Off tO the Races

By Trish Christensen

We kicked off January with a huge bang! Our first Inspire Youth Inspire Dreams Career Exploration 8th grade Expo was such a success! Cohosted by Modesto City Schools, the event was supported by a broad mix of people from our business and education committee, partners, sponsors, 60 high school program pathways, and close to 250 industry, faculty, and high school student volunteers. We collectively witnessed the buzz and energy of approximately 4200 students coming and going in waves, from 4 different school districts, in a five-and-a-half-hour window, utilizing 26+ buses. All I can really say is we can’t wait for the next one! Thank you to all who played a role in the success of this incredible event.

One week following the Expo was our Annual Awards and Anniversaries Soiree, and what a wonderful evening it was. With approximately 350 in attendance, we all enjoyed food sampling from a wonderful mix of restaurants. We took the opportunity to introduce the Modesto Chamber board members joining and retiring from our board of directors. We introduced our Leadership Modesto 2023 classmates and steering committee members. We took the opportunity to introduce our Modesto Chamber of Commerce Foundation inaugural board and wrapped up the program by celebrating our ten award recipients for their good work in 2022. What an evening to be proud of!

Our Rising Professionals Network hosts their next quarterly Rise and Shine with the Executives breakfast Thursday, February 9th. This leadership session leans into education with the panel participants being Scott Kuykendahl, Superintendent of Stanislaus County Office of Education; Dr. Sara Noguchi, Superintendent of Modesto City School District, and retired Modesto Junior College Foundation Executive Director, George Boodrookas. Information and to register, please go to our website.

April 20th will be when we hold the next Ag Aware Luncheon. This is an annual scholarship fundraiser for our local Future Farmers of America (FFA) high school programs.

Please save the date and make it a point to buy a ticket or sponsor this long-standing tradition. Once again this will take place at the ACE Ag Pavilion, Modesto Junior College, West. Last year’s event came close to full attendance even though it was not too long after the covid spike of last winter. This year we hope to draw a greater crowd and raise a greater amount of scholarship dollars which we divide equally between our high school, including Center Catholic, FFA programs.

Watch our news and social media platforms for constantly added networking opportunities. These include new member/new business/member anniversary ribbon cuttings, green certified/sustainability ribbon cuttings, and our Member Mix & Mingles. We just love to celebrate with our members and partners! There will also be a couple of Multi Chamber Mixers on the horizon.

For our members specifically, if you, or members of your team would serve your organization well as a great networker and would love to celebrate our members at things like ribbon cuttings and mixers, please send them our way. We are actively growing our Welcome Team! Know that our Economic Development Committee meets on the first Wednesday of each month and the Government Relations Council meets on the third Friday of each month, both from 11:30 to 1. Both with refreshed leadership and energy. Our Stanislaus Green Team meets on the third Thursday of each month at noon. Our Women in Business Network meets on the third Tuesday and Rising Professionals on the forth Thursday but rotate by month from a breakfast/coffee session, a lunch and learn, to an evening ”mixer”. Tech Connect is currently meeting quarterly in the evenings.

We look forward to seeing you and your team at all the above you can attend, member or not.

With warm regards,

Trish

Each member of the Chamber is important, no matter the size of business. We desire for local businesses and organizations to succeed and thrive. To reach this goal we provide exposure, opportunities to engage with Regional Electeds and community partners, as well as networking with businesses and organizations across industries. We work to better our community by providing up-to-date education and training, certifying qualifying businesses as Green, and providing advocacy on City, State, and Federal levels. The Chamber is a family of dedicated professionals striving to make a difference in their business and way of life. Whatever your business needs are, we invite you to join us.

To execute our adopted mission we have developed an acronym that helps keep us focused. That acronym is “CARES: Community, Advocacy, Relationships, Education and Service.”

C - Community

At its heart, the Modesto Chamber is a community of like-minded business owners who share the vision for enjoying a thriving economy and creating and maintaining our community as a vibrant place to live, work and play. With over 100 years of history and experience in the Greater Modesto Area, we understand what it means to be a business owner and customer in our community, with featured events such as local and regional forums, Ag Aware, Harvest Luncheon, and Family Day. Chamber members get the opportunity to actively engage in and influence the community they live and work in.

A - Advocacy

The Modesto Chamber supports local businesses and is an active advocate for the common interest of its members. The Chamber has an Economic Development Committee and a Government Relations Council. These advocacy committees are dedicated and proactive in representing our members and community. They work to address business initiatives and relieve the regulatory burdens businesses face may face. The Chamber is also honored to certify local businesses and organizations through our California Green Business Network Stanislaus Program. Through this we create more conscientious and sustainable ways of life while lowering the cost of doing business for our community and future generations.

R - Relationships

The Modesto Chamber of Commerce specializes in building relationships and serving as the nexus to businesses, nonprofit organizations, and governmental agencies. With over a dozen Committees, Programs, and Events in which our members can participate, the Chamber offers ample opportunity to meet and connect with other business owners in our community. As a relational organization, the Chamber works with its members to ensure the opportunity to connect and grow in every niche and industry to help build and cultivate long-lasting relationships among business owners and community partners alike.

E - Education

The Modesto Chamber of Commerce values education and offers members the opportunity to stay on the leading edge with new and emerging information and training that will set your business apart from the rest. In partnership with Modesto Junior College, the Chamber is pleased to offer an assortment of trainings applicable to any business or industry for credited completion through our Chamber University platform. Our Chamber also works with members to provide a platform to speak to their own industry expertise and invite other members to learn from those leading our local industries.

S - Service

The Modesto Chamber of Commerce offers its members a wide range of opportunities to promote and engage their business across industry and community lines. The Chamber Weekly E-Blast, Website, and our Progress Magazine provide opportunities to advertise and promote your business, keep up to date with articles about local businesses in our community, and stay in the loop about up-and-coming Chamber and community events. Our Chamber also offers indemand materials, such as Member contact list, Federal and State compliance posters, export document services, and so much more. Chamber members can also personalize their business profile within our website and have access to our Member-Only Information Center, where members can connect with other members, boost their social media presence, promote job postings, public events, and member-to-member discounts.

Mission stateMent executive coMMittee

The Modesto Chamber of Commerce is dedicated to serving the greater Modesto Area, regional businesses and community prosperity through advocacy, collaboration, access to leaders, economic development, connectivity and business education.

Chairman - Michael Gaffney, PG&E

Past Chairman - Steve Rank, Rank Investigations and Protection, Inc.

Vice Chair, External Operations - Michael Moradian

Jr. - Peace of Mind Pest Control

Vice Chair, Internal Operations, Treasurer - Patricia

Gillum Pat Gillum CPA

Chairperson Elect - Kirstie Boyett Zacharias, Executive Director at American Leadership ForumGreat Valley Chapter board of directors

Garrett Ardis- Huff Construction Company Inc.

Brad Blakeley, Edward Jones Investments

David Halvorson Jr.

Debra Hendricks - Debra Hendricks Consulting

Amy Jefferies - Gianelli Nielsen

Warren Kirk, Doctors Medical Center

Rachell Le Viege - Lift-A-Hand Home Care Agency

Eric Mangal, Grimbleby Coleman CPAS Inc.

Brian McDermott

Kymber Miller- Sysco Central California Inc.

Peggy O'Donnell, Mid-Valley Productions

Edgar Perez - F&M Bank

Jason Pineda, Freshpoint Inc.

Bill Robinson, Principal Financial Group

Kari Santos - I.J. Larsen Pumps

DeJeune Shelton- Modesto Junior College

Madhu Singh, Bank of Stockton

John Villines- Modesto Gospel Mission

President & CEO

Trish Christensen

Modesto Chamber of Commerce tchristensen@modchamber.org

Publisher: Modesto Chamber of Commerce

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© Copyright 2021 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 staff:

Administrative Assistant, Stephen Shaw

Sustainability Coordinator, Jolene Camarena

Events Coordinator, Felicia Lopez

Membership Coordinator, Lizeth Rocha Staff Accountant, Jaime Lastra

Modesto ChaMber of CoMMerCe I ModChaMber.org