On March 22, the membership of the Camarillo Chamber of Commerce voted (nearly unanimously) to unite with the Oxnard Chamber of Commerce and form the West Ventura County Business Alliance (WVCBA). WVCBA will be the voice for the interest of business with government, promote economic development, work to improve the regional economy, and protect the interests of the two communities.
Talks of the two organizations joining forces have been ongoing for many years, but not so earnestly until 2020. "We came very close to an agreement last year, and then one of the pieces didn't fit correctly in the overall puzzle," says Oxnard Chamber CEO Nancy Lindholm. "We were able to adjust a few details in the first quarter of 2021, so now we are very close to finalizing the unification of the two chambers. We are excited about the strong, united voice we will be for business as the WVCBA." With nearly 1,000 members that employ more than 60,000 individuals, WCVBA will provide a much larger audience for its members who rely on networking and word of mouth advertising to grow their businesses. Other entities that find display advertising beneficial will also see an increase in exposure. Collectively, there will be many more opportunities for involvement, and some members will benefit by investing only in one organization, versus two chambers. Operationally, members will not see immediate changes. Both chambers will continue to operate "as is" for the foreseeable future. The combined boards of directors will guide the WVCBA as it evolves over time. "Our vision is to reduce duplication of overhead and operating costs so we can service our member investors at a higher level," adds Lindholm, who will assume the position of President and CEO of the Alliance. Joining her team are CeCe Adame, Director of Membership; Jovie Baclayon, Communications Manager; Bailey Huerta, Marketing and Social Media Manager; and Sharen Strong, Director of Member Services. Details will be worked out in the coming months, including overlapping memberships, integrating databases, boards of directors, signature events, and more, and logo and website development. Members of both organizations will be informed of progress along the way. OPCF will support community outreach and programs for OPD’s personnel and family members A group of community members have come together with the Oxnard Police Department to form the Oxnard Police Community Foundation (OPCF). The goal of the independent 501(c)(3) non-profit is to enhance public safety in the City of Oxnard by providing financial support to the Oxnard Police Department. The OPCF will support critical programs that are not funded by the City of Oxnard, such as community engagement events and peer support following traumatic work-related incidents. “I’m very excited to partner with the Foundation to make Oxnard safer and stronger. With the Foundation’s support of our community events, we will continue to increase trust and respect,” said Police Chief Jason Benites. “The Foundation’s support for officer wellness will allow us to better care for our officers, dispatchers, and support staff that protect and serve in this difficult and challenging profession.” Policing through community engagement and partnerships is one of the ways the Oxnard Police Department is helping to reduce crime while making lasting connections between law enforcement and the public. Many communities across the country are forming nonprofit foundations to bridge funding gaps and assist law enforcement in acquiring the tools not covered in the regular budget. “We hope the Foundation will help improve the quality of life for everyone in our Oxnard community by encouraging positive contacts between the police and residents and fostering programs and initiatives to enhance public safety in Oxnard,” stated Stacy Miller, Chair of the Board of Directors. We hope the community will consider becoming a partner today and supporting this worthwhile effort. - Chief Jason Benites The OPCF is guided by a Board of Directors composed of community members and sworn police personnel. The Board works with the leadership of the Oxnard Police Department to ensure the Foundation’s priorities and objectives align with those of the Department. The Board Executive Committee includes Stacy Miller, President, Carey Everhart, Vice President and Delia Campbell, Chief Financial Officer. Board Members include Jason Benites, Chief of Police and Luis McArthur, Police Commander.
For more information about the Oxnard Police Community Foundation please contact Paul Carganilla at (805) 385-7631. To donate please visit us online at OPDFoundation.org. Donors can also send a check made payable to: Oxnard Police Community Foundation 3600 South Harbor Boulevard #152 Oxnard, CA 93035 The Chamber’s Business Advocacy Committee met yesterday (March 8) to address a plethora of issues. The BAC examines issues in depth and makes position recommendations to the Chamber Board when applicable. This month’s agenda included hearing about the Ventura County Airports master plan process, an update on Oxnard’s Navigation Center (homeless shelter and services), an update on the city’s cannabis permit processing, and a status report on the city’s 5-year priorities setting process.
Ventura County Airports The County of Ventura Department of Airports in embarking on a master plan study of what should happen with the Camarillo and Oxnard airports. The planning project will take place over the next 12 to 18 months with plenty of input from the public. Ventura County’s airports contribute nearly $3 million to our economy every year. Oxnard’s Navigation Center The city of Oxnard is moving forward with the development of a 5-story Navigation Center in downtown Oxnard to provide services, shelter, and transitional housing for our homeless population. The city has owned the property at Second and B Streets for many years. Funding for redeveloping the site will come from a number our sources, but not from the city’s general fund. Retail Cannabis Last week, the city released the successful retail cannabis applicants list. There are 16 “winners.” Of the 16, three are local equity applicants. Each successful applicant will have one year to obtain their operating permit. The Chamber has been a strong advocate for the city to establish and maintain dedicated staff to process the cannabis permits as swiftly as possible. This will not only assure the retailers can commence business, but will benefit the city’s coffers as they begin to collect fees from those businesses. Oxnard's 5-year Priorities Finally, the BAC got a status report on the city’s 5-year priorities setting process. The city launched a survey for residents and businesspeople to complete. The results were shared with the city council at a special meeting on February 25. The council members added specific projects to the categories that were established. (see image below for results about economic development). The process will continue at the March 16 council meeting. Participation on the Business Advocacy Committee is open to all Chamber members. To receive meeting notices and the logon information, please contact Nancy Lindholm (n.lindholm@oxnardchamber.org). By Curtis Dubay, Senior Economist, U.S. Chamber of Commerce In a year full of economic data outliers, personal income stands out. It is supposed to fall during periods of economic contraction and remain down for some time after. And yet, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis’ release of income in January, it is now more than 12% higher than it was pre-pandemic. Keep in mind, the economy was doing really well back then. The tremendous rise in income is stunning. By the numbers: Driving the year-over-year increase was a 10% increase in January alone. That is the second highest monthly increase on record, coming in behind only a 12.4% increase in April 2020. The economy is doing well, all things considered, and the underlying data show that. Wages and salaries of workers rose $7.2 billion, or 0.7%, in January compared to December. In normal times, this would be a large increase. The overwhelming reason income jumped so much last month was government transfers though. They rose $140 billion, representing more than 86% of the total monthly increase. The government transfers were almost all the latest round of pandemic relief payments, the $600 per person checks that mostly went out in January. Supplemental unemployment insurance benefits also contributed to the rise in income. They increased about $20 billion in January. Higher income lead to a 2.4% increase in spending, after consecutive declines in November and December. Spending should continue to rise because Americans were unable to spend all the additional income last month. Savings increased $328 billion in January alone. Americans have compiled more than $1.8 trillion in savings above normal in the last 11 months. Those savings are available to boost spending in the coming months. Looking ahead: February is likely to see a pullback in income because of the end of the relief payments, but March could see another strong rebound if Congress passes another round of payments it is considering now. The economy is poised for major growth starting in earnest when vaccines drive the virus to levels that allow close-to-full reopening. Last month, the Chamber's Business Advocacy Committee finalized its 2021 legislative issues policy, which was subsequently adopted by the Chamber's Board of Directors. This policy is intended to be a guide for the Chamber's positions on various legislative and policy matters. It is not intended to cover all issues that the Chamber may address.
Jobs: Support a commitment to pursuing policies that create and retain a balance of job opportunities for a variety of businesses and employees, including encouraging high-paying jobs that strengthen the local economy. Economic Development: Support local, state and federal proposals to provide jobs via infrastructure projects and encourage government to utilize local contractors and suppliers. Support the city of Oxnard's efforts to assure fiscal responsibility, and to fill any financing gap resulting from the elimination of state and federal funding. Support federal legislation to decriminalize cannabis or reclassify it as a lower than "Schedule I" drug to allow the industry to establish normal banking relationships. Employment:
Health and Public Safety: Support federal, state and local programs that provide services, clean shelter and transitional housing for the homeless population. Support funding and programs to enhance disaster planning and responses. Housing: Support strategies that include promoting a full range of housing in all communities; support federal and state incentives for providing workforce housing; and reform the regulatory framework to eliminate unnecessary barriers to providing housing. Support efforts to assure neighboring communities provide adequate housing for their workforces. Support housing strategies and projects that maintain a healthy jobs/housing balance. Governance: Support significant reforms to California's political process as well as the state's revenue structure; support state and local governments' efforts to achieve or maintain balanced budgets.
Infrastructure: Support policies that encourage continuing improvement in California and local infrastructure, which supports stronger businesses and job growth.
Immigration Reform: Support reforms of federal immigration laws that assure an adequate workforce while addressing border security and the status of undocumented workers. Local Initiatives: Support a healthy business growth and land use environment and oppose local initiatives that would unduly constrict business attraction, development and expansion. International Trade: Support trade and tourism initiatives to spur commerce and to maximize our region's position in the global economy. Public Safety: Support enhanced public safety efforts and preserve funding for existing programs and staffing. Public safety should be a top priority for local government. The Oxnard Chamber Ambassador’s committee is an important resource for chamber members. With a “customer-facing” mission, the Ambassadors are the field team that liaise with members and help them better engage with chamber resources, events and other chamber members. Our team conducts welcome introductions with new members, and check-in’s with existing members. Because of our ongoing communications, the team has a strong pulse on the Oxnard business community and is a valuable source of referrals. Due to the pandemic, businesses all over Oxnard are struggling. We need Ambassadors more than ever to reach out and support our members at this time. We are inviting chamber members who want to engage more in the Oxnard business community, and network with our team, to visit one of our meetings and assess whether there is interest in joining as an Ambassador. We’re a fun group, and meet on the first Wednesday of every month at noon. As Ambassadors, we are also interested in learning more about local businesses so we can engage and refer them. If you would like to introduce your business to our team, we would be happy to set up a 10- minute slot for you. Just reach out to Doug Riffenburgh, Ambassador Committee Chair at 818-390-3009. We look forward to talking with you!
Shoptimism is a term being used to describe purchases made from home during the pandemic. You are stuck at home and suddenly begin to see every flaw, paint chip and cluttered closet. So, you buy things to fix the situation — or you buy things to make you feel better about it.
When consumers buy things they don't need, such as luxury items, in the middle of a public health crisis, it's called "shoptimism." This term was coined by Lee Eisenberg in his 2009 book of the same title. Why Do We Buy Things? According to Eisenberg, people buy things to provide emotional relief from the anxiety of living in a pandemic and economically uncertain times. He describes two kinds of buyers. The classic buyer compares prices, deliberates on whether they need a product and then makes a purchase. The romantic buyer shops emotionally, purchasing trendy or "cool" items that boost their emotional state. In general, the romantic buyer cares about the emotional satisfaction of the purchase rather than the utility of the product. E-commerce and M-commerce Consumers are used to the convenience of online shopping (e-commerce), especially via their mobile devices (m-commerce). The click-and-collect culture isn't going anywhere soon. Not only is it safer but the convenience and faster delivery times make it easier than shopping in stores. Generous return policies sealed the deal.' The rise of in-store pickup makes it easy to order online, drive up for contactless service and refuse any items that do not meet your expectations. This frictionless experience has risen due to the global pandemic, but consumers are likely to demand it for long afterwards. Savvy brands will continue to capitalize on this moving into 2021. Even shoppers who do visit traditional stores now pre-research products and services online. Vendors who cannot meet consumers in cyberspace may find themselves pushed aside by competitors with a strong digital presence. Contactless Shopping Contactless shopping and payment provide a safe way for consumers to purchase online and pick up at participating stores. Consumers can also use the technology to shop or pay for items at retail stores. Using biometrics and Amazon One technology, consumers scan one palm to make purchases at participating stores. Privacy advocates are watching the new technology as closely as facial-recognition software, which raised concerns with the ACLU and other advocate groups. The technology does not require physical contact and palm images are encrypted in the cloud rather than on local devices. Users can delete their Amazon one account if security becomes a concern. Younger Generations Are Exhibiting Shoptimism Generation Z has been hit hard by the pandemic employment situation. The youngest generation in the workforce is often the first let go in a downturn and those graduating from college may have a harder time finding employment in their field. Research from Smart Company, an Australian publication, showed a rise in purchases among Gen Z shoppers from shopping platforms offering payment plans. These shoppers appreciated the safety, anonymity and speed of online transactions. Perhaps that's why usage of e-commerce and m-commerce is increasingly popular among demographically younger shoppers. Shoptimism goes beyond the recent tendency of homebound consumers to make frivolous purchases online. New technology and changing consumer expectations make it imperative that businesses take their brands to the internet if they want to attract consumers away from competitors. The pandemic-induced economic crisis has many beloved small businesses struggling for survival. In the face of events that are far beyond their control, it can be tempting to make desperate, emotional pleas to your clientele. While it's tempting, this sort of approach simply doesn't work.
While it's possible to tug at the heartstrings of customers to help draw them in and keep your business afloat, you should never posture as the recipient of charity. Customers go to a business for what it can do for them, not to help a hapless victim. Instead of being the victim who needs saving, be the guide that customers need in these difficult times. Heroes, Villains, Guides, and Victims Author Donald Miller, founder of Business Made Simple University, hit the nail on the head with his concept of brands as stories. Successful marketing campaigns rely on telling a compelling story. Throughout the history of storytelling, both ancient and modern, there are really only a few roles.
The Hero can be an underdog, according to Miller, but not a Villain. If your business is in dire financial straits, painting yourself as a victim is a weak marketing position. In one sense, you have been victimized by events far out of your control, but so has everyone else. Making the crisis about you and your business defies marketing wisdom. While being the victim is your worst course of action, positioning your business as the Hero isn't much better. Miller recommends that you position your target audience as the Hero. Successful charity fundraising drives do not succeed by focusing on how great the charity foundation is, but by emphasizing the good that a viewer does by donating. The only key role left for your business to play is that of the Guide. How You Can Help Customers Luke Skywalker had Obi-Wan Kenobi, Neo had Morpheus; the list of great guides in fiction goes on and on. A guide can take many forms, but the essence of the role is that they might have been a hero themselves in the past. Now, their experience and expertise play an indispensable role in supporting the main character of the story. Now more than ever, our community needs guides. The pandemic-fueled crises of 2020 have each of us searching for some sense of normalcy and security. Instead of posturing as the victim, make your case as to how you can guide your future customer, the hero, make it through this difficult period. Center on the customer and their problems, demonstrating your solution. If your messaging can compel prospects to take action from a trusted guide (you), then you'll earn their business. At the Chamber's Business Advocacy Committee meeting on February 8, 2021, the County of Ventura's Public Information Officer Ashley Bautista and Economic Vitality Manager Gloria Martinez provided updates on COVID vaccines, testing and more. They encouraged the business community to visit the Business section on vcrecovers.org for comprehensive information on outbreak reporting, financial assistance, mobile onsite testing and more.
Martinez also shared strategies for employers regarding vaccinations and their workers. Designate a Vaccination Lead for the Company
Educate Your Employees About Vaccination Distribution
Make it Easier for Employees to Be Vaccinated
Our community and many others have lost workforce talent to larger, coastal cities for decades. While the reasons behind it are complex, the steady loss of young, educated workers seemed unstoppable. Much more recently, the COVID-19 pandemic has also seemed unstoppable and even more devastating. However, it sometimes happens that you can use one problem to solve another. Thanks to the unique circumstances of 2020 and 2021, our community may be able to pull off the biggest homecoming in history.
Solving One Problem with Another Smaller cities and towns such as ours have steadily lost workforce talent in recent decades. Economic opportunities within non-urban communities have been reduced by outsourcing and the Great Recession. While large cities have reaped the benefits of the tech boom, rural areas and smaller cities have hardly felt it. Communities like ours have suffered shrinking tax revenues, aging populations, and shrinking workforces as young, educated people flock to the cities for education and employment. However, it's not necessarily because they want to live in the city. In fact, many talented young workers don't live in the city, but in a suburb and deal with long commutes. Lopsided economic growth has made the big cities prohibitively expensive, but many young people need the high salaries that tech offers to pay off their student debt. However, COVID has accelerated trends that could bring our workforce talent back home. On the one hand, the pandemic may cause people to reassess aspects of city living, such as dwelling in apartments and riding public transportation. Such changes in view are ultimately not based in fact, but it's easy to find people already voicing such opinions. More importantly, the pandemic has dramatically accelerated the shift to remote working. Remote working was always going to make its way into the tech industry. Operating large office buildings, requiring commutes, and providing high compensation to attract talent to expensive cities have been redundant for a decade, perhaps. One result of the pandemic is that change-averse businesses have made the leap to virtual working as soon as the pandemic forced work-from-home orders across the country. With a new freedom to work from anywhere, many are looking at affordable, comfortable life in communities like ours. In fact, tech companies are encouraging their employees to relocate. Pragmatic businesses such as Stripe are offering impressive incentives in exchange for minor pay cuts and relocation out of expensive urban areas. Since we love our quality of life, we don’t think financial incentives are the only reason to leave the rat race. Pulling Off the Biggest Homecoming in History Communities around the country are trying different things to draw remote workers. Housing discounts, grants, and even tax incentives are tools being used by municipalities to attract remote workers. These incentives will work best in combination with an appeal to the improved quality of life that we can offer. These things are proximity to nature, a peaceful place to live, affordability, and a tight-knit community. If we can provide these benefits alongside the internet infrastructure and housing remote workers need, we can bring our talent home and revitalize our community. With 2020 in the rearview mirror, it's time to reflect on the events and lessons the year has had for all of us. Of course, it's likely that you have some desire to forget rather than reflect. Tempting as that may be, the end of 2020 won't bring the end of COVID or economic instability. You never know when another event like this might occur in the future. Learning from past events is one of the keys to future success.
Lessons of the COVID Crisis Just as COVID has shaken every aspect of day-to-day life, it has had a thorough impact on business operations. Public health and workplace accommodations were the most immediately need. Next, businesses needed to rapidly adjust to completely different structures to continue operations in the modern world. Lastly, it became apparent that businesses need to have more flexibility and alternatives in their supply chains. Change the Outlook on Supply Chains At the onset of the COVID crisis, manufacturers faced sudden spikes in demand for various goods and shutdowns among suppliers. One of the more memorable results of this was the nationwide toilet paper shortage. While that example might seem funny in retrospect, it speaks to a situation that created countless crises among distributors. In the past, a business might simply discard a supplier that shuts down and seek out alternatives. However, the expansive impact of the pandemic meant there were no alternatives. This speaks to two lessons that businesses must learn from 2020. On the one hand, they need to have protocols and preparation for dealing with sudden spikes in demand. Such protocols are versatile and will help in virtually any disaster situation. On the other, businesses must forge closer ties with their suppliers and work to manage risk together. Better understanding between suppliers and distributors will give businesses much-needed dynamism in the face of the unexpected. Digitizing is the Future, and the Future is Now Since the turn of the century, businesses have gradually been digitizing their operations. The pandemic forced these changes to move at a much faster tempo, with businesses revamping their online presence and creating all-digital workflows. Not only have these changes empowered businesses to operate during the pandemic, but they also made workflows more efficient and flexible. If your business hasn't already digitized its operations as much as possible, this should be a top priority moving forward. Even with the vaccine rollout, the benefits of online operations aren't going away. Digitizing will help your business cope with the continuing pandemic and boost efficiency into the future. Maintain Contingency Plans It's impossible to expect when forces beyond our control will dramatically change the business situation. Economic crashes, pandemics, natural disasters; COVID has underlined the need to be ready for catastrophe. Dwight Eisenhower once effectively said that plans are worthless, and planning is priceless. While it's impossible to plan for every possible crisis, the very act of planning for a crisis will provide guidance during the critical early days of any such event.
At the Chamber's virtual Annual Meeting hosted on January 21, 2021, members heard from outgoing Chair Celina Zacarias of California State University Channel Islands; celebrated the six recipients of our Chair's Awards of Excellence; and met incoming Chair Tracy Perez of Manpower, who shared her plans for 2021. Watch the recording below.
View the Chamber 2020 Annual Report As is tradition for the Oxnard Chamber of Commerce, the outgoing Chair of the Board is given the opportunity to bestow some discretionary awards each year at the organization's Annual Meeting, which being presented virtually on Thursday, January 21, 2021.
We have been through a year like none other and these awards are honoring some very deserving people and organizations. Here is the list of awardees selected by 2020 Chamber Chair Celina Zacarias, Senior Director of Community and Government Relations for California State University Channel Islands:
Please join us in honoring these outstanding organizations and individuals at the Chamber's 2021 Annual Meeting this Thursday, January 21 at 1:00 pm. Click here to register for the virtual event. The Oxnard Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce its Executive Committee for 2021. The Board of Directors is responsible for setting Chamber policy as well as direction for the organization. The Executive Committee is comprised of officers elected by the Board and monitors the Chamber's operations. The Board is made up of 24 directors plus six Lifetime Directors, and four non-voting Board liaisons from the City of Oxnard, Naval Base Ventura County and other like-minded organizations. Chair: Tracy Perez, ManpowerGroup Tracy Perez is a lifelong resident of Ventura County, born and raised in Oxnard. She brings more than 15 years of business development and staffing industry experience to ManpowerGroup, a world leader in innovative workforce solutions. In her role as Market Manager serving Ventura County, she has demonstrated success in retaining valuable business relationships across various industry sectors and has a vast knowledge of the county job market. Tracy is passionate about workforce development and the economic vitality of Ventura County, and works tirelessly to remain actively involved in the community. In addition to her role as 2021 Chair of the Oxnard Chamber of Commerce, she is 2021 Chair of the Ventura County Economic Development Association, Chair of the Workforce Development Board of Ventura County, and an active Board Member and Immediate Past Chair of the Ventura County Civic Alliance. Tracy is committed to community leadership and civic engagement and also enjoys volunteering with various nonprofit community-based organizations in Ventura County. When she is not working or volunteering, Tracy enjoys spending time with friends and family, and resides in Ventura with her husband, Henry. Chair-Elect: Dona Toteva Lacayo, The Port of Hueneme Dona joined the Port of Hueneme as the Director of Business Development in 2014 with a strong background in the maritime industry, commercial development and global logistics. In 2017, Dona was promoted to the Chief Commercial and Public Affairs Officer. In her new role she leads the Commercial Strategy and Development Planning at the Port. She is also the head of Public Affairs including Government and Media Relations. She also serves on the Workforce Development Board of Ventura County Immediate Past Chair: Celina Zacarias, CSUCI Celina Zacarias is the Senior Director of Community and Government Relations for California State University Channel Islands, the 23rd campus in the California State University System, where she is responsible for advancing California State University Channel Islands’ positive presence and goodwill at all levels throughout the culturally diverse service region, the state, the nation and internationally by planning, directing, and implementing a comprehensive proactive program of community and government relations. Celina serves on numerous boards in the community and she was 2020 Chair of the Oxnard Chamber of Commerce. Vice Chair/Treasurer: Andrew Kiefer, CBIZ MHM Andrew Kiefer is a Director and Shareholder of CBIZ & Mayer Hoffman McCann P.C., a national Top 10 public accounting firm. He began his career with the firm in 1998 and now oversees all of the audit, tax and accounting services to commercial entities in the construction, manufacturing, software, and retail industries, as well as government contractors and governmental entities. He is a graduate of California Lutheran University, and resides with his wife and two boys in Camarillo. Vice Chair: Anthony Mireles, Business Manager of Laborers' International Union of North America- Local 585 Anthony Mireles brings a wealth of skills and new perspective from more than 30 years in business, labor and coalition building, starting as a Retail Store Manager, 10-year Laborer, and 19-year Union Representative. Anthony has extensive knowledge in contract compliance, apprentice mentoring, workforce recruitment, strategic planning for infrastructure finance, and development, as well as social media communication engagement, and community coalition building. He is also a prior member in the Farm Workers Commission, Oxnard Gang Commission, and actively engaged in the Ventura County Family Justice Center Foundation, Ventura County Housing Trust Fund, Ventura County Laborers Apprenticeship Subcommittee and Training Trust, Central Coast Labor Council, and Chair of the Ventura County Workforce Development Board - Clean Green Committee Vice Chair: Tenesor Peña, AGQ Labs Tenesor Peña is CEO and CFO of AGQ Labs, a multinational testing laboratory with presence in more than 20 countries. Born and raised in Spain, he obtained his BS Degree in Economics and Business Management in 2000 at the University of Navarra, in Spain. Tenesor has developed his career in finance departments in different multinationals and countries, such as the Swedish telecommunications company Tele2, the British record company EMI Music, the Belgian chain of cinemas Kinepolis, and the American pet food company Royal Canin. He came to California in 2013 as CFO to manage the Finance and Administration department of AGQ Labs and, in 2015, he was appointed CEO. Tenesor resides in Oxnard with his wife and his twin daughters. Vice Chair: Stacy Pizzuti, Umpqua Bank Stacy Pizzuti is Senior Vice President and Regional Director for commercial banking at Umpqua Bank in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties. The Pacific Coast Business Times has named Stacy one of the Top 50 business women in the tri-counties. She serves on the Business Advisory Committee for CSUCI and is a board member of Anacapa Yacht Club. She has been a resident of Ventura County since 1982 and lives in Oxnard. Oxnard restaurant The Raven Tavern is following California health orders to shut down all dining except takeout, but they want restaurant employees throughout the area to know how much they are appreciated and to thank them for keeping the restaurant industry going during the past nine months.
Beginning Monday, January 11, The Raven Tavern will offer a free “Thank You” meal to any restaurant employee. Restaurant workers can stop by between 2:00-4:00 pm on Mondays and receive their “Thank You” meal. Owners Andy Lowe and Ronan Corbett had to shut down outdoor dining at The Raven Tavern just five months after opening and lay off most employees, but they knew their employees were not the only ones affected. Lowe says, “We want to thank all restaurant workers for the hard work they do and for putting themselves on the front lines in order to keep local restaurants open.” They plan to keep offering the “Thank You” meals until outdoor dining is restored in Ventura County. Restaurant workers need only show proof of recent employment at a Ventura County restaurant in order to receive a meal. “This past year has taken a toll on independent, locally owned restaurants. Restaurants help create a vibrant community. We need to ensure that restaurant workers are not forgotten during this unprecedented time,” says Corbett. Lowe and Corbett opened the Raven Tavern on July 1, 2020. The restaurant remains open for takeout. Restaurant workers can contact The Raven Tavern at 805-686-7683 or email info@theraventavern.org for more information about the “Thank You” meals. The Raven Tavern is located at 1651 Victoria Avenue in Oxnard, and open Sunday-Thursday from 11:30 am to 8:00 pm, and Friday-Saturday from 11:30 am to 9:00 pm. We recently welcomed Cottage Health as a member of the Oxnard Chamber community! Cottage Urgent Care is now open from Camarillo to San Luis Obispo – including in the Oxnard Esplanade Shopping Center. Open every day, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Walk-ins welcome, or make your appointment online. Their goal is to offer complete care in just 45 minutes. Cottage quality. Urgent Care.
Cottage Urgent Care is located at 360 W. Esplanade Drive in the Oxnard Esplanade Shopping Center. Learn more at www.cottagehealth.org/urgent-care. Follow them on social: www.facebook.com/cottagehealth www.twitter.com/cottagehealth On Sunday, December 27, 2020, the President signed a massive emergency economic relief package, government funding, and tax cuts designed to counter the effects of the pandemic and stimulate economic growth.
Efforts to pass economic relief measures in the weeks leading to the presidential election had failed despite numerous attempts. But after the election, a bipartisan group of lawmakers teamed up and successfully negotiated for action to spur economic activity by helping businesses and consumers. Why was the 5,593-page bill passed? The spike in COVID cases across the country and strong concern that the economy is weakening informed the need for the federal government to intervene -- cushioning households and jump-starting the economy. Nearly a year after the first case of Coronavirus was reported, government-mandated restrictions are still in place across the country. Congress is upbeat that the stimulus bill will protect jobs, businesses, households, and livelihoods. What is inside the $900 billion stimulus package? The $900 billion economic relief stimulus includes:
Let's look at the key details of the bill: Stimulus check
The legislation extends unemployment benefits of up to $300 per week.
At the virtual Tri-County Chamber Alliance’s Annual Meeting held on December 10, 2020, Neil Bradley, Executive Vice President & Chief Policy Officer of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and Fred Main, Alliance Lobbyist/Partner of Clear Advocacy, shared key insights about how our national and state elections will impact business in 2021. The Tri-County Alliance includes chambers from Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties.
Watch the full video below. OXYP - Oxnard Young Professionals - made a very difficult year a little brighter for teens at The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Oxnard and Port Hueneme Teen Center. Through its "Giving Tuesday" fundraiser, OXYP donated more than $1,000 in giftcards and much-needed sporting equipment, along with candy-filled treat bags, to the Teen Center and the 50 teens it supports.
Each teen received a $5 giftcard and holiday treat bag. The Teen Center received new sports equipment and the remaining giftcards that were raised, including a $600 giftcard to Big 5 Sporting Goods from the Downtown Oxnard Lions Club. A big shoutout to Lions Club member Tom Garcia, owner of Tomas Café, for matching the original donation! OXYP would like to thank the following individuals, businesses and organization for their donations and making the holiday fundraiser such a success: CBIZ, Inc. Downtown Oxnard Lions Club Daniel Escobar of DRAGG Lorraine Fernandez of Lauterbach & Associates Rhonda Foley Maricela Morales Heidi and Doug Morris Sandra Taylor The Empowerment Zone Woodchuck Woodworks OXYP's fundraising initiative kicked off November 10 and ended on Giving Tuesday, December 1. OXYP Chair Amanda Zamarrippa of Edward Jones and representatives from the Downtown Oxnard Lions Club dropped off the donations to the Teen Center on December 9. This is the third year that OXYP has paid it forward to local youth for the holidays. OXYP's first virtual meeting of 2021 is Wednesday, January 13 at 9:00 am. Learn more about OXYP and connecting with other local young professionals.
The Chamber was pleased to welcome Michael A. Velthoen, Managing Partner of Ferguson Case Orr Paterson LLP, as the guest speaker for the 2021 Labor Law Update webinar held on December 9, 2020, to help Oxnard's business community prepare for the coming year. From rules about COVID reporting to key issues about remote workers, he discussed the new and amended laws taking effect January 1, 2021.
Velthoeon touched on four key areas impacting employers:
1. Meal and rest break compliance; 2. Updating your employee handbook; 3. California Harassment Prevention Training due by January 1, 2021 4. Minimum wage increase; and 5. Arbitration provisions. Watch the full webinar below. California businesses face increasing demands to comply with labor laws, and the Oxnard Chamber wants to make it easy for you to meet compliance requirements. In partnership with CalChamber, the Oxnard Chamber conveniently offers a variety of human resource compliance materials for purchase to all businesses, with discounts for Chamber members. Keep in mind that every California employer MUST display a CURRENT California and Federal Labor Law Poster at each company facility. Severe fines and penalties are assessed if a business doesn’t display a current poster. COMPLIANCE FOR REMOTE EMPLOYEES If companies have employees that work 100% from home and never report to a headquarters or other location, hard copies of mandatory employment notices should be mailed to the employees homes, where they can be posted. Otherwise, if employees do report to a physical location some of the time, ensure that the appropriate notices are posted and visible in that particular location. Available for PurchaseCalifornia and Federal Employment Poster ALL required employer notices on one poster. Includes checklist to ensure poster is displayed according to the law. Available in English or Spanish. HR Quick Guide for California Employers The Quick Guide includes color-coded easy reference sections. Required and recommended forms for California businesses will be available to download using a special URL provided in the book. California Labor Law Digest This comprehensive, California-specific Digest puts answers tolabor law questions right at your fingertips, updated with new case law and regulations. Required and recommended forms for California businesses will be available to download using a special URL provided in the book. Required Pamphlets Kit State and federal regulatory agencies require that employers provide each employee with pamphlets on Sexual Harassment; Workers’ Compensation Rights & Benefits; State Disability Insurance; Paid Family Leave; Unemployment Insurance; Rights of Victims of Domestic, Sexual Assault and Stalking. This kit contains 20 copies of each of the six pamphlets that must be distributed to employees—available in both English and Spanish.
For the Chamber's 2020 Oxnard Business Outlook, we were joined by Bruce Stenslie, President and CEO of Economic Development Collaborative for an insightful presentation about the current business and economic climate in Ventura County. Throughout the pandemic, Bruce and his team at EDC have been helping businesses with SBA financing, loan applications, business plans, and reinvention.
Watch the recording below.
Every year, the Oxnard Chamber of Commerce’s Military Appreciation Committee hosts the Military Appreciation Dinner to honor local heroes from all branches of the military. Now in its 23rd year, the event connects business, city and regional leaders with local servicemen and women.
This year's awards presentation was held virtually on Veterans Day, Wednesday, November 11. With the theme “Honoring our heroes from home,” this year’s presentation features keynote speaker Captain Jeff Chism, Commanding Officer of Naval Base Ventura County. The honorees are selected by their commanding officers not only for their military service, but also for their service in the local community. The 2020 honorees are:
United States Marine Corps
Sergeant Alvin Loya Born and raised in Port Hueneme, California. His first duty station was Marine Corps Security Force Battalion, Bangor, Washington where he worked as Sergeant of the Guard in charge of nuclear physical security and strategic missile movements. During his time in Washington he achieved the rank of Corporal. He deployed to Iraq as a Team Leader on a Tactical Recovery of Aircraft and Personnel team. He led his team on numerous Quick Reaction Force Missions around his assigned area of operations. He once again deployed to Iraq where he led numerous Mounted/Dismounted Patrols and Key Leader Engagement. He evaluated multiple Marine Battalions participating in their certification exercise to deploy overseas. In October 2019, he reported to Weapons Company, 2nd Battalion, 23rd Marines at Naval Base Ventura County, Port Hueneme. As a member of the Inspector-Instructor staff, he serves as the Training and Communications Chief. As the Communications Chief, he supports the Marines of Weapons Company by ensuring all communication equipment is in proper condition and leads the Communication Marines while they attend training. He regularly volunteers to support community relations events such as Funerals, Color Guards, and Honor Guards.
United States Navy
Logistics Specialist First Class Stephen Mamman Petty Officer First Class Mamman was raised in Kaduna, Nigeria. As the Quality Assurance Petty Officer, he led 27 sailors and 6 civilians in the completion of 80 random inspections, and 13 quality assurance audits for 13 work-centers, in direct support for 1015 safe flight hours and achieved the 2019 ashore blue “E” award for supply management excellence. He volunteered 44 hours of community service with Naval Base Ventura County food share distribution, while developing esprit de corps with the military and his community. As the Component Control Section Leading Petty Officer his leadership propelled 11 military/civilian personnel to induct 897 components values a $122M into the repair cycle with zero discrepancies. He managed the processing of 580 beyond capable of maintenance components for shipment across eight repair facilities. This directly supported two squadron deployments and four detachments. He completed his Bachelor’s Degree with specialization in Management and is currently enrolled in National University Graduate School for Masters in Healthcare Administration.
United States Navy
Builder First Class Linda M. Meale As Detail Chinhae’s Leading Petty Officer, she meticulously managed and maintained administrative and operational files to include 137 information and readiness items for 20 personnel and 21 recurring reports. Petty Officer Meale was hand-selected as Naval Mobile Construction Battalion Four’s Material Liaison Office’s Leading Petty Officer and the right guide for First Platoon, Headquarters Company for the 2019-2020 homeport. During deployment, she assisted Republic of Korea students with their learning of the English language as well as sharing understanding of each other's culture while strengthening the ROK-U.S. alliance. She also led efforts to clean up the local Chinhae community by picking up trash and general maintenance of the Chinhae “Love Bridge”, and also participated in a combined ROK and U.S. Women's Leadership Symposium discussing mutual challenges and shared work, life and personal experiences to help develop the leadership capabilities of service women for both countries. During homeport, she assisted with gym enhancements at Pacifica High School, served 200 breakfast plates at a local VFW and also coordinated a group of six of her peers in a base cleanup. She also volunteered eight hours of her time while participating in Naval Base Ventura County Port Hueneme’s Food Drive. Petty Officer Meale was selected as Naval Mobile Construction Battalion FOUR’s FY 2019 Senior Sailor of the Year. Her phenomenal work ethic has made a great and lasting contribution to this command’s operational readiness and overall effectiveness. Petty Officer Meale’s exceptional professionalism, unrelenting perseverance, and loyal devotion to duty reflected credit upon her and are in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States naval service.
United States Navy
Builder First Class Thomas C. Ross Petty Officer Ross is assigned as the Operations Department Leading Petty Officer and Construction Readiness Operations for Naval Construction Group ONE. He is responsible for leading and oversight of 27 personnel within the operations department ensuring readiness and the capabilities are met to perform their mission. As the Operations Department Construction Readiness Operations Leading PettyOfficer he has an enormous effect on the mission capabilities for the entire PacificFleet Naval Construction Force. His leadership enabled the programming and execution of 18 construction projects valued at $5.2M. As the Construction Project Management Subject Matter Expert he instructed eight hours of hands on training of two Naval Construction Force units, spearheaded an online method to teach reserves during COVID-19 and coordinated the implementation of Construction Project Management on the Naval Construction Force’s tactical network. Petty Officer Ross was selected as the Naval Construction Group FY 2019 Sailor of the Year. His performance, steadfast perseverance, and outstanding devotion to duty reflected credit upon him and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval service.
United States Navy
Culinary Specialist First Class Karl Tristan A. Cruz Petty Officer Cruz is the Leading Petty Officer of Port Hueneme’s “Gold Coast Beestro”. He distinguished himself through his exemplary leadership of a team of 32 military and 20 civilians, in the daily production of over 1200 nutritious meals. He also took on the arduous task of tracking and supervising the preparation of an additional 25,000 to-go meals to ensure the continued operational readiness Pacific Fleet Forces and CNRSW since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic response. He participated in community relations representing the Navy on a Global Diplomatic stage in the removal of debris along nature trails in the Bahamas. He is an advocate of goodwill for the Navy and the Model Sailor for all sailors to emulate on Naval Base Ventura County. He assisted in a drug demand reduction and comprehensive life skills program. He inspired 9 to 12-year-old youths by instilling character, leadership, and confidence in efforts to promote a healthy drug free lifestyle. He devoted time to the Armed Forces San Diego YMCA, and also spent several off-duty hours participating in the Laguna Niguel car wash and holiday parade as well as the local food share drives on Naval Base Ventura County displaying Navy Core values to the local community.
Department of the Air Force
Channel Islands Air National Guard Staff Sergeant Karina Rosas Staff Sergeant Rosas enlisted into the United States Air Force in January 2012. In 2018 she transferred to the California Air National Guard, 146th Airlift Wing where she assumed a new duty position as an All Source Intelligence Analyst. She graduated from her formal school as a Distinguished Graduate. Staff Sergeant Rosas participated in humanitarian missions that included working at local food banks in the midst of COVID-19 and supporting civil unrest mitigation efforts. Staff Sergeant Rosas set a new and higher standard for critical Tactics-Intelligence integration in mission planning. As recent treasurer and board member of the 146th Airlift Wing’s Rising Six Council, she fulfilled several leadership development opportunities. Her inputs were also essential to the newly established Wing Promotion Board Program, which directly supported enlisted members with ranks of E-4 through E-6. Staff Sergeant Rosas spends time mentoring peers and subordinates alike. She is pursuing her goal of becoming an Air Force Officer in the California Air National Guard. She will complete her Bachelor’s degree in Organizational Leadership within the calendar year, and plans to pursue her Master’s degree shortly after.
United States Air Force
Technical Sergeant Raymond K. Smalls Technical Sergeant Smalls enlisted in the United States Air Force in December of 2003. In 2005, he was assigned to the 315th Civil Engineering Group at Charleston South Carolina. During the years of 2010-2017 Sgt. Smalls was deployed in support of OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM, OPERATION NEW DAWN, and OPERATION JOINT GUARDIAN. Currently stationed at Naval Base Ventura County in Port Hueneme, California, Sergeant Smalls is assigned as the Flight Chief for the Military Training Flight, where he leads a team of four Military Training Leaders. Most importantly, he is charged with the health and wellness, as well as with upholding good order and discipline, for 480 Air Force Vehicle Management non-prior service students annually. Due to his outstanding leadership and expertise, Sergeant Smalls was the lead for four Commander-directed dormitory inspections in one year. He trained 50 noncommissioned officers on safety and security procedures, resulting in the confiscation of 81 unauthorized items. Being an Air Force detachment on a Navy installation means Sergeant Smalls works hand-in-hand with the Naval Military Training staff. Most importantly they have focused on protecting the student’s health and safety during the COVID-19 pandemic.
United States Coast Guard
Boatswains Mate Second Class Alvaro Torres Aguirre Petty Officer Torres Aguirre enlisted in the Coast Guard on 16 May 2016. As the Navigation Petty Officer he planned, and prepared all of the navigational and logistical details for the long transit to the San Francisco Bay for Station Channel Islands Dry Dock Period. He expertly plotted all of the routes from Channel Islands Harbor to the Boat Yard in San Francisco Bay, and his high quality of work has led to other units incorporating his plan into their transits which greatly reduced their workload. These efforts have led to multiple safe, and effective, transits to the San Francisco Bay. Petty Officer Torres Aguirre is a strong leader whose positivity inspires those around him and improves the morale of his shipmates. Petty Officer Torres Aguirre is one of the lead trainers. His training contributions have directly led to over 50 qualifications to include Communication Watch Stander, Basic and Pursuit Boat Crew Member, Boarding Team Member, and Officer of the Day. Petty Officer Torres Aguirre recently received his U.S. Citizenship demonstrating his commitment to the United States of America and Coast Guard. Prior to the November 3rd election, the Chamber released several endorsements for local candidates, ballot measures and state propositions. As of November 10, here are the final results from last week's election:
LOCAL CANDIDATES The Chamber endorsed all of these candidates whose bids were successful: John Zaragoza, Oxnard Mayor Oscar Madrigal, Oxnard City Council District 3 Bryan MacDonald, Oxnard City Council District 4 Vianey Lopez, Oxnard City Council District 6 Jess Ramirez, Oxnard Harbor District Commissioner Celina Zacarias, Oxnard Harbor District Commissioner View all candidate endorsements LOCAL BALLOT MEASURES F, L, M and N Awaiting final results. Chamber opposed these four measures. View Chamber positions STATE PROPOSITIONS The Chamber opposed propositions 15, 21 and 23, and supported proposition 19. Proposition 15 - Failed Proposition 19 - Passed Proposition 21 - Failed Proposition 23 - Failed View Chamber positions
On October 15, 2020, the Oxnard Chamber hosted a virtual "State of the Port" presentation with Jess Ramirez, President of the Oxnard Harbor District Board of Commissioners, and Kristin Decas, CEO and Port Director. The Port of Hueneme is one of the biggest economic engines in Ventura County. Its mission is to operate as a self-supporting Port that enforces the principles of sound public stewardship maximizing the potential of maritime-related commerce and regional economic benefit.
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