Welcome New OCC Team Members

from Best of Oceanside Quarterly Journal - Summer 2021

Stay and Play Local – Support Economic Recovery

Oceanside Chamber Welcomes New Team Members

Gwen Bryson is a true SoCal native, having been born and raised in Oceanside and currently living in South O. Gwen came up through our local education system, having attended El Camino High School and MiraCosta College. Gwen was hired this past Spring as the Chamber’s Customer Service Specialist and is frequently the first voice you will hear when calling the Chamber office. Gwen is a team player and has been instrumental in assisting her co-workers with a wide variety of projects. Although new to the Oceanside Chamber, Gwen has 5 years of experience in the Chamber industry, having served as Information Specialist at the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce. Prior to her Chamber career, Gwen had 20 years working experience in the local action sports industries. When not at work, Gwen has a variety of interests that fit perfectly with the Southern California lifestyle, including walking and hiking, shopping and dining and the local beach & surf culture. Gwen can be reached at the Chamber a 760-722-1534 ext 101 or Gwen@OceansideChamber.com.

Margery Benkaci is a native of the Boston area and has been living in the North County for the last 5 years with her husband and daughter. She is a graduate of Boston University where she earned a B.S. degree and then went to receive her MBA from Suffolk University. Her background includes several years of advertising and marketing sales, ranging from print with the Boston Parents Paper magazine to television marketing working for “Business Now” a syndicated business show, that aired on the local ABC affiliate. Margery has also worked in the internet industry with the startup company Careercity.com, where she was the Director of Sales for this internet job board. Since living in the San Diego area Margery has worked in the Chamber Industry as a Business Development Manager, and now for the Oceanside Chamber of Commerce as the new Business Development Specialist. She oversees the Membership and Advertising sales, including the “Best of Oceanside Quarterly Journal”, and the Community Guide. You can reach can reach Margery at 760-722-1534 x105 or Margery@OceansideChamber.com

Victoria Carlborg serves as the Chamber’s Workforce Development Coordinator. Victoria launched her bi-coastal career as a 17-year-old college freshman for a Gannett newspaper in San Bernardino, eventually being promoted to features reporter upon graduating from college. She was a journalist for eight years, including one at the San Diego bureau of the Associated Press and a few in the community news section of the “Union-Tribune.” Victoria then pivoted to the advertorial side of the house, communications, for local entities of Marine Corps Community Services, Barnes & Noble, Catholic Charities, and the Girl Scouts. For a decade, she helped implement community-based public policy initiatives when she served on substance abuse prevention coalitions in several capacities: as a staff member in North County, a board member in North Carolina, and a communications associate for the coalitions’ national advocacy association in Washington, D.C. She then worked for political appointees of the Obama and Trump administrations in the Office of Advocacy at the U.S. Small Business Administration in Washington, D.C. Victoria most recently worked as the education manager at the headquarters of the PsychArmor Institute in San Diego. Please connect with Victoria at Victoria@OceansideChamber.com.

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(760) 804-3424 (866) 431-2389

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CA License # 0525206

125 Years

Annual North County Health and Wellness Fair

The annual North County Health and Wellness Fair will be held Thursday, August 12th from 9 am to 1 pm. This event provides an opportunity for local and regional health-related businesses to promote their products and services and to reach a new audience of potential patients, clients and customers. Located in the Oceanside Civic Center Plaza, the North County Health Fair will run concurrently with the popular Downtown Farmer’s Market. The event is FREE to the public and a great way to receive important information, meet a new health specialist and learn more about healthy living. Booth space is still available. For more info or to secure a booth, contact Kristi Hawthorne at Kristi@ oceansidechamber.com or 760-722-1534.

City and Community leaders, including current and past Oceanside City Councilmembers and Mayors were in attendance to celebrate the long-awaited opening of the Mission Pacific Hotel and the Seabird Resort. According to a Hyatt press release, this project represents “the largest oceanfront hotel development in San Diego County in more than 50 years.” A library on the second floor of The Seabird Resort is dedicated to former Oceanside Mayor Jim Wood. Mayor Wood was in attendance with his family to take part in the celebration.