Progress March 2016

March 2016 Vol. 37 Issue 3 modchamber.org

MODESTO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Annual Gala

102 nd

MEMBER'S CHOICE AWARD

Leadership Modesto

New City Elected Officials

Youth in the Community

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4016 Dale Rd., Modesto, CA 95356 P: 209.571.0288 | F: 209.571.0327

CONTENTS MARCH 2016 LEADERSHIP

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Mission Statement

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.

COVER STORY

Executive Committee

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An Enchanted Evening

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Gala Gallery

Chairman Eric Tobias, F&M Bank

GOVERNMENT RELATIONS

Chairman-Elect Steven Rank, Rank Investigations and Protection, Inc.

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Past Chairman David Gianelli, Gianelli & Associates

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Vice Chairman, Internal Operations Patricia Gillum, Patricia A. Gillum,CPA

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Advertising Sales: Never Boring 209.526.9136 • progress@neverboring.com

Leadership Modesto: Health Care Day

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of The Modesto Chamber of Commerce.

Welcome Corner

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

Distribution: The Parks Group 209.576.2568

Academic Decathlon COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

Advisors Keith Boggs, Stanislaus County Chief Executive Office George Boodrookas, Modesto Junior College David Boring, Never Boring Kristopher Helton, Leadership Modesto Jim Holgersson, City of Modesto David White, The Alliance Melissa Williams, Modesto Irrigation District

Printer: The Parks Group 209.576.2568 • mike@theparksgroup.com

Chamber Calendar YOUTH IN THE COMMUNITY

Directors Brad Blakeley, Edward Jones Investments Jeffery Burda, Wells Fargo Business Banking Todd Falduti,Vintage Faire Mall Mike Garcia, Oak Valley Community Bank David Gingerich, TD Gingerich Insurance Solutions, Inc. Brad Hawn, CHG Paul Holshouser, Flowers Baking Co. of Modesto Warren Kirk, Doctors Medical Center Naomi Layland, Huff Construction Co, Inc. Craig Lewis, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Virginia Madueño, Imagen, LLC DeSha McLeod, Community Hospice Inc. Nate Miller, Grimbleby Coleman CPAs, Inc. Tom Nielsen, Beard Land and Investment Co. Peggy O’Donnell, Mid-Valley Promotion Thomas Reeves, Pacific Gas & Electric Co. Kole Siefken, DoubleTree Hotel Lucy Virgen, Bank of the West Jeremiah Williams, Oak Crafts by Jeremiah

Graphic Design: Never Boring 209.526.9136 • www.neverboring.com

Reform Access Laws Now to Improve Business Climate NETWORKING & REFERRALS

Vice Chairman, External Operations Stephen Madison, STANCO

Publisher: Modesto Chamber of Commerce 209.577.5757 • Progress@ModChamber.org www.ModChamber.org

Message from CEO

BILL AMES

I joined the Modesto Chamber as a Lyoness Merchant Market Advisor last year and immediately became part of the Welcome Team. This allowed me to be in service to the Chamber and meet a variety of business owners at their ribbon cuttings, which is advantageous to growing my own business. The exposure the Welcome Team has given me has allowed me to spread the word to Modesto businesses about the 11,500+ Lyoness Loyalty Card members that are in the Central Valley. As the public use of these loyalty cards here in Modesto keeps growing, many local businesses are increasing their sales significantly with these loyalty cards (which are true transaction-based advertising platforms). The Chamber’s Welcome Team helps me to reach out and help area businesses and consumers shop local. Please call me at 209.602.6219 to learn more about the Lyoness Loyalty Card program and monthly networking group meetings. P

© Copyright 2016 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

PROGRESS MAGAZINE 1114 J Street • Modesto, CA 95354 209. 577.5757 • Fax 209. 577.2673 www.ModChamber.org Progress@ModChamber.org

MARCH 2016

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PUBLI C A DVO CACY

MESSAGE FROM THE CEO

By Cecil Russell, Chamber President and CEO

CECIL RUSSELL CHAMBER PRESIDENT AND CEO

This month’s edition features our Annual Membership Awards and Gala held at the fabulous Gallo Center for the Arts. It is a real honor to host this event that honors and recognizes our finest volunteers, recognizes outstanding businesses and highlights individuals to continue to give back to our community. As mentioned previously, it was our great pleasure to honor Bob and Marie Gallo for their lifetime of dedication to our Great City of Modesto.

Congratulations to Brian McDermott Ambassador of the Year, Welcome Team Member, Jay Harvey; Leadership Modesto Graduate Elliot Begoun; NonProfit Sierra Vista Child and Family Services; Small Business, Datapath; Excellence in Education, Tom Changnon; Distinguished Service, Stephen Madison; Chamber Member of the Year, Steve Rank; and Bob and Marie Gallo, who won the Citizen of the Year/Lifetime Achievement Award. Thank you to these recognized leaders that help make Modesto the great community that it is. When you see these winners, please congratulate them and thank them for their contribution.

We also want to thank the great restaurants and food and drink providers that participated to help make this an outstanding evening. The restaurants are: Commonwealth, Do Good Distillery, Fiscalini Cheese Company, Galletto Ristorante, Gallo Wine Company, Greens on Tenth, Guayabitos Restaurant, Institute of Technology, My Chef Restaurant and Catering, Orient House, Papapavlo’s Bistro Ristorante/ Famiglia Bistro Ristorante/Papapolloni Bistro, Rodin Ranch Farmers’ Market, Uno Chicago Grill, Village Baking Company & Café, Vito’s Ristorante, and Varni/7up/Noah’s Water and DBI Beverages . We received a number of compliments on our program guide that featured the restaurants that provide food at the Gala and consequently we are planning to develop a restaurant and hosopitably guide.

Our next large event is our 21st annual Ag Aware event coming up on April 15 to be held at Modesto Junior College from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Tickets are $25 and can be obtained at the Modesto Chamber at 209.577.5757 or by visiting our website ModChamber.org. Join us and over 500 of Modesto’s prominent agricultural and community leaders to raise funds for Modesto-area Future Farmers of America programs in our local schools. Proceeds from the Ag Aware Luncheon benefit Modesto area FFA chapters who will be the next generation of leaders in the area’s most prominent industry. We expect this to be a sold-out event so get your table sponsorships or individual tickets now.

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Modesto Chamber of Commerce I PROGRESS

As most of you know by now, mayoral candidate Ted Brandvold, endorsed by the Modesto Chamber of Commerce, won the runoff election against the incumbent finishing with 58 percent of the vote. Ted Brandvold, an architect and owner of Commercial Architecture, an avowed non-politician, ran on a platform of more citizen involvement in local government, collaboration with other local governments, neighboring communities, and fiscal responsibility. Ted has pledged to review the city budget line by line in order to identify excess revenue which may be used to prioritize spending for public safety needs. Ted joins newly elected council members Kristi Ah You, Doug Ridenour, and Mani Grewal who were elected in November (pictured below). We look forward to working with our new mayor and the entire city council to help bring more jobs and prosperity to our entire community. The ultimate goal is to provide a better quality of life for all that choose to live in Stanislaus County. P

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MARCH 2016

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{COVER STORY }

AN

Enchanted Evening:

102nd ANNUAL GALA MEMBER'S CHOICE AWARDS

By Noel Daniel

“Enchanted” was the perfect word to capture the spirit of a gala that honored those who make Modesto great.

seat for my Dad—which was really classy of them to do. Certainly one of the proudest moments in my life.”

The 102nd Annual Gala for the Modesto Chamber of Commerce drew an impressive crowd this year. The Gallo Center for the Arts glittered with glamor and simmered with conversation. Guests were treated to smoked Do Good Distillery whiskey; fresh, chocolatedipped Rodin Ranch strawberries; and a number of local delicacies.

Vera Girolami Ambassadors are typically chosen for their exceptional dedication to furthering the mission of the chamber in terms of member outreach and education, volunteerism at Chamber events, and going above and beyond expectations as a member of the Ambassador Team. The love for Modesto seems to go handin-hand.

“Modesto is one of California’s greatest cities and I am so proud to tell people that I’ve been born and raised [here],”said Valley’s Got Talent’s own Aaron Raby, the master of ceremonies for the evening.

“Tonight is our chance to celebrate what makes this city great— you and the businesses of this community are the very reason that we’re here.”

There were ten esteemed awards, each of them presented to those pillars of the community who make our city what it is. Across the board, recipients were honored— and they all shared a unique appreciation for Modesto.

“It was truly an honor,” said the Vera Girolami Ambassador of the Year, Brian McDermott. “I had no idea that you get a certificate from so many officials. The gala was on the same day as my Dad’s celebration of life ceremony, so it was an interesting day for me, but all in all ended on a great note and the Chamber saved an empty

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Modesto Chamber of Commerce I PROGRESS

“The food is amazing and now with the widened and expanding bicycle paths it’s a great place to get out and explore,” said McDermott. “We also love Dry Creek Regional Park for disc golf and other things like walking and biking. And the local farmer’s market during its season is one of the best in California.”

The Welcome Team Member of the Year—Jay Harvey from Solid Networks, Inc.—shares in the local pride.

“I enjoy seeing the community come together,” said Harvey. “I grew up in Manteca, so it is great to see the valley continue to grow and to see how proud people are of this area. People in the community should be recognized for their involvement, and these types of events allow this to happen. I believe it helps people see what businesses are involved in the community and this, in turn, helps businesses with growth and promotes the community.”

{COVER STORY }

This focus on introducing people to area businesses isn’t surprising, seeing as Welcome Team Members of the Year are chosen based on exceptional dedication in furthering the Chamber’s mission and welcoming new members to the Chamber.

“It feels great to be recognized by such a great community,” said Harvey. “Receiving this recognition brings me great joy because the membership of the Modesto Chamber of Commerce is what allows me to attend ribbon cuttings and support their decision in opening their business here in Modesto.”

In fact, countless businesses and individuals alike were recognized at the ceremony. The Leadership Modesto Graduate of the Year— awarded to Elliot Begoun—demonstrated promising leadership potential and a strong desire to make an impact in Modesto.

And the Chamber Member of the Year—awarded to Rank Investigation & Protection, Inc.—showed a continued commitment to promoting the community’s growth through the donation of time, resources, and personnel. Rank Investigation fits that bill perfectly: They patrol TID canals and large neighborhoods, provide camera surveillance for large corporations, and perform background checks for a number of public agencies.

In terms of donating time, the Nonprofit of the Year went to Sierra Vista Child & Family Services. It’s the largest, most comprehensive private nonprofit community mental health-based agency in the central valley, and their programs have created a stable wealth of child and family services that are accessible and tailored to a broad range of needs.

“We were very honored to be selected as The Nonprofit of the Year,” said Judy Kindle, Executive Director at Sierra Vista Child & Family Services. “Everyone at Sierra Vista works extremely hard to support and improve the lives of children and families.”

Sierra Vista Child & Family Services has worked 18 months to receive accreditation through The Joint Commission—also known as the National Accrediting Organization for Hospitals, Medical Centers, and Behavioral (Mental) Health Services. Through teamwork, Sierra Vista achieved this goal; and they’re only one of a handful of nonprofit organizations in California to have reached it.

They aren’t the only organization to innovate in business practice, however— Datapath, Inc., winner of Small Business of the Year, has ensured that customers are on the cutting edge of technology solutions. They offer skilled job positions, provide world-class technology services, stimulating innovation, and are right here in Modesto.

“Receiving any award is always humbling, especially to be recognized by the city that raised me,” said David Darmstandler, CEO and Co-Founder of Datapath. “James and I grew up here in Modesto, and spent more time getting in trouble as kids than doing good – but our city never gave up on us. We had drive and when we were ready to start Datapath we had an entire city of great

people cheering us on. We see this award as something the entire community has received, because without them we wouldn’t have made it.”

But it’s not just our technology that’s forward-looking— the recipient of the Excellence in Education award is expected to be, too. Not only that, but they must demonstrate advancement of the community’s economic well-being by preparing the future workforce. This is a job that Tom Changnon, Stanislaus County Superintendent of Schools, does all too well.

“I accepted the award on behalf of all the dedicated educators in Stanislaus County,” Changnon said humbly. “I'm proud to live in a county where we have so many amazing educators who do great things for students every day! More than anything, the event gave everyone a sense of pride for their community just knowing so many people care about the well-being of others.”

Of all the stalwart community members looking out for the city’s well being, there is one that might immediately jump to mind. Steve Madison, the Executive Director of Stanislaus County Affordable Housing Corporation, is a veritable Renaissance man. Madison, who was given the Distinguished Service Award, is a board member of the Modesto Chamber of Commerce, was the Chairman of the Chamber’s Government Relations Council for five years, and also serves on the advisory board of the Salvation Army and chairs the Emergency and Disaster Services Committee.

“I was humbled to be recognized for coordinating the efforts against Measure I,” said Madison. “The defeat of Measure I was really a team effort and I was honored to coordinate the efforts of a what began as a small contingent of motivated people and grew into a collaborative effort amongst business, labor, agriculture and public safety workers.”

Madison then praised the Chamber for acting as the nexus between the business community and the local government, as well as a clearinghouse for information regarding legislation and regulations.

The Gala, to Madison, highlights the Chamber’s activities through stories of accomplishment.

“Modesto still has a small town charm to it,” said Madison. “The charitable giving by businesses and residents is impressive and it warms the heart to see how generous the community is.”

And there’s no better evidence of that than the Robert J. Cardoza Citizens of the Year, Bob and Marie Gallo. Both first-class citizens, business people, and community leaders, “Gallo” is a household name in the area and for good reason. They practice utmost civic service and quality of life for the entire region.

The Gallos’ speech acted as a testament to their profound love for the community, echoing the sentiment of Modesto as a home.

“I’d say the most important thing you’d have to know about us is that we love all of you,” said Marie Gallo. “We love Modesto, this is our home, and we couldn’t be more thankful to God to be here in this community.” P MARCH 2016

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Bob & Marie Gallo

ROBERT J. CARDOZA CITIZEN OF THE YEAR AWARD

Tom Changnon, Stanislaus County Office of Education EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION AWARD

Sierra Vista Child & Family Services NONPROFIT OF THE YEAR

Steve Rank, Rank Investigation & Protection, Inc. CHAMBER MEMBER OF THE YEAR

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Modesto Chamber of Commerce I PROGRESS

Brain McDermott

VERA GIROLAMI AMBASSADOR OF THE YEAR

Datapath, Inc.

SMALL BUSINESS OF THE YEAR

Stephen Madison, STANCO DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD

Jay Harvey, Solid Network

TED SHIELDS WELCOME TEAM MEMBER OF THE YEAR

Elliot Begoun

LEADERSHIP MODESTO GRADUATE OF THE YEAR

David Gianelli

EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE CHAIRMAN THE BOARD 2014-2015

MARCH 2016

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G OV ERNMENT RELATIO NS

REFORM ACCESS LAWS NOW TO IMPROVE BUSINESS CLIMATE

By Assemblymember Kristin Olsen California’s small business community is the lifeblood of our state’s economy and the heart of the California Dream. Yet year after year, California maintains its bad reputation for fostering one of the most harmful business climates in the nation.

One of the ways that we can begin to help businesses in California is to repair our state’s broken disability access laws in a KRISTIN OLSEN ASSEMBLYMEMBER way that meets the needs of businesses and consumers alike. After all — once a business closes, no one has access.

California is responsible for nearly 40 percent of the nation’s Americans with Disabilities Act lawsuits. At an average of $25,000 per lawsuit, it is no wonder that businesses across the San Joaquin Valley are shutting their doors, or laying off employees. Many of them simply can’t afford to keep up with ever-changing regulations as well as the onslaught of predatory lawsuits.

Small businesses make up 99 percent of businesses in California’s economy, and they produce 52 percent of private-sector jobs.

Improving the conditions for small businesses, their employees, and the communities they serve will improve California’s economy.

standards changed within the past three years. Unfortunately, that simple version of the bill stalled in our liberal-dominated Legislature.

Now, I am working alongside a coordinated alliance of stakeholders on a bill that would allow businesses 120 days after consulting with a Certified Access Specialist to correct access violations, 15 days to correct a violation identified in a filed lawsuit, and to require state and local governments to provide up-to-date educational materials about how businesses can ensure they are maintaining compliance with the ADA. A similar bill passed the Legislature last year after much hard work from Central Valley legislators, but was unfortunately vetoed by the governor because it included a tax credit. Now, with the tax credit removed, I am hopeful we’ll be able to pass the bill and see it become law this year.

To improve our business climate, we must take a stand against frivolous lawsuits to ensure that small businesses can grow, continue to provide good jobs and remain open to all members of the community — including the disabled.

Please support SB 269 by calling legislators and sharing your stories of lawsuit abuse. For more information, send an email to Assemblymember.Olsen@assembly.ca.gov or call 916. 319. 2012.

As seen in the Fresno Bee on Jan. 27, 2016

This session, several of my legislative colleagues and I introduced a number of bills specifically geared toward helping small businesses improve access while protecting them from frivolous lawsuits.

P

Assembly Republican Leader Kristin Olsen, R-Modesto, is recognized as a solutionfocused reformer. She represents the 12th Assembly District in the California Legislature, which includes portions of Stanislaus and San Joaquin Counties in the Central Valley.

My bill, AB 54, was originally written to provide businesses 60 days to cure an access violation if construction-related accessibility

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Modesto Chamber of Commerce I PROGRESS

Follow her on Twitter: @KristinOlsenCA

Please Join Us for Business Before Hours March 10 at 7:30 a.m.

{ MARCH } B U S INE SS

BEFORE H OURS

Main office: 1301 G Street, Suite B Modesto Sonora office: 83 S. Stewart St., Suite 204

Business Before hosted by:

Complete Technology Management

As luck would have IT…This month’s Business Before Hours is at Datapath, a fun and lively technology management company. Come expecting to enjoy a St. Patty’s Day-themed event complete with Irish Coffee, pastries of all sorts, and more.

Don’t forget to bring your business card — we will be pulling names for some great prizes!

Datapath is a trusted technology management company offering a portfolio of Professional, Cloud, and Managed IT Services. Providing IT consulting, dedicated technical support, and expertly trained technicians throughout Central California, Datapath has been recognized as one of Inc. Magazine’s fastest growing private companies in America. Visit mydatapath.com for a complete overview of our specialized service offerings. P

Serving the greater Stanislaus and Gold Country areas Thinking OUTSIDE the box and coloring within the lines • Tax planning and preparation • Audit representation and audit reporting • Bookkeeping and training • All entity types and sizes

Come see us at our new location- “perched” upstairs at 1301 G Street, Suite B

www.HawksCPA.com 209-529-4060

Please Join Us for Business After Hours March 17 at 5:30 p.m.

{ MARCH } B U SINE SS

AFTER H OU RS

Business After hosted by:

We are a family owned and operated lighting and home furnishings showroom. Our founders, Elton and Wilma Phillips began their business as Phillips Electric Shop in 1947. Almost 70 years later, we’re committed to offering quality lighting, fans, decorative hardware, and home accessories at competitive prices and serve our customers with attention and professional service.

Our showroom features an extensive display of the latest designs in lighting and ceiling fans, the newest in LED and controls technology in an easy-to-shop, no pressure atmosphere. Don’t see what you’re looking for in the store? We’ll help you find it!

Our goal is to create an enjoyable and productive shopping experience for you! Phillips Lighting & Home has earned a following not just in Modesto, but also from the Bay Area, the Sierra Foothills, and up and down the Central Valley. We work hard to make sure that our customers find the drive worthwhile. P

APS Team Addition:

Knowledge Hardy Knowledge brings over fifteen years’ recruiting and staffing experience in the Healthcare and administrative arena. As a Senior Staffing Account Manager, Knowledge brings his expertise at identifying companies who need assistance with recruiting top talented candidates, in the Central Valley. With AVAILABILITY Professional Staffing, our clients reach their talent acquisition goals!

Follow us on: PGC2016

MARCH 2016

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Celebrate your employees!!

Purchase Fair tickets for your employees now and let the summer FUN begin!

Group orders of 50 or more Fair admission tickets will receive $4 OFF per ticket.

Your price at only $8/ticket ($12 value).

Visit our website for more information.

July 8-17, 2016

www.StanCoFair.com

$4 OFF FAIR ADMISSION TICKETS

#StanCoFair

(Corporate purchases only)

PROGRE SS T O S UC C E S S

Tal k di rect l y t o t hous ands of l ocal b usiness and St ani s l aus Count y ' s t op deci sion-makers.

A dv er t i s e i n Progres s Magazi ne, the aw ard- w i nni ng bus i nes s publ i cat i o n of t he Modes t o Cham ber of Com m erce.

It ’s m ore affordabl e t han y ou m ay think.

A D V E RT IS E N OW cal l : 2 0 9 - 5 2 6 - 9 1 3 6 or e- m ai l : progres s @ nev er bor i ng. com

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Modesto Chamber of Commerce I PROGRESS

N E T W ORK I NG & REFERRALS

NEW CHAMBER MEMBERS MS WEST ENTERPRISES DBA CERTIFIED COLLISION CENTER Heather Quillen 304 Motor City Ct. Modesto, CA 95256 209.549.5020 Fax 209.549.5025 hquillen@mswest.net certifiedcollisiongroup.com

THE CENTURY Erin Doran 927 10th St. Modesto, CA 95354 209.451.2292 Fax 877.631.3301 events@downtowncentury.com downtowncentury.com

PRIMERICA Nathan Allen 2409 Walnut Dr. Modesto, CA 95355 209.292.3346 Fax 209.548.0803 nateda35@gmail.com primerica.com/nathan_emilyallen

To become a member of the Chamber visit us at www.modchamber.org or call our Membership Director, John Villines, at 209.577.5757

Introducing the

Grow Modesto Fund Small business loans From $5,000 to $300,000 Inquiries: (209) 567-4910 In partnership with:

• Gap & Bridge Financing • Working Capital • Machinery and Equipment • Tenant Improvements • Business Acquisitions • Franchises

Apply online! www.growmodestofund.com 14

Modesto Chamber of Commerce I PROGRESS

Locally Owned, Locally Operated, Locally Involved Founded in 1966, AVAILABILITY continues to be independently owned and operated. We know the people. We know the industries.

We know the heartbeat of the Central Valley. You can count on us to provide the most talented professionals, the most interesting career opportunities and the hands-on service that can only come from a local company.

Celebrating 50 years of being in Business in the Central Valley.

Follow us on:

HELPING VALLEY BUSINESS GROW

Dr. Myron Strasser, with Sylvia Orozco, Modesto - McHenry Branch Manager, 209.579.3365, and Elisa Luna, Oakdale Branch Manager, 209.343.7632

weddings . events . portraits . headshots 510.708.1258

www.photosjustso.com 2015 GOLD WINNER

Thanks for voting us the best wedding photographers of 2015

“Oak Valley is a one-stop shop for all my banking needs. I’ve really enjoyed watching my practice grow alongside with the bank and I appreciate the relationship we have developed through the years.”

– Myron R. Strasser, Jr., D.D.S.

At Oak Valley Community Bank, we take pride in helping our customers and communities get stronger.

The most rewarding opportunities are often those which provide local businesses the ability to grow and help our communities thrive.

Deep Roots ~ Strong Branches

866.844.7500 • ovcb.com Oakdale • Sonora • Modesto • Turlock • Patterson Escalon • Ripon • Stockton • Manteca • Tracy MARCH 2016

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N ETW ORK I NG & REFERRALS

RIBBON CUTTINGS

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CORE TRANSFORMATION 1425 Standiford Ave., Ste. A Modesto, CA 95350 Core-transformations.com

MOUNTAIN VALLEY FREIGHT SOLUTIONS 6750 S. Longe St, Ste 100 Stockton, CA 95206 mountainvalleyfs.com

FUEL UP SUPPLEMENTS 2220 Patterson Rd. Riverbank, CA 95367 fuelupsupplements.com

THE PROFESSIONAL AUTO BODY WORKS 4720 Stratos Way Modesto, CA 95356 theprofessionalsautobodyworks.com/

ASPIRANET 1009 J St. Modesto, CA 95354 aspiranet.org

BLOCK ADVISORS 1508 Coffee Rd. Modesto, CA 95355 www.hrblock.com/tax-ofямБces

Modesto Chamber of Commerce I PROGRESS

CHAMBER CALENDAR MARCH 2016

APRIL 2016

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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MEETING*

Modesto Chamber of Commerce 1114 J St. 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m.

CHAMBER U –SUPERVISORS SEXUAL HARASSMENT PREVENTION TRAINING

Presented by: Single Point Outsourcing, INC. Modesto Chamber of Commerce 1114 J St. 10 am to 12 p.m.

CHAMBER U – HAZARD MANAGEMENT ** SERVICES PRESENTED BY HAZARD

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1114 J ST.

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BUSINESS BEFORE HOURS

CHAMBER U – GET FIT MODESTO **

STANISLAUS GREEN TEAM

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Kirk Lindsey Center 1020 10th St. Plz., Ste. 102 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.

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MODESTO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 1114 J ST. 9:00 A.M. TO 11:00 A.M.

BUSINESS AFTER HOURS

Phillips Lighting & Home, Inc. 1700 McHenry Ave., Ste. 76-A 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

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GOVERNMENT RELATIONS COUNCIL MEETING*

Modesto Chamber of Commerce 1114 J St. 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Datapath, Inc. 318 McHenry Ave. 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.

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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MEETING*

Modesto Chamber of Commerce 1114 J St. 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m.

MODESTO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 9 A.M. TO 11 A.M.

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MATERIALS IN HOUSING & CONSTRUCTION

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Modesto Chamber of Commerce 1114 J St. 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.

GOVERNMENT RELATIONS COUNCIL MEETING*

Modesto Chamber of Commerce 1114 J St. 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.

NEW MEMBER ORIENTATION **

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BUSINESS BEFORE HOURS

Valley Charter High School 108 Campus Way .

7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.

CHAMBER U – HR 101 PART 1 **

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PRESENTED BY: SINGLE POINT OUTSOURCING, INC. MODESTO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

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1114 J ST. 10:00 A.M. TO 12:00 P.M.

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AMBASSADOR/WELCOME TEAM MEETING

Modesto Chamber of Commerce 1114 J St. 8 a.m. to 9 a.m.

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GOOD FRIDAY

Chamber Office closed at 12 p.m.

*MEMBERS ONLY MEETINGS HELD AT THE CHAMBER 1114 J ST. **PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIRED VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE INFORMATION: WWW.MODCHAMBER.ORG

AG AWARE LUNCHEON 2016 ** MJC ACE AG PAVILION 2201 BLUE GUM AVE. 7:30 A.M. TO 9 A.M.

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BUSINESS AFTER HOURS

Tri Counties Bank 3601 Pelandale Ave., Ste. E5 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

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STANISLAUS GREEN TEAM

Kirk Lindsey Center 1020 10th St. Plz. Ste, 102 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.

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AMBASSADOR/WELCOME TEAM*

Modesto Chamber of Commerce 1114 J St. 8 a.m. to 9 a.m.

MARCH 2016

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Join us! You won’t want to miss this unique, alfresco

community dining experience. Hundreds gather around one long table on 15th & J St in downtown Modesto to enjoy the area’s finest wines, live music and dine from a seasonal menu prepared by Modesto’s premier restaurants.

Proceeds benefit Graduation Coach, an on-campus, academic mentoring program led by United Way of Stanislaus County focused on raising graduation rates and bringing change to our community.

Visit OneTableModesto.com for information and tickets One Table is presented by

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Modesto Chamber of Commerce I PROGRESS

Dine with us at One Table Sunday, May 15, 2016 at 6:00pm

MARCH 2016

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YOUTH IN THE COMMUNITY ACADEMIC DECATHLON

By Noah Roysdon, Valley Charter High School I first became involved in Academic Decathlon when I was a sophomore at Valley Charter High School in Modesto. The theme of the competition was World War I, which dovetailed quite nicely with my World History and English classes that year. I have long been interested in history, so finally having a competition where my knowledge on that topic was put to the test was very exciting.

One of the most rewarding portions of Academic Decathlon is the essay competition, because it provides an opportunity for students to grow their writing skills. For many of us, it’s the first opportunity for a critical review of our writing, which is useful for both inexperienced and more skilled, confident writers. Because of the very specific prompts (students choose one of the three provided, and then have about an hour to write it), all students draw from the same material to write their essays, so rookie and veteran writers can shine, as the topics change every year.

The last two years, I’ve also participated in the speech and interview portions of Academic Decathlon, which are judged by volunteers from the community. Training for the speeches has helped me become a more concise and less nervous speaker, and improvising a speech is now almost second nature. Preparing for Academic Decathlon interviews also has helped me develop many of the skills that will help me stand out in job interviews after high school.

Even though I’m the club president, I work with my fellow team members constantly to plan and prepare for the competition— in fact, one of my favorite parts of the Academic Decathlon experience, apart from the competition itself, is the camaraderie of the team that develops over the year. From August to the competition in February, we study and read up on the topics — this year’s focus is on India, spanning its history, economics, music, art, biodiversity, and literature. We design and fundraise for our team sweatshirts so we can all wear them on competition day. We quiz each other and take turns giving speeches and answering interview questions, making sure to provide constructive criticism to one another along the way.

All of us love to win medals, of course, but the experience of being part of a close-knit team has also been an extremely valuable part of Academic Decathlon. The confidence, knowledge and teamwork that are required will definitely help each of us to succeed in the future after high school. P

NO A H ROYSDON A c a d e mi c De cat h l on C l u b P re si de n t

Va lley Charter H igh School February 3, 2016

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Modesto Chamber of Commerce I PROGRESS

Stanislaus County Sheriff

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Keeping the Peace since

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Take a stand and help make a difference in your community.

JOIN our team today!

Chaplain Program | Dive Team | Explorers | Correctional Emergency Response Team | K9 Unit | Mounted Unit Deputy Sheriff | Honor Guard | STARS Citizen Volunteers | Air Support Unit | Bomb Squad | SWAT

For information on recruitment please call: (209) 567-4412 or beadeputy.com

PROGRE SS T O S UC C E S S

Tal k di rect l y t o t hous ands of l ocal b usiness and St ani s l aus Count y ' s t op deci sion-makers.

A dv er t i s e i n Progres s Magazi ne, the aw ard- w i nni ng bus i nes s publ i cat i o n of t he Modes t o Cham ber of Com m erce.

It ’s m ore affordabl e t han y ou m ay think.

A D V E RT IS E N OW cal l : 2 0 9 - 5 2 6 - 9 1 3 6 or e- m ai l : progres s @ nev er bor i ng. com

MARCH 2016

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1/22 - new ad

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Modesto Chamber of Commerce I PROGRESS

Engaged Employees + Happy Clients = Growth An affordable way to keep both happy!

What is the key to running a successful business?

Engaged employees? This is definitely important.

Happy clients? Without clients, we don’t have employees.

Employees or clients? Both are vital to any business and both are in high demand. Can your business overcome the loss of a top client? How about the loss of a top employee?

The Modesto Nuts realize the importance of both clients and employees. After all, we depend on both at John Thurman Field.

When it comes to clients, we strive to provide great value and a consistent product that exceeds expectations.

However, we found that even our best clients need to be reminded how important they are from time to time. Because if we don’t, our competitors will. There is always a new up and coming business that is itching to take our clients away.

Employee satisfaction is not just a buzzword anymore. With hours stretching beyond the typical 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. and deadlines getting shorter and shorter, we need our employees engaged, motivated and appreciated. Strong employees are always in demand and retention is more cost effective than recruiting.

So what does this have to do with baseball or the Modesto Nuts?

The Modesto Nuts have fun and affordable options to keep your clients happy and your employees engaged. In fact, we have created a turn-key program to show just how much your top 22 clients and/or employees are to your company for under $1,000.

Here’s how it works: 1) You purchase four (4) 22-game mini-plan packages from the Modesto Nuts. You will have four (4) premium seats to the 22 best Nuts games of the season, including Opening Night, our Independence Day celebration and twenty (20) additional Friday and Saturday night games. A post-game fireworks show will follow each game.

2) Make a list of your top 11 clients and your top 11 employees. Maybe you want to focus on all clients (22) or all employees (22). It’s really up to you. But you have 22 opportunities to give four (4) tickets to someone important to your company.

Remember these are the best games of the year – all 22 are likely to be at or near capacity. The opportunities are endless.

Our clients have found that the more tickets they use as gifts, the more creative ideas they have to create memories for the most important people in their business. We have coined a term for this: MVP Moment. The more MVP Moments we can create, the better employees and more valued clients we have.

3) We deliver the tickets to you in game specific envelopes. You receive 22 envelopes with the tickets clearly marked and ready to distribute. No ripping tickets, no collating tickets. We do the work for you – you distribute the envelopes as you see fit.

To get started, call the Modesto Nuts front office at 572-HITS (4487) and ask for the Modesto Business Ticket Plan. We can select the best seats for your company for just $920. I know it’s hard to put a value on your top clients and employees but for just $920, you can show them how much you care.

(209) 572-HITS (4487) MARCH 2016

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C O MMU NI TY DEVELOP MENT

HEALTH CARE DAY

By Marcia Parcaut, Quality Nurse Consultant , Kaiser Permanente

Leadership Modesto class of 2016 was fortunate to spend this day visiting two of our three local hospitals: Memorial Medical Center and Doctors Medical Center. Our day started bright and early at Memorial Medical Center, where after a great breakfast we listened to several speakers who helped our class understand a little more about Memorial, who they are, and what they do. We listened to Dr. Chiang speak to the Emergency Department and the huge volume MARCIA PARCAUT of patients they see, all while maintaining high 15/16 quality of care. Dr. Tio, a hospitalist, shared a presentation on the trends in healthcare. Our group was also given a sneak preview of the new bi plane CT scanner that will be helping bring state of the art imaging to some of the, most critical patients in the valley, including those who are found to have stroke caused by a clot. We ended our time there with a tour in our “bunny” suits of the Cardiac Cath lab.

Next up was Doctors Medical Center, where they were not to be outdone when it came to providing us with a fantastic meal to get us ready for their presentations. Multiple leaders were present to show their support for our class, including the interim CNO who was wearing scrubs! We heard about how busy their Emergency Department is, and how they too maintain quality outcomes all while getting patients seen as quickly as possible. We had an informative tour of their level III Neonatal

Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and given a diaper that looked like it belonged on a Barbie doll (really it was that small).

We visited Four West, which is a unit that was redesigned to have the look and feel of a hotel, while still being a high functioning hospital unit. What makes this unit different than any other? Well, a few things to mention would be the room service, Netflix, and fluffy robes. Next up was the presentation from the Cardiac Cath lab team who showed us videos of what a heart blockage looks like in real time and what it looks like after it is fixed. Impressive, to say the least. After the tours, we returned to the conference room where our group was divided up in to teams and tackled real life medical issues that hospitals face on a daily basis. Legal, ethical, moral and social dilemmas. It was clear very soon that healthcare, like life, is never black and white. While this exercise was fun and we all enjoyed the role playing, it was also very humbling to “see” what often is going on behind the scenes that is not just doctor/nurse kinds of things. Social workers, advocates, hospital administrators, and so many people who work tirelessly to help ensure that everyone gets the best care possible.

In the end, it doesn’t matter if it is Memorial, Doctors or Kaiser. They all have one thing in common. Each and every one of our local hospitals is doing everything they can to make sure when you enter their doors, you are given the best care, each and every time. P

WORK IN

A SERIES SPOTLIGHTING SOME OF OUR AREA’S MOST INNOVATIVE AND SUCCESSFUL COMPANIES

THE IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNIT Y: GIANELLI & ASSOCIATES

By Noel Daniel They say it takes a village to raise a child—but perhaps a village can do so much more than that. David Gianelli, the Managing Attorney at Gianelli & Associates, puts a considerable amount of faith in the community and how getting involved can affect a person and a business.

“I think I really learned the most from the American Leadership Forum,” Gianelli said.

“That was life-changing for me. I went through that in 2010 and wish I had done that earlier. It probably would have saved me from putting my foot in my mouth a few times. It helped me realize how little I was listening.”

In addition to being involved in the American Leadership Forum, Gianelli’s nonprofits and community efforts include the Modesto Chamber of Commerce, The Education Foundation of Stanislaus County, the Boys and Girls Club of Stanislaus County, the Downtown Modesto Partnership, along with many more. And, of course, he’s been a part of the Modesto Rotary Club.

“Rotary has also taught me a lot,” said Gianelli. “You are surrounded by many people who are involved and care about the community–and you learn from observation.

Mostly, I’ve learned that there are many people who care about the community and I am one of them.”

Gianelli joined the Chamber of Commerce board when the economy was in its 20072008 downturn. Clients were going bankrupt, and there were a number of discussions about what the community needed to get out of their economic turbulence.

“There are many, many cogs in the wheel of making a successful community,” said Gianelli. “A good educational system.

Children and families who are engaged with each other. A vibrant downtown. A strong business community. A safe community.”

On top of everything, the Chamber was perceived as being only about land use at

that time—which Gianelli is quick to state is not a “correct perspective,” and it’s one he’s been working to change.

“We get so obsessed with the negatives, but there are many, many positives that come out of the Chamber,” said Gianelli. “The Downtown Modesto Partnership is a good example. Many have come together, in part because of the efforts of the Chamber, to improve downtown. This is a critical piece of the puzzle to making Modesto a more vibrant and successful community.”

An improvement in the neighborhoods could impact the entire community, lead more businesses to enter and stay in the community, and create opportunities for children—“our future talent,” and the root of the long term solution. He’s worked for the Education Foundation, an organization that puts children in team situations to build positive connections and encourage feelings of self-worth.

This act of studying the bigger picture has carried over to his business, where Gianelli places an emphasis on connecting with and understanding clients to better serve them.

The firm is run so well and tightly that they’ve won a coveted Business Hall of Fame award from the Modesto Chamber of Commerce.

“We have a great crew here at the office that care about our clients and that allow me to do the stuff I do for the community,” Gianelli said. “It’s a very busy and successful office.

I feel that we have more knowledge here around business and estate issues than any office in the central valley.”

SERVICE WHEN YOU NEED IT (Courtesy of Never Boring) 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

B r a n d i n g . S t ra 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.

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.

Understanding and interacting with people is integral not only for the community, but for businesses, too—and it’s something that Gianelli recommends.

“It’s actually pretty simple,” said Gianelli.

“Listen—listen carefully—with curiosity and with a desire to help.” P

MARCH 2016

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N ETW OR K I NG & REFERRALS

PRESIDENT’S CLUB CIRCLE OF INFLUENCE

PLATINUM LEVEL

SILVER LEVEL

E. & J. Gallo Winery

AT&T

Flowers Baking Co. of Modesto, LLC

Raymond James & Associates, Inc.

Kaiser Permanente

Acme Construction Company, Inc.

F & M Bank

Rizo-Lopez Foods, Inc.

Walmart

American Chevrolet

Walmart Neighborhood Market

American Medical Response Aramark Uniform Services

Rabobank

Galletto Ristorante Gianelli & Associates Gilton Solid Waste Management, Inc.

Rogers Jewelry Company San Joaquin Valley College Smile Shine Family Dental

DIAMOND LEVEL

Atherton & Associates, LLP

Beard Land and Investment Co.

BIAlytics

Grimbleby Coleman CPAs, Inc.

Solecon Industrial Contractors

Capax-Giddings, Corby, Hynes, Inc.

Brightwood College

Grover Landscape Services, Inc.

Solar City

Doctors Behavioral

Brunn & Flynn

H.M. Clause, Inc.

Solid Networks, Inc.

California State University, Stanislaus

I.J. Larsen Pumps, Inc.

Stanislaus Distributing

Care One Home Health

Infiniti of Modesto

Health Center- DMC Doctors Medical Center-DMC Frito-Lay Company, Inc.

and Hospice, Inc.

MedAmerica Billing Services, Inc.

Central Sanitary Supply Co.

Modesto & Empire Traction Co.

Central Valley Ag Grinding

Pacific Southwest Container

Central Valley Autism Project Inc

Physician Referral Service-DMC

Institute of Technology International Paper Company

Seven Up Bottling Corporation

Stanislaus Food Products Company Stanislaus Surgical Hospital Storer Coachways SunOpta Aseptic, Inc.

JS West & Company

Sutter Gould Medical Foundation

Central Valley Automotive

Mercer Foods

TSM Insurance

Central Valley Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge

Mocse Credit Union

Turlock Irrigation District

GOLD LEVEL

Central Valley Nissan

Modesto Commerce Bank

Union Bank

5.11, Inc.

Central Valley Volkswagen Hyundai

Modesto Toyota

Bank of the West

Central Valley Medical Group

The Modesto Bee

Crystal Creamery

Central Valley Specialty Hospital

DoubleTree Hotel

Clark Pest Control

Oak Valley Community Bank

Fiscallini Cheese Company

COIT Services Inc.

Flowers Baking Co. of Modesto, LLC

Collins Electrical

Memorial Medical Center

Comcast

Modesto Irrigation District

Concordia Claims Managers

Papa John’s

Modesto Nuts Professional Baseball

Covanta Stanislaus, Inc.

Pepsi Bottling Group

RACOR, Division of Parker

Damrell, Nelson, Schrimp, Pallios,

PMZ Real Estate

Hannifin Corporation

Pacher & Silva

Save Mart Supermarkets

DeAngelos Jewelry

Seneca Foods, LLC

Del Monte Foods

Switch to Vapor

Delta Sierra Beverage

Sysco Food Services of

The Eberhardt School of Business

Central California Taco Bell

US Bank Uno Chicago Grill Valley Children’s Healthcare Valley First Credit Union

O’Brien’s Market

Valley Lexus-BMW

Pacific Gas & Electric Company

Vintage Faire Mall

Panelized Structures Inc.

W.H. Breshears, Inc. Warden’s Office Products Center Warden’s Office Furniture Outlet Winton-Ireland, Strom & Green Insurance Agency

Post Foods, LLC

Yosemite Meat Company, Inc.

Prime Shine Car Wash Prompt Staffing D.B.A Courtesy Staffing

English Oaks Nursing & Rehabilitation Hospital First Choice Physician Partners

Join us for the

21st ANNUAL AG AWARE LUNCHEON April 15, 2016

Join 500 of Modesto’s prominent agricultural and community leaders to raise funds for Modesto’s Future Farmers of America programs. Proceeds from the Ag Aware Luncheon benefit Modesto area FFA chapters who will be the next generation of leaders in the area’s most prominent industry.

Location: Time:

MODESTO JUNIOR COLLEGE, ACE PAVILLION

11:30 A.M. - 1 P.M.

Tickets:

$25

FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TICKETS PLEASE CONTACT THE CHAMBER AT 209.577.5757 OR VISIT THE WEBSITE: WWW.MODCHAMBER.ORG Modesto Chamber of Commerce I PROGRESS

A BETTER WAY TO TAKE CARE OF BUSINESS

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