Want to increase awareness of your business and show your support for our military? Then become a sponsor of our 2020 Military Appreciation Presentation airing on November 11. While the Oxnard Chamber has been honoring enlisted military personnel with a dinner event over the past 22 years, 2020 is the time to reinvent! Our Military Appreciation Presentation will be a virtual event, but we still need sponsors!
The Oxnard Trophy recipient is chosen by the Oxnard Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. The Oxnard Trophy is presented to a person, business or organization that has brought recognition to Oxnard and has bettered the community.
In December of last year (when the world was normal!) the Pacifica Tritons football team astonished the high school football world and became the CIF Division 2-A State champions. It was the first Ventura County public school to win the title. Coach Mike Moon and his talented players beat Oakland-McClymonds 34-6. Pacifica (15-1) set or tied 11 Division 2-A records in delivering the city of Oxnard its first football state title. Congratulations to Coach Mike Moon and the Pacifica High School Tritons! Your name will now be added to decades of previous Oxnard Trophy awardees. The Community & Business Awards aired on October 8, 2020. Watch the full presentation below.
Continuing the Chamber's 70-year tradition of recognizing community and business champions had its challenges in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, we accepted the challenge and pivoted our annual event by hosting it virtually, celebrating our honorees with an online program that aired on October 8, 2020. Congratulations to this year's winners and thank you for all that you do to make Oxnard a great city to live, work and do business in!
Distinguished Citizen of the Year – Marvin Boos is on a mission to clean up our city. After he retired from Naval Base Ventura County, he certainly was not going to become a couch potato. Last year when the city of Oxnard had to cut its budget and eliminate groundskeepers and graffiti removal personnel, Marvin Boos loaded his truck with a rake, dustpan, and hand saw and went to work. He spends about five days a week, three or four hours a day, cleaning up Oxnard's medians, parks and sidewalks. He's also inspired many others to join him in his fight against weeds, litter, overgrown trees, and graffiti. Thank you, Marvin! Volunteer of the Year – Jim Magnusson is the definition of what a great community volunteer should be. He has spent the last 25 years volunteering his time and talent to help high school athletes respond and recover from injury. Over the course of the last two-and-a-half decades, Jim has helped hundreds of students at local high schools. Since 2005, Jim has volunteered a Pacifica High School, working with the football team. But Jim has done even more than serve as the team's medical support. He has also pitched in at other schools, such as for Oxnard High School's baseball team. Business Advocate of the Year – Ashley Golden is the Assistant City Manager for the city of Oxnard, which seems odd that a chamber of commerce would name a government employee the Business Advocate of the Year. However, the Oxnard Chamber has had more input on city matters since Ms. Golden sought and incorporated opinions of the business community in city issues. Whether it's a minor change in city policy or a major overhaul of a process affecting business, she seeks responses from the entities impacted. Even when she has bad news to deliver to the business community, Ashley brings the issue to the Chamber for feedback. Young Professional of the Year – Taylor Penny is hard to keep up with. She's a habitual volunteer! She's an avid supporter of the Oxnard Young Professionals, a champion for the local Boys & Girls Clubs, a board member for the California Strawberry Festival, board member for the Friends of the Bard Mansion, Oxnard PD K-9 Unit, mentor with Big Brothers & Big Sisters, and serves on the Steering Committee for the Chamber's Oxnard Leadership program. Taylor's coworkers say she is always volunteering to help with any projects at St. John's Hospital, where she works for their foundation. Ms. Penny lives in Oxnard, works in Oxnard, and serves many organizations in Oxnard. Nonprofit Organization of the Year – Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ventura County is celebrating 50 years of service through youth mentoring in 2020. With a big focus in Oxnard, they opened a new mentoring site earlier this year, bringing group and individual mentoring opportunities to youth for after-school hours. Through the guidance of dedicated case managers across all of their programs, BBBSVC has provided Oxnard youth the benefits of 1-to-1 mentoring to support individual needs, leading to life-long and life-changing friendships for many. Small Business of the Year – PODS Moving & Storage has donated more than $1.5 million in logistics, PODS containers, trucks, fuel, and personnel to Central Coast charities in the past 15 years. Franchise owner Steve Yapp has instilled his passion for service in his entire team. Recipients of this generosity include the Boys & Girls Clubs, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ventura County, Casa Pacifica, FOOD Share, California Strawberry Festival, Toys for Tots, Salvation Army, American Red Cross, and veterans Stand Down events. Giving back to the community that helped grow his business is a big part of Yapp's business model. Large Business of the Year – DW Drums was founded in Santa Monica in 1972 and moved to Oxnard in 2000 where their international headquarters is today. Their mission is to produce the finest drums possible, to be innovative leaders in their industry, to provide outstanding customer service, and to bring together a team of employees and give them the opportunity to work with pride at a fun place to work. They also bring elite music legends to Oxnard ranging from Dave Grohl (Nirvana, Foo Fighters) to Oxnard's own Grammy-winning Anderson Paak. Hundreds of big-name musicians come to Oxnard each year to monitor the progress of their made-to-order drums. Innovative Business of the Year – FOMAT Medical Research has launched a search to find treatment and a vaccine for COVID-19. FOMAT has set up a testing site adjacent to the Oxnard Library on A Street. FOMAT conducts trials on whether antibody medicine offers effective treatment for people that have tested positive for the virus, and a second study will be on healthy people at high risk of the virus who will take a cocktail to measure the effectiveness in preventing infection. Testing is free, aimed at people willing to participate in the trials, and tests will provide results in 45 minutes. Best place to Work – Visit Oxnard offers an unparalleled work culture, so ingrained in its employees that the term "staff" is always substituted by the word "team." Flexible schedules allow team members to put family first. Annual reviews allow for both professional growth and consistency in performance-based compensation adjustments. Team outings to support Oxnard restaurants, retailers, and attractions are common occurrences. Leadership guides by the principles of sociocracy, giving everyone the opportunity have their voices heard. "Coming to work each day is a joy," said the nominator for this award. Watch the recording of the presentation below. After the coronavirus put the brakes on the Chamber's annual Community & Business Awards, originally scheduled in late April, we are moving forward for a presentation of the awards on Thursday, October 8 at 4 pm. The nomination period will be open until Tuesday, September 8 at 5 pm, so please submit your nominations before the deadline.
We all know people, organizations and businesses that contribute to our great community, why not spend a couple of minutes to honor them with a nomination? The categories are:
You can download a nomination form here, or click for the online form.
In case you missed it, on July 30, 2020, the Chamber hosted Oxnard Mayor Tim Flynn's annual State of the City address to the business community with a theme of "Rebuild, Reinvest, and Revitalize." Although these are difficult times to be optimistic, Mayor Flynn's message was pragmatic about where the city needs to go in order to deliver services to it residents and businesses. Watch the recording below.
The Chamber sincerely thanks the following businesses for supporting this year's program!
Title Sponsors
Major Sponsors
Supporting Sponsors
In partnership with Express Employment Professionals, the Oxnard Chamber of Commerce would like to give Chamber members a chance to attend "3 Tips to Welcoming Back Your Work Force: The Deep Dive" - a three-part webinar series normally priced at $129 - for free.
Rick Hernandez and Michael Veltri will host three virtual talks about the best ways to boost morale as Stay at Home restrictions begin to ease up and employees begin to return to the office. This webinar series begins on July 16 and will consist of three, 60-minute long webinars. The series will include recorded sessions sent directly to participants, easy-to-follow and implement action plans, an interactive Q&A session with the presenters, and more. Chamber members may enter the raffle by filling out our form here: bit.ly/2VRHpdi A winner will be drawn on July 14. Good luck to all of our participants! Not feeling lucky? You can still register by calling Express Employment Professionals at 805-418-1111, or by visiting their Zoom registration link here. Did you know that The Port of Hueneme is the only deep-water port between San Francisco and Los Angeles? Have you ever wondered what happens at Naval Base Ventura County (NBVC)?
For their fifth session of 2019, participants in the Oxnard Leadership Program went behind-the-scenes at The Port and NBVC Point Mugu to gain a better understanding of how each impacts the local economy and community. The day started at NBVC Point Mugu, which is one of the base’s three operating facilities in the region (the others are in Port Hueneme and on San Nicolas Island). NBVC Commanding Officer Captain Jeff Chism shared the history of the base, the role it plays in national security, and its economic impact on the community. With 20,000 military and civilian employees, NBVC is the largest employer in Ventura County and has an economic impact of $2 billion. After, the group toured the base with Public Information Officer Theresa Miller. They stopped at its combat training facility and the hangar that houses a MQ-4C Triton unmanned aircraft, which is part of the Navy’s first-ever Unmanned Patrol Squadron (VUP-19). The afternoon was spent exploring The Port of Hueneme, which is the most productive and efficient commercial trade gateway for niche cargo on the West Coast. They were led by Dona Lacayo, Chief Commercial & Public Affairs Officer, who gave an overview of port operations and what it does for the community. The Port of Hueneme moves $9 billion in goods each year and consistently ranks among the Top 10 U.S. ports for automobiles and fresh produce. Port operations support the community by bringing $1.5 billion in economic activity, creating 13,633 trade-related jobs and generating more than $93 million in annual state and local taxes, which funds vital community services. Every year, the Oxnard Leadership Program leads participants through 10 unique, day-long experiences to gain a better understanding and appreciation of Oxnard and the surrounding areas’ realities, opportunities and challenges. Each session includes visits to various locations and provides participants with a unique opportunity to meet key business and government leaders who play integral roles in the region. In June, session six will focus on public services with visits to the Wastewater Treatment Plant, City Maintenance Yard, Del Norte Regional Recycling and Transfer Station, and more. Learn more about the Oxnard Leadership Program. “The young professionals are the business leaders of tomorrow, so by investing in them through networking and leadership, we are enhancing the future of business,” says Taylor Penny, Annual Campaigns Coordinator for St. John’s Healthcare Foundation. Penny helps lead Oxnard Young Professionals, also known as OXYP, with co-chair Miguel Valencia, Account Executive with United Staffing Associates. OXYP launched in late 2017 as a platform for the next generation of leaders to build strong connections, develop leadership skills, partner with business and community leaders, and interact with elected officials. “The vision is to have a group in the Oxnard Chamber of Commerce that will be able to service the community, volunteer, support Chamber members and yield new members to come,” says Penny. “We feel that there are a lot of young professionals in the city who are becoming community leaders and having an influence on the generations to come.” With more than 30 members, OXYP is open to individuals between the ages of 21-40. Membership is free for those employed by a Chamber member business; all others can join for $100 per year. “One thing that might surprise people about this group is the amount of hard-working people that want to make a difference in this community,” says Penny. “We have new people join all the time and it is great to see them so eager to join and want to get involved.” There are many opportunities for members to connect and grow their businesses and networks: The Chamber’s monthly Happy Hour 1.5 mixers, monthly OXYP meetings, monthly networking breakfasts at member businesses, and other special events. In May, breakfast will be hosted at JR Bookkeeping, and in June, OXYP is hosting a Young Professionals Regional Mixer at the Annex Food Hall. “We are excited about all the business relationships that we have been exposed to and that are on the horizon,” says Penny. “We want to have a group of members that can continue to make great connections, want to grow their business, yield business, and to grow as a young professional in the City of Oxnard.” Learn more about OXYP. On Thursday, April 25, the Oxnard Chamber hosted its annual Community & Business Awards at the Residence Inn by Marriott at River Ridge. Now in its 69th year, the Community & Business Awards honors outstanding individuals, businesses and organizations that make Oxnard a wonderful community to live, work and do business in.
"There are incredible people doing amazing things in Oxnard," says Chamber CEO Nancy Lindholm. "We're glad we could identify a few of them so we can honor their efforts." Winners for 2019 are: Nonprofit Organization of the Year – Livingston Memorial Visiting Nurse Association For more than 70 years, Livingston Memorial Visiting Nurse Association has been a cornerstone in Ventura County and a leader in health care. Today, as Ventura County’s only nonprofit home health and medical hospice, Livingston provides affordable home health, palliative care, hospice, non-medical home care, and grief and bereavement services. In 2018 alone, they served more than 4500 people in our community. Director of Development Molly Corbett accepted the award. Volunteer of the Year – Jeff McGreevy Sergeant Jeff McGreevy with the Oxnard Police Department has volunteered countless hours to supporting, coordinating and leading events and initiatives to fundraise and raise awareness for many incredible causes. In 2018, he helped raise more than $23,000 for the Oxnard Police Explorers Foundation, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, American Foundation of Suicide Prevention, American Cancer Society and more. Already in 2019, he promoted an Oxnard Police Department commemorative patch to support Autism Awareness Month, which raised more than $13,000. McGreevy accepted the award. Innovative Business of the Year – CURE Pharmaceutical At its research and production facility in Oxnard, CURE Pharmaceutical is manufacturing CUREfilm™, one of the most advanced oral thin film on the market today. It makes it easier for patients to take medication without having to swallow pills – something 40% of people struggle with – and creates an alternative to injections or liquid medication. CURE’s proprietary technology unleashes the full potential of drug treatments, resulting in medication that is easy to take, delivers fast results, is the precise dosage, and portable. Founder and Chief Accounting Officer Mark Udell accepted the award. Small Business of the Year – JaniTek Cleaning Solutions JaniTek Cleaning Solutions provides fast and affordable cleaning services for businesses. The company’s Central Coast office is located in Oxnard and serves Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties. In August 2018, it became one of the few Green Certified Businesses in Ventura County for its commitment to sustainable business practices. Customer satisfaction is the company’s first priority, believing that serving customers with care, urgency, and diligence brings about the best service results. The company also takes care of its own -- rewarding, developing and retaining the best employees in order to better serve their customers. Operation Manager Celia Cortez accepted the award. Large Business of the Year – Ventura County Credit Union Today, as the largest and most convenient credit union in the region, Ventura County Credit Union serves more than 80,000 members in Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties. VCCU invests its profits back into the credit union to benefit members and the community, and supports a variety of nonprofits through its CommUNITY Giving Program, which encourages employees to volunteer by compensating up to 40 hours of community service. Some of the credit union’s community involvement includes FOOD Share’s CAN-tree event, partnering with the Oxnard Housing Authority, and supporting or sponsoring many organizations including the Rotary Club, Oxnard High School’s Career Fair, the Walk to End Alzheimer’s in Oxnard, and so much more. Chief Administrative Officer Linda Rossi accepted the award Business Advocate of the Year – Mark Spellman Mark Spellman takes pride in always putting his best foot forward, giving 110% towards helping others in the business community and the community at large. As a Director with the Oxnard Downtown Management District, he is helping revitalize the heart of Oxnard. Spellman was a vocal advocate in support of reliable and affordable energy supplies for Oxnard and testified numerous times at public hearings. He also followed through with correspondence and meetings with elected officials. Spellman is a Past President and 16-year member with the Rotary Club of Oxnard, sits on the Oxnard Union High School District Business Advisory Committee and recently joined the Boards of both the CA Strawberry Festival and Goodwill Industries of Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties so he could expand his support of non-profit entities and interact with more business-like minded professionals that share the same vision of community for this great city. Spellman accepted the award. Best Place to Work – PURETEC Industrial Water In 2018, Puretec Industrial Water received certification as a Great Place to Work® after an independent survey showed that 95 percent of employees say they love working there. What do they love most? Among the top reasons are opportunities for advancement, work/life balance, and attention to employees’ health and well-being: 97% are proud to tell others they work there, 94% feel a sense of pride when they look at what the company accomplishes, and 95% say when you join the company, you are made to feel welcome. On top of offering a competitive benefits package, employees are given paid time off on their birthday and on their work anniversary, which they call “Family Day,” to encourage employees to spend it with their families. President Jed Harris accepted the award. Oxnard Trophy – Oxnard Salsa Festival Now in its 26th year, the Oxnard Salsa Festival is Southern California’s HOTTEST Summer festival. Attracting more than 35,000 attendees from around the world to Downtown Oxnard every year, the Oxnard Salsa Festival is a two-day celebration of everything salsa: food, music and dance. Presented by the Oxnard Downtowners, the Festival features live salsa bands, salsa dance lessons, a salsa recipe challenge, and a “Dancing With Our Community Stars” competition. It showcases more than 100 arts, craft and retail vendors from all over California, two international food courts, a kids' zone and more surprises every year. But more than being an amazing, fun weekend, in the last 10 years, the festival has raised more than half-a-million dollars for the local community by supporting and partnering with local nonprofits, including Boys & Girls Club of Oxnard & Port Hueneme, Rotary Club of Oxnard, Friends of Heritage Square, and more. Salsa Festival emcee Pablo F. Ortiz, Festival Director Kellie Meehan, and President of the Downtown Oxnard Business Association Gary Blum accepted the award. Distinguished Citizen of the Year – Bryan MacDonald For 30 years, Bryan MacDonald served in the Oxnard Police Department before retiring with the rank of Assistant Police Chief. As an Oxnard City Council Member since November 2008, MacDonald serves or has served the community as a member of Oxnard’s Public Safety Committee, the Ventura County Transportation Commission, LOSSAN Regional Rail Service, the Gold Coast Transit District, the Convention and Visitors Bureau, and more. He has a long history of community involvement, including past Chairperson of the American Cancer Society Gold Coast Community Council; Board member and past President for the Elite Theatre Company; and an active member of the Knights of Columbus Council 750. He also has taught criminology as an Adjunct Professor of Criminal Justice at Ventura College for more than 35 years, and he’s currently an instructor and liaison to The Sheriff’s Academy. MacDonald has a lot of fun in the community as well. During the holidays, he and his wife of 35 years, Lorraine, spread Christmas cheer as Santa and Mrs. Claus for a number of local events and organizations, including the Santa-to-the-Sea Half-Marathon, Soroptimist International of Oxnard and the Port Hueneme Police Department. MacDonald accepted the award. Award nominations are submitted by the public and reviewed by a selection committee, with the exception of the Oxnard Trophy, which is selected by the the Oxnard Chamber Board of Directors. Did you know that Oxnard was once home to the largest hotel between Los Angeles and San Francisco? Have you ever wondered the story behind the pagoda in Plaza Park? Whether you are new to Oxnard or a long-time resident, learning about the city’s rich history is a fun and eye-opening experience. On Friday, April 19, members of the Chamber’s 2019 Oxnard Leadership Program were treated to a day with local historian Jeff Maulhardt. He led them through various historic sites throughout the city, including the original Oxnard sugar beet factory and Heritage Square. This was the group’s fourth session this year, having already explored the city’s government, public safety and education. Maulhardt, a fifth-generation descendant of two of Oxnard’s pioneer families, has authored 15 books about the area and is director of the Oxnard Historic Farm Park, where the group’s tour began. The park is home to two of the oldest remaining structures on the Oxnard Plain: an 1870s farmhouse and brick winery. After a history lesson and tour, the group drove to the site of the original Oxnard sugar beet factory, which is near Wooley Road and Factory Lane. Two of the original five buildings remain, and are still used to support the distribution of local agriculture. The group also visited the Carnegie Art Museum where Martha Jimenez, Curator of Education, led the tour. Originally known as Oxnard’s Carnegie Library, it was built in 1906 as one of the free public libraries funded by industrialist Andrew Carnegie. It was converted into an art museum in 1986. Their final stop was Heritage Square where docent Tom Von Allmen shared the significance of each building’s location, architecture and origin. The 15 beautifully restored Victorian homes preserve some of the special history of Oxnard’s early pioneer families. Many businesses now occupy the buildings, including the restaurant La Dolce Vita and 1901 Speakeasy, where the group ended its day. Every year, the Oxnard Leadership Program leads participants through 10 unique, day-long experiences to gain a better understanding and appreciation of Oxnard and the surrounding areas’ realities, opportunities and challenges. Each session includes visits to various locations and provides participants with a unique opportunity to meet key business and government leaders who play integral roles in the regions. In May, participants will learn about the region’s impact on trade and commerce with visits to the Port of Hueneme and Naval Base Ventura County - Point Mugu. Learn more about the Oxnard Leadership Program. We are thrilled to announce the winners of the 2019 Community & Business Awards, which will be celebrated April 25 at the Residence Inn by Marriott/River Ridge. Thank you to everyone who submitted nominations and to our award selection committee, which consists of representatives from our event sponsors. In addition to the nominations, the Oxnard Chamber Board selects a person, business or organization to receive the Oxnard Trophy for bringing recognition to Oxnard and bettering the community.
The 2019 winners are:
The 69th annual Community & Business Awards will be held Thursday, April 25 at 6:00 pm at Residence Inn by Marriott/River Ridge. Reservations are required in advance and are $60 per person. Nominations for the 2019 Community & Business Awards are open. Who will be the Distinguished Citizen? How about the Small Business of the Year? The award categories for 2019 have been updated, so they now include:
The Chamber relies on nominations from the business community and general public. Nominees are not required to be members of the Oxnard Chamber. Also, those submitting nominations do not need to be Chamber members. Nominations are due by March 25. Following that date, the selection committee will pour over the submittals and choose the awardees. We all know of people, organizations and businesses that make Oxnard such a great place to live and work. Let's thank them with a nomination! Click here for the Nomination Form The Community & Business Awards will be presented at a dinner on Thursday, April 25. The Oxnard Chamber is pleased to announce Oxnard Chamber’s Chairperson’s Awards of Excellence recipients at the Chamber's Annual Meeting and Installation of Directors on January 31, 2019. These dedicated individuals and organizations are leaders that greatly contribute to the success of our community.
2019 Chairperson's Awards of Excellence Recipients include: Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin – Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin spearheaded an effort to secure approximately $80 million to fund the Rice Avenue overpass project at Fifth Street in Oxnard. The intersection has been labeled the third most dangerous rail crossing in California. Funding was granted by the California Transportation Commission. The project will be funded by California's increased gas tax. We sincerely thank Assemblymember Irwin for her diligence and persistence to secure funding for the project! Steve Buenger – Steve stepped up to chair the Chamber's Political Action Committee when we had a vacancy in that position in 2018. Not only did he fill the chair, but he excelled in managing an extremely busy political year. In addition, he was the mastermind behind a very successful fundraiser for the PAC. Thank you, Steve! Julie Mino – Julie's vocabulary doesn't seem to include the word "no." In fact, she uses the phrase, "How can I help?" quite often. Julie was appointed to fill a vacancy on the Chamber Board in May of 2018. She hasn't missed a meeting and actively participates in Chamber functions. Julie was also instrumental in the success of the PAC fundraiser when she amassed an array of items for prizes and auction items. Haas Automation – Haas Automation has been a staunch supporter of the Oxnard Chamber of Commerce for decades. In addition to their participation on the Board of Directors and overall financial support, in 2018 Haas stepped up and assumed sponsorship of the Oxnard Chamber in the Chambers of Commerce Alliance of Ventura & Santa Barbara Counties when the previous sponsor had to withdraw. Haas is an amazing company that has an incredible impact on our community through their workforce and charitable giving. Oxnard Young Professionals (OXYP) – The OXYP began in 2017 with a small group of under-40 up-and-coming businesspeople. Their determination and hard work have resulted in a group of about 35 becoming very active in the Ventura County business community. One of the projects they took on in 2018 was to collect gift cards for the teen population at the Greater Oxnard / Port Hueneme Boys & Girls Clubs at Christmas. That sector is many times overlooked during the holidays. The Chairman's Awards of Excellence will be given out at the Annual Meeting and Installation of Directors on January 31. The luncheon will be at the Residence Inn on Vineyard Avenue. The Internal Revenue Service recently issued the 2019 optional standard mileage rates used to calculate the deductible costs of operating an automobile for business, charitable, medical or moving purposes. Beginning on Jan. 1, 2019, the standard mileage rates for the use of a car (also vans, pickups or panel trucks) will be:
The standard mileage rate for business use is based on an annual study of the fixed and variable costs of operating an automobile. The rate for medical and moving purposes is based on the variable costs. At its December 6 meeting, the Oxnard Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors elected the 2019 Officers. Most of the faces will be quite familiar, as there wasn't much change from the later part of 2018. Members may recall we had changes in officers mid-year in 2018 due to the relocation of the Board chair. Chair-Elect Stacy Miller stepped up to fill the vacancy at the end of April, and has agreed to stay in that position through 2019. Stacy is the principal of Stacy Miller Public Affairs. Serving as Chair-Elect in 2019 is Celina Zacarias. Celina is the Senior Director of Community and Government Relations at California State University Channel Islands. Celina is very active with a number of other chambers of commerce, so we feel very lucky to have her as Chair-Elect. Amy Fonzo has agreed to serve another year as the Chamber's Immediate Past Chair. Amy is the Manager of External Relations for California Resources Corporation, the largest producer of oil and gas in California. Andrew Kiefer will remain in his position as Vice Chair / Treasurer, where he has served for the past two years. Andrew is the Managing Director for CBIZ MHM, LLC in Oxnard. His firm provides accounting and other services to help businesses grow. New to the slate of Officers in 2019 is Craig Classen. Craig is Regional Vice President for Jani Tek Cleaning Solutions. Craig is active on the Chamber Ambassadors Committee and a graduate of the Oxnard Leadership program. The Officers of the Oxnard Chamber make up its Executive Committee. One of the Chamber’s signature publications is its annual Business and Community Guide. Advertising sales are now open for the 2019 edition. As with past editions, the 2019 Guide will be distributed all over town. Most of the hotels in Oxnard make it available to their guests. With its eye-catching cover and beautiful photography, the Guide is something people hold onto and use as a buying reference. The Business and Community Guide is completely compiled and produced by the Chamber, so in addition to promoting members’ goods and services, it’s a great way to support the organization as well. Ad sales will be open until February 28. Prime advertising locations will go fast, so don’t delay. Contact the Chamber today to reserve your space. There are options to fit every budget. The Oxnard Chamber Political Action Committee has endorsed three candidates for city council in the new district elections. Of the four candidates seeking election to Oxnard city council in District 1, Ken Oplinger's qualifications and positions on issues certainly rose to the top of the list. Ken has a long list of public service on planning commissions and served on the city council in Blaine, Washington. He currently chairs the Santa Barbara County Workforce Development Board and serves on the City of Santa Barbara Living Wage Advisory Board. He was recently appointed to the City of Santa Barbara Sales Tax Oversight Committee. Ken Oplinger currently serves as the President/CEO of the Chamber of Commerce of the Santa Barbara Region, where he has been since May 2013. He has been leading Chambers of Commerce in the Western US for over 25 years. Ken and his family live near the beach in Oxnard. Voters in District 1 can learn more about Ken Oplinger from his website, www.ken4oxnard.com. Gabriela Basua and Vianey Lopez are running in Districts 5 and 6, respectively. The Chamber PAC scrutinized their written questionnaire responses and interviewed both as well. "We believe Basua and Lopez will be excellent additions to the Oxnard city council," noted Steve Buenger, Chair of the PAC. "They both understand how local government operates and how important it is to have a healthy business community." Gabriela Basua lives in the College Estates neighborhood of Oxnard. She is the housing manager for the city of Port Hueneme. When asked what is the greatest challenge facing Oxnard, she replied that Oxnard's economic sustainability could affect public safety and infrastructure needs. She also noted that the city needs to maximize its revenue by partnering with businesses to ensure they are successful in order to maximize tax revenues. Ms. Basua is passionate about providing options for the homeless population in Oxnard. Vianey Lopez currently serves on the Hueneme Elementary School District Board of Trustees and works for Assemblymember Monique Limon. She lives in the Redwood neighborhood of south Oxnard. Public safety is one of her priorities. She is also very concerned about the city's infrastructure needs – such as the wastewater treatment plant – and the city's bond rating. Vianey believes there are grant opportunities that should be explored to help with capital projects. Changes to employment law require new posters at each place of business STATEWIDE - order your posters today to avoid fines The Oxnard Chamber is making it easy for businesses to comply with California’s labor laws. No matter how many employees you have in California, your business is required by law to post a current California and Federal Employment Poster centrally in every place of business. Severe fines and penalties will be assessed if a business doesn’t display a current poster. In partnership with the CalChamber, the Oxnard Chamber is currently taking pre-orders for the updated 2019 California and Federal Employment Poster. CalChamber is a trusted source for California and federal compliance products, with more than 125 years of experience helping California business do business. The 2019 all-in-one poster includes mandatory updates to the Cal/OSHA notice for January 1, 2019, plus recommended updates to the USERRA notice and the CFRA notice. Reminder: On January 1, 2019 the minimum wage increases to $11.00/hour for employers with 25 or less employees and $12.00/hour for employers with 26 or more employees. The all-in-one posting is available laminated or non-laminated and in your choice of English or Spanish. Posters must be displayed in a conspicuous place accessible to all employees. Employers must also display posters in each company location. Orders placed by December 14 will be available for pick up at the Chamber around January 1. Orders placed after mid-December may take two weeks to process depending on current inventory. Please call the Oxnard Chamber at 805-983-6118 or download the order form via our website www.oxnardchamber.org . Other labor law compliance resource materials are available as well. Need a supply of the required pamphlets and notices for new hires? We can provide those. A list of all products and pricing (discounts for members) is listed on the order form available on the Chamber's website. 2019 Leadership opens registration Oxnard Leadership's 2019 program is accepting applications from those who desire to enhance their leadership potential, increase their knowledge of the community and are willing to commit their individual talents for future years toward the betterment of the community of Oxnard. A successful candidate should possess a passion for self-improvement with the goal of assisting others. This interactive program provides a behind-the-scenes view of the issues that impact the region’s economic prosperity and quality of life while developing and refining individual skills to better serve in leadership roles within their organization or in our community. Participants receive a comprehensive overview of the Oxnard area – its realities, opportunities and challenges. Sessions move to various locations throughout the Oxnard area and provide students with a unique opportunity to meet key business and government leaders who play integral roles in the region by way of tours, panels, and speakers. Class speakers address not only the facts, but also perspectives, challenges, and opportunities in highly interactive sessions. Oxnard Leadership extends an invitation to interested individuals who are committed to a better tomorrow and who are motivated to assume leadership roles in Oxnard today. "The Oxnard Leadership Program is one of the best experiences I have ever been apart of. It’s an all encompassing course that dives into many facets of our local community. If you would like to network with others in the community, grow personally and professionally this class if for you. I can truly say I learned something new every session and it was a delight! The planning and execution was done flawlessly by the Oxnard Chamber – thank you! It’s a must for those looking to broaden their knowledge of our local community and the businesses that operate in it." Justin Cotton, Engineering Tech, California Resources Corporation Oxnard Leadership 2017 The benefits of Oxnard Leadership are multifaceted. Your participation in the program allows you, employers, and the community as a whole to reap rewards. Whether you are new to the area, or have lived here for years, this course can open new doors of opportunity. Benefits from the program include the following just to name a few:
"I am a member of the Oxnard Leadership Academy for 2017 and it has been an honor and privilege to be a part of such a rewarding adventure to learn and enrich my knowledge with all that the academy classes have shared with me. I would highly recommend the course to all my associate colleagues that have not experienced this leadership academy! Thank you for this opportunity and for your leadership in keeping this program active throughout our communities!" Alyce D. Bosacki, Vice President, Oxnard Convention & Visitors Bureau-California Welcome Center Oxnard Leadership 2017 Click here for more information and the application. The Chamber's Political Action Committee recently announced two additional city council candidate endorsements. Gabriela Basua and Vianey Lopez are running in districts 5 and 6, respectively. The PAC scrutinized their written questionnaire responses and interviewed both as well. "We believe Basua and Lopez will be excellent additions to the Oxnard city council," noted Steve Buenger, Chair of the PAC. "They both understand how local government operates and how important it is to have a healthy business community." Gabriela Basua lives in the College Estates neighborhood of Oxnard. She is the housing manager for the city of Port Hueneme. When asked what is the greatest challenge facing Oxnard, she replied that Oxnard's economic sustainability could affect public safety and infrastructure needs. She also noted that the city needs to maximize its revenue by partnering with businesses to ensure they are successful in order to maximize tax revenues. Ms. Basua is passionate about providing options for the homeless population in Oxnard. Vianey Lopez currently serves on the Hueneme Elementary School District Board of Trustees and works for Assemblymember Monique Limon. She lives in the Redwood neighborhood of south Oxnard. Public safety is one of her priorities. She is also very concerned about the city's infrastructure needs – such as the wastewater treatment plant – and the city's bond rating. Vianey believes there are grant opportunities that should be explored to help with capital projects. Gabriela and Vianey join Ken Oplinger as Chamber-endorsed city council candidates. Ken has a long list of public service on planning commissions and served on the city council in Blaine, Washington. He currently chairs the Santa Barbara County Workforce Development Board and serves on the City of Santa Barbara Living Wage Advisory Board. He was recently appointed to the City of Santa Barbara Sales Tax Oversight Committee. Ken Oplinger is the President/CEO of the Chamber of Commerce of the Santa Barbara Region, where he has been since May 2013. He has been leading Chambers of Commerce in the Western US for over 25 years. Ken and his family live near the beach in Oxnard. The Oxnard Chamber of Commerce and its political action committee released their first endorsements in the November election. Of the four candidates seeking election to Oxnard city council in District 1, Ken Oplinger's qualifications and positions on issues certainly rose to the top of the list. Ken has a long list of public service on planning commissions and served on the city council in Blaine, Washington. He currently chairs the Santa Barbara County Workforce Development Board and serves on the City of Santa Barbara Living Wage Advisory Board. He was recently appointed to the City of Santa Barbara Sales Tax Oversight Committee. Ken Oplinger currently serves as the President/CEO of the Chamber of Commerce of the Santa Barbara Region, where he has been since May 2013. He has been leading Chambers of Commerce in the Western US for over 25 years. Ken and his family live near the beach in Oxnard. Voters in District 1 can learn more about Ken Oplinger from his website, www.ken4oxnard.com. The Port of Hueneme has seen incredible growth in the past several years. They are deepening the channel leading into the Port in order to handle larger ships; they are investing in infrastructure at the Port to create more jobs, and they have increased the tonnage in and out of the Port considerably in the past 10 years. Therefore, the Oxnard Chamber has endorsed all three incumbents seeking re-election to the Board of Commissioners of the Oxnard Harbor District (the governing body for the Port of Hueneme). Those three are Jess Herrera, Jason Hodge, and Mary Anne Rooney. The Chamber applauds the good work these commissioners have done during their respective tenures at the Port. The Oxnard Chamber Board of Directors has taken positions on six of the propositions that will appear on the November 6 ballot. The Board limits its review of the ballot measures that affect businesses in the state of California. Here are the positions for this year: Proposition 1 – Veterans and Affordable Housing Bond Act of 2018 - SUPPORT Provides $4 million in bond funding to help military veterans have a safe place to call home, and also provides stable housing for struggling families and the homeless. READ MORE Proposition 3 - Water Infrastructure and Watershed Conservation Bond Initiative - SUPPORT $8.8 billion general obligation bond for water supply, quality, fish, conveyance and sustainability. The measure would fund a number of projects. The large categories of funding are $3 billion for water supply and quality, $2.8 billion for watershed and fisheries restoration, $940 million for habitat protection, $855 million for water conveyance, and $695 million for groundwater sustainability and storage. READ MORE Proposition 6 – Repeal of the Gas Tax and Vehicle Fees – OPPOSE Eliminates Recently Enacted Road Repair and Transportation Funding by Repealing Revenues Dedicated for those purposes. This measure repeals the increase in motor vehicle fuel taxes that were enacted in SB 1, and requires a vote of the people to increase gas taxes in the future. Would reduce transportation funding by $4.9 billion by 2020-21. READ MORE Proposition 8 – State Regulation of Kidney Dialysis Clinics – OPPOSE This measure would limit the amount that outpatient dialysis clinics can charge to 115% of total patient care charges. Excess charges would have to be rebated to health plans. Imposes penalties on clinics that violate the cap. Outlines a process for legal challenges against the measure's rebate provision as an unconstitutional taking of private property without due process or just compensation. READ MORE Proposition 10 – Local Government Authority to impose Rent Control on Private Property - OPPOSE Current state law known as Costa/Hawkins preempts local governments from enforcing rent control ordinances on single family housing, new units built after February 1, 1995, or limiting the rent on first time renters in unit. Proposition 10 would remove that restriction. Removing the limitations on locally enacted rent control laws could discourage new construction, decrease the supply of rental housing and reduce the quality of housing available in communities statewide. READ MORE Proposition 11 – Private-Sector Emergency Ambulance Employees Work Breaks – SUPPORT Provides limited exception to meal and rest period requirements for private ambulance and EMTs who have to remain on duty while on call. Prop 11 establishes into law the longstanding industry practice of paying EMTs and paramedics to remain reachable during their work breaks in case of an emergency – just like firefighters and police officers. READ MORE Alex Nguyen will start his new position as Oxnard's city manager on July 9. On July 12 he will be at the Chamber's Knowledge & Networking Lunch. Mr. Nguyen graciously accepted an invitation to meet with business leaders in his first week on the job. We did not request a formal presentation from Mr. Nguyen, rather, a brief talk about his approach to the job and to have interaction with the business community – more of a conversation. Attendees of the Knowledge & Networking Lunch should come prepared to share comments or ask questions. The Knowledge & Networking Lunch will be held at the Residence Inn, 2101 W. Vineyard Avenue. Check in and networking begin at 11:30, followed by lunch and the program. Click here to register. Julie Mino is the President and CEO of the Oxnard Convention & Visitors Bureau, joining the organization in December 2017. Mino has worked in the hospitality and non-profit sectors for 18 years, with a strong focus on social & corporate event planning, donor cultivation, and sales. Her experience also encompasses a strong emphasis on customer service and management. Before joining the Oxnard CVB, Mino served as Operations Manager for The Ojai Foundation, a 40-acre land sanctuary, educational center & intentional community. There, she was responsible for employee relations and human resources while overseeing staff, monitoring and maintaining annual budgets and carrying out the many programs within the organization. Mino’s background also includes serving as Conference Services Manager for the Bacara Resort & Spa, where she was responsible for all aspects of corporate groups and social functions. Other positions included Special Events Officer for the Santa Barbara Zoological Gardens where she was involved with a variety of duties from event planning to donor solicitation, overseeing staff and more. In addition, Mino worked with the Muscular Dystrophy Association, Santa Barbara Chapter and held the position of Senior Executive Conference Manager at Fess Parkers DoubleTree Resort. Her educational background includes the completion of the Hotel, Restaurant Management Program at Santa Barbara City College and Hilton Sales college courses. She has worked with several professional and philanthropic organizations including Women’s Economic Ventures, Association of Fundraising Professionals, Santa Barbara International Film Festival and Santa Barbara Young Professionals Club. Julie was appointed to fill a Board vacancy, with a term ending in December 2019. |