Chamber Connection (July 2023)

JULY 2023

CHAMBER CONNECTION

CHAMBER WELCOMES NEW BOARD LEADERSHIP FOR 23-24 FISCAL YEAR

July marks the beginning of a new fiscal year, and the Chamber is excited to welcome new leadership to the Board of Directors to help guide the organization’s work in serving the Santa Maria Valley community.

“The Santa Maria Valley Chamber brings our businesses together and helps solve the challenges our community is facing,” explained incoming Board Chair Paul Cook. “I’m looking forward to serving as Board Chair for an organization that plays such a vital role in our community.”

Cook, who is the President/CEO of CoastHills Credit Union, will serve a one year term as Chamber Board Chair. Cook says one of the areas he hopes to have the organization focus on is making sure all people feel welcome and included in the Santa Maria Valley community. This year’s

IN THIS ISSUE

LEADERSHIP SANTA MARIA VALLEY: SUSTAINABILITY & NATURAL RESOURCES P.3

LOCAL LEADERS WEIGH IN: SANTA MARIA VALLEY DEVELOPMENT P.4

CHAMBER IN ACTION P.5

MEMBERSHIP CORNER P.6

LOCAL BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT: COIFFURE SOCIETY SALON P.7

SANTA MARIA VALLEY CHAMBER MONTHLY NEWSLETTER

Above: Santa Maria Valley Chamber Board Members attend recent June monthly meeting to discuss the upcoming 2023-24 fiscal year.

Continued on p. 2

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

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.

CONTINUED - CHAMBER WELCOMES NEW BOARD LEADERSHIP FOR 2023-24

Continued from p.1

“The Chamber is a great place to help people focus on where we agree and how we can come closer together by appreciating how similar we all are,” Cook explained. “Once we connect on our similarities, we can reach out and appreciate our differences and experience these differences make the community stronger. When we do this, we grow in respect within our community. We move on from respect to belonging and working together to achieve the Chamber’s vision of Santa Maria being central to the well-being of our families, business, and activity.”

Other newly elected Chamber Board members include Kelsi Fitzgerald, CFO for Veritas Innovative Pest & Termite Solutions, and Ryan Swack, who is the Regional Manager at Best Western Big America. They will each serve three year terms on the Chamber Board of Directors.

“Our local Chambers are very important for our tourism and business needs. They work closely with City officials, and educate businesses on any possible legislation that may impact them,” Fitzgerald said. “I’m excited to be on the Chamber Board because I love our community and want to be a part of this work and plans for growth, education, and other areas impacting our community.”

Swack says he believes his expertise in hospitality will bring an important perspective to the Chamber Board.

“I also enjoy volunteering my time to great organizations that provide so much to our local community,”

Swack explained. “As a Chamber Board member, I look forward to contributing in any way I can to make our community thrive.”

Additional new Board members include:

•Jeff Buckingham, Senior Director of Business Solutions, Astound Business Solutions Powered by Digital West

•Antonio Garcia, Superintendent, Santa Maria Joint High School District

•Joshua Sahagun, Area Manager, Luttrell Staffing Group

While Chamber Board members come from diverse backgrounds and perspectives, they share a desire to serve and improve the local Santa Maria Valley community.

“One of the greatest rewards we can ever feel in life is being a part of something that is more than ourselves,” explained Cook. “This is exactly what happens when we give one of our most precious resources, time, to the community where we live. Strong communities exist because people invest their time into the community. If you want your community to be more, stronger, better, and vibrant then as an individual we need to be doing something where we give of our time into our communities. The Chamber is a great place to start because you learn of the needs in the community and can align your individuality to the need and become a part of something more and experience one of the greatest rewards in life. Knowing you made a difference.”

If you are interested in getting involved with the Chamber, our committees are a great start. For more information, visit www.santamaria.com/about-the-chamber/

Scan for complete list of our 2023-24 Board.

LEADERSHIP SANTA MARIA VALLEY WRAPS 2022-23 PROGRAM WITH FINAL LEADERSHIP TOPIC DAY

The Leadership Santa Maria Valley Class of 2023 recently participated in their final monthly seminar or “Topic Day.” Serving as an opportunity to reflect on their journey and to think what class participants will do differently moving forward, the June topic day was designed to focus on community leadership.

To begin the day, class member Olivia Bernal of People’s Self-Help Housing Center spoke to the class about her personal leadership journey and the various hardships she has overcome to become the leader she is today.

CHAMBER CELEBRATES LSMV 2023 PROGRAM GRADUATION

After participating in the 11-month program, the Leadership Santa Maria Valley Class of 2023 celebrated with a program graduation event. The class consists of 14 local professionals from across our community’s government, service, non-profit and business sectors. Members of the class represent the County of Santa Barbara, CoastHills Credit Union, Toyota of Santa Maria, and various local organizations.

For more information about LSMV, please contact terrio@santamaria.com

Scan to read learn more about LSMV 2023.

Pictured: The LSMV Class heard from various guest speakers during their most recent topic day including Councilman Carlos Escobedo. Escobedo shared his personal experience as a CIty leader with the group.

Pictured: Graduates from the LSMV Class of 2023 celebrated and reflected on their experience in the program during June graduation event.

LOCAL LEADERS WEIGH IN: LEADERSHIP SANTA MARIA VALLEY

Each month, we’re asking our local leaders to weigh in on a timely topic. This month, we’re talking to our graduates from the Leadership Santa Maria Valley Class of 2023. As the program concluded, we asked participants to reflect on their greatest lessons learned, most enjoyable moments experienced through LSMV, and plans for the future. Here’s what they shared:

“The LSMV program has changed me professionally as well as personally. I’ve learned how important and essential community involvement truly is. The impact on our community’s decision-making is solely based on those who participate. This program has inspired me to become more involved in making the Santa Maria Valley as great as we all believe it is. I’ve recently joined the Elks Rodeo Team Committee and the Boys & Girls Club of the Mid Central Coast 2024 Gala Committee, helped with CALM’s Ladies Get Loud event, and became St. Mary’s. Auction Chair.

- Joyce Melena Health Information Technology Trainer,

“The future of our community is in great hands with the young leaders in our community. This leadership program was a great place to network with our classmates and various mentors. For me, the element of the program that had the greatest impact on my growth was planning and organizing the program topic days. These tasks helped me work on my own areas of personal growth, while giving me the opportunity to collaborate with our classmates, connect with local leaders and create these fun, valuable days. ”

- Roberto Rodriguez Chief Growth Officer, Boys & Girls Clubs of Mid Central

“The LSMV program has been inspirational in my journey to becoming a more involved leader in our community. Participating in this program opened my eyes to all the good things we have going on, as well as to many ways our community can support each other. The program’s structure really motivates people to network outside of their normal scope and creates a chance to foster longterm connections with many leaders. ”

- Sarah Johnson Human Resource Generalist, KSBY-TV

Coast Scan

CHAMBER IN ACTION

1. Recently, the Chamber wrapped up the County Industry Sector Roundtable series with a summit event. About 95 people attended.

2. The Chamber recently convened several local organizations to discuss challenges and solutions around childcare in the Santa Maria Valley.

3. Longest Chamber Ambassador term! The Chamber recently recognized Diane Alleman-Stevens for serving 39 years as a Chamber Ambassador (effective May 2023), including 5 years as Chief Ambassador.

4. Chamber Director of Member & Community Engagement, Molly Schiff recently volunteered at a Partners in Education Mock Interviews event celebrating this cohort’s completion of the career readiness program.

5. This month members from the Santa Maria Valley Chamber and the San Luis Obispo Chamber gathered for a joint mixer hosted at the YPP Santa Maria location.

6. This month the Chamber Mixer was hosted by SESLOC and included a recognition of 11 new members.

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 May 2023.

Premium:

Omni Design, Inc. (805) 544-9700

www.omnidesign.us/

Quest National Security- SM (805) 395-7592

Quest National Security- SLO (805) 723-4770

www.questnationalsecurity.com

Member:

Bridge of Hope Home Care Services (805) 878-0063

www.abridgeofhope.org

Creative Flooring (805) 249-8522

www.creativeflooring.design/

Dana Reserve, LLC (805) 541-9004

www.livedanareserve.com

JOIN THE CHAMBER TO ADD YOUR BUSINESS TO THIS LIST!

MEMBER DIRECTORY:

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!

eXp Realty

2880 Santa Maria Way, Ste. C4, Santa Maria, CA (714) 422-6825

www.ShopCentralCoastHomes.com

Creative Flooring

1130 E. Clark Ave, Ste. 140, Orcutt, CA (805) 249-8522

www.creativeflooring.design/

Santa Maria Valley Discovery Museum

705 S. McClelland, Santa Maria (805) 928-8414

www.smvdiscoverymuseumm.org

The Joint Chiropractic 560 E. Broadway, Ste. C, Santa Maria (805) 600-3875

www.thejoint.com/california/santamaria/santa-maria-31242

Bridge of Hope Home Care Services (805) 878-0063

www.abridgeofhope.org

Quest National Security- SM (805) 395-7592

Quest National Security- SLO (805) 723-4770

www.questnationalsecurity.com

LOCAL BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT: COIFFURE SOCIETY SALON

Check out our most recent local business spotlight on Coiffure Society Salon, a full-service salon located in Santa Maria’s Skyway Center!

The “Local Business Spotlight” program is an on-going collaboration between the Santa Maria Valley Chamber and the Santa Maria Times with the goal of showcasing great local businesses.

Interested in being the next Local Business Spotlight feature? Please email isabel@santamaria.com for more information.

Scan to learn more and watch most recent spotlight video.

Right: Coiffure Society Salon’s Bambie Ruiz-Padilla, co-owner, recently sat down with Chamber Staff for an interview as part of the Local Business Spotlight program.

MEMBER TESTIMONIAL

“We chose to be a member of the Santa Maria Chamber of Commerce because we believe strongly in supporting the Santa Maria community and its local businesses. As a local business we are always so grateful for the community who has embraced us and helped us grow to what we are now. We want to be that support for other small businesses in our community.”

-Kyle Stiller, Apex

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