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MONDAY MEMO San Diego Museum of Art Makes "Impressions" with New Exhibit Chamber Promotes "Green" Actions Eveoke Dance Theatre Premieres RISE-The California Earth Project Women in Business Teleclass Series FREE Nominations for the Chamber Board of Directors For 2008 Mingei International Museum Celebrating their 30th Birthday |
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UPCOMING EVENTS 8/8 Business After Five 8/21 Get Connected Breakfast 8/23 Circles of Influence Reception 9/17 Golf Classic 9/30 - 10/3 Washington DC Delegation 10/11 Business Exchange & Showcase & Business After Five Mixer Host a Chamber Mixer or Reception. Click here for details. |
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CHAMBER CONNECTION Member Savings With the Group Buying Power of the Chamber Office Depot Print on Demand |
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FEATURED MEMBERS Our Legal Nurse Consultants, LLC Legal consultants Creations inC. Offering Corporate, Small Business & Image Development The United States Karate Academy Opens second location LocalVita.com Community Networking Website MojoPages.com Find out what people are saying about your business |
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  With a capacity crowd in attendance, an enthusiastic and loyal cross section of San Diego's business community recently paid tribute to the senior leadership of the local uniformed military services last week at the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce's 61st annual Flag, General and Senior Officers Ball. Neil Zerbe, Chair of the Chamber's Military Affairs Advisory Council (MAAC) and Corporate Lead Executive for event title sponsor Lockheed Martin, spoke to the over 400 in attendance at the dinner about "a seamless blending of military installations, business centers and defense industry facilities in San Diego." One of the highlights of the Chamber's annual event calendar, the black tie evening was an inspiring combination of patriotic entertainment, wonderful food, and a deep-seated camaraderie. Rear Admiral Leendert R. Hering, Sr., the Commander of Navy Region Southwest and the titular "San Diego Navy Mayor," was effusive in his praise of the long-standing relationship between the Chamber and the military establishment as he accepted the 2007 Distinguished Military Honoree award. "There is a long history of cooperation and support between the Navy and Marine Corps and the Chamber," he told the enthusiastic crowd. "It's and honor to serve our country, and to work so closely and effectively in partnership with the Chamber and the San Diego business community." Also honored as a Distinguished Military Honoree but unable to attend the event was USMC Major General Michael Lehnert, who was well represented by Lance Corporal Michael Cole. In accepting the honor for his commanding general, LCpl. Cole, who is assigned to the Wounded Warriors unit of returned Marines injured in recent conflict, silenced the crowd by the power and inspiration of his words. The 2007 Military Affairs Advisory Council (MAAC) Chairman's Award was presented by TriWest Healthcare Alliance's Dr. James Sears, Chairman of TriWest's Executive Advisory Board, to recently retired Navy Captain Jennifer Town, who heads the Comprehensive Combat Casualty Care Center (C5) at the Navy Medical Center San Diego. Her acceptance speech was inspiring and well received. The grand evening was made possible through generous additional sponsorship from Microsoft, BAE Systems, General Atomics, Northrup Grumman, Wells Fargo, San Diego National Bank and Viejas Enterprises and other supportive companies listed here. A recent study conducted by the Chamber concluded that nearly 21 percent of the jobs in San Diego County are either active uniformed military, their support, or companies in the defense industry. The Chamber is committed to addressing issues that are important to the military's mission, including the organization's leadership in legislative efforts to counter predatory lending practices that have a debilitating effect on the morale of many military families. The Chamber also was involved in successful advocacy efforts that recently resulted in the home-porting of the USS Carl Vinson, and continues to strongly support the Navy's efforts to redevelop its outdated supply depot as the mixed use Pacific Gateway Center at the foot of Broadway. San Diego - San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors member Maureen Stapleton, General Manager the San Diego County Water Authority, provided an update on the region's local water supply during the board's monthly July meeting. Fern Steiner, chair of the Water Authority board, also presented updates on critical state water issues, including infrastructure. To help ration regional water supplies, the Chamber is supporting the Water Authority's "20-Gallon Challenge" campaign, which calls upon residents countrywide to reduce water use by 20 gallons per day. If successful, the region can save enough water to meet the needs of more than half a million people. Businesses and residents are being encouraged to participate in the "20-Gallon Challenge," as well as to learn about assistance provided by the Water Authority, such as incentives on purchasing water-efficient equipment. Information is available by visiting www.sdcwa.org. The Chamber's strong stance on saving water comes at a time when Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is pushing for a comprehensive water plan for the State of California. The Governor was in San Diego recently to promote the plan. During his visit, in which Chamber officials participated, Gov. Schwarzenegger toured the Sweetwater Reservoir, which is at less than 50 percent capacity, to illustrate California's mounting water crisis. The Governor's $5.9 billion water plan will provide additional water storage, create conservation and efficiency measures, repair the Delta, and make way for the development of a modern conveyance system that will supply water throughout the state. The Sweetwater Authority in South San Diego County has also called for greater conservation and is proposing to raise rates nearly 6 percent in January 2008 because of water shortages. The Sweetwater Reservoir is currently less than half full, which isn't enough to supply the 180,000 residents of West Chula Vista, National City and Bonita. Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, which provides water to 18 million people from Ventura County to San Diego County, is calling for users to reduce water consumption. Water districts statewide are calling for people to voluntarily cut their usage by 10 percent. During its monthly meeting, the Chamber's Board of Directors also focused on other issues, including approving eight of nine items for the City of San Diego's General Plan update. The public policy committees and the board will discuss the ninth item, which addresses economic prosperity and co-location issues, later this month.  If you love what you do, you'll never work a day in your life." It's a motto that Brig. Gen. Angela Salinas lives by daily. Salinas' love affair with the Marine Corps began 33 years ago when she had a chance encounter with a Marine Corps recruiter while she was mailing a letter at a post office. The recruiter asked her why she wasn't a United States Marine; she didn't have an answer. That prompted her to enlist. She later became an officer and has commanded at every rank since then, including being the first woman in the Marine Corps to command a recruiting station (Recruiting Station Charleston, W.V. in 1989) and becoming the first woman to command Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego and the Western Recruiting Region. A history graduate from the Dominican College of San Rafael, California, Salinas has been named one of the top 100 most influential Hispanics in the country. As head of MCRD San Diego and WRR, she oversees recruitment for men and women west of the Mississippi, and the training of more than 51 percent of male recruits in the Marine Corps. MCRD, which was built in the 1920s and was the first military base established on the West Coast, graduates approximately 18,000 recruits annually, bringing in thousands of visitors and families to San Diego each year. The annual economic impact of MCRD on the San Diego region is estimated to be more than $355 million. Salinas took some time to discuss MCRD's role in the community, as well as her accomplishments, since taking the depot's helm in 2006, and how the local business community and political leaders have helped fuel the success of the training of the next generation of Marines. Q. Since taking the helm of MCRD in August 2006, what goals have you met and what initiatives have you set in place for the next year? A. Part of my goal is [asking] ‘What else can we do to make a better Marine and what more can we do to let the community know what we do?' I'm surprised how many times I meet people who have never been to MCRD, even if they are long-term residents. I want to provide more access to the depot for people. This past year we opened the depot for concerts that have traditionally been for the families who work here. We want to educate people about the Marine Corps and change the perception of who the military is today. Q. What goals do you have for partnerships and relationships with the local business community? A. I continue to invite numerous organizations to observe the recruit graduations and to dine and have meetings in the Bay View Restaurant aboard the depot. Many business leaders are interested in coming aboard the depot, so in the next year we plan to have a one-day community leaders' workshop so business leaders can see not only how we make Marines, but also have the opportunity to see the quality of future employees for the San Diego community. Q. How does San Diego compare to other communities you've served in during your military career? A. When I experienced Fleet Week for the first time in 2000, the tremendous embracement from the civilian population of the military in San Diego was the first time I experienced anything like that in my career. The senior officer ball at the US Grant hosted by the Chamber was one I'll never forget. I'm in awe of the treatment and respect the City of San Diego has for the military. Of all the communities I've served in, this is the best. I have the pleasure of interacting with the key leadership of the City of San Diego at many of the events I attend. It's great to know our elected officials and civilian leadership are proud of the military. We can't do what we do every single day without the support of the City of San Diego. Q. What changes have you seen in the Marine Corps today from when you began your career? A. We are a much smarter Marine Corps. Our standards are much higher today. The demand for high school graduates is 95 percent and 63 percent must score above the national average on our test. The role of women has changed. When I came into the military in 1974, by law women were not allowed to become general officers. The military is a true reflection of society today. There is a greater emphasis on education. It's refreshing to look behind me and see great young people armed with their core values of honor and courage and commitment. We want our Marines to continue getting an education while they are serving their country. What we want to see is our Marine go to college and come back to the community better citizens and take positions of leadership such as teachers, counselors, coaches, police officers, firefighters and civic leaders. Q. As a high-ranking woman official in the Marine Corps, is your job different for you than it was for your predecessors? A. There's not a difference but now I get an opportunity to have an audience that may not have listened before. I speak to women's groups about the Marine Corps. I think that as a Hispanic I also have an opportunity to tell the story about the Marine Corps and what the Marine Corps has done for me personally and for the country. I get a chance to tell the story a little bit more to audiences who would not normally stop to listen. Q. Is there a question you've always wanted to answer that you've never been asked? A. No. But I wish that more people would separate the political issues from the young people who are in uniform. Be really thankful for every person you see wearing a uniform. These are young adults who are raising their hands and taking an oath to support and defend the United States. They are willing to protect the freedoms of generations of people. It's very hard when somebody sees a young Marine or sailor or airman and says, ‘I don't agree with you being in the war.' I really want to let these people know that this kid is doing something he believes in, which is protecting democracy for future generations. Nothing makes me smile more when somebody thanks you for who you are and for what you're doing. |
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Region's CFOs, Including the Chamber's Bill Scarfia, Receive Honors During First-Ever Awards Ceremony
Scarfia helped the Chamber move from a half million-dollar cash deficit when he joined the organization in 1999 to a $1.4 million cash surplus in 2006. He also helped achieve a 29 percent headcount reduction by spinning off two cost centers and eliminating unprofitable business ventures. He put extensive systems in place to increase internal financial controls and also contributed to lower training costs by reducing employee turnover by 70 percent. "In today's economy, companies and organizations still struggle with doing more with less," said Chamber Chairman Robert Horsman. "Bill Scarfia has been able to manage a tight budget while still maintaining the quality of the services the Chamber offers to our growing membership base. He wholeheartedly deserves this award." An independent panel of judges was appointed to narrow the pool of CFO of the Year Award nominees down to a select group of 11 honorees and 28 finalists, in four categories private company, public company, nonprofit organization and government agency. The selection of the honorees was based on several factors, including the CFO's career successes, contributions to the company's growth and profitability, involvement within the community, as well as his or her assistance with other areas of the organization. Chamber members dominated the ceremony, taking top honors at the event. They included Qualcomm's William Keitel, Hall Dunning of Barney & Barney, Isabel Freeland of Coast Citrus Distributors, Alan Stewart from Epsilon Systems Solutions, Debra P. Crawford of Santarus, Inc., Mental Health Systems' Michael Hawkey, and Jay Goldstone, CFO of the City of San Diego. Susan Snow, CFO of Maxim Systems and a member of the Chamber's Board of Directors, was nominated as a finalist in the Private Medium category. Other Chamber members who were finalists in the CFO of the Year Awards included Paul Durr of Sharp Community Medical Group, R. Gary Gilmore from Althea Technologies, Inc., Thomas Jaecek of Technology Integration Group, Jill Church from Vical, Inc., Mark Foletta of Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Inc., United Way of San Diego County's Marty Barnett, William Hood with The Salvation Army, Larry Eyler of the NTC Promenade, North Island Credit Union's Kim Reedy, Karen Brust with the San Diego County Water Authority, Vernon Evans from the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority, and Donald Steur from the County of San Diego. "We are delighted to see many of our members recognized for their hard work and dedication to making San Diego companies thrive," Horsman said. "These leading CFOs will help our business community and regional economy continue to prosper through proper management and care of the bottom line." Maritime Business Plan Projects Continued Cargo Growth The Port of San Diego recently released the second half of its draft Maritime Business Plan. The plan outlines scenarios that would provide facilities needed for potential growth. The first part of the Maritime Business Plan was presented on May 8. The plan demonstrated that maritime cargo operations generated $1.6 billion annually and supported 19,298 regional jobs. In addition, the plan highlighted that $100 million in state and local taxes are generated from maritime activity at the Port. Maritime activity at the Port's two terminals is anticipated to grow at an annual rate of 15 percent. To accommodate that growth, certain development projects may be implemented. According to the plan, Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal will need an increase in storage capacity for dry bulk cargoes and increased capacity for fruit received in containers and pallets are needed. The Port's Maritime Business Plan is an adaptive management plan. All proposed work will be coordinated with other studies, and plans including traffic/rail studies commissioned by SANDAG and CalTrans, as well as member city development and master plans. The next steps include collecting feedback from the public and returning to the Board of Port Commissioners at the end of the year for recommendations. The Port of San Diego is a public benefit corporation and special government entity. Created in 1963 by an act of the California legislature, the Port manages San Diego harbor and administers the public lands along San Diego Bay. The Port has operated without tax dollars since 1970 and has been responsible for $1.5 billion in public improvements in its five member cities – Chula Vista, Coronado, Imperial Beach, National City and San Diego. With a $10.6 billion economic impact on the San Diego region, the Port oversees two maritime cargo terminals, a cruise ship terminal, 16 public parks, various wildlife reserves and environmental initiatives, a Harbor Police department and the leases of over 600 tenant businesses around San Diego Bay. Out of all U.S. Ports of Call for Cruise Ships, Port of San Diego Ranks Best in 2007 TravelAge West The Port of San Diego was recently named best homeport for cruises in the 2007 TravelAge West Western Agents Votes of Excellence (WAVE) Awards. The award was presented to the Port on June 7 in Beverly Hills. Readers of TravelAge West, a leading source of travel industry news and product information, gave the best homeport honor to the Port after voting on a best-of-the- best list selected by the publication's Editor-in-Chief and editorial team. That list was compiled after an intensive review of homeports throughout the United States. The review included product analysis, on-site visits, a survey of a select group of travel agents and online research. Along with the Port of San Diego, 135 companies, individuals and destinations were celebrated by the readers of TravelAge West. Honorees were recognized in 48 categories that spanned the cruise, tour operator, airline, hotel and resort, and destination travel fields. The Port of San Diego is quickly emerging as a leader in cruise operations. In the past three years, cruise operations have increased by 125 percent. San Diego is a desired destination for cruise vacationers because of the terminal's close proximity to San Diego International Airport and prime tourist attractions. Each cruise call to San Diego has an economic impact of $2 million on the region. Cruise operations in San Diego are responsible for 2, 243 jobs and an economic impact of $271 million. |
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Renewing Members Chamber Press Releases Hot off the press |
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Members in Action Announcements, awards and updates from members |
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Your Business Advocate Leveraging its robust membership, collaborations with other organizations and political access, the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce's business advocacy team initiates legislation and lobbies for policies that create a stronger pro-business environment. |