COEUR d’ALENE — A sepia-toned photograph of about 30 businessmen hangs in the office of Coeur d’Alene Regional Chamber President and CEO Linda Coppess.

Though dressed in the fashion of decades past, the men gathered for a purpose that has endured: uplifting area businesses through the chamber.

The photo is a reminder of the chamber’s 114 years of history, Coppess said in her address to nearly 200 attendees at Tuesday morning’s Breakfast Connect at The Coeur d'Alene Resort.

It’s also a testament to how far the chamber has come since its founding.  

“This is an incredible legacy,” Coppess said.

The relatively small group in the photo has grown into the largest organization of its kind in the Inland Northwest, with nearly 1,000 members, representing over 55,000 employees in North Idaho and beyond. 

The Coeur d’Alene Regional Chamber is the second largest in the state, ranking only behind the Boise Metro Chamber of Commerce.  

Even so, organizations like the chamber are shrinking nationwide, Coppess said.  

As such, the chamber has experienced a “continued phase of transformation” over the last several years to remain a valuable resource for businesses. Beginning in 2021, the chamber transitioned from a membership organization to a leadership organization.  

And, like the chamber itself, its leadership evolves each year: Clint Schroeder, president and corporate publisher of Hagadone Communications and Hagadone Newspaper and Media Groups, was introduced as chair of the chamber’s executive board for 2026.  

“It is truly an honor to step into the role of 2026 Board Chair for the Coeur d’Alene Regional Chamber of Commerce,” Schroeder said. “At its core, a Chamber of Commerce is not about meetings or events. It is about people intentionally choosing to build a stronger community together. That belief will guide everything we do in 2026 and beyond.” 

Schroeder describes the chamber’s mission as ambitious and straightforward. 

“A region where businesses thrive — talent grows —  and families are proud to call Coeur d’Alene home — because we have an economy that works for everyone,” he said. “That means fostering a business climate that supports growth and entrepreneurship, strengthening workforce and education pathways that meet employer needs, and managing development in a way that preserves the character and values that make this place special.” 

Growth, technological shifts and changing demographics will inevitably bring about change, which Schroeder emphasized the chamber is ready for. 

The question isn’t whether we change, but whether we lead the change or get led by it," he said. "I am confident that together, we will lead."

    Schroeder