Progress July 2014

July 2014 Vol. 35 Issue 7 ModChamber.org

DESTINATION: MODESTO Pack Your Bags!

Superkarts! USA

Leadership Modesto

Kempersports

The next era of health care is around the corner. Literally.

At Sutter Health, putting patients first means putting their communities first, too. So as Turlock grows, we’re growing with it. We’re renewing our partnership with the community by building a new care center with even more services. It’s one more way you plus us and we plus you.

Learn more at suttergould.org/Turlock Located off Hwy. 99 at N. Golden State Blvd. and W. Christoffersen Pkwy.

01298

Mission Statement

To promote the region’s economic strengths and vitality; identify and promote services that are valuable to our members; advocate for public policy that is advantageous to the business community; and fully participate and partner in activities to improve quality of life.

Executive Committee Chairman David Gianelli, Gianelli & Associates Chairman-Elect Eric Tobias, F&M Bank Past Chairman Ralph Curtis, Curtis Legal Group Vice Chairman, Internal Operations Patricia Gillum, Patricia Gillum, CPA Vice Chairman, External Operations Craig Lewis, Prudential California Realty Vice Chairman, Member Relations William Moreno, Fire2Wire Vice Chairman, Marketing & Events Laura Ward, Ward Promotional Marketing Solutions Directors Kristi Ah You, Franklin & Downs Funeral Homes Jeffrey Burda, Wells Fargo Mid-Valley Commercial Banking Daniel Garcia, Tri Counties Bank David Gingerich, TD Gingerich Insurance Solutions, Inc. David Halvorson, American Chevrolet Brad Hawn, CHG Warren Kirk, Doctors Medical Center Stephen Madison, STANCO Nate Miller, Grimbleby Coleman CPAs Inc. Steven Rank, Rank Investigations and Protection, Inc. Kole Siefken, DoubleTree Hotel Ruben Villalobos, The Villalobos Legal Group Lucy Virgen, Bank of the West Jeremiah Williams, Oak Crafts by Jeremiah

Printer: Parks Printing (209) 576-2568 • miken@parksprinting.com Distribution: Parks Printing (209) 576-2568 Advertising Sales: Kristin Bowker Never Boring (209) 526-9136 • progress@neverboring.com © Copyright 2014 Modesto Chamber of Commerce. Some parts of this magazine may be reproduced or reprinted, however, we require that permission be obtained in writing.

(209) 577-5757, Progress@ModChamber.org

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LEADERSHIP Message from the CEO

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Chairman's Corner

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COVER STORY Destination: Modesto - Pack Your Bags!

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STANISLAUS GREEN TEAM

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COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT Chamber Board Persepective

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GUEST COLUMNS MedAmerica

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GOVERNMENT RELATIONS Standing Up To Human Trafficking In The Central Valley

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NETWORKING & REFERRALS New Chamber Members

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EDITORIAL Modesto Grand Prix

Ambassador Corner

Cecil Russell, President/CEO Modesto Chamber of Commerce CRussell@ModChamber.org

Graphic Design: Never Boring (209) 526-9136 • www.neverboring.com

CONTENTS JULY 2014

17 Calendar

Ex-Officio Keith Boggs, Stanislaus County Chief Executive Office George Boodrookas, Modesto Junior College David Boring, Never Boring Kristopher Helton, Leadership Modesto David White, The Alliance

Publisher: Modesto Chamber of Commerce (209) 577-5757 • Progress@ModChamber.org www.ModChamber.org

KARRIE MITTEN CHAMBER AMBASSADOR

As a Sales Executive for Solid Networks, I am privileged to bring awareness of the importance of technology support to the local community. I partner with Business Owners to protect their assets by proactively maintaining their crucial data, and giving guidance on staying current with IT best practices. As an Ambassador to the Chamber, I get to connect with more local businesses, bring awareness to the happenings in our community, and how the Chamber can assist their growth. I love the parallel – encouraging local business development and creating awareness for developing our community. The Ambassador program has really been a positive effect on the growth of Solid Networks as a community-centered, local support for businesses.

As an Ambassador, I am able to share in my passion for assisting businesses and the community in working together to grow and develop a vibrant place to call home. P I would be honored to work with you in supporting your business goals through technology. Please contact me for a FREE Network Assessment at 209-338-1428, or email at karrie. mitten@solidnetworks.com.

PROGRESS MAGAZINE 1114 J Street • Modesto, CA 95354 (209) 577-5757 • Fax (209) 577-2673 www.ModChamber.org • Progress@ModChamber.org

JULY

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LEA DERS H IP

MESSAGE FROM THE CEO

By Chamber President and CEO Cecil Russell

We have celebrated our fascination and love of all things Graffiti this last month with the largest classic car parade in the last 16 years. Many thanks to the North Modesto Kiwanis for their continued passion and hard work to stage this event, and to the City of Modesto to allow the parade to return to McHenry - all the way up to Orangeburg! This helped accommodate the 1100 cars that participated. The comments CECIL RUSSELL from all of the businesses along the parade CHAMBER PRESIDENT route have been very positive, with many AND CEO businesses hosting food and beverages for their patrons. There is already talk of the possibility of extending the route even further up McHenry.

I had the pleasure of attending the performance of “The Hit Men” at the Gallo Center during Graffiti weekend. It was a first rate performance by original musicians that performed two hours of hits from the fifty’s and sixty’s. Thank you to Lynn and the management of the Gallo Center for bringing top rated talent to Modesto. Speaking of great talent, put on your calendar “Valley’s Got Talent”, scheduled for August 29th and 30th at the Gallo Center. This is a not-to-be missed assortment of great local talent.

We owe Chris Murphy a big thank you for his never ending passion to memorialize our Graffiti heritage. The instillation of the ten concrete inserts honoring the Modesto legends of Graffiti with Candy Clark and Bo Hopkins (stars of the movie “American Graffiti”) was a great success. This is important to our city, not only because it helps reinforce our image of an All American city, but also has a very positive impact on our economy. The next large event coming to Modesto is the Inaugural Modesto Grand Prix SuperKart races. Approximately 300 drivers will race through downtown on August 1st, 2nd and 3rd. This event is presented

by Save Mart Supermarkets; however there are many other sponsorship levels still available through the City of Modesto. If you are interested, please contact Andy Johnson at 209-571-5582 or email ajohnson@modestogov.com. This event will be an instant crowd pleaser, a huge draw to our city and will provide a huge economic impact to our city.

The main articles of this edition of Progress deal with the subject of tourism and its importance to our economy. Keith Boggs with the Chief Executive Office of the County and Jennifer Mullins with the Modesto Convention and Visitors Bureau are contributors for these articles.

We want to congratulate all of the winners in our recent election.

All of the candidates endorsed by the Modesto Chamber easily won re-election. Congratulations to Supervisor Dick Monteith, Sheriff-Coroner Adam Christianson, District Attorney Birgit Fladager, and Assessor Don Gaekle. We also want to congratulate Supervisor Terry Withrow on his successful re-election. We have had the pleasure to meet and interact with our new Interim City Manager Jim Holgersson. We welcome him and his fresh perspectives. He brings years of experience to Modesto. The

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Modesto Chamber of Commerce I PROGRESS

Chamber Board of Directors and our Economic Development Committee have had a number of meetings with Jim. He has experience with economic development and we look forward to working with Jim to put his experience to work for Modesto.

As we have mentioned in the last number of articles, we need to bring jobs to our community to solve our chronic unemployment.

We can only do this by working together with the city and county to develop sites for the manufacturing, warehousing and distribution businesses that would like to locate in our area. Our mantra is jobs, jobs, jobs. Only jobs will provide us a Pathway to Prosperity. On a positive note, last month 2000 students graduated from California State University Stanislaus, as well as 1500 students from Modesto Junior College, approximately 1000 from each of our local Modesto City High Schools and additional students from our local private high schools. Students from the private colleges are also graduating every semester. With the exception of those going on to further their education or enhance their degrees, most are ready to join the work force.

The question that should concern us is where are these students going to find jobs? This should be a huge concern to parents, business leaders, and elected officials. Where are these graduates and the currently unemployed going to find work? Will they have to leave the city, county or state to find work? The colleges are doing their job to educate; but as students graduate each year, the problem of local unemployment will continue to compound if we don’t find solutions that help create jobs. We continue to praise our agriculture heritage and support them for being the catalyst that helps drive our economy, but even this segment of our economy has lost about 8% of their jobs as their productivity has grown. We need to diversify the types of jobs available in our area to truly turn-around our staggering unemployment numbers.

We need to all work together - agriculture, education, business and our elected officials - to work as one to find solutions to our chronic unemployment or we all stand to lose. Losing should and cannot be an option; we need to improve the quality of life for all in our community. P

"We need to diversify the types of jobs available in our area to truly turn-around our staggering unemployment numbers."

G OVERN MEN T RELATION S

LE A D ER S H I P

INTERIM CITY MANAGER SIGNALS SUPPORT FOR BUSINESS:

REACHING OUT TO MODESTO CHAMBER LEADERS

By Steve Madison W ithin days of starting his job as Modesto’s interim city manager, Jim Holgersson made time to meet with Chamber CEO and President Cecil Russell. He also attended the Chamber’s June 2nd Board of Directors meeting and met again with Chamber leaders and other local officials during the June 4 meeting of the Chamber’s Economic Development Committee. He pledged to place meetings STEVE MADISON of the Economic Development Committee BOARD MEMBER on his calendar and promised that he or another senior city official will attend all future meetings.

Holgersson shared his background as a city manager and nonprofit executive director, describing how at each turn in his career he sought roles with increasingly more responsibility in city management. He views his primary role to guiding the process of Modesto’s government to work collaboratively with others to improve the quality of life in our community through economic development and the provision of efficient and effective municipal services. P

STANDING UP TO HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN THE CENTRAL VALLEY

By Congressman Jeff Denham

JEFF DENHAM CONGRESSMAN

As many of you are aware, human trafficking unfortunately remains a widespread and tragic occurrence across the Central Valley. This terrible crime is a $32 billion-a-year industry worldwide, and reports show that our state is one of the nation’s top four destinations for trafficked human beings. This is an issue that impacts all of our families, our communities and our country.

This crime is also heavily underreported.

Victims may be unlikely to come forward and often commit crimes themselves solely because of the circumstances they are in, making them fearful of law enforcement. A huge portion of trafficking activity has also moved online, making perpetrators harder to identify and apprehend. Potential victims are often the most at risk populations, and we can all agree that even one child suffering from this heinous practice is one too many.

Congress has passed numerous bills over the last 15 years designed to combat the spread of human trafficking. In the last several weeks I have supported a series of new bills which I hope will help to eliminate this practice and keep our children safe. As a father, I can’t imagine anything more horrible than what the parents of these exploited children go through.

These bills provide law enforcement tracking this despicable practice with new tools to catch predators, encourage states to help victims recover with safe harbor laws and increased access to protective services, require states to work to identify victims of sex trafficking among foster care youth, ensure that destination countries are notified when a known sex trafficker is traveling to their country and make it a federal crime to knowingly advertise for commercial sex exploitation.

By continuing to support both the victims of human trafficking and the law enforcement professionals who track the criminals, we can move even closer to stopping this scourge, in our state and around the world. I am committed to ensuring human rights and will do all in my power to promote respect for human life and liberty abroad.

Thank you for your continued dedication to our community.

P

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{ CO VER STO R Y }

DESTINATION: MODESTO Pack Your Bags!

By Jacqui D. Sinarle

Modesto has a plan to increase tourism, and you play a big part in its success. All you have to do is talk about local attractions as you go about your everyday life.

Tourism is important because Modesto has a lot to offer — and a lot to gain.

“More than 235 million people traveled in California in 2013,” reports Jennifer Mullen, executive director of the Modesto Convention and Visitors Bureau. “They spent about $109.6 billion, generating about $2.8 billion in local tax revenues and $4.3 billion in state tax revenues and employing nearly a million people in the travel industry.”

In the 2012-13 fiscal year, hotel guests paid $1,860,575 in transient occupancy taxes to Modesto, most of which went into the general fund that provides for fire, police, sidewalks, and other essentials.

“Tourism brings new business into town and creates and sustains a diverse range of jobs,” Mullen says. “And tourism jobs can never be outsourced — they are designed to be local and stay local.”

Tourism is cost effective because the city doesn’t have to build an infrastructure for tourists, Mullen adds. “They bring their visitor dollars into our community and it’s our job to get them to stay as long as possible.”

Tourism not only involves the leisure traveler on vacation, it includes anyone who visits and spends money in our community for accommodations, recreation, entertainment, food, and transportation, from business travelers to sporting event spectators to golfers, film crews, and even families in town for the day while their kids play youth sports.

“I strongly believe that tourism is the missing link to a strong regional economic development strategy,” says Keith D. Boggs, assistant executive officer for Stanislaus County and founder of the Stanislaus Regional Tourism Roundtable. “All tourism activities generate interest, and interest ultimately generates dialogue, word-of-mouth, and visits — and visits and returning visits generate revenue.”

While technology has revolutionized tourism, the human experience has become more valuable than ever.

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Modesto Chamber of Commerce I PROGRESS

“Today and into the future, the Internet will be the battlefield for securing the American and international traveler,” Boggs says. “People don’t care about towns, counties, cities, or anything municipal; they want to have real life experiences. Travelers won’t go out of their way to visit Modesto — but they will go out of their way to see the birthplace of American Graffiti.”

“Gone is the era of marketing a ‘gateway’ or claiming ‘something for everyone,’ ” Boggs adds. “These approaches instantly tune the travel consumer out. We need to focus on what unique experiences we offer that no one, nowhere else can provide.”

Mullen notes that social media is valuable in spreading the word.

“If someone takes a photo at an event and talks about it in their own social network, you could have more people attend from that activity alone compared to traditional marketing efforts.”

There’s a lot that you can do to increase tourism.

“Be a superhero, promote our region positively to the clubs and organizations that you belong to, and encourage them to consider Modesto as a place to hold a convention or meeting,” suggests Mullen, who creates sample itineraries for tours and groups.

“It’s competitive out there, and the growth of local tourism will depend on us keeping Modesto in the minds of travelers.”

“Perception continues to be a key variable to any and all tourism efforts in our region,” Boggs adds. “All county residents need to become ambassadors to local events and activities. The more that we celebrate our local culture, art and entertainment sectors, the more the greater region, and ultimately the world, will begin to take notice. Our success begins with us.”

{ CO VER STO R Y }

Remember these highlights when talking about Modesto:

Some of the newest attractions include:

• Convention facilities — Modesto is centrally located with unique meeting venues and brand name hotels.

• Stanislaus County Artists Open Studio Tour — Local artists open their home studios to tourists during this April event.

• Cultural pursuits — The Gallo Center for the Arts, State Theater and Townsend Opera provide local, national and international entertainment.

• Surgical Artistry Modesto Marathon — The race includes a marathon, half marathon, and 5k, and the course is certified as a Boston Marathon qualifier and sanctioned by the USATF. The March 2015 event includes a two-person half marathon relay.

• Art — Visitors can view and purchase artwork and meet local artists during the monthly Downtown Modesto Art Walk, and Modesto has a number of galleries including Mistlin Gallery and Chartreuse Muse.

• Modesto Band of Stanislaus County — One of the oldest continuously performing bands in the nation, MoBand hosts a summer concert series at Graceada Park.

• San Joaquin River National Wildlife Refuge — Located on State Hwy 132, the preserve includes 6,500 acres of riparian woodlands, wetlands and grasslands.

• Golf Courses — Modesto is home to a number of scenic golf facilities, including Creekside Golf Course and Dryden Golf Course.

• Xclamation Festival — X Fest draws large crowds with a variety of live music concerts.

• American Graffiti — Additions to the downtown walking tour are the Legends of the Cruise Walk of Fame (plaques that recognize movie characters and local heroes) and the Historic Graffiti Cruise Route (25 kiosks with Graffiti information).

• Mary Grogan Park — This new 42-acre community park features a state-of-the-art soccer complex with seven well-lit fields, three with synthetic turf for all-weather play.

• Modesto Grand Prix — The nation’s largest professional kart racing series will come to Modesto for the first time on August 1-3, 2014.

• Science Community Center — Opening in fall 2014 at Modesto Junior College west campus, this facility will combine the Great Valley Museum of Natural History, a state-of-the-art planetarium and observatory, and other attractions including science on a sphere, Foucault pendulum, and an interactive periodic table. P

• Food and agricultural experiences — Local farmers markets (like Modesto Certified Farmers Market), fruit stands and u-pick farms (including Vanderhelm Farms blueberries) offer fresh produce, and a variety of tours and unique edibles are available at destinations including Blue Diamond Almond, Beekman & Beekman (honey), Classic Wine Vinegar Company, Hilmar Cheese, Oakdale Cheese, Fiscalini Cheese, Sciabica’s (olive oil), Stewart & Jasper (almonds), and Lilly of the Valley Alpacas.

• Modesto Nuts — The minor league team provides competitive baseball action at John Thurman Field.*

* There are promotions ever y night - some of which include $1 We d n e s d a y s , S o u v e n i r Giveaways on Thursdays and Fireworks both Friday & Saturday nights!

JULY

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EDI TOR I AL

DETAILS BEGIN TO TAKE SHAPE FOR FIRST MODESTO GRAND PRIX

By Brittney Miller, City of Modesto Parks and Recreation

With less than 90 days to go, the Modesto Grand Prix, presented

by Save Mart Supermarkets, is shaping up to be one of Modesto’s biggest events yet! The City of Modesto will be hosting the 2014 Pro Tour Summer Nationals presented by Superkarts! USA (SKUSA) and has already attracted several big sponsorships and factory karting teams from all around the world.

Sunny Valley Smoked Meats, SC Fuels, North Modesto Kiwanis and Bertolotti Disposal. For a complete list of sponsors or to become an event partner, please visit www.modestogp.com.

Approximately 300 drivers accompanied by their teams and families will descend upon Modesto on Friday August 1, to race through the downtown at speeds of up to 100 mph. The race course is approximately one-mile long and will require three and half miles of temporary fencing. Race fans will be able to see the action up close and enjoy the surrounding festival.

The Formula 1 style race will include two pedestrian crossover bridges, giving attendees the freedom to move around the expo and over the race course. There are several anticipated zones, including: a family zone in the Tenth Street Plaza; an amazing car show echoing Modesto’s rich automotive and classic car history; vendors (both non- and for-profit); food booths; beer/ soda stations, and a VIP area. There will also be a fan interaction zone featuring the 51Fifty Energy Drink NASCAR hauler and race cars. A live feed of the race will be broadcast onto three large LED walls, which, along with the installation of more than 190 concert-style speakers, will require approximately nine miles of cable.

The gates will open at noon both Saturday, August 2, and Sunday, August 3, with the races expected to last well into the evening. Blueline Rentals’ sponsorship includes 80 sets of construction lights which will light up the festival and race course at night for those who come to enjoy the race without the heat of the late-summer sun.

The success of this event is made possible by the generous support of our sponsors which include the title sponsor, Save Mart Supermarkets, and major sponsor’s 51-Fifty Energy Drink, Blue Line Rentals, Taco Bell, DoubleTree Hotel, Budweiser,

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Modesto Chamber of Commerce I PROGRESS

Pre-sale tickets are on sale for $10 per person and are available online at www.galloarts.org* or at any of the following locations: • Modesto Chamber of Commerce – 1114 J Street, Modesto • Modesto City Hall – 1010 Tenth Street, Modesto 2nd Floor - Customer Service Counter/Utility Billing 4th Floor - Parks, Recreation and Neighborhoods Department Guest Services • Modesto Convention and Visitors Bureau – 1150 9th Street, Suite C, Modesto • Gallo Center for the Arts* - 1000 I Street, Modesto and www.galloarts.org* *Convenience fee applies As details for the event are finalized, they will be posted online at www.modestogp.com.

THIS IS GOING TO BE BIG, DON’T MISS OUT! Contact: Brittney Miller bmiller@modestogov.com Phone: (209) 571-5515

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Annual Harvest Luncheon Friday, September 12th, 2014

This annual event is the hallmark for investing in our area's largest industries futures. Harvest Luncheon feeds over 800 people every year featuring products from the valley, and brings together community leaders with national, state and local agricultural leaders. Previous keynote speakers include: former Governor Ronald Reagan, Secretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture Karen Ross, and former State of California Secretaries of Agriculture Bill Lyons, Jr. and A.G. Kawamura. Proceeds from the Harvest Luncheon are used exclusively for the Modesto Chamber of Commerce Voss/Berryhill Modesto Junior college Ag Scholarship Program. We hope to see you at Graceada Park September 12, 2014!

Friday, September 12th, 2014 | Graceda Park | Call 209.577.5757 for more info JULY

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Modesto Chamber of Commerce I PROGRESS

COMM UN ITY D EVELOPM EN T

LEADERSHIP MODESTO B USINESS, COM M E RCE AND AG RI CULTURE D AY

By Vincent L. Jamison, Attorney with Ross W. Lee, Inc., a Professional Law Corporation It ’s been said, “once in your life you need a doctor, a lawyer, a policeman and a preacher, but three times a day, everyday, you need a farmer.”

Fortunately, one of Stanislaus County’s greatest treasures lies within its rich, fertile soil, rivaled only by some of the best agriculture personnel and companies in the world. On May 9, 2014, the Leadership Modesto Class of 20132014 received a backstage pass to the local world of agriculture and commerce.

Our class began the day with a tour of the Ratto Bros. fresh produce facility on Beckwith Road. Defying the extreme heat and dry climate, the Ratto Bros. are growing fresh produce throughout the year in the area, competing against growers in the cooler coastal regions. On a regular basis, leafy greens and herbs are shipped across the United States and overseas within a matter of days. Thanks to cutting edge technology, data from each row in the field is gathered and stored in a computer database. Every box of harvested produce is labeled with a bar code. And the facility is powered in large-part by an on-site solar panel energy system. The Ratto Bros. also provide a boost to the local economy by hiring up to 400 people per year, and providing healthcare and 401(k) to each employee.

increasingly important ability to survive with less water. By utilizing sophisticated technology, Duarte Nursery is able to clone and produce the best trees and vines for local farmers. We concluded the tour by sampling some lovely wines made from grapes grown on Duarte Nursery vines.

The day culminated with a trip to the Modesto Crystal Creamery on Kansas Avenue. For decades, the Crystal Creamery has produced thousands of gallons of ice cream, cottage cheese, sour cream and many other products. However, in 2010, Foster Farms purchased the Crystal name and the creamery. The Creamery now produces ice cream for stores across Northern California, including Costco, Trader Joe’s, Wal-Mart, McDonalds and In-N-Out Burger.

Of course, the ice cream samples at the end of the tour provided the grand finale for a great day. They were delicious!

Looking back on the day, our class learned that few communities have the ability to cultivate such a wide range of quality, agricultural products. It’s one of the many reasons I’m proud to live in Modesto. P

After a short drive, we were escorted through the beautiful headquarters of the E.& J. Gallo Winery in Modesto. The largest winery in the world was started in 1933, following the repeal of prohibition, when Ernest and Julio Gallo ventured into the business with less than $6,000 in starting capital. The two brothers were self-taught winemakers, learning the craft by reading old, preProhibition pamphlets published by the University of California in the basement of the Modesto Public Library.

In addition to the Gallo Family Vineyards brand, the company makes, markets and distributes wine under more than 60 other labels to more than 90 countries around the globe. The Gallo headquarters is also home to the world’s largest glass wine bottle plant, producing an astonishing 2 million glass wine bottles every day. Committed to environmental conservation, more than 50% of the raw glass material comes from recycled products.

Next, the team met with Jeff Duarte at Duarte Nursery. Jeff graciously hosted a tour of the D uarte Nurser y facilities, including the Dry Creek Laboratories. Employees work in white lab coats, behind large glass windows in a sterilized laboratory to utilize clonal technology to reproduce the best rootstocks for agricultural trees. In sum, a top quality “mother tree” is selected for its desirable traits such as: higher production, durability in a specific soil type, resistance to certain pathogens, or the

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Consult your tax advisor for further information.

JULY

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Modesto Chamber of Commerce I PROGRESS

CO M M U NI TY D EV E L OP M E N T

N ETW ORKIN G & REFERRALS

NEW CHAMBER MEMBERS

CHAMBER BOARD PERSPECTIVE: CO OL NEW S FOR MOD ESTO THIS S UM M E R

By Kole Siefken, DoubleTree Modesto All the things that make Modesto a great community in which to live are also making it a great place for tourism and business. Our tourism industry is enjoying a steady escalation for 2014 with hotel occupancy outpacing the past two years. In addition, we anticipate ongoing growth for 2015 and 2016 as we are experiencing an increase in large convention bookings, as well as the opening of the new Amazon Distribution KOLE SIEFKEN Center that is in Patterson. This upturn in BOARD MEMBER business not only contributes to hospitality revenue but helps increase our local tax coffers through the occupancy tax, and most importantly creates residual spending specifically for our Downtown merchants as visitors’ frequent Modesto’s restaurants and shops.

But Modesto is also about fun, sporting events and activities! We welcome the new Mary Grogan Soccer Fields which opened last July as they are proving beneficial not only for young people in our community but as a great facility for hosting tournament play, bringing teams, parents and fans to Modesto.

And don’t forget SuperKarts USA as we count down the weeks until August. Downtown Modesto will be buzzing with activity as the SuperKarts! USA (SKUSA) brings its Fifth Annual Running of the SummerNationals to our city. The Doubletree Modesto Hilton Hotel is proud to be the official host hotel of the SKUSA high powered Go-Kart races slated for August 1st-August 3rd through Downtown.

The hotel will host the drivers, crews and event organizers during the exciting week of racing and events for the entire family.

Kole Siefken, General Manager of the DoubleTree Modesto says, “Preparations are well underway as we get ready to transform downtown Modesto into a thrilling track for more than 200 drivers.

We are honored to be the host hotel for this fun event and festival as we know how much our community loves cars, racing and great parties,” added Siefken.

Just as the filming of the movie American Graffiti brought interest to Modesto, the SKUSA Summer Nationals will help showcase Modesto as a premier location in Northern California and as an enjoyable destination to visit featuring great restaurants, and festival activities.

With its proximity to San Francisco and other Northern California cities, Modesto is looking forward to hosting one of the biggest and most successful karting events in North America.

“We are seeing our entire city get involved in this great family event,” added Siefken. “We hope that this event will be such a success for the organizers and for Modesto that we can become the annual home for SKUSA’s Summer Nationals.” For more information about SKUSA visit www.superkartsusa.com and for more information or reservations at the Doubletree Modesto Hilton Hotel visit: www.doubletreemodesto.com. P

DELTATRAK, INC.

KCI SWEEPING

Rick Delgado

Jennifer Schlicht

1236 Doker Drive

1570 East F Street, Suite A-128

Modesto, CA 95351

Oakdale, CA 95361

Phone: 209-579-5343

Phone: 209-840-2624

Fax: 209-579-0516

Fax: 866-695-0941

rdelgado@deltatrak.com

Jennifer@kcisweeping.com

www.deltatrak.com

www.kcisweeping.com

Food Service Distributors

Parking Lot Maintenance

DR. DAVID WOODILL, DDS

MCCORMICK, BARSTOW LLP

David Woodwill

Laura Erickson

1101 Standiford Ave, B 3

1150 9th Street Suite 1200

Modesto, CA 95350

Modesto, CA 95354

Phone: 209-526-9447

Phone: 209-524-1100

Fax: 209-526-0937

Fax: 209-524-1188

drwoodill@gmail.com

laura.erickson@mccormickbarstow.com

www.dwoodill.com

www.mccormickbarstow.com

Dentists

Attorneys

J'S R US EVENT PLANNING

RENEE'S DAY SPA & SALON

Jennifer Foster

Renee Matias

Phone: 209-380-2582

1245 McHenry Ave

Jennifer@jrus.com

Modesto, CA 95350

Event Services

Phone 209-341-0551 Fax: 209-545-4391 reneesdayspa@myway.com www.reneesdayspa.com Salon-Full Service

Radiators • Aluminum • Scrap Appliances Tin • Stainless Steel • Scrap Iron • Copper Brass • Cardboard • E-Waste • Batteries MODESTO JUNK CO. Recycling Center 1425 9th Street Downtown Modesto

209-522-1435 Se Habla Español www.modestojunk.com

Hours: Mon.-Fri. 8am-4:30pm • Sat. 9am-3pm Free bins and hauling for commercial and industrial customers.

JULY

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NE T W ORK I NG & REFERRALS

RIBBON CUTTINGS

J & L COMPLETE AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR INC. 711 N. Franklin Street Modesto, CA 95351 (209) 522-0007

POPEYES 1400 E Hatch Road Modesto,CA 95351 (209) 531-9199

VISUALLY IMPAIRED PERSONS SUPPORT 618 14th Street Modesto,CA 95354 (209) 522-8477

ORCHARD SUPPLY HARDWARE 1800 Oakdale Rd. Modesto,CA 95355 (209) 551-2400

GABRIEL FINE JEWELERS 1700 McHenry Avenue #27 Modesto,CA 95350 (209) 529-2110

WALMART 2225 Plaza Parkway Modesto,CA 95350 (209) 524-4733

COMCAST 3801Pelandale, Suite A-11.Modesto, CA 95356 (800) 934-6489

FLOWERS BAKING CO. OF MODESTO, LLC 736 Mariposa Rd. Modesto, CA 95354 (209) 544-8852

COMPASSIONATE CANINE CARE AND EDUCATION

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Modesto Chamber of Commerce I PROGRESS

GO VE R N M E NT RE L A T I ON S

CHAMBER ENDORSED CANDIDATES SWEPT INTO OFFICE

By Steve Madison, Board Member Assessor: Don Gaekle Board of Super visor’s District 4: Dick Montieth District Attorney: Birgit Fladager Sheriff: Adam Christianson

STEVE MADISON BOARD MEMBER

The victory by appointed Assessor Don Gaekle represents his first election win.

The remaining candidates each return to office for a third consecutive term.

The candidate review process used by the Chamber involves candidates (who choose to participate) completing a written sur vey and conducting an inter view with a subset of members of the Government Relations Council (GRC). In turn, the GRC makes recommendations for endorsements to the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors then makes the final determination regarding endorsements by a majority vote of the Directors. P

WE FOCUS ON THE LAW SO YOU CAN FOCUS ON LIFE .

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Business can be a stretch but our flexible CPA professionals are dedicated to keeping your business in shape.

Contact us today at 209-527-4220 or www.gccpas.net. it’s the people behind the numbers.

GIANELLI - LAW . COM info @gianelli-law.com | (209) 521.6260 | 1014 16th St., Modesto

JULY

15

16

Modesto Chamber of Commerce I PROGRESS

COM MUN ITY D EVELOPMEN T

NETW O R KI N G & RE F E RRA L S

ANNOUNCEMENTS

CHAMBER CALENDAR JULY 2014 10

Location: NAI Benchmark 1031 15th Street Suite 4 Time: 7:30 AM–8:30 AM

17

Location: Kirk Lindsey Center 1020 10th Street Time: 10:00 AM–11:00 AM

17

Location: Dale Commons Assisted Living 3900 Dale Road Time: 5:30 PM–7:30 PM

BUSINESS BEFORE HOURS

STANISLAUS GREEN TEAM

BUSINESS AFTER HOURS

AUGUST 2014 14

Location: Union Bank 1124 J Street Time: 7:30 AM–8:30 AM

21

Location: Kirk Lindsey Center 1020 10th Street 10:00 AM–11:00 AM

21

Location: Modesto Commerce Bank 4204 Dale Road Time: 5:30 PM–7:30 PM

BUSINESS BEFORE HOURS

STANISLAUS GREEN TEAM

BUSINESS AFTER HOURS

STATE OF BUSINESS & EDUCATION 27

Location: The Martin Petersen Event Center

720 12th Street

Time: 7:00 AM-10:00 AM

Careers In Criminal Justice When: July 9, 2014 Where: Brandman University, 5222 Pirrone Ct, Salida, CA 95368 Time: 3:00pm–6:00pm If you are thinking about a career in the field of Criminal Justice or are already working in the field and want to advance, join Brandman University for an action packed afternoon filled with information regarding the Criminal Justice jobs outlook. This will include:

• Workshops • Demonstrations • Information about degree programs related to this fast growing industry

The event will feature a guest speaker from Sacramento’s Department of Homeland Security, plus two additional workshops that focus on careers in the Police Department and careers in Criminal Justice. Get your questions answered from Criminal Justice experts, view live demonstrations from local law enforcement and learn about the diverse opportunities in Criminal Justice. Partnering with us for this event will be:

• Modesto Police Department • Ceres Police Department • Rank Investigation • Heald College • San Joaquin Valley College • Kaplan College • Modesto Junior College

JULY

17

{ FR O M THE EXPER TS }

KEMPERSPORTS - DELIVERING “BEST IN CLASS” SERVICE TO GUESTS FOR MORE THAN THREE DECADES

By Kelly Smith, General Manager, Creekside GC/Dryden Park GC KemperSports was founded with the singular goal of delivering the best possible golf experience to their members and guests – more than 35 years later, that goal still reigns true as the company now manages more than 100 golf courses, private clubs, resorts, athletic clubs and lodging venues across the U.S., Caribbean and Central America.

tournament information) which will be available to all event organizers as well as all local hotels which the CVB comes into contact with. We feel that partnering with both these great organizations, it gives us the one, two punch by covering both local and out of the area businesses and organizations who do business in our great City of Modesto.

KemperSports is honored to work with the city of Modesto to manage their two, 18-hole golf courses. Taking over management in fall of last year, KemperSports now manages 19 courses in the state of California – 14 of which are owned by municipalities.

Our in house team, as well as our KemperSports corporate marketing team has been hard at work getting the City of Modesto Golf Courses into the 21st century. We have nearly completed our course branding initiative by creating beautiful course logos, and carrying them over into all aspects of our operation. We now have our logos on apparel, score cards, business cards, rate cards, course signage, etc. Our goal is that whenever you see our logo, you think Golf Modesto, and “Best in Class”. We have a wonderful new website www.modestogolfcourses.com for the first time in the history of the Modesto Golf Program. It allows easy access to tournament information, rates, local clubs, current specials, lessons, etc., as well as links to our other partners, Modesto Municipal Golf Course, First Tee of Central Valley and Valley Crest Maintenance. We are also very active on social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. All which are important avenues for data capture. All in all a very exciting time for golf in Modesto.

It’s that experience that has KemperSports primed to deliver the best possible golf experience for golfers in the region while also delivering a healthy financial performance to the city.

Delivering dynamic and exceptional golf experiences while generating peak performance at the courses they operate remains the company’s passion.

KemperSports has a rich, deep-rooted service culture, with special attention paid to guest experience and service.

The company’s passion for delivering exceptional service has led to it being honored by The BoardRoom Magazine as Management Company of the Year in 2012 and 2013. KemperSports is proud to manage some of the best golf courses in the country – including Bandon Dunes Golf Resort, Streamsong Resort and Chambers Bay, host of the 2015 U.S. Open Championship. The company manages more top-100 golf courses than any golf management company in the industry.

“We are very proud of our long heritage of delivering outstanding service to our members and guests,” said KemperSports CEO Steve Skinner.

“Nowhere is service more important than in today’s ultra-competitive golf market. Our staff is singularly focused on creating happy, loyal golfers at all of our courses.”

I look forward to seeing many old friends as well as meeting many new ones at many of the Chambers wonderful functions. I encourage all our fellow Chamber members to take a look at the changes that have been made, as well as follow us on one of the many social media avenues to see changes coming in the future as we continue to strive for “Best in Class” service. P

Join us in celebration of our 12 years in the community!

We Cordially Invite You To...

We combine our love for the game with our penchant for business in operating some of the nation’s top-performing public agency-owned courses.

We have a proven track record of consistently outperforming industrywide, municipal golf course averages for rounds and revenue as measured by independent agencies. Our grassroots customer service strategies and our innovative retention programs have also helped us to achieve some of the highest customer satisfaction marks across the nation according to the National Golf Foundation.

KemperSports continues to be a family-owned business with over 5,500 employees. The company is based in Northbrook, Illinois and operates regional offices in Northern California, Southern California, Dallas, South Florida and Maryland which allow us to offer excellent, responsive service to our clients nationwide.

What does all this mean for golf in Modesto? It’s easy to say we are going revive the City of Modesto Golf Program by increasing revenues and decreasing costs. It’s having a plan in place and having the experienced staff to achieve that statement that matters. We are fortunate here in Modesto that we have many long time employees that share the same passion, provide Modesto “Best in Class” service at our facilities.

We joined the Chamber in January and will utilizing the vast resources available for local advertising, community involvement activities, business listing, Chamber calendar, and the educational workshops they provide to all of the Chamber members, just to name a few. We will be working passionately to keep our local businesses and organizations events, local.

We are also partnering with the Modesto Convention and Visitors Bureau.

We are providing literature (rate cards, tri-folds, business cards, and

18

Modesto Chamber of Commerce I PROGRESS

A Trip Around the World

Wine Tasting

& Silent Auction All proceeds from our silent auction benefit

Thursday • July 17, 2014 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm Showcasing wines and pairing foods from

France, India, South America, Japan & California

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Modesto Chamber of Commerce I PROGRESS

GALLBLADDER SURGERY WITH NOTHING TO HIDE

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LAND OF OPPORTUNITY ...a series spotlighting entrepreneurial achievement

Neal Khatri Owner, Six Best Western Hotel Franchises My Dad and my Uncle started in the hotel business back in 1959 in Oakland. I started in Modesto when I graduated college in 1973.

Today, my family and I own and operate six franchised Best Western hotels. One in Turlock, two in Modesto (the hotel downtown on 16th Street and Palm Court Inn on Orangeburg), one in Manteca and two in the Bay Area.

How many employees do you have? Are there any other family members involved?

I have about 150 employees and eight family members involved who oversee everything. I come from a family of three. My two brothers and I have always been very involved, though they’re now semi-retired. We also now have five children involved in the business.

Do you have any particular history that has contributed to helping you achieve your goals?

I have really lived the American Dream. I’m an immigrant from India.

I came to the United States in 1964 when I was 10 years old and at the time I didn’t know even one word of English. I’ve been very fortunate to have had so many opportunities. My dad and his brother were in the hotel business and made a decent living while I was growing up. My brothers and I continued his legacy. We’ve reached a very different level now. We’re now the biggest family owned hotel company in the valley.

We have now have three generations in this business, and a fourth one coming on.

What challenges have you had to overcome in your professional life and how did you achieve that?

We’re in the type of business where if the economy is bad, our business is bad. That’s been a challenge. But we overcome it by maintaining a very strong foundation. We’re very low leverage or no leverage on all our properties. We watch business closely, and we are fortunate to have very good employees who we trust.

The hotel business is one of very few that never closes. We have no holidays, no time off, we are open 24 hours a day every day. That can be challenging when you first get into the business. Now, I have lots of people on the front line that I can trust to handle issues. In the old days, though, if there was a leak in a room, I had to be there to get it fixed. You just don’t know what’s going to happen. But we survive on our reputation for quality and service.

What are some of the accomplishments of which you are particularly proud?

We have been rated as in the top 40% of hotels with Trip Advisor, and I’m very proud of my employees for earning that award with their great customer service. I’m very fortunate to have gotten to do what I’ve done in my life. We’re very blessed to still be here after 41 years of success and to have always paid every bill right on time. I’ve never had to be late with one bill in my entire life.

What is the single biggest reason that you have achieved the level of success you have?

We’ve put in a lot of hard work. It’s taken a lot of dedication both from myself and from my family, and we’ve given up a lot to get where we are. We’ve made a lot of sacrifices, and so have our dedicated employees.

What do you like about your job?

There’s never a dull moment! I could write a book about this business with all of the things I’ve seen. That’s something you get from a 24 hour a day business.

What are your plans for the future?

We’ve already starting diversifying into other types of real estate. We own commercial property, residential properties and offices.

Do you participate in any community outreach efforts or clubs?

I’m involved in the community quite a bit. I have served as Chairman of the Convention and Visitor’s Bureau for many many years, and I’ve been a Director of the Chamber twice. Currently, I’m on two committees through Del Rio Country Club. I’m also a Governor of Best Western, so I’m kind of the liaison between the franchisees and the company.

What do you like about doing business in the Modesto community and why do you think this is the Land of Opportunity?

I love this city. I’ve been here a long time and I don’t think I’ll ever move anywhere else. This is my home. The people are great, there are a lot of opportunities. When I came, the city had a population of only 65,000. It was a great time to invest and we’ve benefited from that.

The timing was just right for us. P

Prime Shine Car Wash is proud to present The Land of Opportunity. Each month this series provides a forum in which to showcase the entrepreneurial achievements of a Stanislaus County business owner. Prime Shine Car Wash is proud to recognize the entrepreneurʼs ability to overcome obstacles and to honor their successes in their industry and in the community.

Celebrating Over 50 Years Of Quality Care * Registered Nurses 24/7 * Long Term and Short Term Quality Care * 175 Bed Skilled Nursing Facility * Pleasant Environment * Inviting and Stimulating Social Activities * Inpatient & Outpatient Physical Therapy * Inpatient & Outpatient Occupational Therapy * Speech Therapy * Respiratory Therapy

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JULY

21

GUES T C OLUMN

MEDAMERICA BILLING SERVICES, INC. EXPANDS OPERATIONS IN MODESTO

By Courtney Proff itt MedAmerica Billing Services, Inc., a Diamond Level Member of the Modesto Chamber of Commerce, first opened their flagship office in Modesto in 1993. Since then, they have expanded to three surrounding buildings, creating a fourbuilding campus. This month, the company expanded their offices, moving in to the building next door to their main office, located at 1601 Cummins Drive in Modesto. “We pride ourselves in using local labor and local businesses in this COURTNEY PROFFITT expansion," states Jimmie Proffitt, President and COO of the company. “We were pleased that we could keep things local, and add to the economy of the Modesto Community.”

Moving into additional offices, consisting of 16,000 square feet, located at 1581 Cummins Drive, the company continues to expand, and to create new jobs for people in Modesto and surrounding areas. MedAmerica Billing Services, Inc. – better known as the acronym, MBSI, is a proud member of the Modesto Chamber of Commerce, having won the “Chamber Member of the Year” award in 2012, for their contribution to the community. Almost 300 employees were hired during that year alone. This year, MBSI continues to hire people to support the ever-growing number of hospital and urgent care sites that serve as clients to the company.

SAVE

Partnering with developers Tony and Matt Bruno, owners of TDR Inc., in Turlock, and Sue-Ann and Randy Anderson of Sara Anderson Properties, LLC. In Modesto, (who recently purchased and executed major external renovations of the property), MBSI spent over $1.5 million in the tenant improvement and redesign of the expansion of new office space. Local subcontractors used in the renovation were Cooksey’ Roofing Flooring Liquidators, and DeHart Plumbing, Heating and Air, Inc. – all based in Modesto, and ACME Electric Co. from Turlock. “We were able to refurbish and modernize a 1970’s building that was in poor shape and had been unoccupied and empty for over three years. It was a great opportunity for needed business space, and it feels really good to partner with the Brunos and Andersons to help revitalize a portion of the business park.” says Proffitt.

In the same building complex, MBSI plans on an additional 21,500 square feet that will be renovated and occupied by 2015. “MedAmerica takes a building and really makes it a beautiful place to work.”, says Sue-Ann Anderson. “I’m happy that we are able to partner with them and help add new jobs to this area.” P For more information on MedAmerica Billing Services Inc., please visit their website at www.medamericabilling.com

THE DATE

LEMONADE DAY MODESTO 2015 will be hosting our Kick-Off Event on September 25, 2014 at Data Path, Inc. Event starts at 5:30pm, there will be a brief presentation on the history of Lemonade Day, our Modesto story for the past 3 years and adult and youth entrepreneur speakers.

Wonderful light bites, our previous Best Tasting Contest Lemonade winning recipe will be shared along with other tasty beverages and raffle prizes!

Sponsored by:

22

Modesto Chamber of Commerce I PROGRESS

WORK IN Funworks provides safe, affordable family fun

By Jacqui D. Sinarle

Funworks’ birthday parties are conducted by birthday party captains who play with kids for the entire party and also set up, clean up, serve, and organize every part of the event.

“We train team members to have fun and get involved with guests by interacting, asking questions, and complimenting,” Raney explains. “And we offer the best rates in all areas of our facility, including attractions, tokens, food, and parties.”

Funworks is also involved with local events and local people.

“This community has kept us going for more than 40 years and we do our best to give back,” Raney explains.

Mascot Freddy Foreman is a recognizable figure at local parades and celebrations, school carnivals, and street fairs.

Funworks also donates more than $350,000 in passes to local schools throughout Stanislaus and San Joaquin Counties, donates additional passes to nonprofit organizations

"Our mission is to provide a clean, affordable, safe, and fun environment for moms, dads, and kids..."

B r a n d i n g . S t r a t e g y. D e s i g n .

MODESTO MEANS BUSINESS The Chamber stands by this statement.

We practice it on a daily basis. As an organization, we use Chamber Members exclusively. We hope we can ‘count on you’ to practice using Chamber Members to meet all of your business needs.

You can find new and current members online at www.ModChamber.org.

Funworks invests facility enhancements every year, Raney adds. “In 2012 we replaced our bumper cars with Spin Zone Bumper Cars, and in 2013 we redesigned our playground area, Freddy’s Treehouse. In 2014 we have added seven new games and an addition to our bumper boats, and we are planning to add another attraction to our facility in winter 2014/2015.”

Progress Magazine is the voice of the Modesto Chamber of Commerce, and the leading business publication in Stanislaus County. For more information or advertising info call (209) 526-9136.

neverboring.com

“Funworks is different from other family entertainment centers,” Raney continues.

“Our arcade provides more games that award tickets or toys, we make an effort to exclude overly violent games, and the inside of our facility is light and bright — we enjoy seeing smiling faces!”

Throughout the economy’s ups and downs, Raney says, “We have pushed through thanks to loyal guests who come to Funworks, have a great time and want to return.”

When business is booming, advertising is the last thing on your mind. But when times get tough, an aggressive ad campaign becomes the last thing you want to spend money on. By maintaining an advertising presence through thick and thin, you can keep your business rolling, stay at the top of your customers’ minds and keep slowdowns to a minimum. Never Boring is an industry expert at creating unique, effective and affordable advertising. Find out how we can keep your business moving forward, visit us today at neverboring.com

•

“Our mission is to provide a clean, affordable, safe, and fun environment for moms, dads, and kids,” says manager Tiffannie Raney.

for raffles, and hosts appreciation days that give teachers, nonprofit organizations, veterans, and others a free evening of fun.

(Courtesy of Never Boring)

© Never Boring

Funworks Family Fun Company has been a local year-around destination for family fun for decades, maintaining its popularity with a feel-good philosophy, close ties to the community, and regular facility enhancements.

SERVICE WHEN YOU NEED IT

Funworks is located at 4307 Coffee Road in Modesto. For more information, visit www.itsallaboutfunworks.com. P

JULY

23

N E T W ORK I NG & REFERRALS

{ JUNE } BUSI NESS

B EFORE HO UR S

AFTER HOURS

Business Before Hours hosted by: Bellkorp Ag

Business After Hours hosted by: Mitchell's Modesto Harley Davidson

Bellkorp Ag

Mitchell's Modesto Harley Davidson

2413 Crows Landing Rd, Modesto, CA 95358

500 N. Carpenter Rd, Modesto, CA 95351

209-538-831

Belkorp Ag, headquartered in Modesto, is a rapidly growing eight location John Deere dealership group in the Central Valley and the North Coast. In 20112012, Belkorp Ag acquired San Joaquin Equipment in Modesto and Patterson and then Ranchers Tractor in Merced.

Belkorp Ag purchased five more John Deere dealerships in 2013 including Ukiah, Calistoga, Santa Rosa, Stockton, and Walnut Grove.

© Modesto Irrigation District

Belkorp Ag prides itself on excellent customer service and has ambitious plans to eventually become one of the largest John Deere dealerships in the world.

24

{ JUNE } BUS INE S S

Modesto Chamber of Commerce I PROGRESS

209-522-1061

Mitchell's Modesto Harley-Davidson® has been exceeding the needs of the Northern California Harley-Davidson® enthusiast for over 25 years. No matter what you are looking for, from the newest fashion selections from their large MotorClothes® department, to the factory trained service technicians and experienced sales personnel. You will find that they will surpass your expectations of what a Harley-Davidson® Dealer should be.

Also, in partnership with their valued customers, they have a long standing commitment to building a strong relationship with the community. Through shop sponsored events, they raise funds for deserving charities, as well as promote safe and rewarding motorcycle ownership.

SHOW CASE Your BUSINESS Have a new location or renovation to show off ? Host a “Show Off Your Business” and let the community see your new digs!

For more information call Natalie Nielsen at 209-577-5757 ext. 102.

Modesto Commerce Bank Main Branch, located at 1302 J Street, is pleased to announce our new Community Branch Manager, Kristin Reza and Personal Banker Myra Morris.

Kristin has over 22 years of banking experience specializing in management, sales and customer service. Myra has over 25 years of banking experience and has spent the last 11 years with Modesto Commerce bank. Both women are involved throughout the community in events & organizations including: Love Modesto, Relay for Life, Salvation Army, Autism speaks, and many more.

Both Kristin and Myra look forward to furthering Modesto Commerce Bank’s strong tradition Bank of Stockton Divisions of personalized service, Modesto C oMMerCe B ank customer attention and t urloCk C oMMerCe B ank community involvement. P e lk Grove C oMMerCe Bank

E C ON OM IC D EVELOPMEN T

NEW MEMBER PROFILES Perfecto Shop is an online shop that specializes in home & garden

décor. Perfecto Shop has been in operation since 2013. Our popular styles are vintage, rustic, shabby chic and many items that bring country living into your home & garden.

Prior to Perfecto Shop, owner Heather Mariconi ran a vending machine route, but then realized her business dreams were changing. Now she loves what she is doing and ready to expand!

She is looking forward to working with the community and taking her business to the next level. P

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 27, 2014

Registration, breakfast & Networking begins at 7:00 AM with the program beginning at 8:00 AM.

THE MARTIN PETERSEN EVENT CENTER 720 12TH STREET, MODESTO CA 95354

This year’s event promises to provide attendees with a clear purpose of Common Core Standards as well as, information about Smarter Balanced assessment practices and how learning addresses practical real world experiences.

CONTACT THE MODESTO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 1114 J STREET MODESTO, CA 95354 (209) 577-5757

JULY

25

S T A NI S LA U S GREEN T EAM

MARKETING YOUR BUSINESS GREEN

By Rikki Keenan, Stanislaus Greent Team Coordinator Does your small business sell a “green” product or service—one that benefits (or at least doesn’t hurt) the environment? Then you could benefit from Americans’ desire to go green when shopping.

According to the 2013 Cone Green Gap Trend Tracker, 71 percent of American consumers always or sometimes take the environment into consideration when making choices about what products or services to buy.

RIKKI KEENAN

But not so fast. Before you launch a green marketing campaign, there are some key things you need to know to avoid major missteps that could bring your business down.

Specifically, consumers are leery of companies’ green claims, with just 44 percent trusting companies about their green credentials. So how do you tread the straight and narrow when marketing green?

and, in today’s transparent world, the negative word-of-mouth will spread fast.

Follow these simple principles, and marketing green is easy. Making sure your company lives up to its green beliefs in every way is the best way to not only help the planet, but grow your sales as well. P Next Stanislaus Green Team Meeting Thursday, July 17th, 2014 10:00 AM–11:00 AM Kirk Lindsey Center 1020 10th Street Suite 102, Modesto, CA (Across from Brenden Theater, Next door to Fuzio’s)

REACON Team Investors

Understand what motivates green purchases. It’s not just about doing good.

Although 88 percent of green shoppers want to do what’s right and 85 percent want to preserve the environment for future generations, the biggest factor— cited by 90 percent—is the desire to save time or money in the long run. In other words, your product or service has to meet the same criteria as any purchase would—you don’t get special treatment for being green.

Be specific. As I mentioned above, consumers are highly skeptical about green claims, so you need to spell out in plain English exactly what makes your product or service environmentally friendly. Stay away from complex or vague statements or scientific terms that are hard to understand and likely to make customers suspicious. Instead, keep it simple. Using symbols of any green certifications you possess is a smart move; these influence 80 percent of consumers to buy. You can also explain how the product helps the environment, such as “uses less water.”

Educate customers and prospects. Education is key when differentiating many green products and services from the competition. Your website, packaging, ad copy and other marketing materials should explain the benefits of your product or service, not just to the environment but to the customer as well. For example, low-energy light bulbs cost more than standard bulbs, but because they last longer, they can effectively be marketed citing the benefit that they eliminate the need to frequently replace bulbs in hard-to-reach places. If your product is priced higher than similar, non-green products, that’s not necessarily a deal breaker. Just be sure you spell out how your product is a better value in the end because it lasts longer, saves on energy costs or can be re-used.

Be honest. It’s easy to get a bit flowery and over-the-top when you’re writing marketing copy, but with a green product or service, you must be particularly careful not to overstate your green credentials in any way. If your customers—or your competitors—find out you’re not being 100 percent honest, it could backfire on your business in a major way. The Cone study found that when consumers feel a business is making false claims, 77 percent will boycott the company.

Walk the talk. In addition to the content of your marketing message, you need to consider how it is delivered. For example, if you announce your new green product by mailing a hard copy press kit to dozens of media outlets, your environmentally friendly message will get canceled out by the sheer waste of paper. If your organic skin-care products are shipped to stores packed in oversized boxes with Styrofoam peanuts, someone’s going to notice the disconnect

26

Modesto Chamber of Commerce I PROGRESS

Green Sponsors

StanislausGreenTeam.com For more information contact Rikki Keenan at 209.577.5757 or at RKeenan@ModChamber.org

ECON OM IC D EVELOPMEN T

PRESIDENT’S CLUB CIRCLE OF INFLUENCE PLATINUM LEVEL

SILVER LEVEL

Delta Sierra Beverage

Papa John’s

E. & J. Gallo Winery

AT&T

DirectLine Technologies, Inc.

Pepsi Bottling Group

Kaiser Permanente

Acme Construction Company, Inc.

The Eberhardt School of Business

Prompt Staffing D.B.A Courtesy

Walmart

American Chevrolet

English Oaks Nursing &

Walmart Neighborhood Market

American Medical Response

Aramark Uniform Services

F & M Bank

Prime Shine Car Wash

DIAMOND LEVEL

Atherton & Associates, LLP

Gabriel Fine Jewelers

Rabobank

Bank of the West

Audio Pros of Modesto

Galletto Ristorante

Raymond James & Associates, Inc.

Beard Land Improvement Co.

BIAlytics

Georgia-Pacific

Rizo-Lopez Foods, Inc.

BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse

Gianelli & Associates

Rocha Transportation

Brandman University, Chapman

Gilton Solid Waste Management, Inc.

Rogers Jewelry Company

Greater Modesto Medical

San Joaquin Valley College

Capax-Giddings, Corby, Hynes, Inc. Doctors Behavioral Health CenterDMC Doctors Medical Center-DMC

University System

California State University, Stanislaus

Rehabilitation Hospital

Surgical Associates

Staffing Post Foods, LLC

Siemens

Central Valley Ag Grinding

Grimbleby Coleman CPAs, Inc.

Smile Shine Family Dental

Central Valley Autism Project Inc

Grover Landscape Services, Inc.

Seven Up Bottling Corporation

Central Valley Automotive

Harris Moran Seed Company

Solecon Industrial Contractors

Central Valley Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge

Heald College

Solid Networks, Inc.

Central Valley Nissan

I.J. Larsen Pumps, Inc.

SpringHill Suites by Marriott

Central Valley Volkswagen Hyundai

Infiniti of Modesto

Stanislaus Distributing

Central Valley Medical Group

Institute of Technology

Stanislaus Food Products Company

Central Valley Specialty Hospital

International Paper Company

Stanislaus Surgical Hospital

Children’s Hospital Central California

JS West & Company

Storer Coachways

Chukchansi Gold Resort & Casino

Kaplan College

SunOpta Aseptic, Inc.

Citibank

Lion Fusion Express

Sutter Gould Medical Foundation

Clark Pest Control

Mercer Foods

Turlock Irrigation District

COIT Services Inc.

Mike's Knock Out Burger & Rays

Union Bank

Collins Electrical

Bar-B-Que

US Bank

Modesto Nuts Professional Baseball

Comcast

Mocse Credit Union

Uno Chicago Grill

RACOR, Division of Parker

Concordia Claims Managers

Modesto Commerce Bank

Valley First Credit Union

Construction Management

Modesto Toyota

Valley Lexus-BMW

Corporation

Mraz, Amerine & Associates

W.H. Breshears, Inc.

Seneca Foods, LLC

Costco Wholesale

Oak Valley Community Bank

Warden’s Office Products Center

Sysco Food Services of

Covanta Stanislaus, Inc.

O’Brien’s Market

Warden’s Office Furniture Outlet

Curtis Legal Group

OLAM Spices & Vegetables, Inc.

Winton-Ireland, Strom & Green

Damrell, Nelson, Schrimp, Pallios,

Pacific Gas & Electric Company

Panelized Structures Inc.

Yosemite Meat Company, Inc.

Frito-Lay Company, Inc. MedAmerica Billing Services, Inc. Pacific Southwest Container

GOLD LEVEL 5.11, Inc. Crystal Creamery DoubleTree Hotel Evergreen Nursing & Rehabilitation

Care Center

Memorial Medical Center The Modesto Bee Modesto Irrigation District

Hannifin Corporation

Save Mart Supermarkets

Central California

Taco Bell

Pacher & Silva

Del Monte Foods

Park Inn by Radisson

Insurance Agency

ACTUALLY, GETTING LOTS OF EMAILS CAN LOWER YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE. Our members can email directly with their doctor’s office, which in turn allows them to spend more working time in your office.

DISCOVER A BETTER WAY kp.org/choosebetter