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Ribbon Cuttings Pictured left to right: Dora Ordonez, Yucaipa Chamber Director; Debbie Harber, Yucaipa Chamber Ambassador; Dr. Marie Feuer, Yucaipa Chamber Ambassador; Ella Zanowic, Calimesa City Councilwoman; John Davis; Judy Davis; Melina Heath, Beaumont Chamber; Amy Minjares; Cheri Reynolds; Linda Hanley, Beaumont Chamber; Shaun Matic, State Farm; Randy Gordon; Valerie Menefee, State Farm; Jennifer Zelaya State Farm; Jim Walling, Beaumont Chamber; Cheryl Benton, Yucaipa Chamber Director; Pamela Emenger, Yucaipa Chamber Pres./CEO; April Faust; Marlyn Crampton, Yucaipa Ambassador; Abraham Zamora; Paul Toomey, City of Yucaipa and David Avila, Yucaipa Ambassador Aaron's held their grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony on a very wet Saturday morning, March 1, with balloons, giveaways, mascot Lucky Dog, KFRG radio station, Chamber ambassadors, board members along with Aaron executives and staff. They officially opened in Yucaipa in November 2013, in the 6,000 square foot building that was the old site of Blockbuster. Now it is full of furniture, electronics, computers, appliances and more. The franchise has 17 stores in southern and central California and is known for its payment option. It is not a rent- to-own retail store although it offers easy financing. There is not a contract or obligation. The store offers a 12, 18 and 24-month payment option. Additionally, customers can buy it outright for 20 percent off the retail price. The store is located at 33740 Yucaipa Blvd. Their hours are Monday through Friday, 10 am to 7 pm, Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm and closed on Sundays. For more information call (909) 797-7300. 6 OUR YUCAIPA | APRIL 2014 OUR YUCAIPA | APRIL 2014 7 Valerie Menefee opened her new office in Yucaipa at the Market Place at 5th Street on Feb. 13, with a ribbon cutting ceremony. Valerie moved her office from Banning where she was located for 7 years. She always wanted to open an office in Yucaipa, the community where she lives, and when the opportunity presented itself, she made her dream come true. Valerie has been with State Farm for 25 years. Her office staff includes Shaun Matic, Office Manager and Jennifer Zelaya, Sales Representative. They are located at 34366 5th Street, Suite I. You may reach them at (951) 922-3838 or visit online at www. getvalerie.com. The Small/Home Based Business Growth & Development breakfast was in March at Comfort Keepers office. Cheryl Benton, Vice Chair of the SHBBGD committee welcomed everyone and introduced Jim Hammond, owner of Comfort Keepers, who spoke about his background in corporate management with WalMart and the things he learned to run his small business today. Cheryl then introduced Paul Toomey, Director of Community Development, who spoke to the group on how to take advantage of the many services the city offers to small businesses such as the new Explore Yucaipa campaign. It was a well- attended, informative meeting. The next Small/Home Based Business Growth & Development breakfast will be hosted by Chamber member Smart Solar Power in Oak Glen on April 3, beginning at 8 am. The program is still being worked out, but Cheryl's goal is to make the breakfasts fun and educational. Please RSVP by Tues., April 1, to the Chamber office (909) 790-1841. The Yucaipa Valley Chamber of Commerce and the City of Yucaipa sponsored a free seminar for businesses "How to Grow Your Business and Create Valuable Relationships" on March 6 at the Yucaipa Community Center. The seminar presenter was Cindy Carpenter, a successful entrepreneur and award-winning speaker, who has founded, grown and managed three different businesses during her career. She uses this experience to help individuals build customers, relationships and the bottom-line. Cheryl Benton, Vice Chair of the Chamber's Small and Home Based Business Growth & Development Committee was instrumental in planning the seminar. Over 70 businesses attended this dynamic, informative seminar and gave great reviews. Growing Your Business and Building Customer Relationships Cindy Carpenter teaches business owners how to build valuable relationships Small/Home Based Business Growth & Development Breakfast The annual State of the County event is the county's largest networking event geared toward fostering relationships among the county's civic, business and educational leaders. In 2010, the Countywide Vision, a 20-year strategy plan to increase the quality of life and economic climate in the county through collaborative efforts, was implemented. San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors Chairwoman Janice Rutherford told a story of San Bernardino County in numbers, laying out a few facts. Among them: • The recent opening of the expanded Adelanto Detention Center will make the county's jail operation one of the largest in the nation. • The Public Health Department administered 15,171 immunizations last year. • The emergency room at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center in Colton had 150,000 visits last year, making it one of the three busiest ERs in the nation. The county has also stepped up its involvement with nonprofit agencies, and on May 8 will launch its first 24-hour web-a-thon, Give Big San Bernardino County, modeled after one in Riverside that proved successful. State of the County, 2014 San Bernardino County Third District Supervisor James Ramos, Yucaipa Valley Chamber of Commerce President/ CEO Pamela Emenger and City of Yucaipa Councilman Dick Riddell Pictured are Chamber ambassadors Cheryl Benton, Debbie Harber, Samantha Short, Brandy Gomez and David Avila; Chamber Chair-Elect Nancy Kenny; Store Manager Dan Rios, VP & General Consultant Greg Sultan (holding scissors), General Manager Marty, General Manager Scott Melonoski and District Manager Nick Rodriguez

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