Chamber Connection (April 2023)

APRIL 2023

CHAMBER CONNECTION

ELECTED OFFICIALS PROVIDE ARRAY OF BUSINESS RESOURCES TO LOCAL COMMUNITY

Elected officials are often known for their work in advocacy and public policy. What many may not be aware of is the array of free business resources available through public offices at the local, county and state level. We had a chance to talk with some of our local elected officials on the resources and assistance they provide the business community.

Senator Monique Limón’s office provides direct assistance, certificates for businesses

Senator Monique Limón’s office says they are always there to assist business owners in dealing with the many agencies that make up the California government. “Our office is often able to cut through red tape

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Above: Senator Monique Limón speaks at an event in Guadalupe. In addition to advocacy work, many local elected officials provide valuable resources and support for local businesses.

IN THIS ISSUE

LEADERSHIP SANTA MARIA VALLEY

LOCAL LEADERS WEIGH IN: AI IN THE WORKPLACE

CHAMBER IN ACTION

MEMBERSHIP CORNER

MONTHLY FEATURED BUSINESSES

SANTA MARIA VALLEY CHAMBER MONTHLY NEWSLETTER

CONTINUED - ELECTED OFFICIALS PROVIDE BUSINESS RESOURCES CHAMBER BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Executive Committee

Chairman: Sandra Dickerson, Your People Professionals

Chairman-Elect: Paul Cook, CoastHills Credit Union

Vice Chairman: Shannon Seifert, Santa Maria Valley YMCA

Vice Chairman: Laurie Tamura, Urban Planning Concepts

Past Chairman: Danny Deveraux, Calportland

Board Members

Sue Andersen, Marian Regional Medical Center

Dominick Barry, Quintron Systems, Inc.

Michael Boyer, Boys & Girls Clubs of Mid Central Coast

Ron Cossa, Tolman & Wiker Insurance

Donna Denham, Santa Maria Country Club

Karen Fothergill, Andre, Morris & Buttery

Gina Gluyas, Realtor, Better Homes And Gardens Real Estate Haven

Properties

Emily Kitts, Naughty Oak Brewing Company

David Leroy, Toyota Of Santa Maria

David Merlo, Glenn Burdette

Luke Ontiveros, Santa Maria Bonita School District

Tere Paredes, Maya Restaurant Era Polly, Era Polly Real Estate

Max Tucker, Best Western Plus Big America

Kevin G. Walthers, Allan Hancock College

Tim Williams, Digital West

Interested in Chamber volunteer leadership opportunities? Contact Molly Schiff, Director of Member & Community Engagement, at molly@santamaria.com to learn more about open positions on our committees.

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where constituents may not be able to,” explained Carson Link, District Representative for Senator Monique Limón. “At the very least, we are able to get clarification on the issues business owners may be facing. Many folks are often surprised they can call their elected officials for this kind of assistance.”

Link also said they are happy to celebrate grand openings and other milestones with the local business community. “One common function of our office is providing California State Senate certificates to local businesses who have just opened or hit some sort of success milestone,” Link said. “A business need only ask us to attend their event and we are happy to be there. We are also open to touring local businesses that invite us to come see their what they are working on!”

Ultimately, Link says their office is there to assist business owners with navigating the California government and be there to support business in any way they can.

Congressman Salud Carbajal connects local businesses with federal assistance

Congressman Salud Carbajal says he is here to serve the communities and people who help businesses thrive.

The congressman’s office can provide assistance with any Federal Agency including the Small Business Administration, Internal Revenue Service, and others. Additionally, they help coordinate emergency response

when federal programs exist to help small businesses get back on their feet after tough times.

“Although I cannot override the decisions made by a federal agency, I can often intervene on a person’s behalf to answer questions and find solutions.” Carbajal explained. “This can also include my office supporting your business as it navigates federal small business loan programs, federal grants, or tax issues you may be having with the IRS.”

“Central Coast small businesses are the backbone of our economy. If they are struggling, our communities suffer,” Carbajal explained. “I believe that it is important to hear from local businesses to know their needs, to connect them with resources and constantly be assessing what federal programs can do to help them succeed.”

State Assemblymember Gregg Hart connects businesses to solutions and grant opportunities

Assemblymember Gregg Hart believes that promoting a healthy business community is critical for creating economic opportunities for working families, championing innovation, and meeting the needs of consumers. “My office is here to help individuals, businesses, community organizations, and local governments receive assistance from State Government agencies,” Hart explained.

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LEADERSHIP SANTA MARIA VALLEY TOPIC DAY SHOWCASES THE HEART BEHIND LOCAL HEALTHCARE

Healthcare is an industry with a lot of heart. That was the takeaway form the recent Leadership Santa Maria Valley’s Health & Human Services Topic Day, where the class learned about the wide range of healthcare & mental health services available in the Santa Maria Valley.

The class first visited Community Health Centers of the Central Coast (CHC). Timothy Mossholder from Santa Maria Foursquare Church started the day with a leadership presentation centered around advancing in leadership through capacity and capabilities. Mossholder went over the 3 C’s of leadership: Character, Capacity and Confidence. That theme was on display for the rest of the day, as the class got to meet various leaders demonstrating all of these capabilities in different ways.

CHC employees Dr. David Ketelaar and Amelia Grover, then lead an informative discussion on how to access mental health services in the Santa Maria Valley community. CHC Marketing Director Steve Mahr Director gave class an overview of CHC and a tour of the local Santa Maria Call Center. CHC began as a mom-and-pop back in 1978, and to this day they pride themselves on being an organization that specializes in the “all about the patient” mentality. Today, CHC provides healthcare services to over 110k patients.

Next, the class visited The Good Samaritan Shelter in Santa Maria, where they toured the facility and learned about the array of services provided to those in need. Manuel and Christina, who work at the Detox Center at the shelter, talked about the critical care they help provide and the passion they have for the work they do. The shelter has a doctor on site, detox center, bunk beds, dining area, smoking area, childcare area, women’s only area, and family center. The Shelter also partners with Cornerstone Church to provide a warming center and showers for those who are homeless and might not want to stay overnight. The Good Samaritan Shelter stressed they are always in

need of volunteers to provide dinners, and encourages anyone interested to reach out to learn more.

Next, the class received a tour of Foodbank of Santa Barbara County’s Santa Maria location by their own LSMV Class Member Kelly Padilla. The class got to see firsthand the highly organized process the Foodbank has to intake food items, storage, and getting items sorted and out to those most in need in our community.

Pictured above: LSMV class members visit the freezer during their tour of the Foodbank of Santa Barbara County.

Amelia Gonzalez Paz Santa Maria - Branch Manager, CoastHills Credit Union

LOCAL LEADERS WEIGH IN: AI IN THE WORKPLACE

Each month, we’re asking our local leaders to weigh in on a timely topic. This month, we’re talking about AI in the workplace. We asked: AI services like Chat GPT are becoming more popular. As an employer, what do you feel some of the benefits and challenges will be as AI tools become more commonplace?”

“As the leader of a High Technology company, the prospects for AI are very exciting. There is still a lot to learn about how it can be incorporated, I look forward to exploring how we can incorporate AI into our products. Having said that, as a big believer in Critical Thinking and the power individual analysis and effort, I am suspect of any capability that will “think” for the individual. As with any important skill, thinking and selfanalysis takes practice and when we stop exercising the skill, it is quickly lost.”

- Dominick R. Barry President, Quintron Systems, Inc.

“ChatGPT can be a valuable tool to improve productivity and written communications, as all businesses struggle with employees who have excellent technical knowledge but challenges with professional writing skills. It’s important to have processes in place that include requiring a thorough review of the ChatGPT text so corrections are made where needed for technical, legal or other inaccuracies. It is also very important to understand that the EEOC is currently developing technical guidance to address what that agency perceives as potential discrimination where AI tools are being used in employment decisions.”

- Sandra Dickerson, CEO Your People Professionals

“30 of us CA YMCA CEO’s gathered last week and Chat GPT came up as a topic. Most of the Y’s had yet to utilize it yet some of the many uses discussed were: Statistically current grant writing assistance, speech writing on certain topics, customized job descriptions, presentations and simply an amalgamation of a specific interest that can gather accurate, relevant and timely information in a short amount of time. Some of the drawbacks may be cost and training.”

- Shannon Seifert CEO, Santa Maria Valley Y

JOIN THE CONVERSATION & BE FEATURED ON CHAMBER SOCIAL MEDIA!

What are your thoughts on AI in the workplace? Have you utilized AI as part of your job? Share your input by emailing molly@santamaria.com, and we may feature you on our social media channels!

CHAMBER IN ACTION

1. Junior CEO kicked off it’s Spring 2023 cohort with a launch event at Toyota of Santa Maria. Students will spend 6 weeks learning how to run their owne business, and will get to open their business & sell their products at the end of the program.

2. The Chamber partnered with the Home Builders Association of the Central Coast on the 2023 Santa Maria Valley Housing Summit. Over 100 attendees participated in discussions housing challenges and what the future of housing may look like.

3. Chamber staff attends the Central Coast Innovation Awards, put on by the Pacific Coast Business Times.

4. Chamber Amabassadors gather at Nena’s Kitchen for their monthly meeting. Chamber Ambassadors serve as the public relations arm of the Chamber, and assist with welcoming new members and helping at events.

5. The Santa Maria Valley Chamber & Lompoc Chamber held the 2023 State of Vandenberg, where , Space Launch Delta 30 Commander Col. Robert Long gave an update on current and upcoming activity at Vandenberg Space Force Base.

6. New Chamber Members are recognized during a recent Chamber Mixer at Oak & Iron Fitness.

Here’s a look at what our Chamber & our member businesses have been up to this past month.

OUR MEMBERSHIP IS GROWING! CHAMBER WELCOMES NEW MEMBERS

As champions for a stronger Santa Maria Valley, the Chamber is excited to welcome more businesses to our growing organization. Please join us in welcoming the following new Chamber members, who joined in February 2023.

Investor: Richards Ranch (805) 710-7866

Premium: Planes of Fame Air Museum (909) 597-3722

www.pofsantamaria.org

Member: Awakening Giantz (805) 202-9836

Member: Bec Health Chick (805) 878-4311

www.bechealthchick.com

California Hispanic Chambers of Commerce (916) 669-2870

www.cahcc.com

Charles Motley Empowered by NEXA Mortgage, LLC (805) 478-8508

www.charlesmotley.com

Human Interest (559) 285-7075

www.humaninterest.com

Member: Nena’s Kitchen (805) 934-4001

www.instagram.com/nenas_kitchen1

New Hope Harvesting, LLC (805) 361-0431

SGT DEE (805) 489-3288

www.sgtdee.com

Snap It 360 (805) 260-2847

instagram.com/snapit.360

Sonam Narayan, Realtor - eXp Realty (209) 585-8590

www.homesfromtheheart.net

CELEBRATING LOCAL BUSINESS: CHAMBER RIBBON CUTTINGS

These Chamber member businesses recently celebrated joining the Chamber or a major business milestone with a ribbon cutting. Join us in congratulating them!

2003 Preisker Park, Ste B, Santa Maria (805) 680-2628

www.eventsbykrissy.com

2003 Preisker Park, Ste B, Santa Maria (805) 249-4919 (Photobooth)

www.thatonephotobooth.com (805) 321-0009 (Media)

www.vanessarae.com

204 E. Enos Dr., Ste. D, Santa Maria (805) 332-3425

www.CLABizSolutions.com

LEARN WHY 870+ BUSINESSES HAVE ALREADY JOINED!

We’d love to have your business or organization as part of the Santa Maria Valley Chamber! Contact Membership Manager Cara Martinez at (805) 925-2403 x 852 or cara@santamaria.com to learn more.

www.carnaclaw.com

MONTHLY FEATURED BUSINESSES: ENGEL & GRAY, INC. & THE WISDOM CENTER

The Chamber once again recognized two deserving businesses through the “Monthly Featured Business Program”, done in partnership with the City of Santa Maria.

This month’s featured long-standing business is Engel & Gray, Inc., who is celebrating their 22th anniversary this year! Today, the company consists of trucking services, roll-off service, and a regional composting facility serving the Central Coast.

This month’s featured Healthcare business is The Wisdom Center. They are an Adult Day Health Care Center, supporting the elderly and those with

disabilities to remain living in the community for as long as possible. Each day includes physical and occupational therapy, nursing, social work, activities, socialization, meals, and transportation to and from our member’s homes. The Wisdom Center’s services are free for eligible Veterans and those with CenCal.

Congratulations to both of these deserving businesses! If you know a long-standing or healthcare business in the City of Santa Maria who deserves recognition, email molly@santamaria.com to nominate them for this program.

Events By Krissy

That One Photobooth, LLC & Vanessa Rae Media

C.L.A. Business Solutions

Engel & Gray, Inc. is recognized at City Council as the long-standing featured business of the month for March 2023.

Carmel & Naccasha LLP 694 Santa Rosa Street, San Luis Obispo (805) 546-8785

THANKS FOR READING!

Chamber Connection is the official monthly publication of the Santa Maria Valley Chamber. For questions about this publication or to be added to our monthly mailing distribution list, email isabel@santamaria.com.

Stay in the loop on upcoming events and other community announcements with Chamber text alerts! Text CHAMBER to 33222 to sign up.

LEADERSHIP SANTA MARIA VALLEY NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS!

Leadership Santa Maria Valley is currently accepting applications for the Class of 2024. Interviews will be held in June & July 2023 with our Candidate Orientation and Kick-Off Retreat scheduled for August 2023.

Are you looking for a way to get more involved in the community?

Do you want to expand your circle of influence within the Santa Maria Valley? Would you like to be able to

network/connect with the decisionmakers and key leaders in our area as well as further develop your leadership skills? If so, Leadership Santa Maria Valley is the program for you! Questions? Contact Leadership Santa Maria Valley Program Director Terri Oneschuck at (805) 925-2403 x 824 or at terrio@santamaria.com. Space is limited so contact us today to reserve your spot!

614 S. Broadway Santa Maria, CA 93454

Leadership Class visits Vandenberg Space Force Base.