Do you know your leadership style? Oxnard Leadership Program participants found out during their most recent session, which featured presentations on the “Four Models of Leadership” and Ventura County's Workforce Development Board, and tours of Haas Automation and the Channel Islands Harbor.  
 
The eighth session took place Friday, August 16, and Celina Zacarias, Senior Director of Community and Government Relations for California State University Channel Islands (CSUCI), helped coordinate the day.
 
The day began with an eye-opening presentation on “Four Models of Leadership” from Andrew Lorenzana, CSUCI Community and Government Relations Specialist. Everyone answered a series of questions to discover their Leadership Orientations:

1. Structural: Leaders who emphasize rationality, analysis, logic, facts and data
2. Human Resource: Leaders who emphasize the importance of people
3. Political: Leaders who emphasize the importance of building a power base: allies, networks and coalitions
4. Symbolic: Leaders who believe that the essential task of management is to provide vision and inspiration

 You can take the online version of the assessment to find your leadership style.
 
The group then welcomed Tracy Perez, Regional Manager of United Staffing Associates, for a presentation about the Ventura County Workforce Development Board (WDB), which she chairs.
 
WDB is a public board of leaders from an array of fields who are appointed by the County Board of Supervisors. Their vision is for Ventura County to have a high-quality, skilled workforce to support the changing business needs of employers in today’s global, competitive environment. Learn more about the WDB.

After lunch at Cabo Seafood Grill & Cantina, a local favorite in Downtown Oxnard, the class visited Haas Automation’s 1.1 million square foot facility for a rare, behind-the-scenes look at the largest machine tool builder in North America.
 
They toured the showroom to learn how each of the machines work, then took a catwalk tour of one of its four warehouses to see innovation in action. With a local team of 1,200 people, Haas is one of the largest employers in Oxnard.   
 
To end the day, the group traveled to Marine Emporium Landing where they were treated to an electric boat tour of Channel Islands Harbor. They were guided by Steve Buenger and Harbor Director Mark Sandoval, who shared the history of the harbor, an overview of current projects and proposed improvements to the area.
 
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 September, session nine will focus on local agriculture with visits to Reiter and AGQ Labs, and a presentation by Agricultural Commissioner Ed Williams. 

Learn more about the Oxnard Leadership Program. 

Do you want to practice public speaking, improve your communication and build leadership skills?

The Oxnard Toastmasters Club is one of the newest members of the Oxnard Chamber of Commerce. Toastmasters is a nationally recognized, nonprofit educational organization that helps individuals hone essential communication and public speaking skills. Members learn the unavoidable and critical skills that every business professional must confront including public speaking, meeting preparation and more.

Everyone is invited to attend the Oxnard Toastmasters meetings, which happen at noon on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month in the Oxnard Chamber of Commerce's board room. You can see their meeting schedule on the Chamber's Community Calendar. 
 
The leadership team consists of Craig Miller (President), Doug Riffenburgh (VP of Education), Josh Damigo (VP of Membership), J.C. Lombardo (VP of Public Relations), Kirkland Tibbels, DTM (Treasurer), and Jennifer Caldwell (Sergeant at Arms).
 
For more information, please contact josh@influenceecology.com or call (805) 225-4539.

Last week, Oxnard Chamber’s Business Development Manager Tom Carrese attended Academy 2019, a three-day professional development program for chamber executives and staff.

Hosted by the Western Association of Chamber Executives (W.A.C.E.), Academy is a three-year commitment to learning chamber management essentials.

Carrese, along with 65 other first-year participants, attended six, in-depth, half-day workshops on legal basics, committee and board development, budget preparation, membership sales and recruitment, and marketing and communications.

Chamber CEO Nancy Lindholm is a graduate of the program and led the class on “Budget Preparation & Monitoring.”

To graduate from the three-year Academy program, participants must attend all 18 classes and complete additional requirements outside of the classroom, such as attending W.A.C.E. Annual Conferences and webinars, and regional or state chamber executive conferences.

​Representing more than 800 chamber professionals in 18 states in the Western U.S. and Canada, W.A.C.E. is the premier organization for education and professional development for chamber executives and staff.

A Message From Our CEO Nancy Lindholm

​Sexual harassment prevention training is not an option – it's the law. Employers must take reasonable steps to prevent harassment. Every California employer with five or more employees is required to provide every worker with prevention training.

A work culture that tolerates harassment not only incurs legal risks (along with legal fees and costs), but also creates other problems including:

• an unpleasant work environment;
• decreased productivity;
• morale issues;
• attendance problems; and
• negative publicity and damage to your organization's reputation and credibility, which can extend to your ability to recruit and retain talent.

Take this quick quiz (from the California Chamber of Commerce) to test your understanding of your responsibilities for providing sexual harassment prevention ​​training. ​

1. Which employers must comply with California's sexual harassment prevention training?
   a. California companies with five (5) or more employees
   b. Only private sector companies
   c. All California companies
2. Which employees must receive sexual harassment prevention training?
   a. All employees
   b. Only supervisors and managers
3. How often do I need to provide this training?
   a. Every year
   b. Every two years
   c. Whenever I feel like it
4. I can pick pretty much any type of training course to comply with the law, right?
   a. Yes
   b. No
5. I see all sorts of advertisements for trainers. Am I free to choose whichever trainer I like best?
   a. Yes
   b. No

How did you do?
​

1. Answer: California companies with five (5) or more employees - All California companies with five (5) or more employees must provide sexual harassment prevention training.
2. Answer: All employees - California law now requires sexual harassment prevention training to be provided to all employees. Supervisors must receive at least two hours of training, and nonsupervisorial employees must receive at least one hour of training.  
3. Answer: Every two years
4. Answer: No - The law specifies certain types of information that must be included in the training, as well as minimum standards for the trainer and interactivity requirements. You must ensure that the training you use meets the content requirements.  
5. Answer: No - Only trainers with very specific credentials may legally conduct sexual harassment prevention training. You must make sure to use properly credentialed training professionals.

 
Harassment prevention training for all supervisors and employees is required in California (for companies with five or more employees). Training is an essential component of any harassment prevention program – especially when combined with company leadership on these issues. Those at the top level of company management must not only set the proper tone, but also dedicate the necessary time and resources to meet their prevention obligation and ensure their efforts are effective.
 
Training must be completed by January 1, 2020 or within six months of hiring a new employee. However, there is no need to wait! Harassment prevention training now can help avoid a potential claim.

​The Oxnard Chamber of Commerce has partnered with the California Chamber to provide easy, affordable training for workers and supervisors.
 
Order your online training today! You will receive a 20% discount when you purchase through this link.

You will have to create a CalChamber store account, but you are not required to become a preferred member. The Oxnard Chamber 20% discount will be applied during checkout.

Did you know that Naval Base Ventura County (NBVC) is the largest employer in Ventura County and has an economic impact of $2 billion?

“With the base being the biggest employer in the county, it’s very important for the businesses to interact with the base and the members of our military,” says Ron Van Dyck, Deputy Director of Ventura County Parks Department and Chair of the Oxnard Chamber Military Appreciation Committee.

The Military Appreciation Committee is focused on strengthening the relationship between the business community and local military installations. Being part of the committee is an excellent opportunity for those who want to learn more about the integral role the military plays in the Oxnard community while showing  support for our local servicemen and women, their families and their mission.

“This county is one of the best in supporting our local military. We are like one big family, which is hard to find in other military cities,” says Van Dyck.

The committee meets on the second Thursday of every month and receives key updates from representatives from NBVC, US ARMY Recruiting Station, Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division, Air National Guard and the United States Coast Guard.  

Honoring Our Heroes

The Committee oversees the Chamber’s Military Discount Program, through which businesses provide discounts to military personnel and their families, and organize the annual Military Appreciation Dinner in September, an annual awards banquet honoring enlisted service personnel.

And in August, the annual Military Appreciation Mixer brings together military personnel, local leaders, business owners and professionals for a networking event hosted by the Port of Hueneme with the Oxnard and Port Hueneme chambers of commerce.

“Through both of these events, we have the opportunity to showcase our military to the public and Oxnard Chamber business community, where they can talk and meet our military members,” says Van Dyck.  

​​To get involved on the Military Appreciation Committee or another Oxnard Chamber committee, click here.