The theme of the Paramount Chamber of Commerce second annual Women in Business and Leadership Luncheon on May 21 was “dreaming big,” and judging from enthusiastic responses from 106 guests—including 35 students from Paramount High School (see below)—the message was received and understood.
Weber Metals, represented by Queen Ucheckwe, sponsored the event, which was held at Paramount Progress Park. Brenda Olmos (AppleCare Medical Management) was program moderator.
The program consisted of a lively question-and-answer session with a panel of four successful women from very different career paths: Deputy Lina Pimentel of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department; the Honorable Connie Quinones, Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge; Dr. Ruchi Sareen, Medical Director with AppleCare Medical Management; and Robin Thorne, owner and Chief Executive of CTI Environmental, Inc., an environmental construction and safety consulting firm (see profiles of each on page 8).
Tables for the event were sponsored by ACE Clearwater Inc., California Testing & Inspections, the City of Paramount, Marukan USA, SC Fuels, Transcom Telecomunications, Vicky’s Professional Services, Weber Metals (an Otto Fuchs Company). Lunch was provided by Berg Catering. Special thanks go to West Coast Mart Outlet Store for providing the stage furniture for the panel.
student responses to the event:
“Hearing how these women overcame many obstacles and have gone through many similar situations brings so much inspiration. This event showed me that through determination, faith, persistence, and hope, we can all be successful in life.”
Pamela Fuentes, 11th grade
“I really enjoyed this event and am so glad I was selected to attend. I really enjoyed how all the women who shared their stories work in male-dominated
jobs. They showed their confidence and how hard they worked to get where they are.”
Daisy Quinones, 10th grade
“The luncheon was an amazing experience, because it was filled with a diversity of women who came from different backgrounds and shared their own journeys into business. I’ve gained knowledge, connections, and inspiration from women who are successful in their career paths. Thank you once again. —
Raelene Duron, 12th grade
“I had fun and got inspired to be a successful woman. Meeting all those beautiful, wonderful women has given me the drive to want to be successful. Additionally, I feel more certain about my future. For example, these women can help with internships, help build my resumé, or just help guide me in the right direction. I’m looking forward to my future, and hopefully one day, I will be one of those women to help guide the next generation.—Tarra King Parker, 11th grade
“I felt very inspired and motivated by these wonderful women. It reminded me that I can dream big and follow my dreams.—Karen Rodriguez, 12th grade
Brenda Olmos (far left) moderated the discussion among panelists (left to right) Dr. Ruchi Sareen, Deputy Lina Pimentel, Robin Thorne and Judge Connie Quinones (also see page 8).
Photo by Lorean Bautista
Second
Clutter-Free
Paramount event of the year
The City will hold another Clutter-Free Paramount community-wide cleanup event on Saturday, June 15, from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. at Paramount Park. Paramount residents may bring the following things for free disposal (valid ID with a Paramount or 90723 address will be needed):
• Large, bulky items: Furniture, appliances, anything that won’t fit in a regular trash container.
• Green waste: Grass, leaves, small branches, shrubs, plants, weeds (no ivy, tree stumps, logs, lumber, palm fronds, cacti, yucca plants, ice plant—and nothing in plastic bags )
• Documents for shredding: Maximum of three banker-size boxes per residence.
• Tires (new for this year!): No oversized or tractor tires and no business-related tires (hosted by the Los Angeles County Public Works Department).
Please do not bring paint, hazardous waste, light bulbs, liquids or auto parts. Visit dpw.lacounty.gov to find out about hazardous waste disposal locations.
Special thanks to CalMet Services for providing containers, drop-off and pick-up and disposal at no cost.
Paramount Park is located at 14400 Paramount Blvd. For more information, please call 562-220-2002.
A Producer of Renewable Fuels Using
Animal Fats and Vegetable Oils
Orange Splash Pad opens June 8
From June 8 to August 17, the zero-depth, water fun Splash Pad at 14618 Orange Avenue will be providing fun for the whole family this summer.
Weekday hours will be 12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. Weekend hours will be 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Orange Splash Pad is also available for private parties. For more information, please visit www.paramountcity.com/government/departments/recreation or call 562-220-2121.
Summer program offers kids free meals, activities
The Paramount Unified School District and the City of Paramount are once again providing a free Summer Nutrition and Activity Program (SNAP) for local kids.
The federally funded program offers meals and activities Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., for children 18 and younger at all elementary and middle schools in the District (except for Jackson). It runs for six weeks from June 17 to July 26.
SNAP is walk-in with no registration. Children can come and go any time during operating hours. A free breakfast is served from 9 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. Staff members lead physical fitness activities and arts and crafts from 9:30 a.m. to noon. A free lunch is served from noon to 12:30 p.m. SNAP gives the kids of Paramount a place to have fun and enjoy some delicious meals during the summer break, all at no cost.
For information, visit www.paramountcity.com/government/departments/recreation or call 562-220-2121.
Open gym at Paramount Park
The gym at Paramount Park is open to Paramount residents ages 14 and over this summer. Entrance requires a valid identification card with a Paramount address or a PUSD school identification card. Summer dates are June 17 through August 17, Monday through Thursday, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. and Saturday from noon to 4 p.m.
For information, please visit www.paramountcity.com/government/departments/ recreation or call 562-220-2121.
Weekend reservations for park picnic shelters
With summer upon us, here is a recap of the City’s reservation policy for the picnic shelters that are located at Paramount, Progress, Meadows, and Dills parks.
Residents can reserve shelters for personal events on weekends from 9 a.m. unti 8 p.m. This does not apply to nonsheltered picnic tables.
Only Paramount residents can reserve a park picnic shelter, although Paramount Unified School District families can make reservations for a child’s party (ages 18 and under).
A reservation request must be filled out at least one week before the event, subject to availability, at the Recreation Office (15300 Downey Ave.) or at the Paramount Community Center (14400 Paramount Blvd.). Proof of Paramount residency (a valid California driver’s license and current utility bill) or PUSD attendance is needed.
Two adjacent shelters can be reserved with usage limited to picnics and family celebrations. There is a $10 reservation fee for residents along with a $50 deposit fee. The deposit fee will be returned following inspection of the picnic shelter to ensure it was not damaged or left with debris.
If any picnic shelters in the park are not reserved, they will continue to be available on a first-come, first-served basis to any park user. For more information, please call 562-220-2121.
Low-cost pet vaccinations
The City is providing its annual low-cost vaccinations for all dogs and cats in the community at two “Vaccine-A-Thons” this summer.
The first will be Wednesday, June 19, from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.; the second will be Wednesday, July 17, also from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Both will take place at Paramount Park, 14410 Paramount Blvd.
Rabies vaccinations (required for all dogs under California law) will be priced at $7 each (plus a $2 medical waste disposal fee). This is a $10 to $15 savings over traditional prices.
A complete selection of other pet vaccinations will be available at discounted prices, with special combination “packs” to allow pet owners even greater savings when they purchase multiple vaccinations.
You can get general health exams and services at discounted prices. A list of these services and their costs can be found online at www.vetcarepetclinic.com or on flyers available at City Hall.
Flea-control products Comfortis, Trifexis, Bravecto and NexGard may be purchased at special prices.
You can have a microchip registration done for identification purposes (if your pet is ever lost) for $30 and nail trimming for $15.
Pet licensing is available on site. Checks and cash only will be accepted for licensing. Checks, cash and credit cards will be accepted for veterinarian services.
Please remember: Dogs must be on leashes and cats must be in carriers.
All services are provided by licensed veterinarians from Vet Care Vaccination Services, Inc., in conjunction with South East Area Animal Control Authority (SEAACA). For more information, please call 562-220-2018.
Paramount Education Partnership
PEP Talk
PEP scholars, donors honored during Education Month
As part of Paramount’s annual Education Month, the Paramount City Council, the Paramount Unified School District Governing Board and the Paramount Education Partnership (PEP) Board of Directors recognized various members of the community related to PEP at the May 7 Council meeting.
PEP presents annual college scholarships and operates two community learning centers that provide many benefits to Paramount’s students and other residents.
This year, $144,000 was awarded for a record 46 college scholarships. Ten students are community college-bound, and 36 are going to fouryear universities. That figure put PEP at the $1.14 million mark in funds dispersed, for a total of 374 scholarships since the program began.
Scholarships are given to students attending a two- or four-year college or technical school and range from $1,000 to $4,000. Selection is based on academics, an essay, outside activities, future goals and economic need.
Major donations to the fund have come primarily from the local business community. Please see CityScape on page 15 for the names of this year’s recipients and donors.
Pennies for PEP fundraiser
During the annual Pennies for PEP fundraiser, which is held in March throughout Paramount USD, Superintendent Dr. Ruth Perez and her District-wide team contributed a remarkable $97,000 to the scholarship fund. That brings the District’s three-year total to an astonishing quartermillion dollars!
Part of the effort involved a “March Madness” tournament. Schools that made it to the “Elite Eight” were Mokler, Tanner and Wirtz elementary schools; Alondra, Jackson, Paramount Park and Zamboni middle schools; and Adult Education (see the photo at the right).
Individual schools that raised the most money overall, along with the District office, received a Pennies for PEP piggy bank (see the related photo at the right, below).
In the $3,000 Club were Hollydale (Principal Lisa Nunley-Macon) and Los Cerritos (Principal Hilda Verdugo). Zamboni (Principal Sue Saikaly) made it into the $5,000 Club. The $15,000 Club consisted of Alondra (Principal Lynn Butler) and Paramount Park (Principal Kevin Longworth).
The sole $30,000 Club member was Jackson (Principal Kelly Anderson), once again the top overall fundraiser in the District. For this effort, they received championship T-shirts, a special Championship belt (see photo above, right), a dinner party for the staff and a field day of fun for students.
In addition to the schools highlighted above and in the photos on this page, everyone in Paramount USD who gave any amount deserves special thanks and recognition for helping produce real excitement on each campus about the idea of going to college.
(See page 15)
PEP scholarship recipients for 2019
Pledge of Allegiance: Previous PEP Scholarship winner Zarelia Carrera led the May 7 City Council meeting in the Pledge of Allegiance. She was joined for the photo by fellow PEP Scholar Karla Rodriguez Picasso; the two appeared together in a promotional video for PEP. Also shown (from left): Vice Mayor Daryl Hofmeyer, Councilmember Laurie Guillen, Rodriguez Picasso, Mayor Tom Hansen, Carrera, Councilmember Diane J. Martinez and Councilmember Peggy Lemons.
Donors recognized: Representatives from local businesses that donated $5,000 or more to this year’s PEP Scholarship Fund were recognized at the May 7 City Council meeting.
From left: Paul Dennis (Weber Metals), Vice Mayor Daryl Hofmeyer, Councilmember Laurie Guillen, PUSD Boardmember Sonia De Leon, PUSD Governing Board President Carmen Gomez, Mayor Tom Hansen, Councilmember Diane J. Martinez, Councilmember Peggy Lemons, Glenn Clausen (World Energy), PUSD Boardmember Vivian Hansen, Jon Tanklage (Marukan USA) and PUSD Superintendent Dr. Ruth Perez.
Jackson Middle School raises $30,000: Jackson Principal Kelly Anderson receives the Championship Belt for being the school that raised the most money in PUSD during Pennies for PEP in March.
“Elite Eight”: Recognized for their PEP fundraising efforts were principals from Mokler, Tanner and Wirtz elementary schools; Alondra, Jackson, Paramount Park and Zamboni middle schools; and Adult Education
Top fundraising schools: The principals from the schools that raised the most money for scholarships were awarded the traditional Pennies for PEP piggy banks: Alondra, Hollydale, Jackson, Los Cerritos, Paramount Park, and Zamboni.
City Council
Paramount’s Education Month celebrated
The Paramount City Council proclaimed May as Education Month in town at its May 7 meeting held at Progress Park Plaza. The Council and representatives from the Paramount Unified School District honored a variety of students and teachers shown on this page.
PHS Valedictorian & Salutatorian recognized
Valedictorian Jasmine Gomez and Salutatorian Jaime Perez of Paramount High School’s Class of 2019 were recognized. Both will be attending UCLA. From left: Paramount Unified Boardmember Sonia DeLeon, Board President Carmen Gomez, Vice Mayor Daryl Hofmeyer, Perez, Mayor Tom Hansen, Gomez, Boardmember Vivian Hansen, Councilmember Diane J. Martinez, PUSD Superintendent Dr. Ruth Perez, Councilmember Peggy Lemons and Councilmember Laurie Guillen.
PHS Top Academic Students
The 27 Top Academic Students from Paramount High—college-bound seniors with the highest GPAs in their class—were recognized at the meeting. Street banners with their photos and colleges will hang along the “Boulevard of Scholars” on Alondra Boulevard until August.
Student volunteers recognized
officials.
Top Momentum Students congratulated
The Top five Momentum Students, those who overcame obstacles in their early years at school to become successful graduates, were congratulated on dedicating themselves to their studies and making great progress. From
Teachers of the Year
Atits May 7 meeting, the Paramount City Council proclaimed May 2 - 9 as Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week, which is when communities around the country raise awareness about mental health needs of America’s youth. The Council also recognized Community Family Guidance Center for all the valuable work they do. From left: Vice Mayor Daryl Hofmeyer, Councilmember Laurie Guillen, Bill Sinko from the Center, Mayor Tom Hansen, Councilmember Diane J. Martinez and Councilmember Peggy Lemons.
Please join the Paramount City Council and the Governing Board of the Paramount Unified School District in congratulating all our local students and teachers who were recognized during Paramount’s Education Month for their significant achievements. Please also see related stories in this month’s PUSD Education News.
left: Channel Lee, Angel Arevalo, Ruth Rivera and Carlyn Butler Tanner. Gisele Reyes was unable to attend.
Every campus in Paramount USD names a Teacher of the Year. They were recognized at the Council meeting (please see the related story in this month’s issue of PUSD Education News, page E2).
Paramount High School students who put in the most community service hours during their four years on campus were recognized by the Council and PUSD
Street banners featuring these students will be hung at the Civic Center. From left: Angela M. Zamudio (747.5 hours), Brandon Pastelin (509 hours), Barbara Flores (480 hours) and Zaira Carrera (810 hours). Not able to attend was Gaddiel A. Gil (504.2 hours).
Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week
Public Safety Fireworks alert
Only “Safe and Sane” fireworks can be set off anywhere in the City of Paramount on July 3 and July 4 only. Setting them off on any other date can result in a $250 fine.
You must be 16 years or older to buy “Safe and Sane” fireworks.
Only “Safe and Sane” fireworks are allowed in Paramount. All other types of fireworks—like bottle rockets, firecrackers and M80s are illegal. Violation of these restrictions and use of illegal fireworks can result in a fine up to $1,000
Please clean up after the fun so the streets of Paramount aren’t left a mess. For more information, call 562-220-2002.
Alerta fuegos artificiales
Los fuegos artficiales “Safe and Sane” solo pueden ser encendidos los días 3 y 4 Julio. El encenderlos cualquier otro día puede resultar en una multa de $250.
Deberá tener 16 años de edad o más para poder comprar fuegos artificiales “Safe and Sane.”
Solo los fuegos artificiales “Safe and Sane” son permitidos en Paramount. Todos los otros – como cohetes que vuelan al aire, o cohetes tronadores y M80s – son ilegales. La violación de cualquiera restricción, o el uso de los cohetes ilegales, puede resultar en una multa de $1,000
Para más información, favor de llamar al 562-220-2002.
Summer vacation home checks
If you’re taking a vacation this summer, remember that Paramount residents can contact the Sheriff’s Station about having Volunteers on Patrol keep an eye on their home or property they’re while gone.
Try to contact them at least two weeks before your planned trip. Call 562-220-2002 to ask about vacation home checks.
BARTENDER
Part-time. Must have evenings and weekends available. Contact Leroy at 562-634-9001.
SKILLED LABOR OPPORTUNITIES
SkillsetGroup currently has positions available for first, second and third shifts. Come in and apply today! SkillsetGroup actualmente tiene aperturas para puestos disponibles para Primer, Segundo y Tercer turno. ¡Ven y aplica hoy! Machine operator Sanitation Loading/unloading Forklift driver Production line Order pulling Call us at 866-375-3094 or use Instagram (@skillsetgroup) or Facebook for weekly updates. 7300 Alondra Blvd., Suite 202, Paramount, CA 90723.
STATE FARM AGENT
Take control and keep perspective. State Farm Agents grow a business designed to help customers protect what’s important to them while making time to give back to their neighborhood. Make a decision you can be proud of and take your career to a better state. Contact David Maciel at 562-305-2111.
FULL-TIME SEAMSTRESS
5-Star Interior Services, Inc., has a job for a full-time seamstress with drapery experience. Contact Leroy at 818-845-4518.
MAINTENANCE WORKER
Part-time, entry-level or skilled. Painting, locksmith work, lighting, general maintenance, minor or major plumbing repairs, upkeep and repairs in a senior citizen’s facility. Email Gaby at gaby@immpco.com or call 562-408-0801 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
OFFICE ASSISTANT
Will train. Light office administration, data entry, materials and tools reports, filing, maintain warehouse. Long-term 20+ hours. Report in person or contact Jessica Gonzalez: 562-529-5700 at TECHCOAT, 15720 Garfield Ave. Paramount, CA 90723, M-Th 8:30 a.m.–3 p.m.
To place an Employment Opportunities ad, please call the Chamber of Commerce office at 562-634-3980.
Membership RENEWALS
We’re pleased and grateful to report that the businesses listed below have renewed their Paramount Chamber of Commerce memberships. Their support makes the valuable services of our Chamber and Business Resource Center possible.
Landmark Insurance Agency 46 years
5406 Lincoln Ave., Cypress, CA 90630
Lions Club of Paramount 29 years 16401 Paramount Blvd., Paramount CA 90723
ACE Clearwater, Inc..........................................18 years 7322 Quimby St., Paramount, CA 90723
Reddy Naga Rekha DDS.................................12 years 8311 Alondra Blvd., Paramount, CA 90723
Optica Vision Centers (Inside Northgate Markets)....27 years 16259 Paramount Blvd., Unit B, Paramount, CA 90723
El Peri Sushi.......................................................5 years 16604 Paramount Blvd., Paramount, CA 90723
Reed Printing 5 years 4071 Greystone Dr., Ontario, CA 91761
Elite Trucking Services
3 years
15718 Paramount Blvd., Suite B, Paramount, CA 90723
Farmers Insurance–Avilla 3 years 9339 Alondra Blvd., #3, Bellflower, CA 90706
Berg Catering.....................................................2 years 855 Elm Ave., Long Beach, CA 90813
First Capital Lending.........................................1 year 8036 3rd St., #105, Downey CA, 90241
PULSE BEAT
Executive
Executive Assistant:
June 5 • 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m.
Ribbon-cutting for 2rue Beauty Salon
At their location, 15975 Paramount #B, Paramount. Lunch and networking. Call 562-634-3980 or visit Paramountchamber.com to reserve your spot.
June 6 • 5 p.m.–7 p.m.
Open House Mixer with Latinoamericana
Join us at their location 8055 Rosecrans Ave. Suite # 106., Paramount. Light eats, drinks and networking. Call 562-634-3980 or visit Paramountchamber.com to reserve your spot. See ad on page 9.
June 12 • 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m.
Ribbon-cutting for Oportun Loans
At their location, 15737 Downey, Paramount. Lunch and networking. Call 562-634-3980 or visit Paramountchamber.com to reserve your spot.
June 18 • 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m.
Ribbon-cutting for Paramount Dental
At their location, 8524 Rosecrans Ave., #1/2, Paramount. Lunch and networking. Call 562-634-3980 or visit Paramountchamber.com to reserve your spot.
June 20 • 5 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Networking Mixer on Patio
At Progress Park Plaza, 15500 Downey Ave., Paramount. Raffles, networking, drinks and light eats. Take advantage of the opportunity to display a table from your company (included with your entrance fee). Call 562-634-3980 or visit Paramountchamber.com to reserve your spot. See ad on page 11.
June 27 • 11:30 a.m.
Chamber Installation & Awards Luncheon
At Progress Park Plaza, 15500 Downey Ave., Paramount. Get acquainted: 11 a.m. Awards luncheon: 11:30 a.m. Installation of 2019-2020 Chamber President Ben Berg (Transcom Telecommunications) and Board of Directors. Please RSVP by June 20 by emailing memberservices@paramountchamber.com, calling 562-634-3980 or visiting Paramountchamber.com online. See ad on page 16.
July 3 • 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m.
Ribbon-cutting for Comfort Mattress
At their location, 14924 Paramount Blvd., Paramount. Lunch and networking. Call 562-634-3980 or visit Paramountchamber.com to reserve your spot.
July 18 • 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m.
Ribbon-cutting for T-Mobile
At their location, 8505 Rosecrans Blvd., Suite 4, Paramount. Lunch and networking. Call 562-634-3980 or visit Paramountchamber.com to reserve your spot.
Deputy Lina Pimentel attended the University of California, Irvine, and received her bachelor’s degree in psychology, social behavior and criminology. She then earned her master’s degree in public administration from National University. She has worked in the men’s jail and on patrol for the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department for the last 12 years. Currently she is a field training officer in addition to her patrol duties.
Dr. Ruchi Sareen is a graduate of M.S. University of Baroda (India). She completed her internal medicine residency at St. Barnabas Medical Center (New York) and then practiced there an attending hospitalist and physician for seven years. Board-certified in internal medicine, she is now an Inpatient Medical Director with AppleCare Medical Management and leads a multi-disciplinary team responsible for AppleCare’s hospitalists, remote and onsite inpatient teams, skilled nursing facilities and long-term care programs. She has received numerous awards, including “Best in Medicine,” “Top Doctors” and “America’s Top Physicians.”
Robin Thorne earned her bachelor of science degree in chemical engineering from Drexel University (Pennsylvania) in 1997 and began her career as an engineer with Foamex International in Pennsylvania. She transferred to California to oversee full- scale production of polyurethane foam, supervising 30 employees. She then became environmental, health and safety manager, assuming responsibility for implementing and coordinating health and safety programs for over 400 employees
Chamber of Commerce Networking Luncheon
at four facilities. In 2009, she established and became chief executive of CTI Environmental, Inc., an environmental construction and safety consulting firm that has been granted contracts by Southern California Edison, California State University, the Bureau of Prisons, the Department of Forestry and the City of Los Angeles, among many others. She has been actively involved in numerous community-service projects, including serving as chair of the Sustainable City Commission of Long Beach, president of the American Society of Safety Engineers and a board member of both the YMCA Community Development Branch and Soroptimist International of Long Beach. She recently launched an initiative called “DemoChicks” to introduce young girls to the fields of engineering and construction and to empower and lift up those who are already working in these fields.
The Honorable Connie Quinones, a Judge of the Los Angeles County Superior Court, started her education here in Paramount and graduated from Paramount High School in 1982. She earned a bachelor’s degree at the University of California, Irvine, in social ecology with an emphasis in criminal justice, then her law degree from Western State University. After many years of working as a public defender in the Los Angeles County Court systems in Los Angeles, Downey, Compton and Long Beach, she was elevated to Los Angeles County Superior Court in 2013. She currently serves at the Compton Courthouse. She also serves our community through school sports and music programs and volunteer programs at St. Pancratius Catholic Church. She is a Teen Court moderator, and she is a mentor for both undergraduate and law school students.
by Lorean Bautista
From Left: Deputy Lina Pimentel, Brenda Olmos (panel moderator), Dr. Ruchi Sareen, Robin Thorne and Judge Connie Quinones.
Thirty-five students from Paramount High School were among 106 guests who took part in the annual Women in Business and Leadership Luncheon.
Photo
l cal dining
Paramount Chamber of Commerce
See upcoming ceremonies below and in the Calendar of Events on page 7.
Ribbon-cutting Ceremonies
PERSONALIZED STAFFING SOLUTIONS
Ribbon-cutting Celebration held on May 15 at 15134 Paramount Blvd., Paramount, California
Family, friends and business colleagues turned out to help Jose Piceno celebrate the ribbon-cutting for Personaized Staffing Solutions.
More Paramount Chamber of Commerce ribbon-cutting ceremonies coming up:
2 RUE BEAUTY SALON
Ribbon-cutting Ceremony • June 5 • 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
RSVP to Paramount Chamber of Commerce at 562-634-3980
Affordable loans that help build a better future
OPORTUN LOANS
Ribbon-cutting Ceremony • June 12 • 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. 15737 Downey Avenue, Paramount • Lunch & networking RSVP to Paramount Chamber of Commerce at 562-634-3980
PARAMOUNT DENTAL CARE
Ribbon-cutting Ceremony • June 18 • 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. 8524 Rosecrans Avenue, #1/2, Paramount • Lunch & networking RSVP to Paramount Chamber of Commerce at 562-634-3980
COMFORT MATTRESS OUTLET
Ribbon-cutting Ceremony • July 3 • 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. 14924 Paramount Blvd., Paramount • Lunch & networking RSVP to Paramount Chamber of Commerce at 562-634-3980
T-MOBILE
Ribbon-cutting Ceremony • July 18 • 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
8505 Rosecrans Blvd., Suite 4, Paramount • Lunch & networking RSVP to Paramount Chamber of Commerce at 562-634-3980
Dr. Ali Shahidi
Display a table from your company (included with your entrance).
Networking Mixer on the Patio June 20 5 to 7 p.m. Progress Park Plaza
15500 Downey Avenue
Raffles, networking, drinks & light eats.
To reserve your spot, call the Chamber of Commerce at 562-634-3980 or register online at Paramountchamber.com.
Paramount Chamber of Commerce
member-to-member discounts
As a member, these discounts are extended to you by your fellow members. Visit the following businesses to receive the discounts listed below. But remember, these offers are available only to members of the Paramount Chamber of Commerce!
Advertising & Marketing
Advertise Smart, Not Hard (323-247-0938): Five-night Cancún accommodation for subscribing to any of our products.
Attorney & Legal Services
Lerma Law Office (562-272-4353): 15% discount on initial retainer fee or flat-rate service.
Automotive
Herald’s Garage (562-633-2136): 15% discount on labor and free engine light reset.
Cleaners
Alert Cleaners (562-634-4602): 10% discount on any dry cleaning.
What’s stopping you from marketing? For most small businesses, the answer is time and money.According to Drip.com, 49% of all small business owners spend less than two hours a day on marketing, and half of all owners say they do their marketing themselves.
Businessinsider.com explains that cash flow problems are a fact of life for many small business owners, causing 82% of all small businesses to fail. When business owners have to choose between paying for marketing and paying operational expenses, marketing may seem like a luxury.
It’s also true that large companies have an advantage when it comes to ad spending. They can pay for high-budget video ads, spread their message on billboards and radio, and cause consumers to hear their ads more frequently.
But you don’t have to go head-to-head with Google and Pepsi or spend millions of dollars to increase your bottom line. In addition to regularly updating your blog and actively using social media, we discovered three cheap, unique ways to grow your business without spending thousands of dollars.
1. Use Google’s free tools.
“Creating a Google My Business account is the single most underutilized marketing opportunity for small businesses,” said Robert Baillieul, marketing manager at Lombardi Publishing.
A Google My Business account is a free account from Google that allows you to publish your business online. It allows your business to become visible when people search and to appear on Google Maps.Once your My Business account is established, it can result in a steady stream of passive website traffic. With 97% of internet users searching Google
for local business information, you can be certain that your local audience is trying to find you online.
“I recently helped a small wedding photography business set up his Google My Business account, in addition to some other minor SEO tweaks. Within a week, his page ranked near the top for ‘local wedding photographer,’” Baillieul said. “We also targeted keywords his competitors had overlooked, such as ‘engagement photographer’ or ‘wedding planning tips.’ The result: hundreds of passive visits to his website and several booked gigs. It’s like his marketing now runs on autopilot.”
2. Try texting.
One uncommon way that businesses are driving engagement is through text messages. According to Alfredo Salkeld, marketing manager at SimpleTexting, 98% of all text messages received are read, compared with a 15% email open rate.
“Small businesses don’t just have limited budgets, they have limited time, too,” he said. “They can’t afford to waste time writing messages that may never get read. Email marketing may be inexpensive, but the open and click-through rates leave a lot to be desired. On the other hand, people almost always read their texts.”
Promotional text messages cost pennies to send, and you aren’t charged for any messages you receive in return. That makes it possible to have two-way text conversations at a low cost, making it easy to engage customers.
Salkeld’s real-world example of text message success is compelling: “Delta Sonic is a car wash chain with under 30 locations. They offered a free
law-
bottle of water when people signed up for their text club. Soon they had 20,000 subscribers who they could text time-sensitive promos to anytime business was slow.” That means Delta Sonic increased its bottom line with a small upfront investment.
Similar to an email list, you’ll only want to text customers who have signed up to receive communications from you. But with effort and a small investment, you can generate many repeat customers.
3. Use Facebook in a unique way.
Find and join the right groups.
Using Facebook’s free features to engage with your audience and potential clients can help improve your bottom line at no cost to you.
“While you should continue posting content to your Facebook Business page because it’s free, you should use Facebook in other ways,” said Lori Ramas, business efficiency expert at Relezant. She suggested joining groups where your audience is. “Are your customers women or moms? Are they interested in family-friendly events, beauty products or other hobbies? Join the Facebook groups that they’re a part of. Introduce yourself, get related and say hello.”
Ramas has had success with this herself, managing to book four new business appointments by responding to a post in a local group. She also encourages asking your friends to share your business posts to increase their reach.
The bottom line
Marketing your small business doesn’t have to break your budget. By signing up for a free Google My Business account, engaging directly with your audience in their favorite Facebook groups and spending pennies per text on a direct-marketing campaign, you can increase your business’s bottom line without spending a lot of money.
Zamboni celebrates 70th anniversary
“The principal product you have to sell is the ice itself.”
– Frank J. Zamboni, Jr. (1901-1988)
Frank Zamboni really understood ice—it was the main focus of his highly successful career as an inventor and entrepreneur. In 1922, Frank and his younger brother Lawrence opened an electrical service business in Hynes, now part of Paramount. They specialized in building and installing large refrigeration units for the dairy industry. Five years later, they added equipment to make block ice.
When improving refrigeration technology began reducing demand for block ice, in 1940 the enterprising brothers (along with their cousin Pete) used their equipment and expertise to open Iceland, a large ice-skating rink in Paramount. (See the ad below. )
The rink was very popular. But Frank didn’t like the fact that pipes under the ice caused rippling on the surface, so he devised a way to eliminate it and patented his innovation in 1946.
He also didn't like how much time and labor were required to resurface the ice after up to 800 people at a time had been skating on it. Five (or more) workers had to walk behind a tractor pulling a scraper; they sprayed fresh water on the ice and smoothed it with squeegees by hand. It took well over an hour to do the job properly.
So Frank set out to create a faster, more efficient way. After nearly a decade of designing and experimenting, he build his self-propelled “Model A” ice resurfacer in 1949 using mostly war-surplus parts—including a Jeep engine and a hydraulic chamber from a Douglas A-20 bomber (see the top picture at the right).
One person could drive the machine slowly over the ice while a sharp, heavy blade scraped the surface and a pulley mechanism carried the resulting “snow” shavings to a wooden collection bin. Simultaneously, the machine washed and squeegeed the ice, and fresh water spraying from a tank was smoothed by a heavy cloth towel. The water quickly froze into beautiful, smooth ice. The machine worked great, and when it was resurfacing the rink, people loved watching it.
Then, in 1950, Sonja Henie—the most famous figure skater in the world at the time—came to Iceland to rehearse her traveling ice skating show. She was a three-time Olympic gold medalist, a 10-time world champion and a movie star. She took one look at Frank’s invention and said: “I want two. How fast can you build them?”
Although the schedule was very demanding, Frank saw this as an opportunity to improve his design. Instead of using a hand-built chassis, he decided to mount his apparatus directly onto an Army surplus Jeep modified to allow a driver to steer from the rear of the machine. He loaded the components of his resurfacer into a U-Haul trailer and towed it behind the Jeep, which he drove to Chicago, the location of Sonja Henie’s next show. He then installed the apparatus on the Jeep. It worked perfectly. (However, the owner of the stadium where the show was to take place was worried that people would stay in the stands and watch the unique machine instead of going to concession stands!)
The owner of the Chicago Blackhawks professional hockey team saw Frank’s resurfacer in action and ordered one. Orders from other teams followed, and it was clear that Frank had a new business.
Initially Frank wanted to call his machine “the Paramount,” but trademark issues arose, so he decided to just call it the Zamboni—which turned out to be an outstanding marketing decision. The Zamboni brand name is now a worldwide icon.
Frank filed for a patent in 1949 and received it in 1953. In the meantime, he kept improving the machine. A major boost occurred in 1960 when his company supplied six ice resurfacers for the Winter Olympics in Squaw Valley, California.
Until 1964, Frank continued building his successive models on modified Jeeps. After that, he significantly redsigned his invention. Today a variety of both fuel-driven and electric resurfacers are available (visit zamboni.com).
Frank came up with other successful inventions, including machines that automatically remove built-up ice from edges of rinks and machines that remove water from artificial turf and quickly lay down and roll up artificial turf in domed stadiums.
But the invention for which Frank is best remembered is his namesake ice resurfacer, which has been made into a popular children’s toy by Playmobil (below, left) and which inspired famed cartoonist Charles Shultz to have his own iconic creation, Charlie Brown, say: “There are three things in life that people like to stare at: a flowing stream, a crackling fire and a Zamboni clearing the ice.”
Zamboni Model A (1949).
Model E (1950s) built on a Jeep.
A modern Zamboni can go about 9 mph, but experienced drivers usually go slower to achieve the best ice surface.
Playmobil’s toy Zamboni.
THURSDAY, JUNE 27
Progress Park Plaza • 15500 Downey Avenue • Paramount Get acquainted: 11 a.m. • Awards Luncheon: 11:30 a.m. Installation of 2019-2020
Please RSVP by June 20 by calling the Chamber office at 562-634-3980, visiting paramountchamber.com or emailing memberservices@paramountchamber.com
