December 2016 Vol. 37 Issue 12 modchamber.org
Connecting for Good
Partner with a School
Worth Your Fight
CONTENTS DECEMBER 2016
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.
Executive CommitteeÁ Chairman Eric Tobias, F&M Bank
Chairman-Elect Steven Rank, Rank Investigations and Protection, Inc. Past Chairman David Gianelli, Gianelli & Associates Vice Chairman, External Operations Stephen Madison, STANCO Vice Chairman, Internal Operations Patricia Gillum, Patricia A. Gillum,CPA Directors Brad Blakeley, Edward Jones Investments Jeffery Burda, Wells Fargo Business Banking Todd Falduti,Vintage Faire Mall Ryan Fitzpatrick,Valley Lexus 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 Pete Zahos, Sysco Central California, Inc. 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 Cecil Russell, President/CEO Modesto Chamber of Commerce CRussell@ModChamber.org Publisher: Modesto Chamber of Commerce 209.577.5757 • Progress@ModChamber.org www.ModChamber.org Graphic Design: Never Boring 209.526.9136 • www.neverboring.com Printer: The Parks Group 209.576.2568 • mike@theparksgroup.com Distribution: The Parks Group 209.576.2568 Advertising Sales: Never Boring 209.526.9136 • progress@neverboring.com © 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
LEADERSHIP
4
Message from the CEO
COVER STORY
6
2017 Best Places to Work EDUCATION
8
Why Partner With a School?
10
SCOE Awards Students with seal of Multilingual Proficiency
NETWORKING & REFERRALS
14
Chamber Calendar
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
20
Leadership Modesto
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.
Light up the night
save the date Saturday, January 28, 2017
Our 103rd annual gala members choice awards held at
Gallo center for the arts
PUBLI C A DVO CACY
MESSAGE FROM THE CEO By Cecil Russell, Chamber President and CEO
What an exciting and positive end to 2016! We are profoundly happy for the great news, that the self-help tax measure to help fund our transportation infrastructure passed. Some of us have planned and worked on this for over 20 years. We give a tremendous amount of credit to Craig Lewis, Paul Von Konyenburg, Vito Chiesa and the hard CECIL RUSSELL working people at StanCog. Paul put CHAMBER PRESIDENT together the largest collation to support AND CEO any initiative or measure in the history of Stanislaus County. We THANK all of the labor organizations, Police and Fire, The Farm Bureau, The Stanislaus Taxpayers Association, all of our elected off icials of each and every city, especially our Mayor and City Council, our County Supervisors, our Assembly and State Senators, the entire StanCog board, and all of the Chambers of Commerce that supported this important measure. With the passage of this measure we will see great strides for our county roads and all city streets along with major projects like Route 132, North Corridor Briggsmore and some major overpasses throughout our county. We have been told that our measure passed by the largest percent of all counties, for a f irst time passage. Again THANK YOU to all that contributed to the successful passing of Measure L. Based on information from the California Department of Water Resources, there are 24 economically disadvantaged communities within the service areas of the Turlock, Modesto, Oakdale, South San Joaquin and Merced irrigation districts. These are the same public water agencies that stand to be affected by Phase 1 of the State Water Resources Control Board’s (SWRCB) Bay-Delta Plan.
As we have said before, the SWRCB’s Bay-Delta Plan stands to harm more than agriculture and the economy in our region. Without water for regional agriculture, our disadvantaged communities may be on the fast track to being disenfranchised by the state.
WANT TO DO MORE? Submit a letter to The Modesto Bee, The Sacramento Bee or another local newspaper Contact your elected officials in Sacramento and/or Washington DC. Contact Governor Brown and share your thoughts with him Tell State Water Resources Control Board members your thoughts on this proposal by E-mailing them directly at:
• • • • •
Felicia.Marcus@waterboards.ca.gov Dorene.DAdamo@waterboards.ca.gov Tam.Doduc@waterboards.ca.gov Steven.Moore@waterboards.ca.gov Frances.Spivy-Weber@waterboards.ca.gov
Evan Porges, President of Prime Shine Car Wash, has been working on developing a designation for the Central Valley that would identify and celebrate top employers in our area. We are partnering with Prime Shine and Opportunity Stanislaus to launch the Best Places to Work. This is the subject of our cover story this month, please read the article and join Evan and other companies to discover more about your company’s employees and how you may improve to better serve your customers. Modesto on Ice starts its second year in downtown Modesto. They had a very successful f irst year and are looking forward to bringing more people to our downtown businesses. This business helps to project a more festive atmosphere for the holiday season.
As the SWRCB talks in their Substitute Environmental Document (SED) about reducing available water for agriculture to the tune of 100 billion gallons on average annually, they are by association also talking about limiting drinking water and threatening water quality for these disadvantaged communities – communities that are economically strained and already vulnerable. The groundwater that these communities rely upon doesn’t replenish itself; it’s recharged in large part by surface water applied via irrigation (predominantly f lood irrigation) by the generational farmers of the region who receive water from local irrigation districts.
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Modesto Chamber of Commerce I PROGRESS
We are in the process of planning for our annual Gala at the Gallo Center for the Arts in January. Please be sure to get in your nominations form for our annual awards by visiting the Chamber website: www.modchamber.org or by calling the Chamber 209.577.5757. You can also f ind information on sponsorship opportunities as well as purchasing tickets. Nominations are due by Dec. 15th! As Christmas approaches, it is important to shop local and support all of our local businesses. This is a very important time of the year for our local businesses and can determine their prof itability for the year. I am mindful that the holidays can be a time of joy and fulf illment for you and your families and your employees. As someone passed on to me, I pass on to you, I encourage you to take time for yourself and indulge in at least one activity that feeds your soul.
Happy Holiday's FROM YOUR MODESTO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Merry Christmas and may your business prosper in the New Year! *Worth Your Fight information provided by Modesto Irrigation District and Turlock Irrigation District. P
GET READY FOR THE HOLIDAYS! With the finest of gifts from our orchards to you.... Our gift baskets filled with gourmet California almond products are the perfect gift for your employees, customers and partners. • 15 different options and pricing to fit every budget • Add branded items like hats, shirts, gift cards, etc.
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HOURS: Monday-Wednesday 10am-7pm • Thursday-Saturday 10am-8pm • Sunday 11am-4pm
(209) 577-NUTS • stewartandjasper.com
To place an order, please call Rebecca at 1-877-ALMOND-8 DECEMBER 2016
5
2017 BEST PLACES TO WORK
By: Stefanie Pierce, Marketing Manager, Prime Shine Car Wash
It all started as a conversation about getting people excited to work for Prime Shine. We wanted potential employees to feel about Prime Shine the way one would feel about Disney, Southwest Airlines or Starbucks. People are clamoring to work for these fantastic companies all over the country and we decided that there was no reason why that same excitement should not exist here in the Central Valley for Prime Shine and other local businesses. For the past several months, Opportunity Stanislaus and Prime Shine Car Wash have been working on developing a designation for the Central Valley that would truly help separate and celebrate top employers in our area. We now proudly partner with the Modesto Chamber of Commerce and are pleased to announce the launch of Best Places to Work: Central Valley, a survey and recognition program dedicated to celebrating local employers who excel at creating quality jobs and environments where employees are thrilled to work. The process is simple: companies interested in qualifying for the designation apply through The Best Companies Group, a third party research firm, who will collect data and employee feedback via online tools. The information is used to determine if the company will qualify for the Best Places to Work designation but also yields a report that provides a high level of detail regarding the experience of current employees so that employers can make adjustments based on employee feedback.
“… It is to the advantage of employers to understand what they are doing well and conversely where they need to improve in order to find and keep the best talent.”
Modesto Chamber of Commerce I PROGRESS
“…we should be recognizing and celebrating the great companies that we have in our area.”
This program is not a “Reader’s Choice” designation. Twentyfive percent of the company’s score comes from a questionnaire completed by the employer and seventy-five percent of the score is determined by employee responses to a custom survey. The total score is then weighted against other participating employers in Stanislaus, San Joaquin and Merced counties to determine if they qualify for the designation. David White, Chief Executive Officer of Opportunity Stanislaus, believes the program will be instrumental in helping companies with their recruiting and retention efforts. “In a strong economy employees have lots of options,” said White. “It is to the advantage of employers to understand what they are doing well and conversely where they need to improve in order to find and keep the best talent. This program is an affordable, easy way for employers to take the pulse of their employees and gain recognition for going above and beyond.” Those companies who rate high enough are awarded with the distinction of being a “best place to work” for a given year, an honor that can be recognized by signage at each of their locations, in program promotion materials and at an awards ceremony hosted by Opportunity Stanislaus. Companies who do receive the designation will be provided with a 2017 designation logo that can be used on all of their recruitment and print collateral as well as social media.
{COVER STORY }
“… I would encourage all employers to consider participating in Best Places to Work: Central Valley and be a part of a larger movement that is improving all of the Central Valley’s work places.”
Not all companies who apply will receive the distinction but they will receive the same in-depth confidential report that approved companies receive with detailed employee feedback. Companies who are not designated will be notified confidentially by Best Companies Group and they will remain anonymous. In order to be eligible, companies must be located in Stanislaus, San Joaquin or Merced County and have a minimum of 15 full or part-time employees working in those counties. Additionally, the company must have at least one year of operating experience. Both for-profit and nonprofit companies are eligible. Cost varies according to company size as larger companies require more data collection and analyzation. All rankings are for one year with 2017 designees being announced in the first quarter of the year.
Evan Porges, President of Prime Shine Car Wash, is confident that a Best Places designation will be a game changer when it comes to recruitment. “Prime Shine has focused internally on being a top employer and providing one of our area’s best cultures to enjoy a fulfilling career. Unfortunately, many do not consider Prime Shine as a career option because of the nature of our business. By being a part of Best Places to Work: Central Valley, we will be able to utilize a nationally recognized, third-party review company to demonstrate that Prime Shine is much more than just a car wash,” said Porges. “I would encourage all employers to consider participating in Best Places to Work: Central Valley and be a part of a larger movement that is improving all of the Central Valley’s work places.” Cecil Russell, President & CEO of the Modesto Chamber of Commerce, said, “We are in total agreement with Evan, that we should be recognizing and celebrating the great companies that we have in our area.” Program registration is now open and will continue through Jan.6, 2017 with the deadline for completed employee questionnaires coming a few weeks later. P
To register or learn more, please visit placestoworkcentralvalley.com.
DECEMBER 2016
7
EDUCATIO N
WHY PARTNER WITH A SCHOOL?
Stanislaus Partners In Education (SPIE) celebrated their 25th year at their Recognition Luncheon. This luncheon is provided to schools as a venue to recognize their partners. Were you there? Would you like to partner with a school? School partnerships can be designed to meet your needs and ability, be it large or small. The Recognition Luncheon was sponsored by SPIE, partnered with Memorial Medical Center, and supported by Mocse Credit Union, another SPIE partner. “School teachers and administrators juggle a complex set of demands that are often more directed toward academic lessons than real world preparedness in terms of the work world,” explains SPIE Board President John Schneider, CFO of Prime Shine Car wash. “The only way for business to positively influence this process is to come alongside educators and provide opportunities for teachers to better understand the expectations of non-academic employers where many of their students will become employed.” Peter Johansen was recognized as a founder of the organization that maintains the mission that he, and an original board, created. SPIE was created to partner business/industry with schools to work in the spirit of cooperation and mutual respect to develop productive members of the workforce and responsible citizens. Under this mission, SPIE promotes and facilitates business-school partnerships, provides grants that promote career education and incentives for students to reach their potential. SPIE offers paid internships for grade 7-14 teachers to intern in local businesses and industry. SPIE is a partner in the Careers in Manufacturing endeavor. Board members and companies who have been with Stanislaus Partners In Education all of its 25 years were given the SPIE Presidential Award. Recipients of the award were: Ted Dickason, Curtis Grant, Stanislaus County Office of Education, Modesto City Schools, Modesto Chamber of Commerce, Yosemite Community College, E. & J. Gallo Winery and Memorial Hospital. The following businesses were recognized by schools and/or school district offices at the 2016 SPIE Recognition Luncheon.:
Ruiz Produce (recognized by two schools) Cost Less Foods (recognized by four schools) Shoob Photography (recognized by nine schools!) 7 Up 7-Eleven Beeler Industries Betos Bakery Blessings in a Backpack Boys & Girls Club Center for Human Services Ceres Christian Church Ceres Karate Ceres Pipe & Metal, Data Path Davis Park Church of Christ Diamond Bar Arena Dot Foods, Inc. E & J Gallo Winery El Concilio El Katrina Dairy Farmers Insurance G3 Enterprises Inc. Gearing Up Get Fit Modesto Graduate Services Hackler Farms Haggerty Construction Home Depot-Riverbank Horace Mann Insurance Inter-faith Ministries Jessica’s House Jimmy John’s Sandwiches Kazas Insurance
Keller Williams Realty Kohl’s La Rosa Farms Letters to Santa Lucas Insurance MB2 Raceway Memorial Medical Center Mill Creek Church Modesto Garden Club Modesto Gateway Rotary Modesto Junior College MTC Distributing Orchard Supply Hardware Pacific Southwest Containers Paleteria La Michoacana Panda Express Panda Restaurant Group Pizza Plus Power Up Nutrition Riverbank News Rotary Club of Ceres Ryslinge Realty Second Harvest Food Bank Soroptimist of Ceres Super Mom’s Yogurt The Juline Foundation for Children Trinity Baptist Church Trinity Presbyterian TSM Insurance/Code X UC Calfresh Nutrition Program United Way, Walgreens West-Mark and Youth for Christ
The Principal of Woodrow Elementary, Nancee Davis stated: "The Partnership between Woodrow Elementary School and Kazas Insurance and Mill Creek Church has made a positive impact on the lives of our students, their families, and our staff. These businesses stepped in and filled the role of the PTA providing incentives, staff appreciation, and student opportunities. We are thankful for the continued support they show our school community." Get involved! SPIE can design a school partnership to fit any business. Please call the SPIE office at 209.238.1766 or email Judie Piscitello at judiepiscitello@gmail.com www.stanislauspartners.com P
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Modesto Chamber of Commerce I PROGRESS
S P I E B O ARD MEMBERS: JOH N S C HN EID ER , Prime Shine Car Wash, SPIE President M IK E G O R R A S I, Modesto Nuts, SPIE President-Elect TED DIC KA S O N , Lucas Business Systems, SPIE Secretary/Treasurer PAM AB L E, Modesto City Schools PH IL ALFA N O , Patterson JUSD BILL BE R RY, 511 Tactical TED BRA N D V O L D , City of Modesto JENNIFER C A R L S O N S H I PM AN, Manufacturers Council of Central Valley GALEN C A R R O L L , Modesto Police Department SEAN C A R R O L L , Ross F Carroll, Inc. TOM CHA N GN O N , Stanislaus Office of Education DON DAV IS , Waterford USD PATR ICK D O D D , E & J Gallo Winery RAUL G A R C IA , Gallo Center for the Arts CURTIS G R A N T, retired CSU Stanislaus K R ISTI MA R S EL L A , G3 Enterprises PEDRO MEN D EZ, Modesto Junior College OD D MU N D MYHR E, CSU Stanislaus
Your Benefits Plan...Your Way.
BILL O’B R IEN , County of Stanislaus Supervisors PAULA R A FA L A , Memorial Medical Center CEC IL RU S S EL L , Modesto Chamber of Commerce JAY SIMMO N D S , Ceres USD DANA T R EV ET HA N , Turlock USD TIM WA L S H, Foster Farms DAVE W HIT E, Opportunity Stanislaus GENE W IL KIN S , Complere Engineering Group, Inc.
DECEMBER 2016
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EDUC A TIO N
SC OE AWA R D S S T U D E N T S W I T H SEA L OF M U LT I L I N G U A L P R O F I C I E N C Y By Debra Boggs, Director of Literacy, Stanislaus County Office of Education On Nov. 2, students from all over the county, dressed in their best, gathered at the Gallo Center. No, it wasn’t an early winter prom. These young people came to receive Stanislaus County Off ice of Education’s (SCOE) Seal of Multilingual Prof iciency, a prestigious award that will be placed DEBRA BOGGS on their transcripts and diplomas and proclaim to the world that they are ready for college or the workforce. Nine districts participate in the Seal program, and the program depends on hundreds of volunteers from the schools and the community. Students are required to submit an autobiography in English, write an on-demand essay in their target language, and then be interviewed in both languages. For each of the written pieces, dozens of teachers come together to spend a day reading and assessing the students’ work. Each paper must receive a passing score on a rigorous rubric that expects students to be able to respond appropriately to the prompt while at the same time using language expertly. The Seal Interview Day is the program’s main event. On this day, this year Oct. 15, more than 540 students descended on the Petersen Event Center in three waves. Inside, more than 180 volunteers, seated in pairs, interviewed students to assess their oral language ability in English and one of 15 target languages. It’s a long day, but interviewers often leave enthusiastic and energized. “These young people really give you hope for the future,” said Stanislaus County Superintendent of Schools, Tom Changnon. Amy Zchaber, SCOE’s new arts consultant, agreed. “I was so impressed with the student participants during the interview portion of the SEAL event. The students demonstrated not just a f luency in both a native language and a second language; they also displayed dedication, passion, and enthusiasm for life and learning. If this is a sampling of future leaders, our world is in very capable hands.” The vast majority of students seek the Seal in Spanish, but this year we also had students seeking to demonstrate prof iciency in Arabic, Assyrian, Cantonese, Dari, Farsi, French, Hindi, Japanese, Pashto, Punjabi, Russian, Tagalog, Turkish and Vietnamese. Finding people who are able to expertly assess both written and oral language in all of these languages can be very challenging. “Schools are supposed to f ind the assessors for each of the languages their students speak, but they often have diff iculty in f inding someone,” said Elvira Ruiz, who provides administrative support to the program. 10
Modesto Chamber of Commerce I PROGRESS
“We are always looking for assessors. We’ve even had to skype in assessors from other states and countries before.” This year more than 1,100 students started the process, but only 303 made it all the way through the rigorous process to actually obtain the Seal. Four students, among 132 who received nearly perfect scores, were chosen to speak at the event to share their stories of what being multilingual means to them. Joel Valdovinos Miranda, who moved here from Mexico only three years ago, summed it up this way: “Speaking more than one language has allowed me to understand the cultures that shaped my identity and helped me to assimilate to my new home. I am more independent because I know how to relate to people in more than one country.” These multilingual young people are a great asset to our increasingly global businesses and economy. As Carmen Morad, Seal volunteer and the Public Relations chair for the Assyrian American Civic Club of Turlock and chair of the Assyrian Wellness Collaborative, put it, “the Seal of Multilingual Prof iciency is an aff irmation of instilling values in our youth to become global citizens.” To support or volunteer for the Seal program, please call 209.238.1301. P
“S P EAK I N G MOR E T H AN ON E L AN G U AG E H AS AL L OWED ME T O U N D ERS TAN D T H E C U LT U RES T H AT S H AP E D MY I D E N T I T Y AN D H E L P E D ME T O AS S I MI L AT E T O MY N E W H OME. I AM MORE I N D E P EN D E N T BE C AU S E I K N OW H OW T O R E L AT E T O P E OP L E I N MOR E T H AN ON E C OU N T RY. ” - J OEL VA L D OV I N OS MI R A N D A
Join3rd us
every Thursday of the month!
STANISLAUS GREEN TEAM 9:00 A.M. TO 10:00 A.M. KIRK LINDSEY CENTER 1020 10TH ST. PLAZA, STE 102
DECEMBER 2016
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EDUC A TIO N
UNITED WAY CONNECTING FOR GOOD By Jeanette Fontana, Public Relations and Marketing Coordinator United Way of Stanislaus County
Looking for ways to give back this holiday season? Giving our neighbors the opportunity to care for one another is the purpose of United Way’s Volunteer Center website. In 2014 Modesto Rotary made a donation to United Way facilitating the launch of its Volunteer Center website, www.getconnected.uwaystan.org. The JEANETTE FONTANA site is designed to match individuals PUBLIC RELATIONS & MARKETING with the desire to give with the needs COORDINATOR of reputable local agencies. There is UNITED WAY no doubt our community is full of OF STANISLAUS COUNTY generosity, last year alone the website connected volunteers and donors with the programs they care about, an incredible 22,000 times. Visitors to the site can connect with multiple agencies, search by their interests, find ways to volunteer and donate all in one place. Volunteerism is vital to a strong community, it has been proven to lead to a more cohesive, safe and engaged community. The value of volunteer time is often underestimated. An hour of volunteer time in California is currently valued at $26.87 per hour by The Corporation for National and Community Service. If each of the Volunteer Center’s 22,000 web referrals yielded just 1 hour of volunteer time, United Way of Stanislaus County’s network of givers would have invested over a half million dollars worth of time back into our community. The coming holiday season brings unique opportunities to give of your time and resources. You can “get connected” to all of the possibilities by going to www.getconnected.uwaytan. org on your desktop or mobile device then click on the holiday button to see a list of ways to bring the spirit of giving back this season. Here are just a few fun ways to get involved, visit the site to see many more.
31st Annual Soroptimist Community Christmas Tree (Until 12/18) Christmas Adopt-A-Family Program, Interfaith Ministries, (Until 12/23) Christmas Kettle Campaign 2016, The Salvation Army (Until 12/24) Modesto Spirit of Giving 5k Walk, Run and Ride, City of Modesto (12/10)
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Modesto Chamber of Commerce I PROGRESS
Make volunteering a year-round tradition by signing in and signing up for alerts from your favorite agencies, needs or causes. The Volunteer Center website will automatically send you an email when an opportunity is posted by your favorite charity. Giving is great no matter what time of year you do it. Share your volunteer experience with your friends, community and United Way. Post your pics to social media and tag United Way of Stanislaus County or #giveunited. If you are an agency interested in posting volunteer opportunities on the site, register online or contact atoledo@uwaystan.org for more information. Happy Holiday Giving from United Way of Stanislaus County. P
RIBBON CUTTINGS
CASTLE REAL ESTATE 1418 J St. Modesto, CA 95354 www.castlerealestatemodesto.com
OPES ADVISORS 1001 Sylvan Ave., Bldg. B Modesto, CA 95350 www.opesadvisors.com
THE SWEET POTATO PIE COMPANY 1.866.430.0477
To become a member of the Chamber visit us at www.modchamber.org or call our Membership Director, John Villines, at 209.577.5757 DECEMBER 2016
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CHAMBER CALENDAR DECEMBER 2016 7
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MEETING*
JANUARY 2017 12
Modesto Chamber of Commerce 1114 J St. 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m.
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15
20
Ambassador/Welcome Team*
18
Dale Commons 3900 Dale Rd. 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
WORTH YOUR FIGHT – HEARING DATE Modesto Centre Plaza Tuolumne River Room 1000 K Street 9:00 a.m.
Modesto Chamber of Commerce 1114 J St.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MEETING* Modesto Chamber of Commerce 1114 J St. 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m.
Modesto Chamber of Commerce 1114 J St. 8 a.m. to 9 a.m.
BUSINESS AFTER HOURS
BUSINESS BEFORE HOURS
20
25
GOVERNMENT RELATIONS COMMITTEE MEETING* Modesto Chamber of Commerce 1114 J St. 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.
AMBASSADOR/WELCOME TEAM* Modesto Chamber of Commerce 1114 J St. 8 a.m. to 9 a.m.
Are you interested in hosting a BUSINESS BEFORE or BUSINESS AFTER HOURS in 2017? Contact Natalie Nielsen today! 209.577.5757or NNielsen@modchamber.org
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Modesto Chamber of Commerce I PROGRESS
Stanislaus County Sheriff
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N E T W ORK I NG & REFERRALS
NEW CHAMBER MEMBERS 98 BOBA TEE
Nancy Chanthavong 1205 Tully Rd., Ste. 1 Modesto, CA 95350 209.702.8765 98bobatee.com
CALORIS ENGINEERING.
Missy Corley 515 Lyell Dr., Ste. 103 Modesto, CA 95356 410.822.6900 caloris.com
DOT FOODS
David Bigelow 2200 Nickerson Dr. Modesto, CA 95358 209.581.9090 dotfoods.com
EL FAVORITO TAQUERIA
Ben Dayawansa 1820 Elder Ln. Modesto, CA 95355 916.704.5333 malltaqueria.com
FARMERS INSURANCE DISTRICT OFFICE
Lisa Perez 1101 Sylvan Ave., Ste. C201 Modesto, CA 95350 209.353.2000
FARMERS INSURANCE – CANDY SOLIS AGENCY
Maria Solis 2507 E. Hatch Rd., Ste. B Modesto, CA 95351 209.556.9946
BE RECOGNIZED BE ENTERTAINING BE COMFORTABLE BELONG. FIND OUT WHAT SENIOR LIVING WAS MEANT TO BE
Dale Commons Independent and Assisted Living Community
3900 Dale Road Modesto, CA 95356 209.526.2053 www.dalecommons.com RCFE #507004998
FLOORING LIQUIDATORS, INC.
736 Mariposa Rd., Ste. F Modesto, CA 95354 209.577.1035
FOOD FIX TRUCK
Hank Olsen 2016 Hulst Ct. Modesto, CA 95356 510.406.1117 foodfixtruck.com
GOSOLARPROS
Vikki Lebeouf 426 14th St., #212 Modesto, CA 95354 855.786.1010 gosolarpros.net
GOLD STAR REFERRAL CLUBS
LEVOIT ADVANCED PROTECTIVE SERVICES, INC.
Susan Adami 95 W. 11th St., Ste. 206 Tracy, CA 95376 209.858.8679 levoitaps.com
LUCIA CAMPOS, MOBILE NOTARY
Lucia Campos P.O. Box 212 Turlock, CA 95381
MODESTO SOCCER FOUNDATION, INC.
Barbara Almanza P.O. Box 577229 Modesto, CA 95357
SUMMIT FUNDING INC.
Mary Matthews 1209 Shady Grove Ln. Modesto, CA 95355 209.602.7028 goldstarreferralclubs.com
Kellie Content 1101 Sylvan Ave., Ste. B-6 Modesto, CA 95350 209.266.3200 summitfunding.net/mcontent
GREAT PACIFIC NUT CO.
THE SWEET POTATO PIE COMPANY
Chris Reece P.O. Box 1005 Westley, CA 95387
HILL MEDIA GROUP
Jerad Hill P.O. Box 5394 Modesto, CA 95352 209.222.8422 hillmediagroup.com
LAW OFFICES OF AARON O. ANGUIANO
Aaron Anguiano 627 13th St., Ste. C Modesto, CA 95354 209.567.1040 aaronguianolaw.com
Catrice Prince-Claxton 1.866.430.0477
TRACIE EDDINGS, REALTOR
Tracie Eddings 1101 Sylvan Ave., Ste. A-7 Modesto, CA 95350 209.758.3104 tracieeddings.com
UNITED SAMARITANS FOUNDATION
Beverly Hatcher 220 S. Broadway Turlock, CA 95380 209.668.4853 unitedsamaritans.org
VIVINT SMART HOME
Cody Pike 4931 N. 300 W. Provo, UT 84604 877.873.9883 vivint.com
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Modesto Chamber of Commerce I PROGRESS
ECON OMIC D EVELOPM EN T
PEOPLE ON THE MOVE
Rabobank N.A. recently named Cory Swank a vice president and branch manager for its Modesto location. Previously, Swank was branch manager for Rabobank’s Groveland branch. In his new role, Swank manages daily operations and personal and business lending activities at the I Street branch. Swank brings more than a decade of banking and financial services experience to the position. Prior to joining Rabobank, he held various positions with Umpqua and Guaranty banks. CORY SWANK
An active member of the community, Swank is involved in the local Rotary Club and Farms of Tuolumne County. He lives in Sonora with his wife and two sons. P
NEW MEMBER PROFILE
City of Modesto Utility Users Tax The City of Modesto’s Utility Users Tax is collected on water, gas and electric services at a rate of 6%, cable television services at 3%, and telecommunication services at 5.8%. The maximum tax utility users have to pay for each service is $1500. The Modesto Municipal Code currently provides for refunds of overpayments made within 12 months from the receipt of the refund request. To request a refund, please provide the city with a written request and copies of your utility bills which verify you overpaid. Requests for refunds should be mailed to: City of Modesto Finance Department Attn: Utility Tax Desk PO Box 642; Modesto CA 95353 You may elect to prepay the utility users tax maximum if you believe you will exceed the cap. If you have any questions, please contact the Utility Tax personnel at (209)577-5206.
The Sweet Potato Pie Company is a seasonal pie, pie filling, and cake company that specializes in products that incorporate sweet potatoes in their baked goods. Our seasonal dates are as follows: Thanksgiving, Christmas, Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, Memorial Day, Labor Day, and 4th of July. Currently we offer our services through delivery by calling our toll free number 1.866.430.0477, 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Areas of delivery are the Central Valley and Bay Area, but we are planning to expand to a brick and mortar sometime in the near future. Some of the product that we offer are Sweet Potato Pies, Sweet Potato Pie Filling, Sweet Potato Pound Cake and Sweet Potato Parfaits. Check us out on Facebook and Instagram for the latest updates. P
800-44-Mocse www.Mocse.org
DECEMBER 2016
17
COM MUN ITY D EVELOPMEN T
GUEST COLUMN
My name is Julie Richardson, and I am the attorney/owner of Legal Pathways in downtown Modesto. I’ve been a lawyer for almost 15 years now, but a small business owner for only a bit more than a year. I’m also a recent transplant to the Central Valley from the Bay Area, so starting a new venture in a new place has been quite an adventure! After a year of owning and operating Legal Pathways, I can say that being a small business owner is a wonderful, scary, overwhelming, crazy, fulfilling, exciting roller-coaster ride! However, I can also say that it is a wonderful way of life, and I can attribute much of my office’s success to our involvement with the Modesto Chamber of Commerce. We joined the Chamber as soon as we opened our doors, knowing that a local community’s Chamber of Commerce is a wonderful and important resource.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Howard Training Center’s 23rd Annual Crab Fest 2017 Feb. 3 & Feb. 4 2017 All Seats Are Reserved Doors Open: 5:30 p.m. | Dinner: 7 p.m. Live Music Performed by Remedy – Starting at 9 p.m. Door & Raffle Prizes | No Host Bar
JULIE RICHARDSON
What the Chamber has done is welcome us with open arms and given us an opportunity to network, become part of the community, and in turn welcome others as they join! Right from the start we felt like we were accepted into and encouraged to participate in the business life of this wonderful city. We participated in the Welcome Team from the very beginning of our membership with the Chamber, and attended many ribbon-cuttings, before- and after-hours, and even gave a seminar through Chamber U. Through these activities, we’ve met referral partners, clients, and friends, and we are always eager to meet more, so please don’t be shy about reaching out to us! A little about our office – we provide estate planning services, such as setting up wills, trusts, advance healthcare directives, and other related documents. What I like to say about estate planning is that it is a gift that we give those we love – when a person’s estate plan is needed, that person isn’t going to be around or aware, and it is that person’s loved ones who will be left holding the bag and trying to sort things out at a time of grief and confusion. There’s no better gift to give those you love than the gift of peace of mind, assuring that your wishes are clear and that your affairs can be handled without conflict or court involvement. We focus on providing excellent, caring client service at fair prices, and it is always completely free to meet with me to discuss the possibility of setting up an estate plan. I would love to hear from any of you to set up an appointment to see how I can serve you, or how our businesses could help each other. I also offer free, highlyrated seminars on estate planning to the employees or customers of local businesses (we are happy to schedule a “lunch and learn” for your employees – we will provide the lunch!), or to any other group of four or more. You can reach us at 209.529.1085, or by email to jrichardson@legalpathways.net. I hope to see you at a Chamber event soon! P
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Modesto Chamber of Commerce I PROGRESS
Memorial Medical Center (MMC) was named a 2016/2017 Consumer Choice Award winner by National Research Corporation. The annual award identifies hospitals across the United States that healthcare consumers choose as having the highest quality and image. “Having earned this award for 15 straight years is validation for our approach to patient-centered care,” said Daryn Kumar, Memorial Medical Center’s chief executive officer. “We appreciate the recognition given us by our community, and do not take lightly our responsibility to earn our patients’ trust.” P
Interested in becoming more active with the Chamber? Join the Welcome Team and Ambassadors! Contact John Villines for more information, 209.577.5757
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19
C O MMU NI TY DEVELOP MENT
LEADERSHIP MODESTO IN THE COMMUNITY By Nate Benninger, Branch Manager, Oak Valley Community Bank
This month the Leadership Modesto class spent the day together exploring community service. We were taught that there are many different ways to be involved and serve the people of Stanislaus County. Cecil Russell, President & CEO of the Modesto Chamber of Commerce, started the day explaining how the Modesto Chamber works to support local businesses. He NATE BENNINGER 16/17 described the organization as a “big tent” that can be many things to many people. It serves as a communication, advocacy, educator, and networking avenue for the members that make up the Chamber. The big call out he made was that the membership is above the leadership. We were then given the opportunity to work spend time at the Senior Center. We rolled up our sleeves and paired up with 20+ seniors to help them navigate the world of technology. We saw everything from tablets to phones to laptops. A lot of
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Modesto Chamber of Commerce I PROGRESS
Our next stop was Community Hospice. Melissa Van Diepen shared with us the rich history and mission of the organization. She spoke to how hospice is working with both the community and healthcare profession to change the perception of care. We also were introduced the grief counseling programs offered to youth and adults mostly at no cost. One of the greatest programs they offer is a care taker class to help understand the role of the care taker in the patient’s care. Kenny Freeman, Clint Mort, and Kate Trompetter gave of their time to mentor us in the ever changing world of philanthropy. They reminded us to find a way to be involved with things we are passionate about by building relationships. We also examined how, just like in business, we have to change the way we think about fund-raising to reach the new generations. However, they reminded us that relationships are still the most important aspect of networking. We rolled up sleeves but this time for United Way’s Chef Program. The Chef program, which stands for cooking, healthy eating, and food, is a program to bring quality food to school aged children. They focus on schools with high rates of reduced lunch students and deliver them a reusable bag of produce, grains, and self-stable food. LeMo was able to pack about 170 bags of food in an hour for the Chef Program to give to children at Bret Harte School. We finished the day at the Pathways Facility for the Center for Human Services. We were able to tour, meet the staff, and get to know the transitional living facility for at risk young adults. However, the greatest moment of the day came when one of the residents welcomed us into her home and told us her story. She spoke about how Pathways allowed her to pursue her education at Modesto Jr. College and prepare for her dream of attending a University of California campus.
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us were able to make bonds that went beyond the day and will continue to connect with the ones we helped.
Look for us on:
The lesson of the day was that there are many ways to serve our community, but it takes us having the initiative to get involved. P
PHOTO CREDIT: WILLIAM HARRIS
WORK IN
a series spotlighting some of our area’s most innovative and successful companies
THE STATE THEATRE:
A THRIVING MODESTO INSTITUTION
SERVICE WHEN YOU NEED IT
By : Jacqui D. Sinarle Modesto’s State Theatre is more than a community entertainment venue; it’s an institution. And thanks to its elegant atmosphere, combined with modern high tech renovations, the State is a beloved local landmark with a very bright future ahead.
"…Our community has been amazingly generous in its support of The State…" “The State is a small, intimate historic theater that strives for the best in customer service, screens the best art, independent, and foreign films, and is perennially responsive to our patrons’ wants and needs,” said Sue Richardson, Executive Director. After opening in 1934, the art deco style theatre changed ownership several times before it was purchased by a privatelyfunded nonprofit corporation, renovated, and reopened in 2005. Today, the 560-seat venue not only screens films but also offers a diverse assortment of performing arts and social, civic, and educational events. “As the region’s only art film house and only remaining historic theater, The State offers a great deal,” added Richardson. “It’s an anchor business for downtown Modesto with affordable and popular programming; it
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provides many free events throughout the year that enrich the community as a whole; it offers programs for people of all ages; and most of all, it’s a safe and welcoming place for social interaction and building relationships.” The State is unique in its focus on evolving to meet local needs and openly solicits input from its patrons, including suggestions for films. “Because we’re a small independent, we can change our programming on a dime to take advantage of a film, speaker or artist that would be of interest to or benefit our community,” Richardson said. “The State also offers many free community programs including a Common Core-driven Youth Education Program for schools throughout the region, and we ensure that there are no social or economic barriers to participating in the program by offering transportation grants.” Since The State is a privately funded nonprofit organization, currently planned upgrades to the theatre’s electrical, public address, and lighting systems must be funded by board member and community donations. “Our community has been amazingly generous in its support of The State,” Richardson observed. “Every time we need to upgrade to remain viable, members of our community step forward.”
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.
That’s not the only way you can support this fabulous Modesto institution, Richardson added. “The State survives because people patronize it,” Richardson said. “Every time you purchase a movie ticket or attend a concert, you’re supporting The State.” For more information about the State Theatre, visit www.thestate.org.
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DECEMBER 2016
21
N E TW OR K I NG & REFERRALS
PRESIDENT’S CLUB CIRCLE OF INFLUENCE SILVER LEVEL
Food Maxx
Rabobank
E. & J. Gallo Winery
PLATINUM LEVEL
Acme Construction Company, Inc.
Flowers Baking Co. of Modesto, LLC
Raymond James & Associates, Inc.
Kaiser Permanente
American Chevrolet
F & M Bank
Rizo-Lopez Foods, Inc.
Walmart
American Medical Response Aramark Uniform Services
Galletto Ristorante
Rogers Jewelry Company
Walmart Neighborhood Market
Atherton & Associates, LLP
DIAMOND LEVEL
Certified Public Accountants
Gianelli & Associates Gilton Solid Waste Management, Inc. Golden Valley Health Centers
San Joaquin Valley College Save Mart Supermarkets Smile Shine Family Dental Seven Up Bottling Corporation
Bank of the West
Brightwood College
Beard Land and Investment Co.
Brunn & Flynn
Capax-Giddings, Corby, Hynes, Inc.
California State University, Stanislaus
Grover Landscape Services, Inc.
Solar City
Doctors Behavioral
Care One Home Health
HealthSouth Rehabilitation
Solid Networks, Inc.
Stanislaus Distributing
Health Center- DMC
and Hospice, Inc.
Grimbleby Coleman CPAs, Inc.
of Modesto
Solecon Industrial Contractors
Doctors Medical Center-DMC
Central Sanitary Supply Co.
I.J. Larsen Pumps, Inc.
Stanislaus Food Products Company
Frito-Lay Company, Inc.
Central Valley Ag Grinding
Infiniti of Modesto
Stanislaus Surgical Hospital
MedAmerica Billing Services, Inc.
Central Valley Automotive
Institute of Technology
Modesto & Empire Traction Co.
Central Valley Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge
Pacific Southwest Container
Central Valley Nissan
International Paper Company
Physician Referral Service-DMC
Central Valley Volkswagen Hyundai Central Valley Medical Group
GOLD LEVEL
Central Valley Specialty Hospital
JS West & Company Maxx Value Foods
Storer Coachways SunOpta Aseptic, Inc. Sutter Gould Medical Foundation TSM Insurance Turlock Irrigation District
Mercer Foods
Union Bank
5.11, Inc.
Chuckchansi Gold Resort & Casino
Mocse Credit Union
US Bank
Crystal Creamery
Clark Pest Control
Modesto Commerce Bank
Uno Chicago Grill
DoubleTree Hotel
COIT Services Inc.
Modesto Toyota
Valley Children’s Healthcare
Fiscallini Cheese Company
Collins Electrical
The Modesto Bee
Valley First Credit Union
Memorial Medical Center
Comcast
Oak Valley Community Bank
Modesto Irrigation District
Covanta Stanislaus, Inc.
O’Brien’s Market
Modesto Nuts Professional Baseball
Damrell, Nelson, Schrimp, Pallios,
RACOR, Division of Parker
Pacific Gas & Electric Company
DeAngelos Jewelry
Hannifin Corporation
Pacher & Silva
W.H. Breshears, Inc. Warden’s Office Products Center Warden’s Office Furniture Outlet Wells Fargo Bank
Pepsi Bottling Group
Winton-Ireland, Strom & Green
PMZ Real Estate
English Oaks Nursing &
Post Foods, LLC
Yosemite Meat Company, Inc.
Prime Shine Car Wash
Del Monte Foods
Switch to Vapor
Delta Sierra Beverage
Sysco Food Services of
The Eberhardt School of Business
Central California
Vintage Faire Mall
Papa John’s
Seneca Foods, LLC
Taco Bell
Panelized Structures Inc.
Valley Lexus-BMW
Rehabilitation Hospital
Final Cut Media
Prompt Staffing
First Choice Physician Partners
Insurance Agency
D.B.A Courtesy Staffing
Don't Forget ! to submit your nominations for our 103rd Annual Gala & Member's Choice Awards on Jan. 28, 2017 in the following categories:
Chamber Member of the Year Non-Profit of the Year
Distinguished Service
Small Business of the Year
*Nomination forms are available on the Modesto Chamber website: www.modchamber.org
22
Modesto Chamber of Commerce I PROGRESS
Here’s to another year of making sure your brand sticks.
Happy holidays from all of us.
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