DECEMBER 2023
CHAMBER CONNEC TION
SANTA MARIA VALLEY CHAMBER MONTHLY NEWSLETTER EMPOWERING YOUR BUSINESS/ORGANIZATION: A GUIDE TO SANTA MARIA VALLEY CHAMBER’S MEMBER BENEFITS As we enter the new year, the Chamber is dedicated to ensuring our members understand the true gift active participation in the Santa Maria Valley Chamber brings to their business or organization. Increase Your Visibility & Exposure Members gain access to a valuable platform for showcasing their achievements, events, and milestones. By submitting news to the Chamber website news feed, Chamber members can increase the visibility and reach a broader audience within the community. Member submitted news articles posted within the last week are shared in each member e-blast. Members can additionally add their events and fundraising efforts to our digital local events calendar. The Chamber is excited to offer all members the opportunity to create their own page in our business directory. Our digital member directory services as a credible platform for members to showcase their Continued on p. 2
IN THIS ISSUE LEADERSHIP SANTA MARIA VALLEY ARTS AND RECREATION DAY P.3 FALL 2023 JUNIOR CEO BUSINESS LAUNCH DAY P.3 CHAMBER IN ACTION P.4 RECENT CHAMBER PUBLICATIONS P. 5 MEMBERSHIP CORNER P.6 MONTHLY FEATURED BUSINESSES P.7
CHAMBER BOARD OF DIRECTORS Executive Committee Chairman: Paul Cook, CoastHills Credit Union Chairman-Elect: Emily Kitts, Naughty Oak Brewing Company Vice Chairman: Shannon Seifert, Santa Maria Valley YMCA Vice Chairman: Dominick Barry, Quintron Systems, Inc. Past Chairman: Sandra Dickerson, Your People Professionals Board Members Sue Andersen, Marian Regional Medical Center Michael Boyer, Boys & Girls Clubs of Mid Central Coast Jeff Buckingham, Astound Business Solutions Powered by Digital West Donna Denham, Santa Maria Country Club Kelsi Fitzgerald, Veritas Innovative Pest & Termite Solutions Karen Fothergill, Andre, Morris & Buttery Antonio Garcia, Santa Maria Joint High School District Gina Gluyas, Realtor, Better Homes And Gardens Real Estate Haven Properties David Leroy, Toyota Of Santa Maria David Merlo, Glenn Burdette Tere Paredes, Maya Restaurant Joshua Sahagun, Luttrell Staffing Group Ryan Swack, Best Western Big America Laurie Tamura, Urban Planning Concepts Kevin G. Walthers, Allan Hancock College
CONTINUED - EMPOWERING YOUR BUSINESS/ORGANIZATION: A GUIDE TO SANTA MARIA VALLEY CHAMBER’S MEMBER BENEFITS Continued from p.1 products and services. Members can add their contact information, map directions to their physical locations, photo galleries, staff/representative’s contact information and much more. This directory is shared frequently throughout Chamber communications and serves as a go-to resource for locals, visitors and other Chamber members– driving business directly to you. For those looking to build additional traction, the Santa Maria Valley Chamber offers paid marketing opportunities. Members in the Investor program may use their Chamber Bucks to pay for these forms of advertising. More information about paid marketing opportunities can be found at https://www.santamaria. com/about-the- chamber/chamberadvertising/ Access No-Cost Business Assistance Navigating local, state and federal government agencies can be a daunting task. The Chamber and our partners are dedicated to supporting local businesses and organizations through our various no-cost assistance programs. Our helpful Economic & Community Development team serves as a guide to local business resource organizations offering services in English and Spanish.
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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This year, the Santa Maria Valley Chamber collaborated with Allan Hancock College’s Noncredit Counseling department to offer a series of free business support workshops. Keep an eye out on our Chamber events calendar for more information about the next cycle launch. More information about our business support services can be found at https://www. santamaria.com/business-support/. Benefit From Chamber Advocacy The Santa Maria Valley Chamber additionally serves as a powerful advocate for the business community. By being an active member, businesses and organizations contribute to a unified voice, influencing policies that directly impact our community. The Chamber’s commitment to community representation ensures that business interests are at the forefront of decision-making processes. For more information about your Chamber membership and benefits, please contact Cara Martinez, Santa Maria Valley Chamber’s Membership Manager at cara@santamaria.com or (805) 925-2403 x 852.
Scan to view our membership directory!
LEADERSHIP SANTA MARIA VALLEY DISCOVER WIDE ARRAY OF ARTS AND RECREATION AVAILABLE LOCALLY This month, members of the Leadership Santa Maria Valley program explored the wide array of arts and recreation available locally. Throughout the day, the group discovered answers to the need for a safe space for community members to gather and connect: from the Library to the Abel Maldonado Youth Center, Allan Hancock College’s Fine Arts Complex to the OASIS Senior Center, class members learned of the variety of opportunities for our community’s youngest to oldest residents and
Scan to read complete LSMV article.
Pictured above: Class members pose for a group photo during an informational walk around Downtown with Dennis Smitherman, Recreation Services Manager for the City of Santa Maria during the November Topic Day.
FALL 2023 JUNIOR CEO COHORT OPENS FOR BUSINESSES WITH LARGEST BUSINESS LAUNCH DAY GROUP YET! After completing a six-week course covering the basics of how to start a business, 23 local students in the Fall 2023 Junior CEO cohort opened their businesses to the public for the first time at the program’s recent Business Launch Day at Santa Maria Town Center. The event was a great success for all participants! Thank you to our presenting sponsors, session sponsors, investor fund sponsors and all our continued supporters.
Scan for more about Junior CEO!
Pictured above: Members of the Fall 2023 Junior CEO cohort pose for a group photo with Jeff Cardinale of the California Strawberry Commission and Glenn Morris of the Santa Maria Valley Chamber. DECEMBER 2023 3
CHAMBER IN ACTION Here’s a look at what our Chamber & our member businesses have been up to this past month.
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The Santa Maria Valley Chamber’s Hispanic Business group hosted a Grow Your Business event with guest speaker Mayor Alice Patino. Truly Gifted was the business spotlight of the evening! This year the Santa Maria Valley Chamber and City of Santa Maria joined forces to host the Veterans Day Ceremony at the Freedom Monument Veterans Memorial honoring all veterans with special tribute to the 113 Santa Maria Valley Veterans who died in conflicts from World War I through the latest wars on tourism. Recently, the Santa Maria Valley Chamber joined the South County Chambers of Commerce to host a Friendsgiving
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mixer celebrating the collaboration between businesses in the Santa Maria Valley and South SLO County. Junior CEOs who created edible products for their business gathered at the SMBSD Souza Center’s kitchen to prepare the food prior to the Fall 2023 Business Launch Day. Local CTE teachers recently participated in a day-long series of tours at various businesses across our community’s agriculture industry. The Chamber is looking forward to hosting our upcoming Annual Restaurant Month and Craft Cocktail contest. This campaign will run January 12th- February 11th. Keep an eye out for more information .
KEEP UP WITH OUR OTHER RECENT PUBLICATIONS Take a look at some of our other recent Chamber publications including our new Local Business Spotlight and editorials.
The “Local Business Spotlight” series is an on-going collaboration between the Santa Maria Valley Chamber and the Santa Maria Times with the goal of showcasing great local businesses. Check out our most recent Local Business Spotlight on the Historic Santa Maria Inn to learn more about the inn’s historical charm, it’s current guest experience, and exciting future projects.
Scan to watch most recent Local Business Spotlight.
Pictured: General Manager, Scott Shute recently joined us in the Historic Santa Maria Inn’s newly-renovated Barrel Room for our Local Business Spotlight series with the Santa Maria Times.
CHAMBER COMMENTARY | EDITORIALS IN SANTA MARIA TIMES Each month the Santa Maria Valley Chamber partners with the Santa Maria Times to coordinate guest writers for two editorial columns. Below are the two Chamber Commentary articles released during November 2023.
INTERESTED IN MORE INFORMATION ABOUT WAYS TO PROMOTE YOUR BUSINESS THROUGH THE CHAMBER? Please reach out to Isabel Guerrero, Communications Specialist via email at isabel@santamaria.com Neighborhood Connect- the City is just a click away
To meet tomorrow’s needs, Santa Maria-Bonita School District needs room to grow
Scan to read prior Chamber editorials.
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GROWING MEMBERSHIP: 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 the month of October 2023. Investor: Grocery Outlet of Lompoc (805) 740-2800 www.groceryoutlet.com Grocery Outlet of Santa Maria (805) 922-0109 www.groceryoutlet.com Corporate: Villa Maria Post Acute (805) 922-3558 www.villamariapostacute.com
Premium: Cuyama Buckhorn LLC (661) 766-2825 www.cuyamabuckhorn.com Holliday Rock Co. (909) 982-1553 www.hollidayrock.com
TAKE YOUR BUSINESS/ ORGANIZATION TO THE NEXT LEVEL BY JOINING THE CHAMBER TODAY!
Member: Body Shop Plus (805) 922-4722 www.bodyshopplus.com Grizzly Construction & Remodeling Inc. (805) 608-4749 Top Down Janitorial (805) 591-0642 www.topdownjanitorial.com
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Join the Chamber today by contacting Membership Manager, Cara Martinez at (805) 925-2403 ext. 852 or email cara@santamaria.com.
MONTHLY FEATURED BUSINESSES FOR NOVEMBER 2023 Each month the Chamber in partnership with the City of Santa Maria recognizes deserving businesses through the “Monthly Featured Business Program.” We are excited to announce this month’s recipients!
LONG-STANDING
Pictured: Donna Denham, General Manager; Dennis Ozzimo, Board President; and Tony Cossa, Board Finance Chair and Historian, with the Santa Maria Country Club, accept the Business of the Month recognition from Mayor Alice Patino in November 2023.
The Santa Maria Country Club was recognized at City Council as the longstanding featured business of the month for November 2023. This month’s long-standing business is the Santa Maria Country Club at 505 West Waller Lane. Established in 1921, the Country Club now has 68 employees. It provides a clubhouse, 18-hole golf course, tennis and pickleball courts, catering, and a pro shop. Many community events, galas, weddings, and fund-raisers take place on its grounds. The Country Club hosts many non-profit businesses, promoting and supporting them through participation in their events or donations. The Country Club is applying to renovate its Snack Shack and hopes to add a fitness facility.
CONGRATULATIONS TO BOTH OF THESE MEMBERS! If you know a business in the City of Santa Maria who deserves recognition, email patricia@santamaria.com to nominate them for this program.
Scan to read the full press release.
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!
Rescue Mission Alliance Central Coast
Body Shop Plus
(805) 357-1206 www.ccrescuemission.org
(805) 922-4722 www.bodyshopplus.com
1207 N. McClelland St., Santa Maria, CA 93454
WE LOVE TO HEAR FROM OUR MEMBERS! How has being a Chamber member supported the growth of your business? Let us know by emailing isabel@santamaria.com.
2046 S. Thornburg St., Santa Maria, CA 93458
All Dry of San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara County (805) 476-0003 www.myalldry.com
CHAMBER MEMBER TESTIMONIAL
“We get so much with our Santa Maria Valley Chamber membership. The Chamber is a vital part of how we do business and they have helped us to grow. Our home office is located in Santa Maria and it is the growth that has happened in our community that has allowed us to serve many more local children. I don’t think that we would have grown to be as big as we are without our involvement with the Chamber.” - Kim Colby Davis, Executive Director, CASA of Santa Barbara County DECEMBER 2023 7
614 S. Broadway Santa Maria, CA 93454
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.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM THE SANTA MARIA VALLEY CHAMBER!
614 S. Broadway Santa Maria, CA 93454 www.santamaria.com (805) 925-2403
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