this well-deserved recognition!
FEATURED SPEAKERS
Matt Mahan
Mayor of San Jose
Leah Toeniskoetter
Chamber President & CEO
Rob Lindo
2025 Chamber Board Chair
