Matt Baumgartner believes the Duluth Area Chamber has “the ability to make Duluth a community that’s more prosperous for everybody.” In July, he succeeded David Ross, the organization’s president for 24 years. Before becoming the chamber’s leader, Baumgartner worked for Duluth-based Grandma’s Restaurant Co., most recently as director of government affairs. Besides maintaining traditional chamber activities, Baumgartner hopes to focus on “equality of opportunity.” He says the city’s unemployed communities of BIPOC citizens offer a potential pool of much-needed workers. Inclusion, along with access to housing and childcare, “are absolutely business issues.”