September 2013

Business Comments
Solano Chambers to Present Joint Event in Vacaville
CHAIRMANS CIRCLE
Titanium:

Platinum:

KUIC 95.3 The Reporter Newspaper Genentech (A Member of the Roche Group) Sutter Regional Medical Foundation

Gold:

A.G. Spanos Companies First Northern Bank Ford Lincoln Fairfield Gaw Van Male, Attorneys at Law McDonalds Restaurants Wells Fargo Banks Western Health Advantage

Silver:

Camping World Hampton Inn & Suites Potrero Hills Landfill Raleys Ray Morgan Co. Solano Irrigation District Standard Pacific New Homes Vacaville Magazine VITUS Wal-Mart Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market (Alamo) Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market (Nut Tree Road)

Bronze:

Jim McCormick
he Vacaville Chamber of Commerce, in conjunction with the Fairfield-Suisun Chamber of Commerce, is offering a seminar with powerful insights on maintaining focus and taking advantage of opportunities: Turn Distraction into Action in a Working World Gone ADD and The Intelligence of Risk Unleashing Organizational Courage. We are very excited to have corporate speakers Curt

Curt Steinhorst
dent of the Research Institute for Risk Intelligence, and author The Power of Risk and Business Lessons for the Edge and The First-Time Manager. Successful businesses and professionals navigate the narrow path between excessive risk and excessive caution. Jims presentation will help you to take advantage of opportunities better and faster than your competition. This business seminar runs from 8:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. September 11th in the community room at Travis Credit Union, 1 Travis Way,Vacaville.The event is free to chamber members and members of the Solano Economic Development Corporation.There is a $10 fee for the general public. Space is limited to only 150 participants. To reserve a seat, call the Vacaville Chamber of Commerce at 448-6424 or the FairfieldSuisun Chamber of Commerce at 425-4625.

Steinhorst and Jim McCormick presenting at our joint event. Curt Steinhorst is a communications expert, founder/president of the Promentum Group and a syndicated columnist.The Digital Age has given us all Attention Distraction Disorder and it has become a leading cause of underperformance. Kurts presentation will give you tools to transition from distraction to action. Jim McCormick an organizational risk expert, founder/presi-

AAA Northern California Aarons Automotive Ad Special Ts Bay Area Electronic Medical Billing Cache Creek Casino Resort Cancer Treatment Center of Vacaville Coldwell Banker Kappel Gateway Realty Costco Wholesale Courtside Cottages of Vacaville Dickeys Barbecue Pit International House of Pancakes Janssen M&G Duravent, Inc. Mariani Packing Co., Inc. Marys Pizza Shack Mercedes of Fairfield Momentum Auto Group Nationwide Insurance Pacific Gas & Electric Paramount House Senior Living Phillippi Engineering Pretty Potties RAS Solano Radiation Oncology Center State Compensation Insurance Fund Suihkonen CPAs & Consultants Toyota Vacaville Transpac US Bank Vacaville Premium Outlets

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2013-14 OFFICERS EXECUTIVE BOARD

Vacaville Chamber of Commerce Business Comments

Our Three-Part Strategic Plan

Katheryn Tuberty Chairperson Farmers Insurance Tracy Mitchell Chair Elect TradeMark Advertising Dilenna Harris Immediate Past Chair Kaiser Permanente Debbie Egidio Treasurer DTS Egidio Albert Sullivan Vice Chair Client/Members ADValue CPA Services Louie DeBartolo Vice Chair Education DeBartolo & Co Fine Jewelers Joanie Erickson Vice Chair Business Issues Associate Member
DIRECTORS

s Our President/CEO Mark Creffield talk about last month, each June, the Vacaville Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors takes a retreat to outline priorities for the coming fiscal year. This year, our strategic planning process yielded three key initiatives for 2013-14. Our three-part plan is to re-start a countywide legislative advocacy group, create an ombudsman process at the Chamber to help new businesses navigate the regulatory process of getting starting in Vacaville, and to more frequently communicate our successes to Chamber members and the broader community. Last month our President/CEO Mark Creffield briefly touched on the strategic action plans that came out of our board retreat.

A countywide legislative advocacy group would consist of all nine Solano County Chambers.As a group, we plan to focus on state, federal and county-specific issues, backing statewide offices and positions. Our collective force will give us a more powerful voice to influence candidates and legislation to be business supportive. Our goal is to be fully up and running by next summer, in time to have a real impact on the 2014 elections. BAC-PAC, the Chambers Business and Community Political Action Committee, will continue to focus locally on Vacaville, while the countywide group tackles broader scale legislation and political races. Our ombudsman program will fill a critical current gap for businesses wanting to open in

Vacaville. The Chambers goal is to connect new and future businesses with resources and a point of contact for quesBy Katheryn Tuberty tions about Chair of the Board the city, state and federal processes each business is required to undergo when setting up a place of business in town. We envision a road map and both a print and online tool that can be followed.This not only helps Vacaville attract and retain new businesses, and get them

started in a timely manner, it also shows the intrinsic value of the Chamber and our business communitys desire to be a place of growth. Finally, we plan to focus on increasing awareness of what the Chamber does, and to more consistently deliver the good news of what we have accomplished.Your Chamber staff and Board of Directors are constantly at work on your behalf, but so much goes on behind the scenes that you arent always aware of exactly what we have done.We plan to be more proactive in the coming year in letting you know what we are doing and how it benefits you. I will bring you updates on our initiatives as we execute them. For now, look forward to an exciting, strategically focused year ahead.

No excuses, Make time!

ugust 12th was not going to be any different from any other Monday, or so I thought.As I was getting ready for work, I was doing what most of us do first thing in the morning, and that was scroll through my Facebook account to read the various posts.What I had not expected to read was that my friend Brian Miller from back in my restaurant days had suddenly passed away the previous night. He was my co-worker, my boss, and my friend. I was in a state of shock. Struggling with feelings association with losing my close friend, I decided to keep my usual schedule and attend the monthly TRAFC meeting. Our meeting started out with the announcement that long-time Solano County resident and TRAFC member Mike Gonzalez had passed away the previous Thursday. Mike was a member of the Vacaville Chamber of Commerce since 1952, served twice as the Chair of the Board, and was a past recipient of the TRAFC Volunteer of the Year Award. Mikes funeral was the upcoming Thursday with Brians open house on Saturday.

Dan Sharp Sharp Public Affairs LLC Mike Fortney Placer Title Pat Hannon Janssen Corporation Dallas Jackson Jackson Medical Supply Barry Nelson Travis Credit Union Scott Pardini Recology Vacaville Solano Scott Reynolds Gaw Van Male Sally Schulz The Reporter
STAFF & CONTRACTORS

Mark Creffield President/CEO mark@vacavillechamber.com Julie Sabbagh Community Relations Director Julie@vacavillechamber.com Timothy Ridosh Membership Development Director Tim@vacavillechamber.com Sherry McKillop Leadership Today Director Darlene Chikeles Bookkeeper

As I attended Mikes funeral and listening to three separate individuals speaking on their memories of Mike, I could not help but to have wished I had known him better. Listening to these close family friends speak about Mike went to the absolute core of the type of person Mike was. He was a devoted husband, a father of two, and a father-figure to many. Mike was an amazing man who touched many peoples lives. Mike and I had talked about going out to lunch on many occasions, but we could never set the date. What I would give to roll back the clock and have that lunch with him. So now two days later, it is Saturday and needless to say I was nervous when walking up to Brians house. Considering I had not seen or spoken to him in over three years, I selfishly had a self-centered moment in wondering if I would even be welcomed here. It could not have been further from the truth. Brians open house was a celebration of his life and reunion of sorts as I was able to see many friends from my days in the restaurant business. We

were all there to console his family and to remember about Brian, but there was also a lot of laughter in telling stories, giving By Mark Creffield speeches, President/CEO and talking about the good ole days with him. We disliked knowing that we were all back together under these circumstances, but someone even stated that Brian would have loved knowing how much we all cared to come together like this. Although it had been three years since I have seen Brian I will miss him.To sum it up, Brian was an amazing husband, father, grandfather, and loyal friend.Anyone that crossed his path could tell you a wonderful story about him. He was truly genuine and would give you the shirt off his back even if he didn't have another one to replace it with.

You know folks; there is nothing like back-to-back deaths that sure make you think about how short life really is. One friend I knew really well, and one friend I wish I knew more. Facebook is a wonderful way for all of us to keep an eye on your friends and family without ever having to speak to them directly.The downside is we can get so comfortable in this process, we often forget to pick up the phone and check in on them from time-to-time to hear their voice and to hear how they are really doing. I was speaking to fellow colleague and friend Debi Tavey about both friends and how I wished I had the time to stay in contact with my family and friends. She simply said,You have to make time. She is right and although we are in August, it is never too early for any of us to set new resolutions in life. I am sorry if my article this month is not about business related items. But then again we also need those friendly reminders that life is short and we all need to find our balance and focus on our priorities.

Published by The Reporter

Sales Director - Sally Schulz | Project Coordinator -Shauna Manina
www.thereporter.com

Vacaville Chamber of Commerce Business Comments

Thursday, August 29, 2013 -

CHAMBER WAKE-UP VACAVILLE, MIXER, EVENTS AND RIBBON CUTTING

Business After-Hours Mixer hosted by TradeMark Advertising and Kathy Krohn & Debi Johnson with State Farm Insurance, 438 Main Street, Vacaville

Ribbon Cutting for WalMart Neighborhood Market, 2050 Nut Tree Road, Vacaville

Wake-Up Vacaville hosted by Solano Coin, Gold & Silver, 767 E. Monte Vista Avenue, Vacaville

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Vacaville Chamber of Commerce Business Comments

Vacaville Chamber of Commerce Business Comments

Thursday, August 29, 2013 -

Walking Your Way to Health

By Kim Trumbull, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Nursing Officer With Kaiser Permanente Medical Center in Vacaville
ne of my favorite things about Solano County is that the residents here really make exercise and fitness a priority. And there are so many ways to sneak a bit of fitness into your daily routine. Whether a quick bike ride or a weekend hike with the family, I try and find time to weave exercise into my daily habits. There is an easy way that you can easily enhance your overall health while at work. It wont cost you a cent.All you need are some sturdy shoes and a couple of extra minutes to spare. What is it? A walking meeting. Everyone is busy these days so why not take that weekly staff meeting outside and pound the pavement? You get the benefit of working while exercising and enjoying the

outdoors.We are all so busy at home and at work, so re-claiming some fresh air and exercise during the workday is smart time management. The health benefits of walking are well documentedjust 30 minutes a day, five days a week is enough to improve your health. Research has shown that regular brisk walking lowers blood pressure and the effects of depression.Walking reduces the risk of stroke and heart disease by 40 percent and can be good for stress reduction. It can be hard these days to get away from distractions like email, smart phones, and instant messaging; a walking meeting changes up the scenery a bit, letting you concentrate and focus. Clearly, the more we walk and the farther our two feet take us, the more rewards we reap.

As an organization, Kaiser Permanente has been walking the walk talk in myriad ways.The most visible evidence is our Everybody Walk! program (www.everybodywalk.org). On the website, youll find plenty of free resources, including a mobilephone app to keep you moving. Walking meetings can also strengthen work relationships with your team. Getting out of the traditional office lets you connect with people in a different light.The change of atmosphere and movement can stimulate creativity as well, letting you return to the office with new focus and clarity. Yes, there are some logistics involved to taking your staff meetings outside. Consider keeping T-shirts, workout pants, hats, appropriate shoes and sunscreen in your office. If

you are looking to walk around the lunch hour, choose a, park, a quiet street, or just a destination route that ends in picking up lunch or coffee. But remember: Only certain meetings are fit for walking.The ones that work best are more conversational, such as check-ins, brainstorms,getting to know you, or shared problem-solving sessions. This is not the time for extensive note taking! As with any productive meeting, its always a good idea to conclude your walkand-talk with a summary of how each participant is going to follow up. No matter what your role or position, daily exercise is important.Walking meetings are a great choice to help stay healthy and strong.

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Vacaville Chamber of Commerce Business Comments

MEETINGS & EVENTS FOR SEPTEMBER & OCTOBER 2013

September
September 5 After-Hours Business Mixer hosted by Diggers Deli, Vacaville 876 Alamo Dr. 5:30-7:00 pm September 11 Top Business Speakers Special Event held at Travis Credit Union, 1 Travis Way, Vacaville, RSVP REQUIRED (707) 448-6424. No fee for chamber members, $10 general public. September 12 Ambassador Committee meeting at the Hampton Inn & Suites, 800 Mason Street, Vacaville . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. September 17 Wake-Up Vacaville hosted by the Cancer Treatment Center of Vacaville, 1360 Burton Drive, Suite 170 Vacaville . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8:00 a.m. 9:00 a.m.

In Memoriam
Michael A. Gonzalez September 28, 1924 August 9, 2013

October
October 3 Business After-Hours Mixer hosted by Kaiser Permanente and 95.3 KUIC, 1 Quality Drive, Vacaville . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5:30 p.m. 7:00 p.m. October 10 Ambassador meeting at the Hampton Inn & Suites, 800 Mason Street, Vacaville . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8:00 a.m. 9:00 a.m. October 11 Business Issues Educational Forum 1 Travis Way, Vacaville . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9:00 a.m. 10:00 a.m. October 15 Wake-Up Vacaville hosted by Solano Signs 1331 Oliver Road, Fairfield . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8:00 a.m. 9:00 a.m.

ike Gonzalez was a member of the Vacaville Chamber of Commerce and the Travis Armed Forces Committee. Mike was a past recipient of the TRAFC Volunteer of the Year Award. Mike was a two-time Chair of the Board at the Chamber as well as serving as a TRAFC board member as one of the founding groups of the current TRAFC organization. His contributions toward the strong relationships of this community and Travis Air Force Base are unparalleled. He will be sorely missed.

Vacaville Chamber of Commerce Business Comments

Thursday, August 29, 2013 -

NEW MEMBERS FOR JULY 2013

Second Chance Restoration & Surface Cleaning 227 Richard Place Vacaville, CA 95687 (707) 208-5666 Pink Lemonade, Inc. 607 Elmira Rd. # 208 Vacaville, Ca. 95687 (707) 469 3001 Nike Factory Store 262 Nut Tree Road Vacaville, CA 95687 (707) 455-7014 Follow Your Compass P.O. Box 431 Grizzy Flats, CA 95636 (707) 227-7070 Pacific Standard Print 2629 5th Street Sacramento, CA 95818 (916) 233-3932

AMBASSADOR OF THE MONTH

Karen Seymour, First Northern Bank

am a single mom of two amazing kids, Brandi who will be attending BYU- Idaho in September and DakotaSky who is a sophomore at Will C Wood High School. I was born and raised in San Bruno and moved to Vacaville in 1999. I have been with First Northern Bank since March 2003. I am currently the Financial Services Manager at the branch on Mason Street. Prior to that, I worked at Travis Credit Union for 3 years and First National Bank of Northern California in the bay area for 19 years.

I love to watch Raider football, baking bread and gardening. I am very active in my church The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Working at First Northern Bank gives me many opportunities to give back to the community. Some of my favorite activities are helping with Festival of Trees,Treasurer for Vacaville Recreation Foundation, and Vacaville Celebrate Seniors. I feel truly blessed to be a part of Vacaville.