Peter Mason, Executive Director, Tamarac North Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce

May 2026 — Invest: sat down with Peter Mason, executive director of the Tamarac North Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce, to discuss the west Broward business climate, the chamber’s role as a connector, and how local employers are navigating cost pressures and workforce constraints. “Our competitive market is getting bigger, but we just have to evolve and keep moving forward,” Mason said.

What have been the most notable changes in the local business landscape over the past year, and how have they impacted the chamber’s work?

On the west side of Broward, we’ve felt some recessionary traits. There’s less money moving around, and it shows up in day-to-day decisions. Businesses are being cautious, and many are in a holding pattern instead of taking on new risks.

We’re also seeing a lot of churn. Some businesses come in, some go out, and what’s opening is often replacing what’s closed rather than signaling real expansion. Payroll increases and added benefits are becoming the norm just to attract and keep employees, and that makes it harder for owners to plan beyond the next quarter.

Restaurants, in particular, are struggling with the price of food. The costs have moved so much that it’s hard to keep margins stable, and customers feel it, too. I also think the “big footprint” model is getting tougher. Anything with big square footage right now is not popular, because businesses want less space, and delivery habits have changed how people use restaurants.

From the chamber’s perspective, you can feel that hesitation. There’s less impetus to go out, shake hands, and invest time in new relationships. A lot of businesses are simply trying to hold on to what they have.

Would you expand on the chamber’s role in connecting members, and how you are supporting them through these challenges?

Chambers of commerce are the rah-rah for the community. We enjoy bringing people and business together, business-to-business and business-to-community. We love telling stories and creating connections that help local companies build trust and visibility.

At the same time, the landscape has changed. With social media, a lot of people are telling their own stories now. Our brand is still good, and we still get good attendance, but we’ve had to adapt to how and why people show up.

Events have become harder to run the way they used to be run. We’re still judged by turnout and the energy in the room, so we work to meet that expectation, even when the market is tight. We’ve adjusted pricing to keep participation accessible, and in some cases we’ve subsidized events to maintain momentum.

We’re a small chamber, but we represent two cities in west and west-central Broward. Populations have increased, but business expansion hasn’t really followed. In many cases, what comes in is replacing what’s gone out, and that makes relationship-building and visibility even more important for the businesses that are trying to stay steady.

You’ve launched initiatives like small business seasons and other programs. How have those efforts supported the local economy or strengthened community identity?

Businesses need all the help they can get, and we’ve tried to add practical support, including educational content and ways to keep in touch online. One of the big themes right now is uncertainty, especially around AI.

Small businesses are asking basic, important questions: how is this going to change my costs, my marketing, and my day-to-day operations? We’re connecting with the county on playbooks and examples of what’s working around the country and internationally so we can translate that into something useful locally.

Owners also think about staffing. If AI can help with training or consistency, that matters, because many don’t have time to onboard the way they want. Time is the constraint for a lot of people. Some don’t have two or three hours to attend a chamber event and then follow up, because they’re trying to run the business with fewer qualified or reliable workers.

Another piece of community identity is local pride. People want to save money, and that’s understandable, but there needs to be that passion, that kickstart to have pride in supporting local businesses. That’s part of what each chamber tries to do, especially when small businesses are under pressure.

What are some of the chamber’s key advocacy priorities right now?

For a chamber like ours, a major priority is investing in the next generation and strengthening the workforce pipeline. We’re proud of our foundation and what we can do, even without big resources.

We’ve focused on building connections with schools and partners like Junior Achievement. In the summer we take on interns, and we’re planning to bring students to their facility so they can get an early introduction to work experiences.

Do we have big money for scholarships? No. But we can contribute in other ways. We try to support local schools, and we also look for ways to recognize people who step up in the community. We do awards, small business of the year, and other moments that promote belonging and give local employers a stronger voice.

We also keep showing up as conveners. Whether it’s a festival, an expo, or a business-focused gathering, our role is still bringing people and business together, and making sure local companies have a place to be seen and to build trust.

What are your top priorities for the chamber over the next few years?

Self-sustainability is a big one, along with representing an area that’s transient by nature. Welcoming new businesses matters, and ribbon cuttings are good. They’re exciting, and they signal momentum.

Because the area is so transient, I’m often dealing with people who have no experience of being in Broward. They don’t know where to create relationships, where to tell their story, or where to meet people, and we offer that service. Every chamber in the county does, but it’s especially important here because people and businesses are constantly cycling in and out.

The chamber is also a trust factor. It’s a great place to get visibility, and that matters more as the competitive market gets bigger. Our competitive market is getting bigger, but we just have to evolve and keep moving forward.

Is there anything that you would like to add or highlight?

I’ve had the benefit of being involved with Tamarac’s sister city committee, and I find it exciting. As a city, we can create relationships that could be economically and culturally beneficial, and those connections can support local businesses in new ways.

Geographically, Tamarac and North Lauderdale are in a great place. We’re more affordable than some of the east side, and that matters when big concerts or sporting events come to the region. People make strategic choices on where to stay, and that can create real local benefit through hotels, restaurants, and neighborhood spending.

With the World Cup and other international sporting events coming, there are also opportunities for restaurants and cultural gathering places. Even if people aren’t inside the stadium, they still want to be part of the atmosphere. Communities like ours can benefit from that energy if we step up, connect the dots, and tell the story well.