CHAMBER CONNECTION
GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY: SUPPORTING LOCAL BUSINESSES AND NON-PROFITS THIS HOLIDAY SEASON
As the holiday season approaches, the spirit of giving becomes more prominent in our hearts and communities. In Santa Maria Valley, this is the perfect time to reflect on how we can support our local businesses while giving back to those in need. By shopping local, we not only strengthen our economy but also help create a community where everyone thrives. Why shop local?
When you choose to shop at local businesses, your dollars stay within the community. This is crucial for small businesses that contribute to job creation, innovation and a unique local character. Every purchase you make at a local shop helps support your neighbors and friends, fostering a sense of community pride. Give Back to Those in Need
This holiday season, consider how your shopping habits can contribute to local charities and initiatives. Many local businesses partner with
SANTA MARIA VALLEY CHAMBER MONTHLY NEWSLETTER
Pictured: Your Chamber staff at Annual Awards Gala!
CHAMBER BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Executive Committee
Chairman: Emily Kitts, Naughty Oak Brewing Company
Chairman-Elect: Sandra Dickerson, Your People Professionals
Vice Chairman: Shannon Seifert, Santa Maria Valley YMCA
Vice Chairman: Gina Gluyas, BHGRE Haven Properties
Past Chairman: Paul Cook, CoastHills Credit Union
Board Members
Sue Andersen, Marian Regional Medical Center
Dominick Barry, Quintron Systems, Inc.
Micaela Buchanan, Lark + Sparrow LLC
Jason Buchanan, HUB International Insurance Services
Jeff Buckingham, Astound Business Solutions Powered by Digital West
Nancy Crawford, Care Connection
Transport + Home Care - Santa Maria
Donna Denham, Santa Maria Country Club
Kelsi Fitzgerald, Veritas Innovative Pest & Termite Solutions
Karen Gjerdrum, Fothergill Andre, Morris & Buttery
Antonio Garcia, Santa Maria Joint High School District
Dave Merlo, Glenn Burdette, Inc.
Sylvia Palacios, Santa Maria Town Center
Terè Paredes, Maya Restaurant
Joshua Beau Flores Sahagun, Luttrell Staffing Group
Dr. Eric Sauers, A.T. Still University / College for Healthy Communities
Ryan Swack, Best Western Plus Big America
Dr. Kevin Walthers, Allan Hancock College
Interested in Chamber volunteer leadership opportunities? Contact Molly Schiff, Director of Advocacy & Initiatives, at molly@santamaria. com to learn more about open positions on our committees.
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nonprofit organizations to support community projects and fundraisers. When you shop at these stores, you’re often contributing directly to causes that matter. Look for businesses that donate a portion of their sales to local charities or host events where a percentage of proceeds go to community service projects.
In addition to shopping, consider volunteering your time or resources. Many local organizations are in need of volunteers during the holiday season, and your efforts can make a significant impact. Whether it’s helping at a food bank, organizing a toy drive, or serving meals, your involvement can spread holiday cheer to those who need it most. The holiday season is often extra busy for non-profit organizations, so lending a hand and volunteering your time with a local organization can make a big impact on your community.
Community Initiatives and Collaborative Efforts
This holiday season, many local businesses in Santa Maria Valley are coming together to create community initiatives that further amplify their impact. Collaborative efforts, such as seasonally themed events, not only showcase local vendors but also foster a sense of unity among residents.
Additionally, many businesses team up with local nonprofits to create unique fundraising events. For instance, some restaurants donate a portion of their sales on specific days to local charities, while retailers could host donation drives or sponsor holiday events that benefit
the community. By participating in these initiatives, shoppers can make a direct positive impact while enjoying the festive atmosphere.
On the flip side, if you’re a business owner, consider thinking of organizations or groups you care about or might be interested in partnering with to show some holiday spirit in the season of giving.
Spread the Word
Encourage your friends and family to join you in supporting local businesses this holiday season. Share your favorite spots on social media, write reviews, and invite others to explore the Santa Maria Valley. When we collectively choose to shop local, we amplify the positive impact on our community.
This holiday season, let’s embrace the spirit of giving by supporting our local businesses in Santa Maria Valley. Not only will you find unique gifts and experiences, but you’ll also be contributing to a thriving community. Together, we can make this holiday season special for everyone while ensuring that our community continues to flourish. Let’s strengthen our community, give back and celebrate the magic of the season!
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.
Business, #SantaMariaStyle is the Chamber’s quarterly digital magazine publication. The magazine is another way we highlight local businesses, see what’s going on in the community, celebrate our members and more!
Check out our Fall 2024 edition featuring organizations and groups that help promote mental health and wellness in our Santa Maria Valley communtiy!
Scan to read the Fall 2024 Magazine.
LOCAL BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT: UNITED WAY
In this month’s Local Business Spotlight, Eddite Taylor, CEO of United Way of Northern Santa Barbara County, dsicusses how United Way has provided literacy programs for years, helping kids improve their reading levels so that they could go on to high school, college and the workforce.
CHECK OUT OUR MOST RECENT SHOWCASE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT NSBC UNITED WAY!
For more information, please reach out to Romina Montemurro, Communications Coordinator via email at romina@santamaria.com
Scan to view this month’s spotlight.
Pictured: Eddie Taylor, CEO of United Way of Northern Santa Barbara County, speaks about the organizations new Literacy 2.0 program and their recent move to a larger facility complete with a warehouse in northern Santa Maria.
LEADERSHIP SANTA MARIA VALLEY AGTICULTURE DAY: “A BERRY
INTERESTING DAY”
The Leadership Santa Maria Valley (LSMV) class of 2025 set out on October 4, 2024 for a full day of learning about agriculture in the local Santa Maria Valley. The group heard from farmers and subject matter experts in the field.
The first stop was at Driscoll’s, a major supplier of berries nationally and the largest district in the state according to District Manager Nelson Medina. They produce blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries, but are best known for their strawberries. From its first commercial strawberry crop in 1865 to the founding of the Strawberry Institute in the 1940’s, and into today, Driscoll’s is still growing. Driscoll’s has developed storage and delivery methods that keep berries fresh from farm to table. Students were introduced to the cooling operations with a tour and discussion by Quality Manager Brian Ramler, and then visited the strawberry test plot where everyone learned from Breeder Nick Coons about how the sweetest strawberry varieties are developed. The group then toured the blackberry farm where Monica Cordova, Manager, and Manual Navarro (Production Manager for Betteravia) described the difference
between blackberry productions in substrate (irrigated pots with climbing canes) versus in the ground. The group sampled the four different types of berries Driscoll’s grows, some coming as far away as Peru. Delicious!
After lunch, the team toured Nutrien Ag Solutions and heard from John Patino, the Branch Manager, about Nutrien’s operations. Nutrien Ag Solutions provides crop inputs and crop services such as seed solutions, herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides, fertilizers, micronutrients, macronutrients and more.
The last tour was led by Field Automation Supervisor Stephen Waldron at Plantel Nursery. Stephen described how sanitized trays are brought into the facility and put on a rack where a layer of soil, then the growers seed mix, and a top layer of soil fill the tray. Pallets of trays are then taken to either their controlled storage for germination, and then to the greenhouse or exterior growing facility for irrigation until the plants are ready to be planted in the field. Stephen mentioned that climate control technology is integral in this process because changes in the temperature, and weather, can slow down or speed up plant growth.
Together, these three companies influence an economy of thousands of field
mechanical cooling engineers, quality control professionals, and so on with hundreds of millions of dollars industry in the valley. The industry works together to ensure that Santa Maria remains a premier location in the agricultural industry!
Thank you to the additional partners who supported this learning day. Santa Maria Toyota offered their outdoor patio space and conference room to the group for the day. Breakfast and lunch on the patio were sponsored by Coast Hills Credit Union. Kia and Toyota provided transport vehicles for the trips. “It was a berry interesting day,” said Arnold Vazquez from the class of 2025. A special ‘Thank you’ to Driscoll’s, Nutrien Ag Solutions, Plantel, Coast Hills Credit Union, Toyota Santa Maria, Kia Santa Maria, and Santa Maria Joint Union High School for your contributions to helping us get to know more about Santa Maria!
AWARDS GALA IN REVIEW!
Here’s some highlights from our annual awards gala. Thank you to all who came and congratulations to the winners! 4 1 3
1. Enjoying cocktail hour before the Gala program begins!
2. Chamber President & CEO Michael Boyer addressing the crowd to kick off the evening.
3. Ambassador of the Year Julie Colegrove receiving her award. Congratulations, Julie!
4. Robert P. Hatch Citizen of the Year winner Terri Lee Coleman; congraulations, Terri!
5. Former Chamber President & CEO Glenn Morris receiving the surprise Catalyst Leadership Award.
6. Non-profit of the Year Children’s Resource & Referral of Santa Barbara County with a large group to accept!
7. Thank you again to all who came! If you missed it this time, be sure to come by next year.
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 September 2024!
Premium:
U.S. Bank (805) 608-7064 www.usbank.com/locations/california/ santa-maria/2340-s-broadway-bankatm/
U.S. Bank Mortgage (805) 608-7073 www.usbank.com/locations/california/ santa-maria/2340-s-broadway-bankatm/
Premium: Now Realty Brokered by eXp (805) 669-7325 https://robertwarner.exprealty.com
Red Robin (805) 614-6124
https://locations.redrobin.com/ca/santamaria/247/
Member:
Diversity Coalition San Luis Obispo County (805) 806-5626 www.diversityslo.org
Santa Maria Firefighters Local 2020 www.santamariafirefighters.com
Civic: Paul Cook
TAKE YOUR BUSINESS/ ORGANIZATION TO THE NEXT LEVEL BY JOINING THE CHAMBER TODAY!
Join the Chamber today by contacting Membership Manager, Cara Martinez at (805) 925-2403 ext. 852 or email cara@santamaria.com.
QUARTERLY FEATURED BUSINESSES
Each quarter the Chamber in partnership with the City of Santa Maria recognizes two deserving businesses through the “Monthly Featured Business Program.” We are excited to announce this quarter’s recipients!
J&E CLEANING SERVICES, INC.
J&E Cleaning Services, Inc. was recognized at City Council as a featured business of the quarter for Q4, 2024.
KLONDIKE PIZZA
Klondike Pizza was recognized at City Council as a featured business of the quarter for Q4, 2024.
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!
A Mi Manera Mexican Cuisine & Mariscos
1701 N. Broadway Santa Maria CA (805) 347-7748 instagram.com/amimaneramxcuisine
WE LOVE TO HEAR FROM OUR MEMBERS!
CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates)
2125 S. Broadway, Ste 106 Santa Maria CA (805) 739-9102 www.sbcasa.org
How has being a Chamber member supported the growth of your business? Let us know by emailing romina@santamaria.com.
WE LOVE CELEBRATING OUR MEMBERS!
If you are a new member or celebrating a business milestone (anniversary, grand opening, etc.), let us know and schedule a ribbon cutting by emailing patricia@santamaria.com.
CHAMBER MEMBER TESTIMONIAL
“I’m a cheerleader for the Chamber; whenever a new business opens, the first thing I ask is if they’ve joined the Chamber. The Santa Maria Valley of Chamber brings resources and information. What I found is that there is a real personal connection with the staff. The Santa Maria Valley Chamber reflects the small town flavor of what our community is. ”
- Linda Greco, owner, That’s Fetch!
OCTOBER 2024 7
