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Vista, Oceanside get together for 5-Minute Networking on May 7
Vista Chamber members will join Oceanside Chamber members for a bigger and better “speed networking” experience at 7:30 a.m. Wednesday, MAY 7. At this special 5-Minute Networking event, business people have the opportunity to meet up to 18 individuals, one-on-one, in 5-minute increments. In a 5-minute meeting, you can describe your respective businesses, exchange business cards, and pass on referrals. Registration is $30 for members and $40 for non-members if paid by May 2. To register, click here or call the Chamber at 726-1122.

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Total networking at Good Afternoon Vista at 3:30 p.m. June 5 ...
The next Good Afternoon Vista networking event will feature "total networking" on Thursday, June 5 at Vista Entertainment Center, at a NEW TIME - from 3:30 to 5 p.m. Get a big networking bang for your buck. Enjoy hors d'oeuvres and network with all the Good Afternoon Vista attendees! There's no time for a speaker because we will focus the spotlight is on connecting you with potential clients and creating business relationships. There will be informal and guided networking. You will network with your tablemates, then we will re-shuffle the groups and network some more. IMMEDIATELY AFTERWARDS... (optional)...

... Followed by 'Meet the Chamber' at 5 p.m. on June 5
The Vista Chamber is hosting a free Business Commercial workshop and Meet the Chamber meeting on Thursday, June 5, at Vista Entertainment Center. New and prospective members who would like to find out more about the Chamber are invited to "Meet the Chamber" from 5 to 6:15 p.m. Attendees are advised to bring business cards and brochures. Admission is free, but RSVPs are requested; email us or call 726-1122.

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Vista, San Marcos hold combined Sundowner mixer June 12
The Vista and San Marcos Chambers of Commerce are sponsoring a joint business mixer from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, June 12. The mixer will be held at Shadowridge Country Club, located at 1980 Gateway Dr., Vista CA 92081. Complimentary hors d'oeuvres and a no-host bar will be available. No RSVP is needed. Admission is $5 for Chamber members and $10 for prospective members.

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‘Reminders for Success in a Down Economy’ coming July 11
Mark your calendar for 7:30 a.m. Friday, July 11 for a special presentation, "Reminders for Success in a Down Economy" by Dave Kilby, an executive vice president of the California Chamber. Vista Chamber members will be joined by members of the Oceanside and San Marcos Chambers for this event at the Krikorian Theatres, located at 25 Main Street.“After working with all kinds and sizes of businesses for the last 30 years, from mom and pops to corporate giants,” Kilby said. “I’ve developed a list of ‘reminders for success’ – concepts that seem to be common denominators that are embraced by those who continue to successfully navigate the white water business world.” The presentation outlines how when times get tough, the best business persons seem to never forget the ingredients for success, which Kilby says include “rewarding loyalty, knowing their customers, surrounding themselves with talent, focusing on their core business, being good at high-touch and high-tech, and much more. Call the Chamber at 760-726-1122 to register.

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Thanks for door prize donors for Fabulous 50s Sundowner
The good times were rolling April 17 at Tri-City Medical Center when the Chambers of Commerce from Vista, Oceanside, Carlsbad and San Marcos joined Tri-City Medical Center in celebrating 56 years of collaboration.

Thanks to the following Chamber members who donated prizes for the giant Chamber gift basket that went to a lucky drawing winner:

• Arcadia Place - Tea set - $20 value
• California Community Bank - Savings Bond - $50
• California Pizza Kitchen - Gift bag - $45 value
• Center for Smile Enhancement - Whitening - $395 value
• Creative Dimensions - 2 hour Design Consultation - $200 value
• Dell'z California Grill - Dinner for 2 - $50 certificate
• Diamond Environmental - Toilet Mug - $10 value
• Embroidery Image - Beach towel w/Chamber logo - $50 value
• E -World Recyclers - T-shirt - $15 value
• Jumping Bean Cafe - $20 gift certificate
• Kaiser & Associates IT Consulting - Microsoft Map Point - $280 value
• Kaiser & Associates IT Consulting- Microsoft Office Small Business Accounting - $80 value
• Moonlight Stage Productions - four tickets to a summer musical - $40 value
• Point Loma Credit Union - Tote w/money clip & thermos - $20 value
• Rancho Car Wash - Complete car detail - $250 value
• Sport Clips - (2) Certificate "Free Hair Cut" - $48 value
• Sunrise Café - Gift Certificate - $40
• Miss Pride of Vista Royalty - Spa Gift Bag - $60 value

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Chamber moving to Main Street this summer

The Chamber office will be moving to a more visible location this summer, thanks to the City of Vista's purchase of a building at 127 Main St. That building is now occupied by the Vista Village Business Association and the Vista Art Foundation gallery. The Chamber will move in with the VVBA and the art gallery will move across the street to 204 Main St. The Chamber's lease begins July 1, and the move will be a month or two later after interior remodeling is completed.

When the building was put up for sale by its owners a few months ago, the VVBA asked the City Redevelopment Agency to consider buying it for use by their organization and the Chamber. If the city had not bought the building, the VVBA and VAF might have been forced to move on short notice. The Chamber and VVBA boards of directors felt that sharing office space would work well, since both are business organizations. Both stress that they are not merging - there will continue to be separate boards, staffs, programs and events.

"We like the increased visibility we will have by relocating to Main Street," said Chamber CEO Jim Baumann. "With the Sprinter Station, the Krikorian Theatres and the planned mixed use project all nearby, we will be in a great location."

The City has also accommodated the Art Foundation by finding them a new home across the street at 204 Main St. The city is leasing the entire 6,400-sq.ft. building and renting about 2,000 sq. ft. to the Art Foundation. The additional 4,400 sq. ft. section of the building is now available for rent.

The Chamber's lease begins July 1, and the move will be made a month or two later after some interior remodeling is completed.   Read NC Times story.

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Four members to join Chamber Board

Four new board members will be joining the Chamber Board of Directors for 3-year terms beginning July 1. All board members will be installed at the June 23 Installation Luncheon at Vista Valley Country Club.

The four new board members will replace retiring board members Mike Cavataio, Paul Eckert, Phyllis McGreevey and Brad Peterson. Five incumbent board members have been elected for a additional terms:

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Free seminars for startups and new businesses
The Small Business Development Center will provide valuable information to new businesses at a seminar series cosponsored by the Chamber over the next five months. The seminars are intended to help anyone interested in starting a business, as well as those who have started a business recently or anyone who needs business advice in specific areas. The seminars will be held in the Community Room at the Vista Library (700 Eucalyptus Ave.), from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on these dates:

• May 20 - How To Market Your Business.
• June 17 - How To Manage Legal Aspects Of Your Business.
• July 15 - How To Manage Tax Aspects Of Your Business.
• Aug. 19 - Identity Theft and Fraud Prevention.

Attendees are encouraged to bring their lunch. These 'brown bag" seminars are sponsored by the City of Vista, Small Business Development Center of MiraCosta College, Wells Fargo Bank, and the Vista Chamber.

For reservations or information, contact Kathy Valdez at (760) 643-2892.

 

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SAVE THE DATE FOR VISTA BUSINESS EXPO - The Chamber's Business Expo Committee has already had its first meeting to plan this year's event. Save the date - this year's event will be Oct. 22. If you'd like to help plan the Expo, the committee will meet at 4 p.m. on the second Monday of every month; March 10 is the next meeting. Pictures from last year - also videos. MOONLIGHT TEAM - Thirty years after receiving her Vista High School diploma, Diana Slaughter Aaron is collaborating with her former teacher, Kathy Brombacher. In August, Aaron was hired as executive director of the Moonlight Cultural Foundation, the fundraising arm of Moonlight Stage Productions, which Brombacher serves as artistic director. Story from Union-Tribune. A GREAT DAY TO GOLF - Golfers should save April 21 for the Chamber's annual golf tournament that attracts 120 participants. Board members Mike Cavataio and Bob Wardwell are co-chairs of the committee. Pictures from last year * Details and registration

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Vista chamber chair Bret Schanzenbach targets business park, S. Santa Fe Ave.

(From the North County Times) A former Vista High School valedictorian took the reins of the Vista Chamber of Commerce board in July of 2007, promising aggressive recruitment in the south Vista business park and renewed advocacy for the revitalization of South Santa Fe Avenue . Located on a broad swath of land south of Highway 78, and bordered by Melrose and Sycamore drives and Palomar Airport Road, the business park is home to hundreds of companies and thousands of employees. Schanzenbach, who is also a real estate broker, said he was working on new recruitment strategies but declined to elaborate. Schanzenbach said he would also use his year at the helm to push the city to move forward with the sluggish South Santa Fe Avenue revitalization. "We don't want to see (it) take 10 or 15 years like Vista Village," he said.

Full story from North County Times.

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Assemblyman Garrick names Kaiser as Small Business Owner of the Year

Assemblyman Martin Garrick honored Chamber Board member Cliff Kaiser (pictured at right) of Kaiser & Associates, IT Consulting as the Small Business Owner of the Year for the 74th Assembly District. Kaiser was formally honored during the California Small Business Association's "Salute to Small Business" at the Sacramento Convention Center.

"I chose to honor Cliff because he creates jobs and provides a quality service for other North County small businesses. He is active in both the Vista and Carlsbad Chambers of Commerce and is a Captain in the Naval Reserves. Cliff is truly an all around asset to the North County business community, and is a great example of the California dream," Garrick said.

In 2000, Cliff founded Kaiser & Associates, IT Consulting, a Vista-based company. Since his company's inception, Cliff has added three employees and has provided IT consulting services to over 200 San Diego companies.

As a member of the Technology Committee of the Vista Chamber, Cliff has helped organize a series of forums on pertinent issues. Speaking on topics like "Introducing Windows VISTA to Vista", Cliff has donated his time to help other small businesses integrate new technologies. He is also currently working on a plan to bring WiFi wireless Internet access to Vista.

Because of his efforts, Cliff was recently re-elected for a three-year term as a director for the Vista Chamber. "Small business owners like Cliff Kaiser are the lifeblood of our communities. We must protect and encourage their growth. It's one of my main goals in the Legislature to be an advocate for small businesses, in hopes of restoring the California dream," said Garrick.

Assemblyman Garrick represents North San Diego County and serves the cities of Carlsbad, Del Mar, Encinitas, Escondido, Rancho Santa Fe, San Marcos, Solana Beach, Vista and portions of Oceanside and San Diego.