The Santee Magazine - V09.3 - Holiday 2020

Enjoy a drive-thru experience viewing exciting holiday displays and light shows, all from the comfort and safety of your car!

There will be a drive-up Santa’s Workshop to purchase hot cocoa, apple cider, cheesecake bites and more with all the proceeds going to the Lantern Crest Foundation, which benefits low-income seniors in the San Diego area.

9625 Mission Gorge Road, Suite B2-315 Santee, CA 92071 619.449.1515

2020 Chamber Officers

Darcy Fagerwold, Chair of the Board Expressions Dance & Movement Center –619.596.3362

Melissa Dombo, Chair Elect Raceway Electric & Solar – 619.596.1918

Mike Aiken, 1st Vice Chair Carlton Oaks Golf – 619.448.4242

Joe Mackey, 2nd Vice Chair XL Staffing – 619.579.0442

Kristine Costa, Secretary Waste Management – 619.596.5100

Mike Clinkenbeard, Treasurer Farmers Insurance – 619.442.0415

Bobbie Jo Lewis, Past Chair Walmart – 619.449.7900

2020 Office Staff

Kristen Dare CEO

Jennae Gonzalez Office Manager

Stacy Clark Office Assistant

SanteeChamber.com

2020 Chamber Directors

Darlene Fenn Toast Masters - 858.518.3702

Greg Gagnon The UPS Store - 619.562.0888

Nita Lee Cameron Brothers Company - 619.562.3050

Ailen Lloyd Lloyd Collision & Paint Center - 619.448.8768

Susie Parks Coffee Corner - 619.996.9007

Jim Peasley Padre Dam Municipal Water District - 619.448.3111

Barbara Ryan Santee School District - 619.258.2300

James Sly East County Economic Development Council619.258.3670

Kyle Whissel Whissel Realty - 858.699.3895

Pam White City of Santee - 619.258.4100

Doug Whitney Whitney Promotions - 858.735.6128

Sarah Wood Allegiance Heating & Air Conditioning - 619.449.2469

HELLO SANTEE!

I’ve heard a lot of people talk about how they just can’t wait for this year to be over. With recent local and state regulations cracking down even harder on the business community and COVID-19 cases still on the rise, I think it’s fair to assume that we will begin next year in a similar fashion to how we are ending 2020.

So at what point do we accept that what used to be normal is no longer 'just around the corner'? For me, I think I was slower than most in realizing the fate of 2020 would be trickling well into next year. Our business organization, like so many among us, has struggled to stay alive. Not immune to the effects of this pandemic, we’ve lowered overhead costs, reduced staffing and cut programming since March.

But with all this change out of our control, there had to be a point where we took power back of SOME things. My lifeline through much of this has been my colleagues across the western US in other chambers. One of them said, “The difficult is done at once, the impossible takes a little longer.” Maybe he stole this from an obvious movie line, but it isn’t any less true.

I feel like I’m in the long process of working towards the impossible… getting our businesses back to thriving and our economy booming with low unemployment rates and decent wages being paid. We want to help, here in Santee, with the business community that has supported so many of us over the years: donating to our schools, helping us fundraise for our organizations, sponsoring our youth sports, you name it. That’s the place I want to continue to live.

A bustling town with lots of local businesses. A drugstore, a supermarket, a couple of coffee houses, my favorite taco shop, a bookstore, a repair garage, all within close distance to my home, church and children’s schools. Most people indicate local shopping and entertainment as one of their top priorities in the town where they reside.

Unfortunately, it’s tough these days for local businesses to stay open. They’re faced with stiff competition from online retailers, which usually offer lower prices and a more extensive selection. If you want to see Santee’s local businesses survive and prosper, you have to go the extra mile – or more accurately, stay close to home – to shop here.

Please consider reading more about this on page 8 and supporting our Shop Santee program through the holidays and beyond, as we save Santee businesses, one dollar at a time, and make the impossible possible again.

- Kristen Dare Santee Chamber of Commerce, CEO

Publisher Santee Chamber of Commerce

Editor

Kristen Dare

Graphic Design

Arli Wolfson

Contributing Editors

Melissa Dombo

Jennae Gonzalez

Arli Wolfson

Committee Members

Kristen Dare

Melissa Dombo

Tom Romstad

Eddie Wall

Arli Wolfson

Contributing Writers

Kristen Dare

Melissa Dombo

Darcy Fagerwold

Elana Levens-Craig

John Olsen

Sarah Wood

Contributing Photographers

Lynda Marrokal

Printer

Advanced Web Offset

CHAIR'S MESSAGE

I don’t know about you, but when we went into quarantine in March, I thought we’d experience the impact of the pandemic for just a few months. Then, if we followed all the rules, we’d be back to business as usual. Clearly, I was wrong!

I thought we were running a sprint, when we were actually at the beginning of a marathon. My husband trains as a runner, and while he has yet to take on a full marathon, he has run multiple half-marathons. When I shared this insight with him he said, “You can’t sprint a marathon; you’ll burn yourself out in the first few miles.”

Have you felt that burnout? I definitely have! I’ve had to make a lot of shifts in the way I approach life and business ownership in order to endure this year. I’ve had to learn to pace myself and my staff. I’ve had to adapt so that my business can survive.

I know I’m not alone, statistics show that 9 out of 10 small businesses in our region have suffered a negative impact due to COVID-19. This is extremely concerning, as small businesses are the backbone of the U.S. economy, employing nearly half of the workforce.

It’s likely we all know of a local business that has permanently closed its doors. But business closures aren’t the whole story. Even for businesses that remain open, revenue is often far below pre-pandemic rates. What can you do to help? Shop Santee! We all have the ability to choose where we shop and eat this holiday season. While online shopping may be easier, our dollars can make a difference in our own community.

Through my involvement with the chamber of commerce I have come to know many of our local business owners. Behind every business is a story, a family, and hopes for the future. There’s no doubt this is a hard time to be a business owner. But I believe our local businesses are worth fighting for. Entrepreneur Nicole Snow said, “A small business is an amazing way to serve and leave an impact on the world you live in.” We can help Santee businesses to continue to make a positive impact on our community.

Let’s help our Santee businesses and our community survive and thrive this holiday season. Shop local, shop Santee!

- Darcy Fagerwold Santee Chamber of Commerce, 2020 Chair

COMMUNITY IS EVERYTHING

A friend recently shared an article with me entitled “Why Shopping Local Matters”. I read it and every single word resonated with me. I know how tempting it is to use the easy online shopping tools available to us all. It’s quick, easy, pretty reliable and honestly, probably already an app on our phones with our banking and shipping information already inputted.

However, keeping your dollars in your hometown has other advantages that are just as important, even if they’re not immediately apparent. With that, I’d like to share some major points from the article which I could not find truer and more important in these times. By shopping locally, you reap such benefits as:

• A Stronger Economy. Local businesses hire local workers. In addition to staff for the stores, they hire local architects and contractors for building and remodeling, local accountants and insurance brokers to help them run the business, and local ad agencies to promote it. They’re also more likely to carry goods that are locally produced. All these factors together create a “multiplier effect,” meaning that each dollar spent in a local store brings as much as $3.50 into the local economy.

• A Closer Community. Shopping at local businesses gives neighbors a chance to connect. It’s easier to get to know someone you often see at a local coffeehouse than someone you only wave to on your way in and out of your house. Knowing your neighbors makes it possible to exchange favors, such as pet-sitting or sharing tools.

• A Cleaner Environment. Having stores in your immediate neighborhood means you can leave your car parked and do your errands on foot or by bicycle. Fewer cars on the road means less traffic, less noise, and less pollution. If you made just one trip each week on foot instead of making a 10-mile round trip by car, you would reduce your annual driving by 520 miles. That would save about 24 gallons of gas and

keep 0.2 metric tons of carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere.

• Better Health. Running errands on foot is better for your health. Walking is great exercise that helps keep your weight under control, strengthens your heart, and prevents disease. A 2011 study published in the Cambridge Journal of Regions, Economy and Society found that U.S. counties with thriving local businesses also have lower mortality rates, a slimmer population, and a lower incidence of diabetes.

• A Great Place to Live. Local businesses make your town a better, more interesting place to live. One suburban housing development looks much like another, but a town center with thriving local businesses has a feel that’s all its own. Local eateries, bars, bookstores, food markets, pharmacies, and gift shops all combine to give a place its unique character.

For this to come full circle, we needed to provide our part in the solution. If you are a local busines owner or manager, please consider joining our updated “Shop Santee” program and become a merchant offering your store as one where our gift cards can be redeemed. If you are a resident, consider purchasing these gift cards and spending locally. We plan to grow this program and have many retailers available for gift card redemption, not just now but well into the coming years. You can purchase a card and redeem it at any variety of the merchants participating.

Keep your dollars in Santee this holiday season and beyond by visiting: SanteeChamber.com/Shop-Santee

Santee is no stranger to struggle during these times. We need everyone to help our businesses bounce back.

Meet the Directors of our Board!

The Santee Chamber of Commerce is managed by an all-volunteer board comprised of local business owners and upper management from a diverse group of leaders among many industries. Get to know some of our leadership team!

Kristine Costa, Waste Management

Kristine holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from National University and is currently the Municipal and Community Relations Manager for Waste Management, where she oversees franchise and government contracts. She has been part of the WM team for over 20 years and in addition to serving on the Santee Chamber’s Executive Board, she is a Board Member for the East County Chamber of Commerce, Chair of the Women in Leadership Committee, Executive Secretary for the Boys and Girls Clubs of East County and President of the El Cajon Rotary Club.

James Sly, East County Economic Development Council

James Sly is the Chief Operations Officer at the East County Economic Development Council and Director of its Small Business Development Center. Sly was born and raised in Santee and completed his Bachelor’s degree in Business Management at San Diego State University. He would go on to earn a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt certification from the University of California, San Diego, and leadership certifications from the San Diego Public Leadership Institute and Harvard Business School.

Darcy Fagerwold, Expressions Dance & Movement Center

Darcy Fagerwold is a teacher, mentor, entrepreneur, and motivational speaker who helps others embrace their own unique strengths. She is the owner of Expressions Dance & Movement Center, a Santee's Favorites Award winning business and the only Youth Protection Advocates in Dance (YPAD) certified studio in East County. As the 2020 Chairman of the Board for the Chamber of Commerce, Darcy dedicates her time to strengthening her community and helping other small businesses achieve success. Darcy is a Certified Coach and the Teacher Training Coordinator for More Than Just Great Dancing. She and her husband, Steve, have been married for 23 years and are the proud parents of 3 children.

Greg Gagnon, The UPS Store

Greg began as a Part Time worker in college for MBE, leading to manage his own store, then on to partner and Own a store. That one store became #1 in SD, then grew to 6 stores, the largest Multi Center operation on the West Coast with 38 staff like family. In 2014 He went solo, back to 1, then 3, and now 2 stores again. Greg sits on The UPS Store Co-Op BOD, Host’s its first Video series “THE ASK!”, and spoke at The UPS Store convention to 2,200 fellow owners. From the ground up he has learned from and given back to his The UPS Store family and Small Business Friends!

Ailen Lloyd, Lloyd’s Collision Center

Ailen Lloyd has worked in the automotive collision industry for over 25 years. As a Material Damage Supervisor in the insurance field, she took the lead as one the first females in the Material Damage Department. While working for the insurance industry, she remained in the background helping her husband Robert Lloyd with Lloyd’s Collision Center, in business for over 35 years. With the Santee shop booming, Ailen returned to help with the family business. Ailen and Robert built Lloyds as a family and community service-oriented business with locations in Santee and Lakeside. They have received business of the year awards in the automotive industry. Ailen has helped lead a number of charitable organizations, including the American Cancer Society Relay for Life, May Ride for the military, and Ronald McDonald House, to name a few. Believing in giving back to the community, she involves their business and the entire family in volunteering activities when needed.

Pamela White, City of Santee

Pamela White serves as Economic Development Manager for the City of Santee, handling business recruitment, business support and expansion, and marketing the Santee community to prospective new businesses. Since joining the City in 1985, she has also administered redevelopment, housing, and risk management programs. Pam has served on the Chamber Board since 2008, and has worked with the Chamber throughout her career with the City. She holds a Master's degree in Public Administration from San Bernardino State University, a BS degree in Business Administration from USD, and was a 20-year member of the International City Management Association.

Melissa Dombo, Raceway Electric & Solar

Melissa Dombo is a graduate of The Art Institute of California, San Diego, with more than 20 years of professional experience in marketing, design, web development, and project management. As co-owner of Raceway Electric & Solar, she leverages her diverse skillset to oversee the company’s marketing, finances, and community outreach. Born and raised in Santee, Melissa has deep ties to the community where she now lives with her husband, Mike, and their two children. Melissa is currently a director with the Santee Chamber of Commerce, is appointed to the Executive Committee, chairs The Santee Magazine Committee, and is Chair Elect.

Doug Whitney, Whitney Promotions, Inc.

Doug Whitney has lived in Santee with his lovely wife Cynthia for 17 years. They have two wonderful children ages 16 and 14. He has been in the promotional products industry for 20 years and started Whitney Promotions, Inc. 10 years ago. He enjoys bringing clients’ visions to life for them on many different products. He is also honored to be on the Santee Chamber Board. He loves Santee and wants to do his part to help it keep growing and be family and business friendly. A place where people want to live.

Mike Aiken, Carlton Oaks Golf Course

Before joining the Carlton Oaks team Mike served 6 years in the US Navy as a Sonar Supervisor and Leading Petty Officer on a nuclear submarine. He then joined the San Diego Police Department where he served 28 years before retiring in 2018 as a detective and K9 handler/trainer. Mike enjoys community service and volunteers on the Santee Community Oriented Policing Committee and also is a member of the Santee/Lakeside Rotary Club.

Sarah Wood, Allegiance Heating & Air Conditioning Inc.

Native to Santee, Sarah has owned Allegiance since her father's passing in 2009. She is passionate about growing her business and using her expertise to make a positive impact on her community. Besides her 2 daughters, her most prized accomplishment is the collaboration with the PHCC HVAC Academy Trade School that lead to a successful source of curriculum and education that is desperately needed in the trades. Furthermore, because of their company culture and customer satisfaction, Allegiance was named 2017 Santee's Favorite Contractor, BizX 2018 CEO of the Year, BizX 2019 Best Service, competing against 100s of companies Nationwide.

Susie Parks, Santee Coffee Corner

Susie holds a Master’s degree in Education Administration from SDSU. After 25 years in College administration, Susie joined her husband, Duane and their three children in the family coffee business. Coffee Corner was established in 2009 and now has a second location and a trolley food truck. Santee residents for 15 years, Susie and her family enjoy giving back to the community and deepening their connections around town. Susie recently joined the Santee Chamber’s Board of Directors after being a member for years and looks forward to the annual Santee Street Fair where she and her family participate and volunteer.

Additional Directors:

We welcome new Directors of 2021!

Daniel Buksa Mission Realty Group

Joe Mackey XL Staffing

Jim Peasley Padre Dam

Darlene Fenn Toastmasters International

Bobbie Jo Lewis Walmart

Mike Clinkenbeard Farmers Ins

Nita Lee Cameron Bros.

Tim Staump Staump Music School

Barbara Ryan Santee School District

Kyle Whissel Whissel Realty

Heating Up for the Holidays

As winter approaches, homeowners should plan for the cooler temperatures. Furnace manufacturers recommend annual inspections and maintenance by a qualified technician before you turn it on. They also may have language in their warranties saying that damage to the units caused by improper maintenance is not covered under the warranty.

A pre-winter furnace check-up may seem excessive when one can simply flip the switch yourself and see what happens. Experts do not agree. A furnace inspection will ensure that your unit is safe before you turn it on, free of gas leaks, and will help make your furnace function at maximum efficiency –saving you money!

Certified technicians from Allegiance can perform a thorough examination in advance so you are ready for winter. For example, the air filter may need to be changed, the blower belt may be worn, and air leaks may need

to be patched. How are the pilot light and burner? Have they been cleaned to ensure proper ignition? Most furnaces will require at least a quick vacuum to remove accumulated dust; though, a full-service cleaning may be recommended if the unit has not been cleaned in years.

Our technicians will also ensure clear pathways for airflow. Air must be able to enter the unit free of obstruction and the heated air must be able to reach the furthest corners of the home. The furnace exhaust must be expelled effectively through a chimney or vents. Lastly, our technicians will test for gas leaks, and carbon monoxide to make sure they are in good working order. Remember, these safety precautions can save lives only if the system is working properly. Your security is our concern!

A quick call to Allegiance can save you money and keep you and your family protected through the winter months.

Patience Please Santee…

Good news: HomeFed spent nearly a decade to create an inspirational plan for Fanita Ranch which was responsive to the community’s concerns and needs. After years of workshops and reviewing thousands of pages of technical studies your City Council wisely approved this vision for the future with a 4-1 vote at the Sept. 23rd City Council Meeting.

Bad news: Unfortunately, a small number of naysayers, led by Preserve Wild Santee, have taken actions to delay the project several years out of their own self-interest. Their recently filed litigation to contest the Environmental Impact Report will play out in court over the next two years and likely add $10,000-20,000 to the price of every new home in Fanita Ranch. Meanwhile, HomeFed’s efforts to fix SR-52, build a new fire station and generate significant fiscal benefits are now on hold, pushed off into the future. Thanks to Preserve Wild Santee efforts, the property will be locked up and residents will now have to wait years to use the proposed 35-miles of hiking and biking trails.

More Bad news: Further, a referendum was circulated and by some magical wand-waving, Preserve Wild Santee turned in more than 6,200 signatures in less than 22 days, by misinforming the citizens that “traffic was going to be horrendous”.

We listened to you and your number one concern is the traffic on SR-52 and Mast Blvd. For the first time in several decades, a developer that cares about the community has stepped up and proposed to construct new lanes and other improvements to SR-52 that will make traffic better than it has been on the freeway and on Mast Boulevard. And, under contractual obligation between HomeFed and the City, all the proposed improvements to SR-52 would be completed prior to the first homeowner moving into Fanita Ranch.

Over the next few years Santee’s fiscal deficits will result in decreased city maintenance to roads, parks, and other amenities, as well as public safety reductions and City pension shortfalls.

But now we all wait. For most of you, we ask your patience and continued support over the next few years as we tackle these self-interest roadblocks.

Fanita Ranch Advertorial sponsored by HomeFed Corporation

We know most of you have seen our wheel, but you may be thinking: “What is Rotary?” Rotary is a world- wide service organization whose motto is, “Service Above Self.” And for those of you who are wondering “Who are Rotarians?” They are people of all ages, genders and backgrounds: in short, anyone. What binds Rotarians together is their common desire to help their community grow and prosper by making life better for everyone.

On July 22, 2020, the Santee City Council honored the Rotary Club of Santee-Lakeside with a Proclamation recognizing the club’s six decades of “outstanding, hardworking, compassionate volunteerism benefiting the communities of Santee and Lakeside.” Originally chartered on May 23, 1960, Rotary shows no sign of slowing down in 2020—or beyond. Not even COVID-19 has taken a toll on the community service projects slated for this year. We have collected items for a Veteran’s Home, picked oranges to donate for those who are hungry and even donated $1500 to the Santee Food Bank. This year, Rotary has pledged financial and other support to the following charities and community service programs:

• Buddy’s Backpacks

• Santee Food Bank

• Meals On Wheels East County

• PAWS for Purple Hearts

• East County Transitional Living Center

• Human Trafficking COVID-19 Era

After selecting these six entities for financial support, Rotary obtained matching grants from the local Rotary District 5340 that will effectively double the amount of money raised. “We don’t just support our selected partners with monetary contributions,” said current President Laura Purdom, “Club members support these organizations with donations of their time and other substantial support as well.”

Other projects include support for Little Free Libraries, where members adopt locations and keep

ROTARIANS IN MOTION: THE ROTARY WHEEL KEEPS TURNING

them stocked with donated books. Additionally, our club is collecting men’s shoes for St. Vincent de Paul, toiletries for La Mesa City Hope and toilet paper for the East County Transitional Living Center.

Rotarians are People of Action and live their lives under the guidance of the Four Way Test. This simple test ensures that members are dealing with business and personal decisions in the best possible way. First, Is it the Truth? Second, Is it Fair to All Concerned?

Third, Will It Build Goodwill and Better Friendships?

Fourth, Will It Be Beneficial to All Concerned? And in recent times, a fifth question has been added to the test: “Is it Fun?”

Members of Rotary regularly participate with local projects such as Santee Santas, Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive, School Beautification Days and fingerprinting of children. We also participate in a yearly Rotarians at Work Day – past projects include planting trees at Santee Lakes, clearing brush at Mission Trails and assisting seniors in our mobile home parks. Our club’s Scholar Program provides one-on-one mentoring to local high school students at El Capitan, Santana and West Hills High Schools to help them graduate, with the added incentive of college level scholarships for those who successfully graduate with their class.

In addition, Rotary has provided aide to programs and projects worldwide, including Kenya, Mexico, and Rotary International’s PolioPlus Program to eradicate Polio worldwide.

Please join us at one of our meetings to see what we are all about; we currently meet via zoom on the first and third Thursday of the month. You can also visit our website at www.santeelakesiderotary.org. or email us at info@santeelakesiderotary.org for more information.

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SOCIALIZING SANTEE

SANTEE CHAMBER’S VETERANS APPRECIATION GOLF DAY

On November 6th the Santee Chamber hosted a day of golf at Carlton Oaks, celebrating some local heroes: our Veterans! It looked a little different than last year with new COVID safety regulations in place, but thankfully we were still able to host our first in-person event the Chamber had seen in months. While golf events aren’t uncommon to Chambers, this particular one has evolved for us over the years and we are quite proud on where we’ve arrived. After bringing this event back to Santee’ “home course” of Carlton Oaks last year, we have been able to grow the focus onto the most important key factor: honoring local Veterans. Each Veteran who arrived was given a medallion to wear, thanking them for their service. In fact, many of these players were hosted completely by local businesses and individuals who chose our Host a Hero sponsorship option, paying for their day on the greens.

Our sponsor title Lennar was excited to support alongside us. Thanks to their generosity, we were also able to provide a special pause in play during the day to salute our heroes with a special WWII aircraft flyover by San Diego Salute. With several sponsors and donors being Veteran-Owned Businesses (Chick-fil-A Santee, Copper Collar Distillery, Mike Hess Brewing, Liberty Call Distilling, and Integrity Bottles to name a few) we saw a great sense of pride in the comradery shared to participate in a military-focused event. We had a special appearance from Paws for Purple Hearts, the world’s only service dog organization for wounded Service Members and Veterans. Guests were greeted by one of their service dogs during registration, see some training in action, and an opportunity to learn more about their mission and values.

Although I am eager to get back to some pre-COVID ways of life, I would be remiss not to mention some impacts I’ve seen to our Santee Veteran organizations over the past few months. The Chamber partnered with our local VFW and American Legion Posts to pair Veterans with business sponsored tee-times. While hosting them to this day of appreciation, it came to our attention that the VFW and American Legion Post 364 are struggling to maintain their rent in town. They too are feeling the financial hits of 2020. The VFW Post 9327, American Legion Post 364, their Auxiliaries and a motorcycle riding club are share a space on Magnolia Avenue. As our Vets fight to maintain their home away from home, we are hoping our community will please consider a direct donation to their online Go Fund Me campaign which can be found at www.bit.ly/372qaL1.

– Kristen Dare, CEO Santee Chamber of Commerce

Santee School District...

Funding for these projects was provided by a voter-approved school bond and through the sale of school district property.

Cajon Park Carlton Hills Carlton oaks CHet F. Harritt steam

“WHere Young minds meet oPen doors”

Chet F. Harritt Middle School Building and Learning Resource Center

Pride Academy Learning Resource Center

Sycamore Canyon Learning Resource Center

GOOD THINGS COMING

The School Yard at Santee

10335 Mission Gorge Road Santee, CA 92071

Large Floorplate Office + Medical | Development by Cameron Brothers Company

WORK WHERE YOU LIVE

The East County Economic Development Council has adopted the 'Work Where you Live' campaign to encourage employers to locate into Santee to provide high-paying jobs to local residents and significantly reduce commuter congestion on CA-8 and CA-52 freeways through a 'reverse commute' strategy.

SHORTAGE OF OFFICES

conceptual plan

(Subject to change)

There is an acute shortage of large office and medical spaces in East County, specifically in Santee. The School Yard will solve this issue by providing mass floor plate office spaces. In return providing more customers and local spending to support Santee businesses and restaurants.

BUILD TO SUIT

Benefits of new construction leasing, divisible space plans are available. Multiple configurations can be accommodated prior to build.

GOOD THINGS

INCREASING INTEREST

With quality prospective tenants already showing interest in two of the site buildings, we know the project has been well received.

MARKETING BY KYLE CLARK, SENIOR DIRECTOR

MY HOMETOWN

CAMERON BROTHERS CONSTRUCTION COMPANY

It is fitting to see the Cameron name on landmarks around town. The Cameron family is heading into their 6th generation in Santee. Their family business, Cameron Brothers Construction Company, will be celebrating their 75th anniversary next year. The first generation of the family migrated from Germany in 1836 and Scotland in 1906 and worked at the SimpsonPirnie Granite Company Quarry in Santee now the site of Cameron’s Mobile Estates. That was just the beginning of

Commenting on what makes a family business survive, Sharlene Cameron says “It is often discussed in our meetings, what would Daddy do? What would Uncle

I met the business leaders over Zoom to discuss their business. Surrounded by historical family photos hanging on the walls, Sharlene Cameron (John Cameron’s daughter), Chris Cook and Waneta Lee (William Cameron’s grandchildren) along with the company CEO Jim Moxham sit in their conference room located on Prospect Avenue. The office sits on the same property where William and John and their brothers Harry and Jim were born. William and Waneta Cameron and John and Shirley Cameron founded Cameron

When asked what doing business in Santee means to them, Sharlene Cameron responded “Santee is home. We have pretty much covered this city on horseback, hiking, or on bicycles through the years. Bill and Waneta Cameron used to ride horses through town down to Mission Valley to go hunting.” She continued to share stories showing a clear love for Santee, the city that holds

so much of their family history.

Authentic pride often sources success. “William and John built Cameron Brothers Construction Company from the ground up. They had nothing. William and Waneta Cameron lived in an old chicken coop with their daughters for a time. They are a true example of the American dream. We are proud of what our father and grandfather have done. We try to live up to their expectations.” says Waneta Lee.

Many multi-generation family businesses must overcome financial odds and personal differences in order to retain their focus. When asked how they make it all work, Jim Moxham shares “Our core values are honesty and integrity…and patience! That is the true nature of a family business. You must have patience!” Laughter erupts in agreement of his comment. Waneta Lee adds “We were taught that your word is your bond. If you say it, do it.” She playfully goes on to say, ‘Oh, and never do anything you don’t want to see on the front page of the newspaper.” I would say that is sound advice!

One of their most iconic projects in Santee is the Cameron Family YMCA, a testament to their philanthropic values. When asked what their motivation was for the building, Waneta Lee responded “The youth matter. The YMCA is a safe place where kids learn values. We wanted to invest in future generations.”

With their strong family roots in Santee, they discuss their desire to support proper growth of our city. They have been financial contributors and supporters of the Mayor’s Highway 52 Coalition which works to resolve Highway 52 congestion and address the long-term needs and betterment of the Santee Community.

Cameron Brothers Construction Company has many projects under its belt. It was interesting to hear about their involvement in grading the original and iconic San Diego Stadium in addition to the development of their local properties such as Cameron’s Mobile Estate, Santee Station, and Rockvill RV and Self-Storage. Still in the planning stages is their newest project The School Yard located on the site of the old Santee School.

Good business goes beyond the day-to-day work for the Cameron family. They clearly love being a part of what they are building, and reinvesting in their hometown.

– Melissa Dombo

DRE Pacific Sotheby’s 1111 Prospect La Jolla, c 858.442.7565 brittney.akins@sothebysrealty.com pacificsothebysrealty.com

Brittney Akins, Realtor® DRE #02124467

Brittney Akins, Realtor® DRE #02124467

Pacific Sotheby’s International Realty 1111 Prospect St. Suite 100 La Jolla, CA 92037 858.442.7565

Pacific Sotheby’s International Realty 1111 Prospect St. Suite 100 La Jolla, CA 92037 c 858.442.7565

brittney.akins@sothebysrealty.com pacificsothebysrealty.com Each Office is Independently Owned and Operated.

brittney.akins@sothebysrealty.com pacificsothebysrealty.com Each Office is Independently Owned and Operated.

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Collision & Paint Center

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“I will always trust them to give me the best price and the best outcome. Hands down best collision repair shop in the area!”

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“They were prompt and professional in fixing the dents and repainting in a timely manner as promised!”

Christie L. via Yelp

Lloyd’s Collision & Paint Center, located in Santee & Lakeside, has been local family owned and operated since 1984, specializing in Body repair, Collision repair, and Restoration repair. At Lloyd’s Collision we offer a lifetime warranty as long as our clients own the vehicle. This warranty is covered anywhere in the US through our paint manufacturer. We are independently certified for quality automotive repairs to the manufactures’ standard through Veriacts, as well as being I-Car Gold. Discounts offered to all seniors and military.

since

SANTEE SCOOP

Hi, I’m John Olsen, a longtime resident and business advocate of Santee. As an active member of the Santee Chamber I often showcase upcoming development projects and events around town. Be sure to follow me for more on Facebook.com/SanteeUpdate

Now streaming - Santee Update Podcast!

The Santee Update started in 2015 as a Facebook video post by John Olsen to help keep the community informed about the goings on in and around Santee. Over the years, his audience has organically grown to more than 5,000 followers on Facebook locally and as far away as Japan.

“When I first started posting I was surprised to see how many people outside of Santee followed The Santee Update. The first few years, the Facebook community was very generous with sharing the videos so the audience grew pretty fast, especially after the Mary’s Donuts Grand Opening post reached more than 20,000 views.”

Recently TSU has branched out to produce a weekly podcast with John Olsen and Santee Chamber CEO, Kristen Dare. The weekly podcast is recorded live every Tuesday and available for you listening pleasure on your favorite podcast service by Wednesday morning. Olsen says, “Currently the Santee Update podcast has three areas of focus, business spotlights, community events and local government. It’s been fun partnering with Kristen and the Chamber to bring local happenings and issues to the community.”

Early next year, we hope to post videos of the podcast on Facebook. Currently, the Santee Update podcast can be found on Apple Podcast and Spotify.

Asian Kitchen Santee – Now Open!

Located at 9720 Mission Gorge Road in conjunction with the Bagel & Donut Bar, Asian Kitchen offers premium, quality food made-to-order. Located conveniently and accessible for the whole family, Asian Kitchen is in the Mission Gorge Square Shopping Center.

Asian Kitchen has brought the flavors of Thai & Cambodian food to Santee with over 70 items on their menu. With soup and salads, appetizers, stir fry, curry, noodles and specialties, there is something offered geared for all ages to enjoy. They even offer desserts and beverages, with Jack Fruit Sticky Rice being a local favorite!

With to-go options available, a phone order can made with a pick-up time of often less than 15 minutes. Owner Kevin Chanda stated, “Safety is our number one priority. Orders can be done by visiting our website (https:// asian-kitchen.square.site) or by calling 619-499-7395. Most times we are able to bring the order to your vehicle. One customer ordered through our website and the food was prepared. Once they arrived at the store, we brought it out and placed their food in their trunk, offering a completely contactless delivery. Our goal is to serve premium quality food for the whole family to enjoy while staying safe, especially during these unprecedented times.”

As we are well into the holiday season and even further into this pandemic, the time is now to support our business members. Please consider using this list of local businesses who belong to the Santee Chamber

efforts to Shop Santee.

Dadian

Data

Deniese

RCP

Re/Max

San Diego Employers Association (858) 505-0024 sdea.com

San Diego River Park Foundation (619) 297-7380 sandiegoriver.org

San Diego Small Business Development Center ...... (619) 482-6391 ................ sdivsbdc.org

Santee Athletic Basketball .......................................... (619) 792-5758 ................ Sandiegoelitesportz.com

Santee Children's Dentistry (619) 449-4673 santeechildrensdentistry.com

Santee Family Optometry (619) 448-2020 santeevision.com

Santee Food Bank (619) 448-2096 thesanteefoodbank.org

Santee Historical Society (619) 449-2024 santeehistoricalsociety.org

Santee Lakes Recreation Preserve (619) 596-3141 santeelakes.com

Santee-Lakeside Rotary Club..................................... ........................................ santeelakesiderotary.org

Santee Santas Foundation ......................................... (619) 258-5947 ................ santeesantas.org

Santee School District (619) 576-4080 santeesd.net

Santee School District Foundation (619) 258-2200 santeefoundation.net

Santee Sheriff's Department (619) 258-2200 sdsheriff.net

Santee Smiles Dentistry (619) 448-2158 santeesmilesdentistry.com

Santee Trolley Square/ Kimco Realty (619) 223-9400 shopsanteetrolleysquare.com

Santee VFW Post 9327 .............................................. (619) 562-4022 ................ bit.ly/372qaL1

Sarit + State Creative Studio ...................................... (619) 318-3454 ................ saritstate.com

Scantibodies Laboratory Inc. (619) 258-9300 scantibodies.com

SD Party Rentals (858) 776-2345 sdpartyrentals.com

LOCAL INVENTOR HELPING BUSINESSES STAY OPEN DURING PANDEMIC

The COVID-19 Pandemic has been very trying on many local businesses, with most, if not all of them, having to acquire new forms of protective equipment in order to stay open during the various threat levels established by the state government. One local inventor is doing his part to help businesses keep their customers safe so they can keep their doors open during these trying times.

John Yeiser IV, a fifthgeneration inventor and president of Yeiser Research & Development, LLC in Santee, has created the world’s first portable credit card cleaner for consumers and a retail version that businesses can use next to their point-of-purchase machines. The personal credit card cleaner is small enough to fit in your purse or pocket so that you can clean your card immediately after using it in a card reader or handing it to a cashier. The commercial version is available for businesses to keep on their counter, giving them one more piece of protective equipment to safeguard their customers and employees from picking up harmful bacteria from each other.

“I saw a study that showed how credit cards were not only the dirtiest form of payment out there, but that they were actually found to be dirtier than a urinal handle in New York City’s Penn Station,” noted Mr. Yeiser. “When you think about it, it makes total sense. At stores and restaurants, there is one thing just about everyone needs to touch and that’s the credit card reader. When you put your card in there, it picks up the germs of the hundreds, if not thousands of people that used that terminal before you. You may have a cashier that is wearing gloves, but that just protects their hands from getting whatever is on your card and vice versa. It doesn’t stop the transmission from the last card they touched to your card.”

With this information in mind, Mr. Yeiser set out to invent something that would rectify the situation while being compact enough to keep with you. “There are UV cleaners that you can use when you get home to disinfect your cards, phone, keys, etc., but by the time you use that, you’ve already touched the card with your hands and put it in your wallet or purse, contaminating those surfaces. It needed to be something that worked before you ever

put your card away and was small enough to be available whenever you use your card.”

Mr. Yeiser’s unique background made him the perfect man for the job. He can trace his family’s passion for inventing back to the 1700’s, when John Otho Yeiser Sr. invented one of the first safety pins. The family has also created water injection systems for WWII aircraft, space antennas and even early computer printers, to name a few. Over the past twenty years, John has invented over 500 items ranging from automotive to garden to beauty to kitchen to home décor products, even a high altitude jet engine. Yeiser Research & Development has sold products in over 120 countries and generated over $250 million in revenue. He has appeared in over 1000 televised live appearances in the US, UK, Germany, Italy and Canada, and has passed on the love of inventing to his children, Aubree and Jack. In addition to his inventing prowess, Mr. Yeiser also holds the Guinness World Record as the World’s Fastest Trap Shooter, built the world’s fastest dirt bike, and competes in many off-road racing events with his son, Jack.

“We were able to come up with something that fit the bill when it came to portability, while also making sure to evenly cost your card for ultimate cleanliness,” said Mr. Yeiser. “We included a stylus that stays submerged in the cleaner when not in use, so you can use keypads and touch screens without touching them with your fingers or using the public stylus that everyone else uses.” The Teko also features a silicone seal and locking latch that prevents spills and keeps the solution from drying out. During the design process, it was determined that a retail version would make sense for businesses that wanted to provide the option to their customers.

As the pandemic wore on, it became apparent that the retail option would be a great benefit to keeping businesses open as as it would be one more cost-effective layer of protection for their customers. YRD has given a number of units out to local businesses in Santee to help keep them running. “We’re happy we are able to help out, and what better place place to start than right here in Santee?”

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