Paramount pulse Beat pulse Beat
may 2017
Paramount Chamber 2017 Golf Classic Winners
There were lots of winners at the Paramount Chamber 2017 Golf Classic. The tournament which was played at Friendly Hills Country Club in Whittier was made possible by the following sponsors; Carlton Forge Works (event sponsor), Fenico Precision Castings (major prize sponsor), ACE Clearwater (awards sponsor), CalMet Services (cart sponsor), AltAir Paramount (mystery prize sponsor), Triangle Distributing (beverage sponsor), Alondra Hot Wings (water sponsor), Transcom Telecommunications (lunch sponsor), and City National Bank (prize hold sponsor).
Adding to the event where tasting tees at which golfers stopped to sample food donated by the following Paramount businesses; Antojitos
Mexicanos Restaurant, Café Corleone, Mariscos Mi Lindo Sinaloa, Marukan Vinegar USA, Inc., and Rosewood Restaurant.
The Paramount Chamber would like to thank everyone who contributed to the event including those who purchased tee signs and donated auction items.
Super Tee Signs: Airgas • Amrep
Busby-Stone Risk Management an Acrisure Agency Partner
Carlton Forge Works • Confab • Domino’s Pizza
Lindsay Lumber Co. • Marukan Vinegar
Northgate Gonzalez Markets • SC Fuels • The Jankovich Company
WaveFront Technology • Weber Metals An Otto Fuchs Company
Regular Tee Signs:
Ace Clearwater Inc. • All-Pro Building Services • Alondra Brake & Wheel
Alondra Tire Center • AppleCare Medical Group Banner Bank • Cleantime Bldg. Maintenance Co.
Clinica Medica Hispana • Colliers / Arroyo Seco Developtment
Demaria • Dr. Thomas Hansen • Dusk to Dawn Urgent Care
G R C Tire & Service • Game Changer • GM Properties
Heavy Industrial Tool Service Co. Inc. • Hunter Security
Huntington Beach Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery • Mattco Forge, Inc.
Max B Martinez, DDS, FAGD, FACD • McDonalds • O & D Plumbing
Our Lady of the Rosary School • Pacific Landscaping Group
Para Latino Medical Center • Paramelt -Wax & Adhesives
Paramount Elk’s Lodge # 1804 • Paramount Resource Recycling
Paramount Unified School District • Press Forge Company
R & S Processing Co., Inc. • Rehig Pacific Company
Remco Equipment • Romberg Milling, Inc.
Rush Truck Center • Tax Solutions
Total-Western, Inc.
Transcom Telecommunications • Valley Abrasives Ward Properties
Westech Wax Products • Willdan
Auction Donations:
ACE Clearwater
Alondra Hot Wings
Banner Bank
Berg Catering
California Screw Products
SeaWorld
Zamboni
Visit the Paramount Chamber Facebook page for more photos.
First Place Team Scramble winners from left; Mike Scheuermann and Darren Reynolds, (not pictured Steve Scheuermann and Ryan Murrietta).
Third Place Team Scramble winners from left; Bill Sinko, Russ Moore, and Don Comontofski.
Second Place Team Scramble winners from left; Arnie Jackson, Rick Creed, and Al McCormack.
Recipient of Senator Ricardo Lara 2015 Excellence in Business Award
Licensed & Bonded Tax Professionals
Honored to Serve as Your Mayor for the Coming Year
On April 4, the Paramount City Council held its annual reorganization meeting, during which I was chosen by my fellow Councilmembers to represent the City as your mayor over the next year. For their support and encouragement, I am deeply thankful.
The Council also elected Councilmember Diane J. Martinez to serve as vice mayor.
At the meeting, Laurie Guillen was sworn in as the newest member of the Council. We welcome her, and look forward to working with her.
Longtime Councilmember Gene Daniels has left the City Council after serving for 20 years, including four terms as mayor. We all appreciate Gene’s dedication to Paramount over this time and thank him for the good work he has done and his successful efforts to make Paramount a great place to live, work, and play.
Before joining the City Council in 1997, I served on Paramount’s Public Safety Commission, and was named Public Safety Person of the Year by the California State Legislature. I am currently a
member of the City Council/Paramount School District Ad Hoc Committee and a member of the Southeast Area Animal Control Authority Board and the Gateway Cities/COG Board of Directors, among other positions.
This will be my fifth term as your mayor, and I am honored to have the opportunity to lead a City known for its sense of community teamwork. And I look forward to sharing this ongoing news with you each month in the Pulse Beat.
Sign-Ups for Summer Recreation Activities Start in May
ID Bands and Swimming Pool Passes
Paramount Park pool will open for the season on June 11. Residents and PUSD families can receive special rates for recreational swimming – $1 per entry for ages 17 and under and $2 per entry for adults.
Season passes are also available that provide admission to the pool all summer without having to pay the entrance fee each visit ($25 youth/$35 adult). The passes will also give priority entry during recreational swim hours.
To qualify for the special per-visit rates you need an ID band (no band is necessary if you have a season pass). The ID band costs $1 and is good for the summer. You need to bring it for every visit to the pool. (Per-visit rates for non-residents or those without an ID band are $3 for youth and $4 for adults.)
You can buy the ID bands and the season passes beginning on May 16 at the Recreation Office, 15300 Downey Ave., Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. They can also be purchased at the pool beginning June 11. Proof of residency (photo ID or current utility bill) or proof of PUSD enrollment (current-year school ID) is required.
Register for Swim Lessons
Registration for swimming lessons at Paramount Pool can be done online from May 1 through 12. If you haven’t already, you need to create an online account at the Recreation Office, 15300 Downey Ave. Bring proof of residency or PUSD enrollment. Then go to www.paramountcity.com and click on the “Recreation Classes” tab at the top of the page.
A special walk-in registration event for swim lessons for residents and PUSD families will be held at Progress Plaza East (15500 Downey Ave.) on May 15 from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. To register, bring proof of residency (photo ID or current utility bill) or proof of PUSD enrollment (current-year school ID) along with proof of age.
Starting May 16, you can register in person at the Recreation Office (15300 Downey Ave., Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.) and Paramount Park Community Center (14400 Paramount Blvd., Monday through Thursday, 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.).
Registration for non-residents begins May 29.
Summer Day Camp
The City’s Summer Day Camp provides a fun and safe place for 5-to-12year-olds to spend the summer. Registration starts online or at the Recreation Office (15300 Downey Ave.) for Paramount residents or PUSD families on May 16, and on May 29 for non-residents.
The camp runs from June 12 through August 4 from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except for July 4. A healthy breakfast and lunch is included,
and swim lessons can be added for an additional cost.
The cost for Paramount residents is $80 per week, per child. For an extra $10 per week you can include the swim lessons. Non-residents pay $100 per child per week, with an additional $20 per week for swim lessons. (Additional fees apply when using an alternate form of payment such as Cal Works.)
Positions for junior volunteers are available. Space is limited so sign up early.
Summer Program Offers Kids Free Meals and 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 for children 18 and younger at all elementary and middle schools in the District (except for Jackson). It starts June 12 and ends August 4.
It’s a walk-in program with no registration. Children can participate any time during operating hours.
Breakfast is served from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. Staff members lead sports, arts and crafts, and physical fitness activities from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Then lunch is served from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.
SNAP gives the kids of Paramount a place to have fun and some delicious meals during the summer break, all at no cost to them or their families.
For more information, please call (562) 220-2121.
Mayor, Peggy Lemons
Red Cross Home Fire Safety Campaign Continues
There are plenty of facts, figures, and details about distracted driving, but the California Office of Traffic Safety wants you to know the plain and simple ones:
• 80 percent of vehicle crashes involve some sort of driver inattention.
There are 69 Paramount families who have safer homes today thanks to the local American Red Cross and a team of volunteers who went out on March 25 for the first “Home Fire Safety” smoke alarm installation event of the year.
• Up to 6,000 people nationwide are killed in crashes where driver distractions are involved.
• Talking on a cell phone or texting is the number one source of driver distractions.
• Texting takes your eyes off the road for an average of five seconds, long enough to travel the length of a football field at 55 mph. Most crashes happen with less than three seconds reaction time.
About 70 volunteers concentrated their efforts in the Cherryfield Mobile Park and Golden State Mobile Home Park. The team installed 181 smoke alarms. This is the second year of a multi-year campaign that the American Red Cross, working with the City, has committed to in Paramount with a goal of ensuring that residents are adequately prepared to prevent home fires.
• The act of talking on a cell phone, even hands free, can give you “inattention blindness,” where your brain isn’t seeing what’s right in front of you. You aren’t even aware that you are driving impaired. If you think you can handle both driving and talking on a cell phone or texting, you are kidding yourself and putting us all at risk.
Rules for Business Banners in Paramount
Each year, On Patrol provides a review of the City’s ordinance that allows the use of hanging banners as a tool to help businesses with advertising.
Distracted driving is anything that takes your eyes or mind off the road or your hands off the steering wheel – especially texting and cell phone use, whether hands-free or handheld. Who’s doing it? Most of us. It has been estimated that, at any one time, more than 10 percent of drivers are using a mobile device.
A ticket for $159 for texting or talking on a cell phone is a major distraction to your wallet.
What can you do? Most important, obey the law. It’s there for a reason. Also, do your best to eliminate distractions:
Each business is permitted one banner, except for businesses located in corner suites (which can have two banners) and businesses occupying single-unit buildings (which can use four banners). One banner is permitted per building side.
• Never text and drive.
All banners must be professionally manufactured, and need to be installed
• Turn off your phone when you get behind the wheel.
• Don’t text or call someone when you know they are likely to be driving.
• Make a pact with your family, spouse, and caregivers never to use the phone with kids in the car.
• No eating or drinking while driving.
• Don’t program your GPS, MP3 player, or other devices while driving.
• Pull over and stop to read maps.
• No grooming.
• No reading.
• No watching videos.
• Try not to get too involved with passengers.
Demonstrating that Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is here for you, today Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) launches its “LAX4U” clean restroom pilot program to get immediate feedback from airport guests. By texting “LAX4U” at (52948), guests can alert the airport of conditions and customer needs, resulting in more immediate response times.
• If something falls to the floor, pull over before trying to reach it.
Project LEAD Sending Positive Message to Paramount Fifth Graders
flat against the wall or facade and anchored at all four corners – they can’t hang in midair, be suspended only by the top edge, or be strung between buildings or trees. Businesses utilizing banners need to get a no-fee permit from the City, and renew it on a yearly basis. (It’s a simple, one-page form.)
Paramount has its own dedicated District Attorney – Kelly Tatman – who works out of the Sheriff’s Station. Her duties include making sure that criminal investigations and prosecutions in town receive full attention and don’t fall through the cracks at the larger County D.A.’s Office.
This type of marketing can be of great benefit. There can, though, be a downside – if not maintained, banners will wear out and create a bad visual image. Paramount and its businesses focus on creating an attractive cityscape, something a tattered, untended banner can compromise.
Tatman has been visiting a class of 36 students at Jefferson School as part of Project LEAD. The program, which goes into the classroom once a week for 20 weeks during the school year, uses volunteers like Tatman from the D.A.’s Office to teach fifth-graders about the law and help them recognize the social and legal consequences of criminal behavior.
The banner ordinance in Paramount is meant to provide an effective, well-maintained advertising tool for local merchants. If these signs become damaged, or if they hang badly, it’s in everyone’s best interests to set them straight and make repairs.
Sadly, too many young people first become acquainted with the justice system as delinquents. Project LEAD is designed to avoid that scenario.
Summer Vacation Home Checks
With summertime approaching, remember that if you’re going out of town for an extended period of time, you can schedule a home check.
Paramount residents can contact the Sheriff’s Station about having Volunteers on Patrol keep an eye on your home or property while you’re gone.
The class from Jefferson recently went on a field trip to the Museum of Tolerance. (They will also go to a local courthouse). In addition, Project LEAD’s curriculum includes speakers connected to the criminal justice system and a mock trial involving either drug selling or gun possession on campus. Students are assigned roles and argue a criminal case to a jury consisting of other students. Teachers and parents attend, too.
Call (562) 220-2002 to ask about vacation checks.
At the end of the program, the kids will participate in a graduation ceremony and receive a certificate of completion from the D.A.’s Office at a meeting of the Paramount Public Safety Commission.
Summer Vacation Home Checks
With summertime approaching, remember that if you’re going out of town for an extended period of time, you can schedule a home check.
and Coordination Center (ARCC) for appropriate action and the guest receives immediate acknowledgement and appreciation for the feedback.
Paramount residents can contact the Sheriff’s Station about having Volunteers on Patrol keep an eye on your home or property while you’re gone. Call (562) 220-2002 to ask about vacation checks.
Simple Strategies for Better Event Marketing
Friday, May 16, 2014 - 10am to 12pm
“We’ve heard our guests loud and clear that our restroom facilities are a high priority,” said LAWA Chief Executive Officer Deborah Flint. “Our guest satisfaction survey results have repeatedly shown that restroom cleanliness is amongst the things that are most important to passengers, and this pilot program will help ensure that we are responsive to their needs.”
Attend this presentation and learn how to use the power of event marketing to get potential and existing customers to take four key actions:
• Sign up • Speak up • Show up • Follow up Good marketing is about eliciting a physical and measurable response. In this practical and engaging seminar, you will learn how to find, convert, and keep new and existing customers through effective event marketing. You will also learn best practices related to the who, when, where, and what that makes an event a memorable experience. Learn how events can engage customers. Take your events to the next level using e-mail, social, traditional, and internet marketing tools. Fee: $20
“Our custodians take a tremendous amount of pride in their work and we’re pleased to showcase them as part of this new initiative,” said Dave Shuter, LAWA deputy executive director of facilities, maintenance and utilities. “With nearly 81 million passengers coming through our airport, it requires the team of custodians, ARCC and facilities staff to work around the clock to ensure that our airport is ready for our guests. The customer feedback will help us improve the overall guest experience.”
(Make checks payable to LBCC SBDC) For Reservations:
Signs featuring LAWA custodians are posted in eight restrooms in Terminal 4 on the Upper/Departures level and Lower/Arrivals level. Guests are encouraged to text “LAX4U” along with a number to identify the restroom location or use the QR code on the signs. The text messages go directly to Facilities Maintenance Representatives in the Airport Response
jgrass@lbcc.edu
Workshops will be held at:
*Free Business Counseling Also Available
*$25.00 refundable deposit required Call the
The LAX4U pilot program is part of an airport-wide initiative to make guest visits efficient, hospitable and memorable by transforming the endto-end journey. The goal is to increase guest satisfaction and optimize the LAX experience with exceptional people, services, innovation/technology, modern and cleaner facilities, and improved efficiencies through increased throughput, decreased wait times, better signage, and streamlined processes.
Paramount Chamber Welcomes a New Ambassador
Name: Rudy Sandoval – Real Estate Broker
Company: Real Estate Homes and Investments CA
Company Address: 8008 Jackson St. Paramount CA 90723
Office Phone: (562) 200-1164
Major Product or Service? Real Estate Services/Leasing.
How Long in Business? 1 year & 4 months. Why Did You Join the Chamber? To network, market, and promote economic growth for all. Where Were You Born? US. Harbor City, CA. Education/Training? Real Estate Broker, Mortgage Broker, Culinary School Graduate.
Civic Affiliations? Bellflower Moon Lions Club
Club International.
What is Your Favorite Saying? Just Do It!
Latest Accomplishment: Mortgage Broker Owner. Starting a Leo’s Club at Saint John Bosco High School. Philosophy: Live for Jesus Christ! Always be Happy. If You Were Granted 3 Wishes What Would They Be? No
only
No one has to work. Everyone has enough money
Standing from left; Nadine White, Gail Dingle, Shirley Grayson, Joan Sharp and Annie Parks. Seated from left; Carol Jones, Karen Rydberg, Andrea Andrade, Betty Harvey and Virginia Moore.
Amazing Fundraising!
Businesses and PUSD Combine to Donate Almost $200,000 to College-Bound Paramount Students
The Paramount Education Partnership has been giving out college scholarships for 14 years. The City’s very generous business community has made this possible with their annual support of the PEP fundraiser. There have also been smaller fundraisers held on a regular basis at local businesses.
This past year, for instance, Yogurtland, Alondra Hot Wings, Horchateria Rio Luna, Gus’s Deli, and Chipotle all gave part of what their customers spent on certain days to the scholarships.
During March, the annual Pennies for PEP fundraiser is also held through Paramount Unified School District. And what a success that was this year.
For 2016, by way of comparison, the District made a record-breaking contribution of more than $20,000 to the PEP fund.
But, as they say, records are made to be broken.
This past March, the Pennies for PEP figure from PUSD was an astonishing $114,000.
There were the usual containers for spare change in all elementary and middle schools, the high school campuses and adult school, at the District office, and at City facilities. But this year special events were held and creative ways of encouraging donations were put in place.
When all fundraising efforts were combined, a total of $188,000 was made available for college scholarships for local students. This amount allowed the
number of scholarships to grow from 24 to 36.
Everyone deserves special thanks for helping out. But the schools that gave the most money deserve special recognition.
Five schools joined the “$10,000 Club,” raising at least that much money: Jackson Middle School (Principal Kelly Anderson);
Paramount Park Middle School (Principal Kevin Longworth); Zamboni Middle School (Principal Sue Saikaly); Alondra Middle School (Principal Lynn Butler);
Paramount High West Campus (Principal Elizabeth Salcido).
There was a competition among schools set up like college basketball’s March Madness, with brackets and winners moving forward, and the top school in this was Jackson and Principal Anderson.
And the top fundraising school overall was … Jackson and Principal Anderson – $31,000!
All of the principals mentioned here were recognized at the May 2 Paramount City Council meeting and given special PEP Piggy Bank Awards.
What’s just as important as the money for scholarships is the enthusiasm that’s part of Pennies for PEP month. Kids at all schools get excited about the concept of going to college. It has turned into a great advertisement for higher education.
A very special thank you to the following PEP Scholarship donors:
Vinegar (USA), Inc.
R&N Kroeze Family Giving and Legacy
Elks 1804
The Paramount City Council made special presentations to members of the community at its April 4 meeting
April was proclaimed National Donate Life Month by the City Council to highlight the importance of organ, tissue, and blood donations. Ambassador Louisa Carolina “Carol” Rivera from the organization One Legacy accepted the proclamation. In California, the DMV has a Donate Life Registry that lets people identify themselves as organ donors on their driver’s license. From left: Councilmember Laurie Guillen, Vice Mayor Diane J. Martinez, Rivera, Mayor Peggy Lemons, Councilmember Tom Hansen, and Councilmember Daryl Hofmeyer.
a pril was celebrated as Fair Housing Month throughout the u nited States and the City Council issued a proclamation supporting anti-discrimination laws in housing. a ccepting the proclamation was Elizabeth Castro from the Fair Housing Foundation, which serves the residents of Paramount with mediation and counseling services, and investigates discrimination in housing. From left: Councilmember Laurie Guillen, Vice Mayor Diane J. Martinez, Castro, Mayor Peggy Lemons, Councilmember tom Hansen, and Councilmember Daryl Hofmeyer.
April 9 - 15 was celebrated as National Library Week by the City Council. Paramount branch Community Library Manager Iris Ilagan and members of the Friends of the Library were on hand to accept the proclamation. The Clearwater Branch opened over a century ago and the current Library, across the street from City Hall on Jackson St., has been open since 1968.
The County of Los Angeles Public Library system holds an annual bookmark design contest for kindergarteners through 12th graders. This year, there were 8,500 submissions from all branches. Each of the five County Supervisors chose a winner in four grade categories for their district. Disleiry Hernandez, a 7th grader from Paramount Park Middle School, was the winner in the 6th through 8th grade category in Supervisor Janice Hahn’s Fourth District. Her accomplishment and talent were recognized by the Paramount City Council. From left: Councilmember Laurie Guillen, Vice Mayor Diane J. Martinez, Hernandez, Mayor Peggy Lemons, Councilmember Tom Hansen, and Councilmember Daryl Hofmeyer.
The following businesses renewed their membership in the Paramount Chamber of Commerce last month, they are celebrating another
Paramount Farmers Market Celebrates “1” Year Anniversary
year as members. Chamber and Business Resource Center services are made possible by their support.
Lynda Johnson, representing LA County Supervisor Janice Hahn presents a certificate of congratulations to Farmers Market owner Julie Schwarz .
A Ribbon cutting ceremony was held to commemorate the Farmers Market one year anniversary.
Mayor Peggy Lemons presents Julie Schwarz with a certificate of recognition.
Veronica Ledesma representing Assemblyman Rendon presents Julie Schwarz with a certificate on behalf of the Assemblyman.
Tonya Martin representing Senator Ricardo Lara presents a plaque on behalf of the Senator.
Kimberly’s Dance Studio Going Strong With its Paramount Tempo
Kimberly’s. With a star behind the “k.” A name and a logo that have been a part of the Paramount landscape since 2004, and a brand that symbolizes artistic quality and adventures in dance.
It started in Kimberly Tapia’s living room. Actually, it started when she was three and taking tap and ballet lessons through the City’s Recreation Department. She found her passion early and eventually gained a reputation as a dancer/ choreographer.
After graduating from Paramount High in 2002, and starting a career as a dental assistant, Kimberly was getting lots of requests to teach dance for local kids. Soon, things had gotten too big for the living room and she opened the first in a series of ever-expanding studios in town.
The first location had about 70 students, and it’s been steady progress ever since. “My goal has always been to have 500 students and we’re now over 450,” Kimberly said.
Kimberly’s Dance Studio recently opened its newest facility at 8527 Alondra Blvd. in the Moonstone Shopping Center. “We have four studio rooms that are much larger than at our previous site,” Kimberly said. “This space was designed for our specific needs. It’s got a more modern feel. The color scheme has also been changed from lots of pink to more neutral colors so it’s more welcoming for boys, because we want to have more boys dancing.”
KDS offers a variety of classes for ages two and beyond, including adult salsa and zumba. The “studio” program provides instruction and opportunities to enter competitions and perform publically (at, for instance, most City events). Three shows are produced annually – the yearly recital at the La Mirada Center for the Performing Arts and the Christmas and Spring Showcase Recitals held
at the Paramount West Campus Auditorium. At the “company” level, dancers travel to national competitions and perform in other venues. “We usually do four or five competitions a year, including the nationals in Las Vegas,” Kimberly explained.
“Next year we’re going to Panama City, Florida, to see what the talent is like back east.”
She also works with the
involve performances and cost less.
Besides running the studio, Kimberly will soon debut as a Disney dancer in the Pixar Parade at Disney’s California Adventure. She also serves on judging panels for various competitions. But as she expands her reach it is still important to this Paramount native that she keep
mount. Normally, Hispanics would stick with their traditional dances, the folklorico, and I fell in love with that. But once I was introduced to tap, jazz, ballet, I saw how creative you could be. I wanted to introduce these aspects to our culture here and let Latinas be comfortable with that, something different.”
Plus, she added, dance is an endeavor that provides so many positives. “Dance takes a lot of discipline. It keeps our kids away from bad stuff, keeps them busy, and promotes accomplishing things in life and continuing in school. I think it’s doing good for Paramount.”
KDS can be reached at (562) 630-0570.
her business grounded in her hometown.
“I’m proud that, as a Latina, I’ve been able to see this art experience grow in our city. When I started dancing it was outside Para-
City’s Recreation Department; those classes don’t
Kimberly’s Dance Studio 2017 grand opening for her new location. Pictured is Kimberly with the Paramount High School cheerleaders; Kimberly was a member of the Paramount High School cheer squad from 2011 -2013.
Kimberly’s Dance Studio 2004 grand opening.
Backstage at Kimberly’s Dance Studio 2016 recital.
Kimberly with 2016 recital queen Bethany Perez.
Kimberly’s Dance Studio students.
Kimbery is joined by her husband Victor, and Paramount Mayor Daryl Hofmeyer for the grand opening of her new location. Kimberly’s Dance Studio can be found at 8527 Alondra Blvd., Ste. 145.
Community Honors Gene Daniels for Public Service Career
Progress Park Plaza was filled with well-wishers on March 30 to celebrate the career of outgoing Paramount City Councilmember Gene Daniels. A member of the Council since 1997, Daniels served as Mayor for four terms during that time. He had previously spent seven years on the City’s Planning Commission.
The retired real estate appraiser held many regional posts during his tenure on the Council with organizations like the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG), the California Contract Cities Asso -
ciation, the League of California Cities, the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, and Eco Rapid Transit.
In addition, Daniels was very active in the Gateway Cities Council of Governments, an organization comprising 27 southeast Los Angeles County municipalities aimed at promoting economic growth and undertaking long-range planning in the region.
Since leaving the City Council, Daniels has been appointed to again serve on Paramount’s Planning Commission.
Paramount Unified School District Superintendent Dr. Ruth Perez, along with Board of Education members Vivian Hansen, Sonya Cuellar, and Alicia Anderson presented Daniels with a special certificate.
Former Paramount City Manager and current Long Beach City Manager Pat West was on hand to celebrate Daniels’ career.
Members of the Paramount City Council presented the outgoing Councilmember with the gift of a street sign designed in his honor.
Genesis Coronado, representing U.S. Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard, gave Daniels (joined by Mayor Daryl Hofmeyer) a special Certificate of Congressional Recognition.
The Importance of Having an Organization Chart For Your Business
Whenever any of our small business clients come to us asking for assistance with personnel management issues, or customer service issues, or business development issues, or operations issues, one of the first questions I ask is whether or not they have an organization chart for their company. More often than not, the answer is “no.”
The reason I ask the question is because experience has taught me that the absence of an organization chart can often lead to a chaotic and undisciplined way of running a business, resulting in a toxic environment, tremendously poor customer service, operational anarchy, and an undisciplined approach to business development.
This type of chaos does not need to occur and can be avoided by embracing the concept of taking the time to illustrate the flow of responsibilities within an organization. Whether you’re working by yourself as a sole proprietor or with a team, the effort taken to outline and explain the various roles of all involved, greatly reduces miscommunication, toxicity
and overall confusion within your organization.
Or putting it another way, if you take the time to define all of the roles within your organization, and if you clarify who is responsible for each of those roles, your moments of chaos will be drastically reduced.
When I meet with clients and broach the topic of creating an organization chart, the first thing I do is clear my white board in my office and list all of the job functions that exist within their business. This might include operations, customer service, finance, marketing, web strategy, sales (inside and outside), bookkeeping, accounts receivable, accounts payable, shipping, production, advertising, reception, office admin, and more.
The next thing I do is ask the client to put a name next to each of those job functions. Maybe Sheryl is next to “Operations,” and Henry is next to “Accounts Receivable,” and Enrique is next to “Advertising,” etc. Then I ask the client to describe the main responsibilities associated with those roles, and I list those responsibilities in bullet point form under each respective job function.
I do the same exercise with owners who operate entirely on their own, which means it is their name next to every job function. They’re responsible for operations; they’re responsible for marketing; they’re responsible for bookkeeping; they’re responsible for customer service. And so on and so forth. And as is the case with larger organizations involved in this exercise, the owners have to list those responsibilities in bullet point form under each and every job function.
So why is this exercise important? What does it accomplish? In a word: clarity. It adds clarity about the workload facing an organization on a daily basis. If we go back to the earlier example of Sheryl, Henry and Enrique, imagine how good it would be if they were aware not only of their own responsibilities but also of those of their colleagues? No longer would Sheryl be asking, “Does Henry do that or does Enrique do it?” No longer would Henry be
unaware of his priorities and main focus within the business. No longer would Enrique be unclear of what is expected of him and how he adds value to the organization. And no longer would it be unclear as to how this group of individuals should work together as a team.
For the sole proprietor working entirely on her own, the exercise is equally important because it adds clarity about her scope of work. As she looks at her organization chart and sees her name next to every job function, this adds clarity about the magnitude of all that faces her. Perhaps, in looking at the organization chart, she’ll determine that she doesn’t want her name next to “Bookkeeping” or next to “Web Strategy.” She might not be great at numbers and she might know little if anything about the Web, so a better plan of attack might be to farm out her bookkeeping responsibilities to a professional bookkeeper; or she might want to work in tandem with a professional web strategist who can offer a point of view and suggested tactical steps based on years of web experience.
By creating an organization chart and treating it as an unfiltered drawing of your business, you’ll be giving yourself the opportunity to look at the big picture of your organization. If there’s only one of you, yet there are 12 different job functions needed to run the business, the existence of an organization chart will allow you to look at those job functions and determine realistically if you can (or should) handle all of those functions yourself. Or if you have a larger team, all of whom are familiar with the organization chart, and they all understand not only their own responsibilities but those of their colleagues, you’ll be giving them the opportunity to think of the whole of your business, not just of their own, respective departments. This will categorically reduce toxicity and will support the overall vision and mission you have to better serve your customers.
Brad pollak
Pitch In Paramount Spruces Up Park for Earth Day
The City’s Pitch In, Paramount clean-up days give community members a chance to improve public spaces and help residents-inneed. Held throughout the year, the events focus on parks or public rights-of-way as well as houses of low-income or elderly residents that have fallen into disrepair or have code enforcement issues.
Volunteers come from schools, service groups, and local churches and are looking for an opportunity to “give back” to the City. City staff provides tools and materials as well as basic instruction.
The latest Pitch In Paramount was held on Saturday, April 22 in honor of Earth Day and every volunteer received a t-shirt in recognition of the special occasion. Work was concentrated on Paramount Park where wrought iron fences were painted on the north side and around the pool, trash was collected, and 30 trees were planted.
Special thanks go to the Army Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) from Paramount High School (65 cadets came out) and Emmanuel Reformed Church
The special Earth Day event brought out over 100 volunteers to give back to the community.
volunteer coordinator Mike McKown, who recruited another 35 individuals from local churches. McKown and other Emmanuel Reformed members registered everybody and provided breakfast and lunch.
The City appreciates the hard work and outstanding commitment of all these community members to help make a difference in Paramount.
The next Pitch In Paramount is scheduled for July 15. For more information, please call (562) 220-2002.
Make A Difference • Join A Service Club
Volunteers planted 30 trees around Paramount Park.
Thousands of feet of fencing received a touch up in Paramount Park.
The Paramount City Council held its annual reorganization meeting on April 4 during which outgoing Mayor Daryl Hofmeyer was recognized by various officials.
Genesis Coronado, representing Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard.
Boardmember Alicia Anderson and Board Vice President Vivian Hansen, representing the Paramount Unified School District Board of Education.
Paramount City Council from left; Councilmembers Gene Daniels and Diane Martinez, Mayor Daryl Hofmeyer, Vice Mayor Peggy Lemons, and Councilmember Tom Hansen.
Paramount City Council from left; Councilmembers Gene Daniels and Diane Martinez, Mayor Daryl Hofmeyer, Vice Mayor Peggy Lemons, and Councilmember Tom Hansen.
Tonya Martin, representing State Senator Ricardo Lara.
Veronica Ledesma, representing Assemblymember and Speaker of the Assembly Anthony Rendon.
Lt. Scott Hoglund and Capt. James Wolak from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
Asst. Fire Chief Nick Duvaully from the Los Angeles County Fire Department.
Leonard Crespo, representing the Paramount Chamber of Commerce.
