Issue link: https://imageup.uberflip.com/i/145041
a message from the chairman Yucaipa Valley Chamber of Commerce 2013 Board of Directors Chairman, Jim Hammond Comfort Keepers Immediate Past Chair, Michelle Lopez AVON Finance Vice-Chair, Jason Ross Law Office of Linda Roberts-Ross Board Members Cheryl Benton, NuSkin Enterprises Capt. Lee Hamblin, Yucaipa Police Department Cheryl Marshall, Crafton Hills College Bob Miller, Retired Law Enforcement Paul Norwood, Safe Harbor Design Dora Ordonez, Asaderos Supermarket CHAMBER STAFF Pamela Emenger, President/CEO Ellen Benefiel, Membership Development Coordinator AMBASSADOR TEAM Cheryl Benton, NuSkin Pamela Brierley-Vengarick, Good Nite Inn Marlyn Crampton, Yucaipa Rotary Club Nancy Kenny, Prime Lending Michelle Lopez, Avon Dora Ordonez, Asaderos Supermarket Mission Statement The Yucaipa Valley Chamber of Commerce is dedicated to promoting a vibrant business environment by cooperative interaction among business, government and community For more information, call (909) 790-1841 • Fax (909) 363-7373 35139 Yucaipa Blvd., Yucaipa, CA 92399 info@yucaipachamber.org 4 What a great time to be living and doing business in Yucaipa. I'm Jim Hammond, Chairman of the Board of Directors of your Yucaipa Valley Chamber of Commerce. My wife, Denise, and I own Comfort Keepers, a business where we have the opportunity with great caregivers, we call them comfort keepers, to assist seniors in their homes. We've been in business for over 10 years and it's the most rewarding, and sometimes most challenging, job ever. Just like other businesses in town, we put a lot of time and energy into keeping the doors open. The position of Chairman has proved to be a great learning experience… although I'm miles from my comfort zone. The enjoyment I've shared with my fellow volunteers has made it more than worthwhile. At the chamber's website, yucaipachamber.org, you can find out more about the volunteers on the Board of Directors and the chamber staff. As I go around town and meet with other business owners, I've found we have similar challenges. While I can't recall any local obstacles, doing business in California is often extremely frustrating. According to some reports, California is about 49th in fostering a good business environment. That's just sad. As your chamber Chairman, part of my job will be to inform local businesses about any news that will affect them. I've met representatives for officials from our state and they seem to listen and pass along our concerns, so please e-mail your business issues and we will share them at the monthly government relations meeting co-chaired by Bob Miller. What a wonderful time it is to live in Yucaipa. It's always great to see family, friends and our business partners running into each other around town. This community and chamber have so much to offer. We have Sunrise Yucaipa every third Thursday of the month, the Farmers Market every Friday evening (co-chaired by Jason Ross), the Small/Home-based Business Breakfast the first Thursday of each month (co-chaired by Michelle Lopez), Yucaipa First! (co-chaired by Paul Norwood) and much more. We will also be having our Member Appreciation BBQ Aug. 15, at our Community Center. Please RSVP to the Chamber office. I'll be the one on the grill; hope to see you there! Be sure to drop by the Chamber Booth at Farmers Market on Friday nights and introduce yourself. There is a good chance I'll be at the booth or walking up and down the Boulevard visiting and shopping. I'll also be playing in our annual golf tournament on Sept. 20, benefiting our Scholarship Foundation. I invite you to come join us. I hope you have a blessed month and hope to see you around our great town. ~ Jim Hammond, 2013 Yucaipa Valley Chamber of Commerce Chairman OUR YUCAIPA | AUGUST 2013 | CHAMBER OF COMMERCE