In this episode of The Think Small Podacst, Betsy Brennan, President and CEO of the Downtown San Diego Partnership, joins the podcast to share how she has transformed one of the nation’s most influential downtown organizations into a powerful engine for economic development, urban revitalization, and community impact. Over the past eight years, Brennan has overseen a growing operation that now manages a $25 million annual budget, leads initiatives across 275 city blocks, and helps shape the future of Downtown San Diego through strategic partnerships, data-driven decision-making, and innovative public-private collaboration.

In this conversation, Brennan discusses tackling complex challenges such as homelessness, creating sustainable solutions through programs like safe sleeping sites, and balancing economic prosperity with cultural vitality. She also shares insights on launching Urban Strategy Services, a for-profit venture that exports San Diego’s successful clean-and-safe model to other cities, while helping drive major projects including the $14.4 billion Civic Center revitalization effort. The episode offers valuable lessons on leadership, resilience, community-building, and how organizations can create lasting impact while navigating growth, change, and uncertainty.

Connect:

Website: https://downtownsandiego.org/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/betsybrennan

In this episode of the Think Small podcast, we sit down with Luis Rodriguez, President and CEO of the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (SAHCC). As the first Hispanic business organization established in the U.S. back in 1929, the SAHCC has a storied history of creating a dedicated space for Hispanic entrepreneurs when they were excluded from other business circles. Rodriguez shares insights into the chamber's nearly 100-year legacy and its current role in supporting small to medium-sized businesses in a city where the Hispanic population makes up two-thirds of the community.

The conversation dives into the vibrant economic landscape of San Antonio, highlighting the significant impact of local traditions like Fiesta San Antonio and upcoming national milestones like the U.S. 250th anniversary. Rodriguez outlines how the chamber provides value through three main pillars: aggressive advocacy at all levels of government, specialized programming like the Avansar business scaling cohort, and robust networking platforms. Listeners will gain a deeper understanding of how the SAHCC continues to foster growth, navigate post-pandemic challenges, and drive the success of the small business backbone in "Military City USA".

Connect:

Website: https://www.sahcc.org/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/luis-a-rodriguez-7452b58/