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interest rate, and challenges from gas prices to labor shortages. The CORONA Chamber organized one of the largest groups to advocate during the Senate hearings on the bill, formally known as AB 2840.

“Of the sixty or so people to testify before the committee in opposition to the bill, over ten of them were from the Corona Chamber of Commerce. It is gratifying that our balanced approach of driving down emissions and environmental harms by bringing great jobs to Corona and eliminating commutes has proven so successful that we can turn out leaders from across the community to defend it,” said Palbinder Badesha, 2022 Board chair for the CORONA Chamber.

While the bill is currently stalled in the State Senate Committee on Governance and Finance, the CORONA Chamber is continuing to track the bill as its contents or goals could still be amended into other legislation.

The Legislative session runs through the end of August and any bill continuing under consideration can be amended. As a result of comments made in the committee, we are continuing to work to make sure that this threat to Corona’s jobs, manufacturers, and the supply chain all of us rely on does not return. That said, if it does, we will be ready to advocate again.

The Legislative Action Committee meets by Zoom every Wednesday morning at 10:00 AM to discuss proposals for legislation and regulation at the local, state, and national levels. Its work last year helped advocate for policy decisions that saved employers like you on average over $50,000 per employee through the defeat of proposals that included bureaucratically controlled health care, increased property and income taxes, and a large expansion of mandatory paid leave. In addition, the Legislative Advocacy and Action Committee organizes annual summits with state leaders in Sacramento and national leaders in Washington, D.C. with the next summit coming up September 19-21 in Washington, where the CORONA Chamber will advocate for energy independence, lower gas prices, and strengthening the supply chain.

Assemblymember Jeff Miller (Corona – Retired), is the former Mayor and Council Member for the City of Corona and owns the insurance brokerage firm: Jeff Miller Insurance with Farmers Insurance. He volunteers his time to serve as the Legislative Advocacy and Action Committee Chair for the CORONA Chamber.

The Next Recession Is Coming…But Not Yet

On Friday July 15th, Chris Thornberg, an expert in economic and revenue forecasting, regional economics, economic policy, and labor/real estate markets, gave a captivating presentation on the current state of the economy, and what it will look like going forward. Speaking to a packed room of business leaders representing three counties and four chambers, Dr. Thornberg provided excellent data and information. Dr. Thornberg became nationally known for forecasting the subprime mortgage market crash that began in 2007 and was one of the few economists on record to predict the global economic recession that followed. This time he came armed with another prediction that “the next recession is coming…but not yet.”

This year’s Economic Forecast was booming, but today’s economy certainly isn’t. Dr. Thornberg highlighted that in 2020, 3.1 million people retired from the workforce, and now there isn’t enough entry level workers to fill the void. Naturally, the state and federal response has been to pour stimulus into the economy, but according to Dr. Thornberg “when you use too much stimulus you overheat the economy.” Stimulus isn’t sustainable because it’s a matter of facing minimal pain now or pushing it off until the economy faces much more pain later. The solution isn’t stimulus, it’s housing. If you build it, they will come; and bringing in more workers means building a stronger economy from the bottom up.

In the meantime, while stimulus has been oversaturating the economy, local chambers have been working to fix it. The Corona, Brea, Chino Valley, and Yorba Linda Chambers of Commerce collaborated to recognize four individuals as Business Advocates of the Year. In conjunction with the Economic Forecast, Ashley Cole (Business Successes Services), Chad Miller (Agiliti), Lea Petersen (So CAL Gas Co.) and Frank Stefano (Stefano’s Baked Hams and Restaurant) were honored for their contributions and insights specific to business advocacy in our economy. During these times, business advocates are more important than ever because like Chris Thornberg forecasted: “the next recession is coming”, it’s just a matter of when.

Remembering Mukund Kavia

Whenever one of our own is challenged, the CORONA Chamber rallies to help aid wherever is needed. Combustion Associates Inc. (CAI), a globally known manufacturer, located in Corona, CA has lost its founder, Mukund Kavia, on July 20. Mukund’s wife and business partner, co-founder Kusum Kavia has always been the public face of CAI. She is focused and committed to continue to lead CAI as they forge ahead with current projects for the US Air Force in the far east, renewable power projects in California and a nuclear power plant in Canada.

We want to share this amazing story about Mukund, who truly has lived the American Dream. Mukund Kavia was born on February 24, 1957, in Nairobi, Republic of Kenya. He was the fourth of six children. During his teen years, most of his weekends and summer holidays were spent working at his dad’s metal fabrication shop. He learned design, fabrication, and welding skills. This enabled him to develop the work ethic and entrepreneurship skills of his blacksmith forefathers.

When he turned 18, his dream of going overseas came true. He arrived in London to study engineering. In 1979, he met Kusum, and together they came to California. Mukund fell in love with the warm-hearted people of sunny California. He moved his studies to LA where he graduated with a B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering. His first job out of school was with Mafi Trench Co. in Westlake Village. Later this company became one of his good customers at CAI.

In 1989, Mukund established Combustion Associates, Inc. (CAI) in Corona. At that time, CAI was an environmental engineering company specializing in air pollution control systems to reduce NOx and CO emissions from the atmosphere. In 2000, Mukund designed, engineered, and packaged his first GE LM1500 Aeroderivative Gas Turbine to provide electrical power generation on a continuous 24/7 basis. His dream of opening a manufacturing company had been realized!

In 2002, he single-handedly designed and built CAI Spirit 1MW Power Generation System utilizing an overhauled T53 Avco-Lycoming helicopter engine and sold multiple units around the world.

In 2007, Mukund signed the biggest contract that the company had ever received with the Government of Benin, West Africa for an 80 MW Power Plant.

In 2014, at the US-Africa Leaders’ Summit in Washington DC, President Barack Obama recognized Mukund and Kusum’s efforts in designing, building, and installing a large-scale power project in Sub-Saharan Africa. This Summit was attended by all 56 African heads of state. Mukund won numerous Federal, State, and Local awards and accolades for his innovation and outreach to the far corners of Sub-Saharan Africa and his “Proudly Made in California, USA” export legacy.

In 2009, Mukund and Kusum won the prestigious Spirit of the Entrepreneur Award. In 2016, CAI was awarded the “E” Star Award for Excellence in Exporting for the second time by the Department of Commerce. A great innovator and pioneer, Mukund holds multiple US patents, but he will be remembered most for the love of family, faith, and the strong relationships he built over his 40-year career.

Mukund came to this country with only the clothes on his back and built a company that spans the globe. He honored the promise he made to his father and brought all his brothers and their families from Kenya to the US. He supported them generously while they settled in their new land of hope and promise. His role was that of a pioneer and patriarch who disliked publicity. Always working in the background, he was a great negotiator and brilliant engineer. In short, Mukund is an American immigrant success story!

Mukund had two huge abilities - to connect people in a deep and positive way, and spot talent in people and give them opportunities to pursue their aspirations. He built a robust and innovative award-winning engineering and manufacturing team.

Continuing to serve their clientele, Kusum and Team CAI will build upon Mukund’s dream and vision.

CAI, a Corona born manufacturing company, truly embodies the Chamber theme of “Creating Jobs and Building a Stronger Community”.

Palbinder Badesha is the 2022 Board Chair for the CORONA Chamber. She owns and operates an award-winning employment franchise of Express Employment Professionals serving Corona and Riverside.

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Local Authors Investigate Strange Cold Case

Want to read a good mystery? Corona residents Joseph & Marina DiSomma recently published Dematerialized: The Mysterious Disappearance of Marcia Moore. Their nonfiction book covers the fascinating true story of the heiress to the Sheraton Hotel fortune. Instead of the socialite life her parents wanted, Marcia Moore devoted her life to writing about astrology, yoga, reincarnation and psychic phenomena.

On a cold winter’s night in 1979, Moore vanished without a trace. Three decades later, Joseph & Marina began investigating the unsolved case. “It started with Marina inheriting some of Marcia Moore’s books, then discovering the strange case of her disappearance,” Joseph explained. “The more we learned, the more irresistible it became to write about. Psychics, astrologers, seances, psychedelic drugs…it’s a mystery like no other.”

Some believe Moore’s disappearance was a tragic accident involving the drug ketamine or a suicide, but Joseph & Marina interviewed new sources and uncovered some shocking revelations. “We present the case for something more sinister,” Joseph said.

The DiSommas have been residents of Corona for twelve years. “Corona is a special place,” Joseph said. “We live and work here. We’re raising two children, and some of the exhaustive research into Marcia Moore’s case was done right here in the Corona Public Library.”

Dematerialized is their first published work. “There are so many books and entertainment choices out there. So it’s hard to get people’s attention, but we’re very grateful for the encouragement and positive feedback from the community.”

If you’re interested in an intriguing mystery and would like to support Joseph & Marina, you can buy Dematerialized online at Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Visit them on Instagram @ marciamoorestory or learn more on their website: www.marciamoorestory.com. Reviews are cru-

cial, so please leave them one!

The CORONA Chamber’s Executive Leadership Roundtable class of 2022 graduated in June. The group selected a tremendous project specific to Fentanyl Awareness and Reflection. ELR is an exclusive program for leaders to apply and interview for being part of the program. If you are interested in being in the 2023-2024 program, contact Anthony Maldonado at Anthony@MyChamber.org.

CORONA Chamber is Seeking Nominations for Chamber

Board / Year End Awards SUBMIT BY SEPTEMBER 15, 2022

The CORONA Chamber is seeking nominations for members who wish to serve on the volunteer Board of Directors. Comprised of 26 business leaders, the Board of Directors works to develop a plan of action for the professional staff to fulfil. The Board regularly meets each month, and occasionally for special meetings. Each Board Member is expected to support the Chamber’s effort by the three T’s: Time, Talent and Treasures. If you are willing to commit your three T’s to the Chamber, we encourage you to apply.

The Chamber is looking for businesses to honor for the year end awards (which will be at the Annual Installation in 2023). Deadline for submission is September 15, 2022. Awards presented include Citizen of the Year, Lifetime Achievement, Community Service, Award of Excellence, Rising Star, Making a

Difference. For a complete list of awards, please scan the QR code for AWARDS. Send completed forms to The CORONA Chamber of Commerce, 904 E 6th St., Scan for Board Application Corona, CA 92879 or email Deserie@ MyChamber.org. Questions, call 951-CHAMBER (951-242-6237)

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