Svcc august business monthly e news

Contents Chamber Board Chair Message - Page 2 Chamber Board Members - Page 3 Alcoa Hosts Manufacturers’ Roundtable - Page 4 Chamber Urges Congress to Support Export-Import Bank - Page 4 Networking Breakfast - Page 5 Safety and Emergency Preparedness Panel - Page 6 Simi Valley - The Guide Advertising - Pages 7-10 Taste of the Chamber Mixer - Page 11 Travel With The Chamber - Page 12 Race Like a Rock-Star at the YPN Social - Page 13 Simi Valley Advisory Council Meeting with Assemblyman Scott Wilk - Page 14 Community Events - Page 15 Ribbon Cuttings - Page 15 Executive Members - Page 15 Member Advertisements - Page 16

As we hit the mid-year mark of 2014, our board and staff have been busy on your behalf during the first half of the year. We have seen another successful Street Fair and many fun breakfast and luncheon events. We have been exploring some new ventures and partnering with other coalitions to strengthen our membership. Here are some highlights:

Promoting the Community Tourism Marketing District:

Dan Jaeger Simi Valley Chamber of Commerce 2014 Board Chair

The Chamber, Local Hoteliers and The City have partnered to implement a Tourism Marketing District with the intent is to bring groups and organizations to the community for meetings event support and attraction to sustain and grow existing events and overnight visitors to our community, to create new events that do the same and to attract events currently taking place elsewhere that bring overnight visitors to Simi Valley.

Street Fair: Our most successful Street Fair yet, with over 350 participants and more than 15,000 attendees. Held on Cochran Street the second Saturday in May, the event seems to grow each year.

Leadership Simi Valley: The Leadership Simi Valley program completed the 25th Class, Class of 2014 and held their Graduation ceremony with LSV Alumni in attendance in June. Recruiting has begun for the Class of 2015.

We Create Opportunities for Business Success by:

 Creating a strong local economy  Providing networking opportunities  Representing the interests of business with government

 Taking political action  Supporting a sustainable future

State of the City: Mayor Bob Huber gave an update on the state of our city. City leaders and department heads gave updates on the status of each department as it related to the business community.

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Business Advocacy: The Simi Valley Chamber of Commerce took an active role in business advocacy in the past six months. This means we lobbied, wrote letters and sent emails on your behalf to State Legislators and bill authors to fight for business issues.

Health care: The Chamber was very active in its opposition to the Health Care Reforms due to the effect it will have on em ployer’s ability to pay for it.

Split Roll Taxes: This issue would upend Prop 13 by allowing property tax in creases for commercial buildings. We won a victory on our fight with this as it did not pass last month. How ever, we think it will return next year with a different name and number.

Washington DC and Sacramento lobbying trips: The Simi Valley Chamber participated in the US Chamber’s Advocacy Fly-In program where seven chamber members and staff met with US Chamber Representatives, Congressman Buck McKeon and Congresswoman Julia Brownley, to discuss issues facing California Businesses.

Also in May, the Simi Valley Chamber participated in the California Chamber’s Business Briefing, where we won an award for our business advocacy efforts. We met with Assemblyman Scott Wilk and Senator Fran Pavely about business issues affecting our chamber members.

Networking Activities: Breakfasts: Monthly networking breakfasts have seen record attendance. The live sound bite commercials and introduction of the new members make for a lively and informative breakfast.

Ribbon Cuttings: We have had over 30 Ribbon Cutting ceremonies so far this year. Members have celebrated anniversaries, milestones, new partnerships, and of course Grand Openings.

This has been a great opportunity for members to network with one another while attending the ribbon cutting for a business.

Ambassadors: Chamber Ambassadors are there to help greet new members and prospects at all networking events. They are also mentoring new chamber members and helping them to get their business involved and active.

Other Projects: Simi Valley Chamber of Commerce Workforce Alliance: The Simi Valley Chamber of Commerce is launching a new Work force Foundation and is in the process of completing the 501 C3 paper work to launch in the last quarter of 2014.

Re-Accreditation: The Simi Valley Chamber’s 25 year Reaccreditation application will be due at the end of 2014. Meetings are in process and the various groups are evaluating all aspects of the Simi Valley Chamber programs, governance, finances, communications.

MISSION STATEMENT The Chamber Promotes Business in Simi Valley Through Leadership, Political Action and Services to Increase Opportunities For Our Members OFFICERS Dan Jaeger Board Chair Simi Valley Family YMCA Leigh Nixon President & CEO Simi Valley Chamber of Commerce Michelle Foster Chair-Elect Simi Valley Hospital Maggie Kestly Chief Financial Officer Mid Valley Properties Mike McCaffrey Vice Chair Economic Development McCaffrey Insurance Services Jim Vigdor Vice Chair Legislative Action Alcoa Fastening Systems Caroline Gibson Vice Chair Tourism Best Western Plus Posada Royale Hotel & Suites Mike Nolan Past Chair & Secretary Aflac Insurance

DIRECTORS Pat Abruzzese, Pacific Cabling Network Solutions Karen Gabler, LightGabler LLP Jill Haney, Union Bank Lisa Hemenway, Waste Management Mike Hoffman, The 20/20 Network PR Phil Isbell, Simi Valley Buick GMC Gina Mazzapica, Time Warner Cable Media Scott Newbern, AeroVironment Celina Zacarias, CSU Channel Islands BOARD ADVISORS Dick Erbe, Law Offices of Richard S. Erbe Tim Shannon, Farmers Insurance Larry Hibbler, Simi Valley Ford STAFF Leigh Nixon, President & CEO Michele Bennett, Vice President John Tolson, Director of Membership & Marketing Kathi Van Etten, Director of Communications Marybeth Jacobsen, Governmental Relations Manager Mackenzie Tolson, Projects Coordinator Michelle Skidmore, Advertising Director Sally Grant, Receptionist SIMI VALLEY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND VISITOR’S CENTER 40 W. Cochran Street, Suite 100 Simi Valley , CA 93065 Phone: 805-526-3900 Fax: 805-526-6234 www.simivalleychamber.org

Chamber Gathers Major Manufacturers to Simi Valley Alcoa Fastening Systems in Simi Valley, CA was host to Simi Valley Chamber of Commerce’s first Manufacturer’s Roundtable. The event assembled key players from business, education and government to initiate a discussion on workforce development, the mantra of the Chamber’s newly forming Workforce Education Coalition.

Representatives from large and small businesses including Alcoa, Boeing, Chevron, Meggitt, AeroVironment, Vanderhorst Bros., Jaxx Electronics, Kinamed, Udash, Malabar, Interscan, and Wattz On entered into conversation with educators from the Ventura County Office of Education and College of the Canyons and Government representatives for State Assemblyman Jeff Gorell, Ventura County Supervisor Peter Foy and the City of Simi Valley’s Asst.

City Manager, Brian Gabler.

Jack Stewart, President of the California Manufacturing and Technology Association (CMTA) and longtime advocate of career tech education for the development of a skilled workforce was the Keynote Speaker for the Roundtable and shared his perspectives on the critical shortage of technically skilled workers and college educated engineers and how business and educators can work together to fill these shortages.

Stewart said “we need to change the perception that exists of factories being a dirty and low wage environment.

The fact is, just the opposite.

Today’s manufacturing environments are clean and staffed with a well paid workforce with good benefits.

However, that workforce is aging and needs to have the current workforce gaps filled with people graduating High School and College.”

By Marybeth Jacobsen

Chamber Urges Congress to Support Export-Import Bank The United States has had an Export-Import Bank for 80 years. Unless Congress reauthorizes the bank by September 30, its charter will expire.

Jim Vigdor, Operations Manager at Alcoa Fastening Systems and Vice Chairmen of Legislative Advocacy Forum for the Chamber noted “Mr. Stewart’s comments were supported by the HR Managers, Presidents and CEO’s who indicated they have a very difficult time finding skilled workers for their available positions. Educators indicated that they are struggling to discover the business needs to develop acceptable Certification programs in schools.

Further the educators indicated that the legislatively mandated coursework admissions requirements for the UC and CSU systems precludes students from attending these technical skilled based career track courses as they are not included in college admission requirements.”

Roundtable members indicated that bolstering intern programs suggesting government legislative incentives to not only support businesses that offer internships to students but give the capability to those companies who otherwise would not be able to offer internships.

The Roundtable created a very dynamic conversation to address a growing issue already having a negative impact on business and the Chamber intends to continue this program and move the dialogue into actions to resolve this critical business need. the dialogue into actions to resolve this critical business need.

Last year the Bank, which operates at no cost to taxpayers, supported $37 billion in exports which sustained more than 200,000 American jobs. Small and medium sized businesses accounted for ninety percent of the Bank’s transactions.

The Bank’s loan guarantees for exports will disappear if the Bank charter expires. Because other nations much more aggressively support their exporters, U.S. exporters will be at a severe global trade disadvantage without re-authorization.

California is the second largest exporting state in the country. In the last two years, the Bank supported over $85 million in exports just from our Congressional District. If the Bank dissolves, California in general, and our Congressional District in particular, will lose sales and jobs at a time when we should be boosting exports to grow our economy. Congressman McKeon stands behind re-authorization and will support the Bank when a vote comes to the floor.

Business community support for reauthorization is over-whelming. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce teamed up with the National Association of Manufacturers to urge Congress to re-authorize the Export-Import Bank. Together, these two organizations have submitted a letter of support for re-authorization to Congress that is endorsed by over 800 businesses, associations and Chambers (including the Simi Valley Chamber of Commerce).

We will keep you posted as re-authorization comes up for a vote.

At the July 2014 Networking Breakfast, Tom Saulnier of Hand in Hand Mobile Massage was recognized as Ambassador of the Quarter for the second quarter of 2014. Tom has served on the Ambassador Team for many years and has been an asset to the team attending numerous events, assisting with the TMD and the shredding events and has mentored several new members this last quarter. He sets the standard on the quality of mentoring‌

Congratulations Tom!

Representatives from the Freed Clinic of Simi Valley Board of Directors pose with 2014 Chamber Board Chair, Dan Jaeger, at the July 2014 Networking Breakfast.

The mission of the Free Clinic of Simi Valley is to provide medical care, counseling, dental and legal assistance to individuals and families, regardless of their ability to pay.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 8TH

7:00 a.m. Networking—7:30 a.m. Meeting Sponsor : Simi Valley Days Grand Vista Hotel, 999 Enchanted Way, Simi Valley

Members: Advance-$18.00 (At Door $20.00) Non-Member: $20.00 RSVP by Noon on Wednesday, July 9 to get on the HOT SHEET!

August 2014 Chamber Events:

Major Community Events for August 2014:

Visit www.simichamber.org or call 805-526-3900 for event details Tues. August 5 SCORE Seminar-Technology to Support Your Business - www.ventura.score.org Fri., August 8 Networking Breakfast 7:00 AM—Grand Vista Hotel

Visit the individual websites for more information August 2 Fairy Tales in the Park -

Fri., August 8

August 7 Big Band Dinner & Dance-Music of the 20’s, 30’s & 40’s

Fri., August 8 Wed., August 20 Fri., August 22 Fri., August 29

Shredding Event 1:00 PM-4:00 PM– Chamber Parking Lot Ribbon Cutting at The MINT Fashion Exchange 12:00 Noon -themintfashionexchange.com YPN Mixer at MB2 Raceway 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM Safety & Emergency Preparedness Panel 8:00 AM-9:30 AM- Courtyard by Marriott YPN Cash Mob Lunch at 118 Café 12:00 Noon

Add your event to the Chamber Community www.simichamber.org/events It’s FREE & it’s EASY!

Events Calendar at

Visiting Angels, 1791 Erringer Rd., # 201 celebrated their Grand Opening with a ribbon cutting on July 16.

Visiting Angels - 805-522-9900

Rancho Simi Community Park Amphitheater www.rsrpd.org August 2 National Night Out - 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Your Neighborhood www.simivalley.org Reagan Library - www.reaganfoundation.org/events August 11 Dog Days of Summer Golf Classic/Simi Valley Police Foundation

- 9:00 AM www.svpf.org August 14 The 4th Annual Little Black Dress Fashion Show 6:00 PM

One of the Girls www.oneofthegirls.us August 16 Music In The Park—Rancho Simi Madera park - 6PM

Lynryd Skynrd Tribute - www.rsrpd.org August 27 Simi Valley Hospital Foundation Golf Classic -

Moorpark Country Club - simivalleyhospital.com/foundation August 23 A Tribute to the Eagles - The Long Run Band

Reagan Library - www.reaganfoundation.org/events

Comfy Dental, 1357 E. Los Angeles Ave., #1 celebrated their Grand Opening with a ribbon cutting on July 17.

Comfy Dental - 805-433-9117

The Simi Valley Chamber of Commerce 40 W. Cochran Street, #100 Simi Valley, CA 93065 805-526-3900 www.simivalleychamber.org

$5 or Less Bookstore, 2880-A Cochran Street celebrated the Grand Opening of their new location with a ribbon cutting on July 25. $5 or Less Bookstore - 805-584-8979