Progress Magazine - April 2020

MODESTO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

VOL. 41 | ISSUE 04 | APRIL 2020

SUMMER OPERA INSTITUTE MARKETING STRATEGY CONNECT TO EDUCATION

Take Your Bank Wherever You Go

For over 153 years, Bank of Stockton has offered our customers the latest

in convenience and service. We offer innovative banking products like our mobile banking app, where you can view balances, transfer funds, make deposits and pay bills, all from the convenience of your smart phone. Combine this with our text alerts on account balances, balance thresholds, transaction activity, and security alerts, and you can do your banking and keep track of your accounts without ever coming into the bank!

If you are a Bank of Stockton customer, download our FREE app and start banking from anywhere today. If you are not yet part of the family, visit us online or stop into one of our branches and find out about all the digital and traditional banking services we have to offer.

IN MODESTO 1302 J St. & 4204 Dale Rd. bankofstockton.com

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MODESTO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE I MODCHAMBER.ORG

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.

APRIL 2020

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Chairman

Pete Zahos; Sysco Central California Inc.

Past Chairman

Steve Rank, Rank Investigations and Protection, Inc.

Vice Chair, External Operations Michael Moradian Jr.

Vice Chair, Internal Operations Patricia Gillum, CPA

Opera Modesto

DIRECTORS

Bill Robinson, Principal Financial Group Brad Blakely, Edward Jones Investments David Wright, Wright Insurance Company DeSha McLeod, Community Hospice Inc. Jared Steinwert, F & M Bank Jason Pineda, FRESHPOINT, Inc. Kathy Monday, Squeeze Inn Kirstie Boyett, The State Theatre Kristin Reza, Bank of Stockton Michael Gaffney, PG&E Naomi Layland, Ardis Farming Peggy O’Donnel, Mid Valley Productions Warren Kirk, Doctors Medical Center

ADVISORS

Keith Boggs, Stanislaus County Chief Executive Office George Boodrookas, Modesto Junior College Melissa Williams, Modesto Irrigation District

COMMUNITY

Sheriff’s Update

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CEO Message

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Chamber Calendar

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Announcements

ADVOCACY

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President & CEO

Trish Christensen Modesto Chamber of Commerce tchristensen@modchamber.org

Addressing Homelessness

RELATIONSHIPS

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

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Happy Anniversary

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Ribbon Cuttings

Distribution: 209 Magazine

EDUCATION

Advertising Sales:

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Vocational Nursing

Cover Photo:

SERVICE

Graphic Design: 209 Magazine

209.634.9141 • www.209magazine.com

Printer: 209 Magazine

209.634.9141 • hvanderveen@209magazine.com

Sweet Potato Pie Co.

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209.634.9141

209 Magazine dsavage@209magazine.com 209.577.5757 Virginia Still

Modesto Chamber of Commerce 209.577.5757 © Copyright 2020 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

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Hands On Learning

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Love Our Neighbors

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.

Staff:

Administrative Assistant, Hope Gyorfi Administrative Assistant, Jolene Camarena Events Coordinator, Felicia Lopez Membership Coordinator, Sabrinna Gonzales Staff Accountant, Jaime Lastra

Service To Veterans

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

APRIL 2020

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A Message From The President & CEO OPTIMISM

By Trish Christensen

MESSAGE FROM THE CEO / CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD

Every year when April arrives, I find it triggers hope and anticipation for me. Without fail, April brings buds and blooms, explosions of color, new growth, fresh air, spring showers … April showcases spring. The season of rebirth and life reviving itself.

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Throughout March, our lives became more and more filled with worry, fear, panic, and constant concern. We initially listened to news from the other side of the world.

Information and details of their horrors and sorrows. Then just like that, the virus made its way directly into our lives.

We became concerned for ourselves and our loved ones, and suddenly we also worried about those around us who we may or may not know.

Individuals we pass by or share space within a public setting. People who may have sat at that table before you in a restaurant, or who used that handrail to walk that same staircase. We had to think about the number of people we were interacting with, who in the room may be the source that could impact me. In an unprecedented fashion – cancelations became a norm.

COVID-19 has proven to carry a sad, hefty punch. It changed how we live. It changed how we work. It changed how we care for our families, and how we interact and greet one another. It changed our social and economic outlook in oh so many ways.

MODESTO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE I MODCHAMBER.ORG

It brought us to a scary, unstable, and unfamiliar place … knowing the trickle-down effect from this pandemic will not be fully seen for quite some time.

What hasn’t changed? Well, it is still April … Things are still growing, still budding and still blooming. The sun is still coming out and the colors are still exploding. These are signs of new life, here to help us hang on … to look forward … to hope. The beauty in April helps us anticipate the resurgence that will eventually come. This is a time we need to count on the humility of humanity and support one another as we heal, recover, and find our way back to a new norm as individuals, as businesses, and as a community.

I anticipate State of the City and State of the Region to take place in the next several months. Our Government Relations Council, our Economic Development Committee, Stanislaus Green Team and the approaching ReaCon Team, Women in Business Mentorship Network, and Young Professionals Mentorship Network will return to a predictable routine when it is safe to gather in groups once again. In the meantime, please know that the Chamber Board, the Staff, and I all wish you well. We are here to help support you and connect you and your businesses to the resources you may need at this time.

With warm regards & wishing you good health, Trish

A healthier workforce creates a stronger business.

Get the tools you need to establish a healthier workplace culture, helping your employees manage stress, sleep better, and exercise more. Learn more at kp.org/choosebetter.

Choose Better. Choose Kaiser Permanente.

NOVEMBER 2018

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CHAMBER CALENDAR

Due to the extended coronavirus social distancing, All April events are cancelled. Please monitor our website during this time of social distancing as events and meetings in May could also be postponed.

APRIL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT 1 COMMITTEE* Laurie Smith & Bob Quintella City of Modesto Parks & Rec. Modesto Chamber of Commerce* 7:30 A.M.

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CHAMBER U- OPEN Modesto Chamber of Commerce* 12:00 P.M.

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AMBASSADOR & WELCOME TEAM Modesto Chamber of Commerce 8:00 A.M.

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25TH AG AWARE LUNCHEON* MJC ACE Ag Pavilion 11:30 A.M.

CHAMBER CALENDAR

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BUSINESS BEFORE HOURS* Gold Star 2901 Healthcare Way, Modesto, CA 7:30 A.M.

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STANISLAUS GREEN TEAM Modesto Chamber of Commerce** Modesto, CA 12:00 P.M.

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GOVERNMENT RELATIONS COMMITTEE- ADAM BARTH* Angela Swanson & Roland Fecteau Public Transit, Para Transit & the 92nd Birthday of Modesto Bus Services Modesto Chamber of Commerce** Modesto, CA 12:00 P.M.

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BUSINESS AFTER HOURS* El Rio Memory Care Community 2828 Healthcare Way, Modesto, Ca 5:30 P.M. *See website for more detail.** Change in usual location Please note that calendar events and details are subject to change.

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MODESTO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE I MODCHAMBER.ORG

MAY AMBASSADOR & WELCOME TEAM* 1 Modesto Chamber of Commerce* 8:00 A.M

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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE* Gokce Soydemir, PH. D Professor of Economics San Joaquin Valley Business Forecast report Modesto Chamber of Commerce* 7:30 A.M.

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CHAMBER U- BALANCED IQ* Hernani Alves How to win hearts to achieve epic performance Modesto Chamber of Commerce* 12:00 P.M.

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STATE OF THE REGION* Modesto, CA 11:30 A.M.

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BUSINESS BEFORE HOURS* Modesto CA 5:30-7:30 PM

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GOVERNMENT RELATIONS COMMITTEE San Joaquin Regional rail/commission Ace/Amtrak Modesto Chamber of Commerce** Modesto, CA 12:00 P.M.

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STANISLAUS GREEN TEAM* Modesto Chamber of Commerce** Modesto, CA 12:00 P.M.

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BUSINESS AFTER HOURS* Modesto, CA 5:30 P.M.

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

Modesto Area,economic regional businesses and community prosperity through advocacy, collaboration, access to leaders, development, connectivity and business education.

Toour execute our adopted mission have developed an acronym that helps keep us focused. access to leaders, economic connectivity and business education.

That To execute adopted mission we development, havewe developed an acronym that helps keep us focused.

That acronym is “CARES: Community, Advocacy, Relationships, Education and Service.” acronym is “CARES: Community, Relationships, Education andkeep Service.”

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

COMMUNITY

EDUCATION

COMMUNITY

EDUCATION

At its heart the Modesto Chamber is a community of likeminded

The Chamber serves the education community by hosting the

business owners who share the vision for enjoying a thriving economy

annual State of Business and Education event, by fund-raising for local

and creating and maintaining our community as a vibrant place to live,

students at the Ag Aware and Harvest Luncheon annual series, and

work and play. The Modesto Chamber is the go-to resource and

partnering with local schools and colleges to train and educate young

At its heart the Modesto Chamber is a community of likeminded

business owners who share the vision for enjoying a thriving economy

and creating and maintaining our community as a vibrant place to live,

work and play. The Modesto Chamber is the go-to resource and

The Chamber serves the education community by hosting the

annual State of Business and Education event, by fund-raising for local

students at the Ag Aware and Harvest Luncheon annual series, and partnering with local schools and colleges to train and educate young

facilitator of ideas and communication for nonprofits, governmental men and women, all in keeping with our pledge to help provide a ready facilitator of ideas and communication for nonprofits, governmental men and women, all in keeping with our pledge to help provide a ready

agencies, and community leaders.

More More than than just ajust business club,club, the the workforce the Chamber Chamber agencies, and community leaders. a business workforcetotoserve serve local local employers. employers. Additionally, Additionally, the Modesto Chamber strives to affect its environment for positive educates its members on practical solutions and best practices through Modesto Chamber strives to affect its environment for positive educates its members on practical solutions and best practices through transformation by supporting change agents in the community. its Progress Magazine articles, monthly Chamber University and Seeds transformation by supporting change agents in the community. its Progress Magazine articles, monthly Chamber University and Seeds ofof Success speaker monthlycommittee committee Success speakerseries, series,workshops workshops and and seminars, seminars, monthly meetings, and SCORE counseling. meetings, and SCORE counseling.

ADVOCACY ADVOCACY

SERVICE SERVICE

Chamber Staff, Board of Directors and many of our topical

Chamber Staff, Board of Directors and many of our topical

committees, such as Economic Development and Government

committees, such as Economic Development and Government

Relations, are engaged and proactively representing our members by

Relations, are engaged and proactively representing our members by

The Chamber believes in service to the community and to its

The Chamber believes in service to the community and to its members. The Chamber Board and staff are active on many nonprofit

addressing business initiatives, addressing issues in our community members. The Chamber Board and staff are active on many nonprofit and government committees, donating their business expertise, time

addressing issues in our community and business working toinitiatives, relieve theaddressing regulatory burdens businesses endure due

and working toand relieve regulatory The burdens businesses due as to local statethe governments.

Modesto Chamberendure gets results, to local shown and state Modestomore Chamber gets results, as by governments. recent victoriesThe in forming rational ADA legislation, shown by recent avictories in measure, forming electing more rational legislation, defeating no-growth businessADA friendly candidates, working alongside otherselecting to passbusiness Measure L, a candidates, local self-help defeating a no-growth measure, friendly measure, for our workingtransportation alongside others to and passchampioning Measure L,fora more local water self-help agribusiness, industry citizens. By working together, transportation measure, andand championing for more waterour formembers our are stronger together than they ever be on their own. agribusiness, industry and citizens.

Bycould working together, our members

are stronger together than they could ever be on their own.

RELATIONSHIPS

RELATIONSHIPS

The Modesto Chamber specializes in building relationships among business and serving as the nexus to businesses, nonprofit

The Modesto Chamber in building relationships organizations, and specializes governmental agencies.

We hostamong monthly businessnetworking and serving the special nexusevents, to businesses, nonprofit events, as annual an annual trade show, and our long-running Gala. Membersagencies. also may serve committees or go organizations, and governmental We onhost monthly through the Leadership Modesto program wheretrade they will build longnetworking events, annual special events, an annual show, and term relationships with key leaders in the business world and or go our long-running Gala. Members also may serve on committees

andand government their resources. committees, The Chamberdonating also serves its business individualexpertise, members time by andhosting resources.

Thecuttings Chamber alsointroduce serves itsa individual members ribbon which new business to theby hosting ribbon cuttings introduce new business to the community, valuable and which cost effective (free) amarketing opportunities, community, costworkshops effective (free) marketing exposure valuable to social and media, and training for opportunities, our business partnersto andsocial their associates, and other free andtraining discounted exposure media, workshops and forresources. our business

partners and their associates, and other free and discounted resources.

C - Community

C - Community A - Advocacy

A - Advocacy

R - Relationships

R - Relationships E - Education

ES--Education Service S - Service

throughlocal the community.

Leadership Modesto program where they will build longterm relationships with key leaders in the business world and local community.

APRIL 2020

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UPDATE FROM THE STANISLAUS COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE Protecting our communities by building trust, reducing crime, and promoting safety through enforcement, prevention, and education is more important than ever.

So much of our social interaction today is happening online, and while we at the Sheriff’s Office will always be rooted in serving the community in real life, we also realize this world is ever changing and part of our duty is to understand that change.

In our office, that change is the creative use of social media. We are working to strengthen the relationship with our community in the digital space. Not only to provide updates about the efforts of our department, but to also give a well-rounded snapshot of the work we do every day.

By engaging with our community online we are learning about what their concerns are, what misconceptions exist, and how we can be better in our work as a law enforcement agency.

When we give residents the information they need to stay safe or explain how to access the necessary resources through social media platforms, we are creating an accessible digital footprint that can be saved, downloaded, and shared at any time.

COMMUNITY

The range of ages that access the different social media apps on a daily basis, vary from 13 to 70 and with more users than ever, we are able to disseminate a p p r o p r i a t e information that can be life changing or lifesaving. Public safety is our top priority but that doesn’t mean we can’t have a little fun with it too. Social media gives us the opportunity to be creative in a way that never existed for law enforcement before.

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Stanislaus County Sheriff Jeff Dirkse Our aim is to always be a trusted resource for the residents of Stanislaus County.

When we share how our office works to support the community through patrol, adult detention, the coroner’s office, and contract cities in the digital space, it allows for a multi-generational understanding of law enforcement.

Want to be part of our digital community? Follow us on Instagram @stancosheriff or find us on Facebook Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office @StanSheriff.

209CAREERS.NET F O R J O B S E E K E R S & E M P LOY E R S MODESTO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE I MODCHAMBER.ORG

ANNOUNCEMENTS Community Hospice Appoints New Chief Financial Officer Community Hospice, the oldest and largest nonprofit hospice agency serving the Central Valley, announced the appointment of Lenny R. Verser, Jr., J.D, CPA, as the organization’s new Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Mr. Verser recently joined Community Hospice in his new role.

Mr. Verser joins Community Hospice with more than 20 years’ professional experience in Finance and Accounting. Mr. Verser brings a wealth of specialist knowledge in corporate and nonprofit to the CFO role.

He most recently served as the Chief Financial Officer for Therapeutic Solutions, in Chico, CA. He has also held other senior positions in the past and has been instrumental in enhancing productivity levels, reducing costs, introducing process improvements, technology solutions and performance management.

Mr. Verser stated, “I look forward to joining the Community Hospice Leadership team and leading their financial operations to contribute to the success of the organization and the fulfillment of their mission.”

Mr. Verser attended Oklahoma State University where he received his Bachelors of Science in Business Administration with an Accounting emphasis.

Lenny Verser

He received his Juris Doctorate from Lincoln Law School of Sacramento. He is licensed a Certified Public Accountant and Member of the California State Bar.

“We are pleased that Mr. Verser has chosen to join our Community Hospice family,” said C. DeSha McLeod, President/ CEO of Community Hospice.

“We are confident that he will lead and execute strategies that continue to improve our financial performance, maintain our mission and help position Community Hospice for a bright future. We are proud to welcome him into this position and feel he is the right choice for our organization.”

Ramon Mendez Takes Home 2019 Ted Shields Award The Ted Shields Welcome Team Member of the Year Award for the Modesto Chamber of Commerce was named in memory of a gentleman who was completely dedicated to the Chamber and the purpose of the Welcome Team.

Our Welcome Team is another amazing group of Chamber volunteers, team members gather regularly to welcome new members to the Chamber. At Ramon Mendez events, Welcome Team members meet the owners of new businesses and learn about what they do while welcoming them to the Chamber community.

COMMUNITY

You will also see pictures from these events each month in Progress Magazine, they truly are in the forefront of building relationships in community. Ramon Mendez of Inderjit S. Toor Construction, Inc. was this year’s recipient of this prestigious award. Ramon has a passion for being engaging and inviting.

He epitomizes what a Welcome Team Member should be, a friendly, welcoming representative of our community who takes a genuine interest in each and every member he meets. Ramon has been a Welcome Team Member since 2019, and within that short time he has made a big impact. His love of community and building relationships is evident in how he always makes people feel welcome. We look forward to Ramon’s contributions as a representative to The Modesto Chamber of Commerce.

APRIL 2020

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4th Annual NATIONAL AG SCIENCE CENTER

GOLF TOURNAMENT $160 PER GOLFER -- $640 PER FOURSOME

8:00 - 9:30 AM

Check in and Continental Breakfast

Monday, August 31, 2020

9:15 AM

Oakdale Golf and Country Club 243 NORTH STERNS ROAD OAKDALE, CA 95361

Clinic with Golf Pro Dana Arnold-Ebster

10:00 AM

Shotgun Start

11:00 -1:00 PM On Course Box Lunch

A day on the links supports innovative and unique mobile agriculture science education experiences for students in and around Stanislaus County.

3:00 - 4:00 PM

Appetizers and Awards Ceremony

Includes

Breakfast, golf clinic, on-course snacks and beverages, lunch, greens fees and range balls, shared cart, SWAG, prizes and hosted beer, wine and hors d’oeuvres.

Benefiting Ag Science Education - The National Ag Science Center provides students with unique programs in agriculture and science to promote positive educational experiences and an awareness of career connections and issues important to sustainable agriculture in California. Learn more at

COMMUNITY

AgScienceCenter.org. NASC is a registered 501(c)3, tax ID # 77-04383082

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Space is Limited DON’T DELAY! $160 PER GOLFER $640 PER FOURSOME

We are only accepting 144 golfers.

Payment must be received by August 24, 2020 to reserve entry.

Appropriate golf attire is required.

To register visit agsciencecenter.org/golf-tournament, call 209-521-2902 or email admin@agsciencecenter.org MODESTO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE I MODCHAMBER.ORG

Community Engagement Takes Center Stage: Opera Modesto’s Summer Opera Institute

By Hillari DeSchane “…I want other kids my age to know and help them realize that there are places like it to help them through hard times. I am so glad that it altered my life in such a positive way.”—Ellie “I have some learning challenges with auditory and visual processing problems. The staff was fantastic with working and encouraging me without making me feel any different from anyone else.”—Amy “… (a) game-changer for me. It brought out the personality and courage that I didn’t know I had.”—Roy Modesto’s business community has a well-earned reputation for investing in and supporting its neighbors, particularly its youth. So what organization is it whose youth program has earned these testimonials from its young participants? A health provider? A faith-based initiative?

Would you believe — Opera Modesto? Yes, Modesto’s own opera company, founded over 35 years ago by Modesto native Buck Townsend, remains true to its small town-big heart ideals with its Summer Opera Institute for teens or SOI, entering its third year this July 20-31, 2020.

This hands-on engagement with all parts of the community, not just its ticket-holding audience, is nothing new for the former Townsend Opera, now Opera Modesto, says General and Artistic Director Roy Stevens.

The Summer Opera Institute draws on opera’s cherished tradition of personal mentoring to feed into young people’s lives at perhaps their most vulnerable and challenging stage of development. Students train with accomplished opera and musical professionals in vocal technique, multiple foreign languages, stage movement and craft, plus public speaking and personal presentation. The hours are long, the training is rigorous, the commitment is intense. While participants do audition so they can be placed appropriately, vocal quality or previous training is not a prerequisite, nor is ability to pay.

“We don’t anticipate that most, or even many, of them will go on (to sing academically or professionally)” Stevens says.

What students do take away is the validation that caring and committed professionals saw their worth and shared skills that will prepare the student for whatever life path they pursue — and challenges they confront.

Summer Opera Institute students practice stage movement and spatial awareness.

IMAGE COURTESY OPERA MODESTO

If you’re not buying crop insurance, you don’t know Jack Farmers and ranchers can now purchase crop insurance for protect themselves against the loss of crops due to natural disasters or the loss of revenue due to declines in the prices of agricultural commodities.

Purchasing crop insurance will reduce your exposure to a variety of risks and bring you piece of mind. If you want to learn more about the programs that are available and how you can benefit, you need to know Jack.

MEET JACK Jack Roudebush is a leading crop insurance expert. His combination of industry knowledge and insurance company insight makes him uniquely qualified to help you navigate the intricacies of these programs. Call Jack today to learn how you can minumize your risk and protect your bottom line.

While Opera Modesto continues to mount widely praised major productions such as ‘Madame Butterfly,’ ‘Carmen,’ and ‘Mansfield Park,’ its Summer Opera Institute, Top Young Artists (TOPYA) and small venue concerts are equally important to this community-focused arts organization.

“Our motto is ‘Enriching the quality of life in the Central Valley through Opera,’” says board member Hillari DeSchane. “Those are not just words on our website, it’s what we believe, and what we work for in all our activities.”

For more information about the Summer Opera Institute or Opera Modesto events, visit operamodesto.org or call Jewel Whitaker at 209523-6426.

Direct: 209.550.3710 • Mobile: 209.483.0650 jroudebush@capax.com Lic#0B67204

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COMMUNITY

“What is new is that Opera Modesto is engaged in extensive, unexpected community engagement that is nationally unique and, we believe, promotes our shared interest in the health of the community.”

1.800.94CAPAX • 209.526.3110 Giddings, Corby, Hynes Lic# 0144783

APRIL 2020

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Time To Prepare A Marketing Strategy

By Trish Christensen

Together, we face this time with many questions and concerns.

Panic and uncertainty can lead to paralysis in situations like this.

This can cause us to get stuck in the moment and stop looking forward. In reality this slower and more isolated situation is offering us valuable and useable time.

We suddenly have time to think, so let’s take stock.

Let’s consider what a successful future could look like.

At some point we will enter the recovery stage of all this. What outcomes do you want to prepare for in recovery? So much of it comes down to marketing, in an array of arenas.

Communicate: Communicate more, not less.

Silence in the face of uncertainty may be a natural response, but it’s not good business.

Offer creative solutions for cancellations — switch to virtual events, postpone to a future date, or refund and rebook with empathy and understanding.

Customers will remember how you responded to their concerns.

I will be sharing some key ideas for you to consider here and there over the next couple weeks to help you build the momentum you’ll need to soar when the crisis subsides.

Clearly understanding all your audiences is critical now.

Making a prioritized to-do list and checking off a few items each day.

Care for yourself, employees, friends, family and community.

Doing what you can for your inner circle helps you take small steps and kick-off your action plan.

Dig into the analytics on your website, the insights on your social media platforms, data from advertising, promotions and PR, and the results from your direct communications.

Use that data to update your website, send emails, post on social media channels, consider advertising locally and/or online.

COMMUNITY

Maybe today is the day for a vision board for yourself and your business.

It tends to be hard to find the time needed to build a full marketing concept, but we have some downtime and I want to encourage you to make use of it.

Ideas designed to jump-start your recovery planning and marketing:

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A daily practice of respect, empathy, active listening and gratitude starts each day with positive intention. Positivity is contagious.

With fresh insight, you can concentrate your efforts on what has worked before.

Now is a great time to experiment with a channel you have been curious about.

Be kind and mindful. Everyone feels the effects of a crisis, some more acutely than others.

MODESTO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE I MODCHAMBER.ORG

Double Up on Fundamentals:

Identify the people who interact with your business: super fans, most frequent purchasers, users (who may be different from purchasers), potential customers, business partners and your employees.

List what matters most to each group. How do your products and services stand apart?

What products and services are the most popular or most unique?

Now is the time to focus on what you do best. Pare back the least profitable or popular offerings.

Focus on cooperation, not competition: Your business has a unique mix of strengths and specialties, built from your point-of-view.

Being generous with your time and knowledge and supportive of your peers builds a powerful community network that will be there for you too when you need it.

None of us operates independently.

We are part of a greater society, no matter how much distancing is needed at the moment.

Looking forward with you, #inthistogether, Trish

Progress On Homelessness In Stanislaus County

FoP started convening groups to define the issues and found that there has been a lot of effort by the government and nonprofits, but there has been little collaboration and no common mission. This highlighted the frustration that our efforts are not reducing homelessness.

This facility will house individuals, most coming from BLBS, and in return opening more beds to house more future BLBS residents.

Other notable changes: The Migrant Labor Camp in Empire is for the second-year housing 21 homeless families (last year all 21 families were housed before the units were turned back to migrant labor housing).

Over the course of the last two years we have been working on breaking down the silos that kept us from working together. As a result, we have been able to develop a common assessment tool called the Coordinated Entry System that all agencies and nonprofits use to access individuals and information available to the providers so that there is coordination on services and the needs of the individuals can be met.

The county leased a small motel on South 9th Street housing 22 families.

At the prompting of the 9th Circuit Court ruling requiring Low Barrier Shelters (pets, partners, and possessions allowed) must be available or no enforcement allowed of camping on public property. The city working with the county and service providers were able to overcome significant political pressure and opened Beardbrook Park to camping, which later moved and opened as the MOES (Modesto Outdoor Emergency Shelter) housing over 500 homeless individuals. Here, significant case work was completed with the individuals helping them to see their next move to the Berberian Low Barrier Shelter (BLBS).

Late 2019 the Salvation Army, along with the City of Modesto, and the County of Stanislaus opened the BLBS and housed 180 individuals from MOES. They were provided with extensive case management to help them progress out of homelessness.

The Downtown Streets Team has over 40 individuals (mainly housed from the BLBS) earning stipends in return for cleaning the trash from streets. Although the waiting list to get into the program is long, it’s another path to moving out of homelessness and management to get to their goal of a job and a place to live.

Caltrans has been working on a job program with the city to help employ homeless individuals as well.

The Housing Authority purchased the Kansas Avenue Motel (Kansas House) for permanent supportive housing for individuals. This is not a shelter, but the next step from the BLBS. Kansas House is still a low barrier but there are great efforts to support individuals to do well in transitional housing where they can stay beyond the 12-month target, as long as they continue to work towards housing solutions.

The Turlock We Care Shelter is expanding their services.

The Gospel Mission has expanded their work with the homeless in a program that helps with life skills.

The county is beginning discussions for a countywide housing plan that will address all levels of housing in the county.

Family Promise is expanding its services.

A Center for Human Services youth shelter and navigation center is opening soon.

Patterson is under construction with a second module to add a women’s shelter and continuing with a 6 month live in program helping men break out of homelessness, 15 in program and 10 shelter beds.

Discussions are in progress with several churches that are interested in providing long term housing solutions.

We are far from ending homelessness but moving in the right direction to make a significant difference. I am very proud of all the “we” that are mentioned in this article. It takes everyone working together to see this magnitude of results. Our focus is on helping individuals get better rather than just providing shelter with no hope of change.

Please contact me or better yet attend the Stanislaus Homeless Alliance the second Wednesday of the month in the basement chambers at 5:30 p.m. to get informed.

APRIL 2020

ADVOCACY

By Brad Hawn About five years ago Focus on Prevention (FoP), a countywide effort to shift from treating symptoms to focus on the root causes began to focus on Homelessness. While FoP is about all community members’ wellbeing, homelessness was impacting our communities. We found a lack of collaboration existed countywide. We started the conversation to bring together all the various organizations and individuals that were working on or wanting to make a difference with homelessness in our community. FoP by encouraging groups to start working together, could see progress with the goal of helping people who are experiencing homelessness make necessary changes to move to self-sufficiency.

13

Business Before Hours, Business After Hours Events These networking events are opportunities for members to invite all Chamber members to their businesses to mingle, build relationships, and connect outside of the normal workday. They are perfect environments to showcase your office, products, and/or services, and to share your individual “business story”. If you happen to be a based from home business, you are always welcome to host your event here in the Chamber Conference room.

Business Before Hours are traditionally held on the second Thursday of each month from 7:30 to 8:30am. *Sponsorship Investment is $125.00.

Business After Hours are typically held on the fourth Thursday of each month from 5:30 to 7:30 pm. *Sponsorship Investment is $250.00.

Included for your sponsorship: *Company Logo on business tailored event flyer *Event and flyer promoted via Chamber Happenings *Event and flyer promoted via all our social media platforms *Event, flyer, and business promoted in Progress Magazine month of event *Pre-event announcements at Chamber events *2 – 3 items to include in a business card drawing *For After-hours events we secure a liquor license, and provide adult beverage As a Host you are responsible for providing: Before – *Location large enough for up to 50 attendees *Continental Breakfast, or other food of your choice *3 plus Door prizes After – *Location large enough for up to 100 attendees *Appetizer/small plate tidbits, or other food of your choice *3 plus Door prizes

ADVOCACY

An Agreement, which has more details, must be completed, with payment, to secure your date.

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For more information on becoming a host in 2020, please call 209-577-5757, or email at mccreception@ModChamber.org

MODESTO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE I MODCHAMBER.ORG

Helping You Navigate The Coronavirus Pandemic Small Business Resources: • Small Business Development Center (SBDC) https:// valleysierrasbdc.com/ • Center for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) Coronavirus Disease 2019 https://www.cdc.gov/ • California Department of Public Health - COVID-19 General Information https://covid19.ca.gov/ • U.S. Small. Business Administration: https://www. sba.gov/page/coronavirus-covid-19-small-businessguidance-loan-resources.

Additional Business Resources: • Committee on Jobs, Economic Development, and the Economy: https://ajed.assembly.ca.gov/content/covid19-resources

• US Black Chamber Resource Guide [https:// usblackchambers.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/ Small-Business-Policy-Legislative-Resource-Guide-viaUSBC.pdf]

• GoBiz - Business Resource Guide for Business https:// business.ca.gov/

• National ACE Resource Guide [https://www.nationalace. org/news-1]

• OSHA Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19 https://www.osha.gov/Publications/OSHA3990.pdf

• United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce [https:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=aT0IIu5Qd9c]

• U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission: What You Should Know About the ADA, the Rehabilitation Act, and COVID-19: https://www1.eeoc.gov/eeoc/newsroom/ w y s k /w y s k _ a d a _ re h a b i l i t a i o n _ a c t _ c o ro n a v i r u s . cfm?renderforprint=1

• Disability: IN [https://disabilityin.org/news-events/ blog/]

• United Way of Stanislaus County https://www. uwaystan.org/

• COVID-19 Employer Resource Tracker [https://www. publicprivatestrategies.com/covid-19] Public Health Resources

• Stanislaus County Office of Emergency Services http:// www.stanemergency.org/

• City of Modesto: https://www.modestogov.com/2513/ Coronavirus-Updates

• Modesto City Schools https://www.mcs4kids.com/ district

• City of Stockton: http://www.stocktongov.com/ government/departments/manager/pubWebSite.html

• Ceres Unified School District http://www.ceres. k12.ca.us/cms/One.aspx?portalId=5439732&page Id=48404601

• City of Tracy: https://www.ci.tracy.ca.us/?navid=10802

Small Business Resources from the SBA: • National Small Business Association Polling: [https:// nsba.biz/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/NSBA-COVID19-Poll-2020.pdf] • Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council Insider [https://sbecouncil.org /2020/03/20/states-withapproved-sba-emergency-declarations/] • National Association for the Self Employed Portal: [https://www.nase.org/business-help.aspx]

• City of Manteca: https://www.ci.manteca.ca.us/ Ad m i n i s t ra t i o n /co ro n av i r u s / Pa ge s /co ro n av i r u s information.aspx • City of Ripon: http://www.cityofripon.org/news/ what_s_new/c_o_v_i_d-19_precautions • City of Lathrop: https://www.ci.lathrop.ca.us/citymanager/page/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19 • City of Lodi: http://lodi.gov/AlertCenter.aspx?AID=Cityof-Lodi-declared-public-emergency-r-81

ADVOCACY

• Volunteer Opportunity https://www.loveourneighbors. org/volunteer

• SBR Resource Guide: https://drive.google.com/ file/d/1EZ3huvKSAdz9tTNJTykSP1QZCA_NwA_Y/ view?usp=sharing]

• San Joaquin: https://www.sjgov.org/covid19/ APRIL 2020

15

THE MONTH OF APRIL WE CELEBRATE YOUR LOYALTY

Happy Anniversary!

Red Wing Shoe Store Never Boring Hotsy Pacific Mussman & Mussman, LLP

LENDING IN YOUR COMMUNITY

RELATIONSHIPS

Deep Roots ~ Strong Branches Danny Wood, D.A. Wood Construction Inc, with Oak Valley’s Elisa Luna, Branch Manager - Oakdale, 209.343.7632 and Jeff Hushaw, Commercial Loan Officer, 209.844.7544

866.844.7500 • www.ovcb.com Oakdale • Sonora • Modesto • Turlock • Patterson • Ripon Escalon • Stockton • Manteca • Tracy • Sacramento

“We’ve been with Oak Valley for nearly 10 years. When we decided to relocate and build our new facility, we knew we wanted to work with a lender we could trust, who understood our company and line of business. The Oak Valley team hit the mark on all counts and they provided a competitive financing solution that was custom-tailored to meet our needs.”

- Danny Wood, owner, D.A. Wood Construction Inc.

16

MODESTO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE I MODCHAMBER.ORG

PRESIDENT’S CLUB CIRCLE OF INFLUENCE DIAMOND LEVEL

Blue Diamond Growers

Maxx Value Foods

Save Mart Supermarkets

Bank of the West (H Street)

Blue Diamond Growers

Mister Car Wash (Prime Shine Car Wash)

Save Mart Supermarkets

Bank of the West (McHenry)

Caliber Collision

Mister Car Wash (Prime Shine Car Wash)

Save Mart Supermarkets - Corp Office

Bank of the West (Pelandale)

California State University, Stanislaus

Mister Car Wash (Prime Shine Car Wash)

Beard Land and Investment Co.

Care One Home Health and Hospice, Inc.

Mister Car Wash (Prime Shine Car Wash)

Seven-Up Bottling Co. of Modesto/ Varni Brothers Corporation

Capax - Giddings, Corby, Hynes, Inc.

Central Sanitary Supply Co.

Mister Car Wash (Prime Shine Car Wash)

Doctors Behavioral Health

Central Valley Automotive

Mister Car Wash (Prime Shine Car Wash)

Center-DMC

Central Valley Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge

Mister Car Wash (Prime Shine Car Wash)

Doctors Medical Center-DMC

Central Valley Nissan

Mocse Credit Union

Frito-Lay Co., Inc.

Central Valley Volkswagen Hyundai

Mocse Credit Union

Pacific Southwest Container, Inc.

Chukchansi Gold Resort & Casino

Modesto Toyota

Physician Referral Service-DMC

Clark Pest Control

Nine3One

Walmart

COIT Services Inc.

NT Nail Spa

Collins Electrical

O'Brien's Market

GOLD LEVEL

Comcast

O'Brien's Market

Crystal Creamery

Damrell, Nelson, Schrimp, Pallios, Pacher & Silva

O'Brien's Market

Doubletree by Hilton Modesto

Del Monte Plant #1

Oak Valley Community Bank

EMOE, Division of Parker

English Oaks Nursing &

Oak Valley Community Bank

Hannifin Corp.

Rehabilitation Hospital

Oak Valley Community Bank

Encompass Health Rehabilitation of Modesto

Exceed GPR & Locating, LLC

Opportunity Stanislaus

Fiscalini Cheese Company

F&M Bank (Carpenter Road)

Pacific Gas & Electric Co.

IHeart Media

F&M Bank (Dale Road)

Pepsi Bottling Group

Modesto Irrigation District

F&M Bank (McHenry)

PMZ Real Estate

Modesto Nuts Professional Baseball

Flooring Liquidators, Inc.

Residence Inn by Marriott

Nestle USA - Carnation

Flowers Baking Co. of Modesto, LLC

Modesto North

Sutter Health Valley Area

Food Maxx

Rizo-Lopez Foods, Inc.

Sysco Central California Inc.

FreshPoint

Rogers Jewelry

Galletto Ristorante

Rogers Jewelry Co.

PLATINUM LEVEL

Gianelli Nielsen

Rose Bouquet

E & J Gallo Winery

Gilton Solid Waste Mgmt, Inc.

Round Table Pizza #1033

Kaiser Permanente

Golden Valley Health Centers

Round Table Pizza #1034

Golden Valley Health Centers

Round Table Pizza #186

SILVER LEVEL

Golden Valley Health Centers

Round Table Pizza #701

American Chevrolet

Golden Valley Health Centers

Round Table Pizza, Corporate

American Medical Response

Golden Valley Health Centers

San Joaquin Valley College

Aramark Uniform Services

Grimbleby Coleman CPAs, Inc.

Save Mart Supermarkets

Atherton & Associates, LLP

Grover Landscape Services, Inc.

Save Mart Supermarkets

Audi Modesto

Infiniti of Modesto

Save Mart Supermarkets

Bank of Stockton - Dale Road

International Paper Co.

Save Mart Supermarkets

Bank of Stockton - Modesto Main Branch

JS West & Companies

Save Mart Supermarkets

Bank of the West (Dale Road)

Lewis Capital Advisors

Save Mart Supermarkets

Solecon Industrial Contractors Solid Networks, Inc. Stanislaus Food Products Co. Stanislaus Surgical Hospital Stifel Investment Services Storer Coachways Sutter Gould Medical Foundation The Century and Nine3One The Farmacy The Modesto Bee TSM Insurance & Financial Services Turlock Irrigation District Union Bank US Bank US Bank US Bank (Modesto Main) US Bank Turlock Valley BMW Valley Children's Healthcare Valley Children's Healthcare Valley First Credit Union Valley First Credit Union (Dale Branch) Valley First Credit Union Administrative Offices Valley Lexus Vintage Faire Mall/Macerich Company W.H. Breshears, Inc. Warden's Office Furniture Outlet Warden's Office Products Center Wells Fargo Bank Wells Fargo Bank Wells Fargo Bank Wells Fargo Bank Winton-Ireland, Strom & Green Insurance Agency

RELATIONSHIPS

Winton-Ireland, Strom & Green Insurance Agency Yosemite Meat Co., Inc.

CONTACT THE CHAMBER TO LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR PRESIDENT'S CLUB LEVEL BENEFITS APRIL 2020

17

UNIQUE TREATS AT THE SWEET POTATO PIE COMPANY Story and Photos By VIRGINIA STILL There is a little bakery boutique on Coffee Road in Modesto called The Sweet Potato Pie Company that has an assortment of treats and antiques. President and CEO Catrice J. Prince-Claxton has been baking goods for family and guests for a few years with goals to hopefully expand in the future. Although the shop is small, the flavors of the sweet treats are big. Also, due to the recent COVID-19 pandemic the shop is closed temporarily with the possibility of reopening in May. Mark the calendar and plan to visit this unique shop when it reopens; you will be glad you did.

RELATIONSHIPS

Not really the baker type, Catrice was inspired by her grandmother, Delores Ann Prince, and a book of recipes that she was given by her grandmother before she passed away. She actually passed on Catrice’s birthday; the family getting word via phone right after the birthday song was sung to Catrice.

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A few years after her grandmother passed away, Catrice decided to open the book of recipes and made a sweet potato pie and a pecan pie. She shared the pies with her family and they loved them.

“I could not get them to stop calling me asking me to make more,” said Catrice. “It turned into a traditional thing each Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Then it kind of rolled into the business model that I started.”

As the baked goods flourished from being a holiday ‘thing’ to an opportunity to start her own business, Catrice seized the moment and moved into it full time and opened her own place in 2016 on Carpenter Road.

MODESTO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE I MODCHAMBER.ORG

Looking for more space and different accommodations, she found a different kitchen and a new spot for her shop at 2020 Coffee Road in 2018.

The business is named after her grandmother’s sweet potato pie and Catrice’s son Christian, junior vice president of marketing, created the logo when he was only six-years-old and now, at age 11, he is very active in the business.

“I take the sweet potato pie to another level,” stated Catrice. “The sweet potato cheesecake is one of our best sellers besides of course the sweet potato pie. I love winning people over with the cheesecake.”

In 2017 she participated in the Sweet Potato Festival in Livingston for the first time and entered a contest with the sweet potato cheesecake where she took first place. Last year she received a third place award at the Merced Nut Festival for her mixed berry white chocolate cheesecake made with a walnut crust, which happens to be another best seller.

They hope to host a Mother’s Day Ball and Benefit event on May 9 with a cocktail hour, dinner, and entertainment; whether it can go off as scheduled will be determined as the date gets closer, based on the coronavirus situation. The event is being planned to help raise funds for the American Cancer Society.

Catrice added that they also donate items to those in need at the end of each week.

“The cake pops are a big hit with everybody,” she added. “We do the regular caramel apples because people love their caramel apples so you’ve got to stick with that. We have gotten into the eclairs as well.”

The orange cream cake, cupcake and cake pop are favorites of not only the junior vice president but some of the regulars. They offer whole pies and cakes, cheesecakes as well as mini pies, pie fillings, along with sugar free and gluten friendly options.

They donate baked goods and distribute treats to the homeless.

They also participate in charity events and festivals. They adopted stretches of road on Oakdale Road, Claribel Road and Mitchell Road in front of the Modesto airport to keep free of litter; there are signs with the Sweet Potato Pie Company listed. They also adopted two roads in Stanislaus County in memory of her grandmother as those were the roads she traveled regularly.

One her favorite parts about baking is meeting new people and having them try her creations and then seeing their reactions.

Catrice has a dream to turn her business into a multimillion dollar company one day and expand into a space where she can do everything in one place. One thing she has learned being a business owner is to have patience because it is a learning process.

“I am blessed,” expressed Catrice. “I have big goals and I am very happy. The best thing about owning your own business is you are the one that calls the shots.”

The bakery may be closed until May and with hopes that the nation makes a full recovery, Catrice is looking forward to baking for her customers in the near future.

For more information visit them online at thesweetpotatopieco.com, or on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

RELATIONSHIPS

Some of the other guest favorites are the peach cobbler, Ube cheesecake, Ube sweet potato pie, and sweet potato cake pops, the caramel apples and chocolate almond toffee. Ube is a purple sweet potato which makes for an Asian influenced purple pie. For Easter she made some dipped Oreo cake pops that are decorated like little bunny butts which she decorates herself.

“What I am really trying to be conscious of is teaching my son that he is not better than this person or that person and everybody can use some help some times,” she explained.

APRIL 2020

19

Congratulations TO THIS MONTH'S MILESTONE MEMBERSHIPS

40 + years PACIFIC SOUTHWEST CONTAINER, INC. RED WING SHOE STORE

30 + years

10 + years OAK CRAFTS BY JEREMIAH HAMPTON INN & SUITES - MODESTO, CA VALLEY LEXUS DERREL'S MINI STORAGE, INC. GALLO CENTER FOR THE ARTS

SAFEGUARD BUSINESS SYSTEMS

GREAT VALLEY ACADEMY

NEVER BORING

FLOORS PLUS, INC.

RE/MAX EXECUTIVE

BLACK BEAR DINER - MODESTO

STELLAR CAREER COLLEGE

SADDLE CREEK CORPORATION

5 + years

HOTSY PACIFIC

ARATA, SWINGLE, VAN EGMOND,

THE HOLY APOSTOLIC CATHOLIC

GERLING APPLIED ENGINEERING, INC.

ROUND TABLE PIZZA #701

AMERICAN RED CROSS, STANISLAUS COUNTY

1 + years

20 + years SIERRA PACIFIC WAREHOUSE GROUP

5 years

CALIFORNIA VEGETABLE SEEDS LLC

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS HOTEL & SUITES

GARCIA INSURANCE AGENCY (GIA)

UNITED SITE SERVICES

UNITED CAPITAL FINANCIAL LIFE MANAGEMENT

MORGAN STANLEY SMITH BARNEY

PINOT'S PALETTE

CALIFORNIA MORTGAGE ASSOCIATES

BELL-CARTER PACKAGING CAL-TRADE WELDING SCHOOL OF MODESTO HUMPHREYS UNIVERSITY MUSSMAN & MUSSMAN, LLP

+

ASSEMBLYMAN ADAM GRAY

REPSCO, INC

ALZHEIMER/DEMENTIA SUPPORT CENTER, INC.

CORNERSTONE HOME CARE SERVICES LLC

CENTURY 21 - M & M AND ASSOCIATES

RABOBANK, NA

RESCARE HOME CARE & ADULT DAY PROGRAM

COLOR THE SKIES, INC.

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS ■ JB INSURANCE http://www.jbinsurance.biz brucie@jbinsurance.biz

RELATIONSHIPS

■ TUOLUMNE ME-WUK TRIBAL TANF 2005 Evergreen St. Modesto, CA 95350 http://www.mewuk.com scruz@mewuk.com

20

■ GOLDEN VALLEY HEALTH CENTERS 1801 Tully Road, Suite F, Modesto, CA 95350 http://www.gvhc.org contactus@gvhc.org ■ GOLDEN VALLEY HEALTH CENTERS 1510 Florida Ave., Modesto, CA 95354 http://www.gvch.org contactus@gvhc.org MODESTO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE I MODCHAMBER.ORG

■ HUB CONSULTING 1101 Sylvan Ave., Suite C-106, Modesto, CA 95350 http://www.hubconsultingsolutions.com eren@hubconsultingsolutions.com

■ PEOPLE READY - TURLOCK 831 W. Hawkeye Ave., Turlock, CA 95380 http://www.peopleready.com DKaraszi@peopleready.com

■ GOLDEN VALLEY HEALTH CENTERS 1114 6th St., Modesto, CA 95354 http://www.gvch.org contactus@gvhc.org

■Z BM SERVICES LLC/COMMERCIAL CLEANING 1212 W Center St #83, Manteca , CA 95337 zbmservicesllc@gmail.com

■ GOLDEN VALLEY HEALTH CENTERS 1717 Las Vegas St., Modesto, CA 95358 http://www.gvch.org contactus@gvhc.org ■ PEOPLE READY - MODESTO 2000 Standiford Ave, Suite B., Modesto, CA 95350 http://www.PeopleReady.com DKaraszi@PeopleReady.com

■ NEPTUNE WATER SOLUTIONS 1029 Tennessee St., Vallento, CA 94590 http://www.neptunewatersolutions.com terry@neptunewatersolutions.com ■H RB RIVERBANK LP DBA COOL HAND LUKE'S 2505 Patterson Road, Riverbank, CA 95367 http://www.coolhandlukes.com donnie.gile@coolhandlukes.com

Ribbon C uttings Pinnacle Health Center 1608 Tully Road Modesto

IT Solutions|Currie 1801 Tully Road, Suite E, Modesto

Exceed GPR & Locating, LLC www.exceedgpr.com APRIL 2020

RELATIONSHIPS

Golden Valley Health Centers 1801 Tully Road, Suite F, Modesto

21

Oak Valley Receives ‘Outstanding’ Community Reinvestment Rating Oak Valley Community Bank, a wholly owned subsidiary of Oak Valley Bancorp (NASDAQ: OVLY), announced that it received an “Outstanding” rating, the highest possible, for its community development and lending efforts in their recent Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) Performance Evaluation from the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco. The bank earned a “Satisfactory” rating on the evaluation’s Lending test and an “Outstanding” on the Community Development test. The performance demonstrated excellent responsiveness to the community development needs of its assessment areas through community development loans, investments, and services.

Oak Valley invested $9.2 million that directly impacted the broader statewide area including $3.7 million prior period investments and $5.4 million in current period investments. The vast majority of these were Mortgage-Backed Securities (MBS) that helped low‐ and moderate‐ income borrowers obtain mortgage loans. Some funds were invested in a mutual fund that provided community development services, such as affordable housing, home buyer education, and small business lending, to low‐ and moderate‐income individuals.

Sixteen donations totaling $44,100 helped organizations that provide low‐income individuals with services such as affordable housing, healthcare services, and free meals.

“Building the strength of the communities we serve is one of our fundamental core values at Oak Valley,” commented Chris Courtney, President and CEO. “The bank and our employees are dedicated to supporting the non-profit community within our service areas.

Earning an Outstanding CRA rating in this latest evaluation is an immense credit to our employees’ hard work and commitment to the community.”

Community development services were responsive to address the need for services for low‐income individuals facing poverty.

The bank contributed over 1,600 community development service hours of which over 150 hours benefitted the broader statewide area including the bank’s assessment areas. The majority of the service hours were for a Certified Development Corporation, which is a non‐profit that assists small and medium‐sized businesses in securing long‐term financing to help small business operations and create jobs. A significant number of service hours targeted non‐ profits that provided community development services to low‐ and moderate‐income families and children.

The bank’s community development lending totaled $114.2 million. Of this total, eight loans totaling $27.6 million benefitted a broader statewide area that includes the bank’s assessment areas.

Examples include: Three participation loans totaling $11.5 million for affordable housing that helped to provide 3,164 affordable rental units to low‐ and moderate‐income individuals. Two loans totaling $12.5 million to revitalize a low‐income area. The loan proceeds will finance construction of a new building in an area that faces high unemployment and high poverty rates. The financing helped to retain 180 jobs. Two loans totaling $1.7 million to support economic development. The bank extended two SBA 504 loans that will finance a purchase of a property and create 12 jobs.

RELATIONSHIPS

Investments and donations dedicated toward community development in its assessment areas or statewide areas that benefitted its assessment areas totaled over $21.3 million. These consist of $14.8 million in current period investments, $6.1 million in prior period commitments, and nearly $300,000 in donations.

22

The Community Reinvestment Act was enacted to encourage banks to help meet the needs of local community sectors predominantly focusing on low-and-moderate income neighborhoods as well as individuals, families, and businesses.

Oak Valley Bancorp operates Oak Valley Community Bank and their Eastern Sierra Community Bank division, through which it offers a variety of loan and deposit products to individuals and small businesses. They currently operate through 17 branches: Oakdale, Turlock, Stockton, Patterson, Ripon, Escalon, Manteca, Tracy, Sacramento, two branches in Sonora, three branches in Modesto, and three branches in their Eastern Sierra division, which includes Bridgeport, Mammoth Lakes and Bishop.

For more information, call 1-866-844-7500 or visit www.ovcb.com.

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MODESTO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE I MODCHAMBER.ORG

STUDIO209.TV

CHAMBER AMBASSADOR HIGHLIGHT BRIAN MCDERMOTT It’s an honor to have been nominated and voted in as a new Modesto Chamber of Commerce Executive Board Member. I will be co-chairing the Ambassador and Welcome teams with Bill Robinson. We look forward to growing the group and to providing the knowledge and training to become a successful Ambassador or Welcome team member.

Since I started as an Ambassador almost six years ago, I was blessed to have won the Ambassador of the Year twice and trained three of the people that won the award in the past four years. That experience has provided me with the skills and background to grow the group and to provide the training necessary to become a successful Ambassador or Welcome team member.

I started out in the telecommunications, networking and carrier (Internet and phone) services business almost 30 years ago. In that time, I’ve seen many changes and have had the pleasure of working with some of the industry’s top professionals.

I’ve also experienced hardship in the past few years, with my dad, brother, mom and best friend all passing away during that time. In fact, we are all now facing some of the most difficult and challenging times we’ve ever seen due to the coronavirus. What the difficult times have taught me is that BRIAN MCDERMOTT we truly need to value each and every moment and do the best we can with those moments.

Please join Bill and I in growing the Ambassador and Welcome teams so we can open our arms to the Modesto business community and let them know that now more than ever, the Modesto Chamber of Commerce C.A.R.E.S.

Modesto Nuts Announce Partnership With The Save Mart Companies

With the COVID-19 epidemic currently sweeping our nation the Modesto Nuts reached out to 20-year partner, The Save Mart Companies for help.

“Our game day staff looks forward to and depends on the supplemental income during the baseball season. It is our obligation to do everything we can to assist our team members in these tough times,” said Zach Brockman, Modesto Nuts General Manager.

The grocery industry is currently in dire need of employment assistance to keep up with the rising demand of consumers.

“We care deeply about our employees and this community as a whole. In times like these we need to find ways to help each other. Joining forces with a company like Save Mart that shares all the same values was an easy decision,” Brockman continued.

The Save Mart Companies will offer temporary employment opportunities to current Modesto Nuts game day staff members at local Save Mart and FoodMaxx stores.

We recognize the fear that comes with the current state of our world, and with the help of The Save Mart Companies, we want to bring some peace of mind to the lives of our staff and fill a need for one of our longest tenured partners. Stay healthy and safe, we’re in this together!

The Modesto Nuts Professional Baseball team is the Class A-Advanced Affiliate of the Seattle Mariners. For more information visit modestonuts.com or call 209572-HITS (4487).

The Save Mart Companies operates 205 stores throughout California and Northern Nevada under the banners of FoodMaxx, Lucky and Save Mart. The Save Mart Companies is committed to sourcing a wide variety of local products to communities throughout California and Northern Nevada.

In addition to its retail operation, the company also operates Smart Refrigerated Transport and is a partner in Super Store Industries (SSI), which owns and operates a distribution center in Lathrop and the Sunnyside Farms dairy processing plant in Turlock. For more information on the company, visit: www.TheSaveMartCompanies. com.

APRIL 2020

RELATIONSHIPS EDUCATION

In mid-March, Minor League Baseball announced, in a release, that the start of the 2020 season will be delayed. Each season, a crew of amazing individuals come to work at John Thurman Field staffing all areas of our ballpark including but not limited to; Concessions, Parking, Ticketing, Games Area, Ushering, Production, Merchandise and Batboy. The Modesto Nuts would not be able to host the consistent, affordable, family-friendly entertainment without the wonderful game day staff.

23

Establishing Partnerships To Help Build A Better Future

By Ruhi Sheikh Our schools have a tough task ahead of them: To educate our future workforce as well as to find the funding to provide stellar opportunities that enrich their growing minds. Should they figure it out all on their own? We don’t believe so.

At Stanislaus Partners in Education we believe that in conjunction with local businesses, non-profits, and community organizations, we can build a village to uplift our educators and ultimately the future workforce. To that end, we are elated to share a SPIE Business Champion story with you.

In the beginning of the school year, we met with Principal Lori Jonas from Hanshaw Middle School in Modesto. She shared with us that they have a new “Life Skills” elective. Students in this class learn a range of skills that will lead them into adulthood and potential careers with greater success.

The students shared with their instructor that they were interested in working in the restaurant business. Lori Jonas asked SPIE to help build a partnership with a local chef who would be interested in hosting the Life Skills class, giving them a tour of the kitchen, teaching them some techniques, and sharing their journey into the restaurant business.

Finding an individual like that who would be willing to give up so much time out of their busy life seemed impossible.

But that’s where SPIE Business Champion Tye Bauer enters the picture.

Tye Bauer boasts a hefty résumé with decades in the restaurant business.

Tye currently owns and operates three restaurants – 66½ Skillet & Grill in the McHenry Village; Bauhaus Tapas Lounge on RUHI SHEIKH Downey Avenue; and his latest adventure, Bauer’s Downtown Gastropub. Tye’s 66½ restaurant was featured on the popular Food Network TV show Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives hosted by celebrity chef Guy Fieri. Tye also participated on Fieri’s show Guy’s Grocery Games.

When approached with the partnership possibility, he did not hesitate.

Tye jumped on the idea and recently opened up his Downtown Gastropub to 20 Hanshaw Middle School students.

During their field trip, they learned about the history of spices, what spices pair well with different proteins. They learned how to steam asparagus and grill salmon. Tye and his staff graciously provided a hot meal for each student and teacher. Some students had never tried asparagus before.

The overall takeaway for these students was not just that they had a fun field trip. They learned what was possible with passion and hard work.

They learned that sometimes they can walk into the Gastropub and say hello to Tye by name, shake his hand, and strike up a conversation without fear. This is what building partnerships, community, and our future workforce is all about.

Many of our students, upon graduating, are leaving the county because they don’t have enough awareness about what jobs are available in the fields they want to work in. At SPIE, our goal is to work together – with schools and businesses – to give students hands-on opportunities and experiences that may change their lives for the better.

EDUCATION

If you would like to join the ranks and become a SPIE Business Champion, please get in touch with SPIE Partnership Consultant Ruhi Sheikh at ruhi. spie@gmail.com, (209) 402-3099. We would love to partner with you!

24

MODESTO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE I MODCHAMBER.ORG

PROVIDING FOR FUTURE NURSING NEEDS

The Vocational Nursing program, at Advanced College, familiarizes students with the theory and hands-on clinical skills necessary for entry-level positions as a Licensed Vocational Nurse.

The goal of the program is to provide graduates with the knowledge and skills required to being eligible to take the National Council Licensure ExaminationPN.

The knowledge and skills will enable graduates to qualify for work in various medical practice settings including inpatient, outpatient, hospice, home health and various hospital settings. We look forward to assisting our community in providing high quality nurses in our surrounding area.

Director of Nursing – Kim Floyd (South Gate – Main Campus, Salida Campus and Stockton Campus)

How Earth Day And Environmental Consciousness Have Evolved An emerging public consciousness about the planet began amid environmental issues like increased air pollution and massive consumption of fossil fuels in the 1960s. The bestselling book ‘Silent Spring’ by Rachel Carson also raised public concern for living organisms and the links between pollution and public health. The push for environmental reform gained even more momentum on April 22, 1970, when the first Earth Day was celebrated. ThenSenator Gaylord Nelson from Wisconsin put Earth Day on the national stage following a large oil spill that struck off the coast of Santa Barbara, California. Before this disaster, recycling was not a word in the popular lexicon. But when the disaster struck, people began to reason that changes would have to be made to save the planet.

Since the first Earth Day 50 years ago, many strides have been made in the environmental movement. This grassroots initiative gave rise to the establishment of the Environmental Protection Agency, the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act. Environmental awareness has become much more mainstream and is a less polarizing issue than it was in the 1970s, although

there are still debates about the reality of climate change and other risk factors. Public demand for environmental safeguards grew in the second half of the twentieth century, and those demands have grown stronger in recent years. Legislation is continually evolving to protect the air, land and water. Sustainability has joined the buzzwords of the movement, and most industries now have a vested interest in changes that can minimize risk to human health and the environment.

Mitigating or avoiding environmental effects, proper waste disposal, reduction in water discharge, and emphasis on reducing, reusing and recycling have become important components of environmental wellness. And people are being educated at earlier stages on the importance of environmental mindfulness. For example, core subjects of the environmental movement are increasingly covered in elementary schools.

Twenty million people turned out for the first Earth Day in the United States. Today, more than 190 countries are engaged and more than one billion individuals are mobilized for action every Earth Day, advises the Earth Day Network. To mark the 50th anniversary, the most pressing topic for the year is climate change. Climate Action is the 2020 Earth Day theme to engage the global public.

APRIL 2020

EDUCATION

Reduce, reuse, recycle is a mantra for many people. It’s difficult to imagine that just 50 years ago awareness of the state of the environment was not part of the collective consciousness.

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MODESTO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE I MODCHAMBER.ORG

FREE EDUCATIONAL SITES THESE EDUCATIONAL COMPANIES OFFER FREE WEBSITES FOR FAMILIES. SCHOLASTIC: www.classroommagazines.scholastic.com

PBS Kids Daily Newsletter: www.pbs.org/parents/pbskidsdaily Khan Academy www.khanacademy.org Circletime www.circletimefun.com Club SciKidz www.clubscikidzmd.com Duolingo www.duolingo.com Smithsonian Learning Lab www.learninglab.si.edu Math Games www.mathgames.com HippoCampus www.hippocampus.org

EDUCATION

ScratchJr www.scratchjr.org National Geographic kids.nationalgeographic.com

APRIL 2020

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STANISLAUS VETERANS FOUNDATION: Helping Veterans, Their Families, And The Stanislaus County Community Our Center is available for use by anyone. We have held many events over the years. These include: wedding receptions, birthday celebrations, anniversaries, quinceaneras, reunions, and education and health training.

The Stanislaus Veterans Center is result of a partnership with the Veterans Foundation of Stanislaus County (VFSC), the Veterans Advisory Committee (VAC), and the County of Stanislaus.

Every Thursday we host a Senior Day Dance with Bonnie and the Boys Outback Band, as well as Veterans/Guests. Free Coffee and Donuts each Tuesday and Thursday from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

The Veterans Center offers a 19,000 sq. ft. space with meeting rooms, a banquet hall with a state-of-the-art audio-visual system, that holds 300 people seated at tables, or 500 people without tables. A full commercial kitchen, a full lounge/bar that is open on Fridays at 4:30 p.m. and for scheduled events, completes the space in the Stanislaus Veteran Center.

Daily we are directing visitors to the find needed services and resources located adjacent to our event center such as the Veterans Service Office, Area Agency for Aging, MOVE Transportation Office, and the local Community Services Office.

SERVICE

We are celebrating our fifth year as a nonprofit organization serving veterans, their families, and the community. We began operating the Stanislaus Veterans Center, located at 3500 Coffee Road, Suite 15, with an Open House on April 17, 2017.

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MODESTO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE I MODCHAMBER.ORG

VOLUNTEERS: The Veterans Foundation relies on an all-volunteer force to operate the Veterans Center. We welcome anyone who has an interest in helping others and serving the community. Positions needed include: greeting visitors at our front desk in the main lobby, work in the kitchen, qualified bartenders, setting up and take down for events, and other duties needed to operate the Center. You may apply in person at the Veterans Center. Our general business hours are from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. during the week. However, we also operate during scheduled events for whatever is required.

Currently we are working on developing an historical museum for the lobby and hallways.

If you have not yet visited the Stanislaus Veteran Center, please feel free to come by and take a tour of our facilities. Our contact phone number is: 209-343-6292 – this is our answering service and is monitored daily.

Winter’s almost over!

Time to think about sprucing up your home with a fresh new floor!

Showroom Hours: Mon-Fri 8am-5pm Sat-Sun by appt only 5170 Pentecost Dr. Ste. 1 Modesto, CA 95356

209-491-0310 Mention this ad in the 209 and we’ll extend contractor’s pricing.

AREA RUGS • CARPET HARDWOOD • HARD SURFACE

SERVICE

UPCOMING: Foundation events include: Rib and Chili Cookoff; Second Annual Wine Tasting Event; Christmas in July Craft Faire; An Evening in Hawaii; Second Annual Brats, Beer & Bacon Celebration; Second Annual New York New Year’s Eve.

www.sheltonleeflooring.com APRIL 2020

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How to love our neighbors in the midst of COVID-19

Love Our Neighbors is bringing a team together to help our most vulnerable and high-risk members of our community, such as those living in poverty, the elderly and those with chronic illness or medical conditions, who have been negatively affected by COVID-19.

One of the best ways you can help is to be a Neighborhood Champion!

The following are ways you can help those in your immediate community: ● ● ● ● ●

Are there people in your neighborhood that are more at risk (older, unhealthy, ill)? Offer to pick up and deliver groceries and needed household supplies.

If you can’t fill the needs on your own, help them register at LoveOurNeighbors.org/covid-get-help so we can get them the help they need.

If you run into a need you don’t know how to handle, call 211 to find the best resources in our community.

Make sure you registered at LoveOurNeighbors.org/covid-neighbor to receive updates from our team on other ways you can have a positive impact. You can stay connected on our Love Modesto FaceBook page as well.

Invite your friends to join the effort in their neighborhood to help our most vulnerable.

Remember when canvassing your neighborhood to keep 6 feet of space between you and your neighbors. Ring doorbells and step away from the door.

SERVICE

Thank you for stepping up to love our neighbors!

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LoveOurNeighbors.org MODESTO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE I MODCHAMBER.ORG

COMPLETE KITCHEN REMODEL STARTING AT $20,000 *2 WEEKS COMPLETION WITH OUR IN HOUSE CAPABILITIES: • NEW CABINETS • CUSTOM COUNTERTOPS • UNDER CABINET LIGHTING

• FLOORING • PAINT • TILE BACKSPLASH

(PLUS) $500 CREDIT TOWARDS THE REMODEL FINANCING AVAILABLE

*RESTRICTIONS MAY APPLY

LIC #983435

VISIT OUR SHOWROOM: TUESDAY – FRIDAY 9AM – 5PM, SATURDAY 9AM – 2PM

531 KANSAS AVE, MODESTO • www.aakmodesto.com

209-521-4490 APRIL 2020

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OUR RIVERS ARE EXHAUSTED. OUR PEOPLE NEED WATER. OUR FISH STRUGGLE. SCIENCE OFFERS SOLUTIONS. SACRAMENTO RIVER

SACRAMENTO-SAN JOAQUIN DELTA

STANISLAUS RIVER

TUOLUMNE RIVER

MERCED RIVER

SAN JOAQUIN RIVER

WHO WILL LISTEN? FEATURE-LENGTH DOCUMENTARY PREMIERES SPRING 2020 L EA RN MORE AT MID.ORG/LA STD ROP

JULY 2018

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