port o call - november 2012

20
PORT CALL GREATER STOCKTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE www.stocktonchamber.org NOVEMBER 2012 Vol. 58 No. 7 PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO 461 STOCKTON CA Main Photograph by: Arturo Vera, Arturo Vera Photography. Leadership Stockton Class Community Project CVB Welcomes New Team Member Engendering Change in the Community: The 2012 ATHENA Awards On the Cover: ATHENA Young Professional Leadership Award recipient Jennifer Torres Siders and ATHENA Award recipient Phyllis Grupe

Upload: greater-stockton-chamber-of-commerce

Post on 01-Mar-2016

219 views

Category:

Documents


3 download

DESCRIPTION

Stockton Chamber of Commerce monthly magazine

TRANSCRIPT

PORT CALLGREATER STOCKTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.stocktonchamber.org NOvEMBER 2012

vol. 58 No. 7

PR

SRT

STD

US P

OSTA

GE

PA

ID

PE

RM

IT N

O 4

61

STO

CK

TO

N C

A

Main Photograph by: Arturo vera, Arturo vera Photography.

Leadership Stockton Class Community Project

CVB Welcomes New Team Member

Engendering Change in the Community:

The 2012 ATHENA Awards

On the Cover: ATHENA Young Professional Leadership Award recipient Jennifer Torres Siders and ATHENA Award recipient Phyllis Grupe

He just saved two hours. And a copay.

kp.org/centralvalley

How? He simply e-mailed his doctor, instead of leaving

work for an office visit. My Health Manager online services

can prevent productivity losses—for your people and your

organization—at a time when it’s crucial to do more with less.

And these services are available at no added charge.

Members can:

• e-mail their doctor’s office

• check most lab results

• request routine appointments with their personal physician

• order prescription refills

See how we can bring greater value to your health care dollars—view a demo at kp.org/experience.

Or contact your Kaiser Permanente broker or account manager.

Progress_PortOCall_June_9.25x11.75.indd 1 5/15/12 12:04 PM

CONTENTS

PORT CALL

14

Don’t MissNetworking Mixer

Atria Bayside Landing

3318 Brookside Rd.

November 1, 5:15 -7:15 p.m.

10CVB Welcomes New Team Member

From Your President 5

From Your CEO 6

Events 7

Leadership Stockton 8

Convention & visitors Bureau 10

New Members 12

Programs and Public 13 Policy Department

Cover Story 14

Ribbon Cuttings 16

News Briefs 17

Calendar 18

Engendering Change in the Community: The 2012 ATHENA Awards

VotedBest Painter

(209) WE-PAINT • 209wepaint.com

Best Residential PainterFour Years in a Row!

Professional, reliable, trustworthy … from start to finish!

• Interior/Exterior• Shopping Centers• HOA • Restaurants• Churches• Apartments

• Condominiums• Distribution Centers• Office Buildings• Medical Facilities• Pressure Washing• Graffiti Removal

Commercial Painting Services Offered:

Lic# 836278

(937-2468)

8

Leadership Stockton Class Community Project

NOv2012 5www.stocktonchamber.org

On behalf of the Board of Directors,

volunteers and staff of your Greater Stockton

Chamber of Commerce may I begin my

November column by wishing you all a very

Happy Thanksgiving and at the same time

sending a big thank you to all of you who make

this community so great by knowing that we

are in very difficult times and are not giving

up easily and banding together like the Love

Stockton, Stockton is Magnificent and the

ministers who gathered in Oak Park on the

same day as the other groups to let everyone

know that WE can solve our problems. They

will not give up on their community nor will their fellow law abiding, honest, non

violent, hard working (yes remember to SHOP LOCAL where 70 cents of every

dollar stays here) citizens who make this community so great.

I want to congratulate some true hero’s, in the eyes of many, who really are

what “area code 209” is and shall continue to be all about and they are, to just

name a few: The 2012 Ag Hall of Fame honorees Bruce Burlington, Gail Kautz,

Henry Long, David Simpson and Robert “Bob” Croce! 2012 Good Will Helping

Hands Award Recipient Marion Jacobs, the 2012 Athena Phyllis Grupe, the 2012

young Athena Jennifer Torres-Siders, the 2012 Athena Community Organization,

The Women’s Center of San Joaquin, the honoree’s at 48th Annual Industrial

Technology Barbecue, the past and new Chamber Leadership Stockton classes for

great projects helping so many, the Board of Directors and staff of the San Joaquin

County Fair for working hard to bring the Fair back to being a true community

event and also the dedicated and continuing year round work of the Board of

Directors and staff of the Best Food Fest in the West and the communities largest

fundraiser, the Stockton Asparagus Festival.

These are just a few examples of the folks that work hard, do not have ego

involved nor do they beat their chests nor moan and groan but just get the job done

for others and the community! There are so many other folks out there doing just

the same thing and to them a very big Thanksgiving wish! Remember to keep your

shopping dollars here.

From Your President...by: Gary J. Long

CVB Welcomes New Team Member

PORT CALL

GREATER STOCKTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE445 W. Weber Avenue, Suite 220, Stockton, CA 95203

209.547.2770 fax [email protected]

Official publication of the Greater Stockton Chamber of Commerce. Serving the Greater Stockton area business community since 1901.

CHAMBER OFFICERS

PRESIDENT Gary J. Long, Gary J. Long Jewelers

SR. vICE PRESIDENT Steven Crabtree, Herum Crabtree

FINANCIAL vICE PRESIDENTBlain Bibb, ServiceMaster Building Maintenance

vICE PRESIDENT Judith Buethe, Judith Buethe Communications

vICE PRESIDENT Dan Durst, Durst Contract Interiors

IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT Debbie Armstrong, Old Republic Title Co.

CHAMBER DIRECTORSMichael Cera, SMG/Stockton Arena/Bob Hope TheatreDonna DeMartino, San Joaquin Regional Transit DistrictPatricia V. DeSoto, Patricia V. DeSoto, CPAPat Filippone, Stockton Ports Baseball ClubLewis Gale, Eberhardt School of BusinessClint Harless, Stockton Auto Glass/Quick’s Glass ServiceMikey Kamienski, Charterhouse Center for FamiliesDan Keyser, Grupe Commercial CompanyDarryle Oakman, San Joaquin County Rental Property AssociationBakul Patel, Dorfman PacificJustin Redman, Central Valley Community BankTina Williams, Pacific Gas & Electric CompanyDiane Vigil, Dameron Hospital FoundationBob Young, Stockton Golf & Country Club

CHIEF EXECUTIvE OFFICERDouglass W. Wilhoit, Jr. 209.547.2766

PROGRAM & PUBLIC POLICY DIRECTOR/ BEAFrank Ferral 209.547.2763

SPECIAL EvENTS DIRECTORHeidi Altamirano 209.547.2764

STAFF ACCOUNTANTLia Her 209.547.2768

MEMBERSHIP DIRECTORBrittney Doty 209.337.2723

SPECIAL EvENTS/ LEADERSHIP STOCKTON COORD.Timm Quinn 209.547.2960

SCAP COORDINATOR/ ADMINISTRATIvE ASSISTANTMikki Gilbert 209.337.2730

SCAP-SE COORDINATORMichael Morales 209.337.2716

BEA/ SCAP ADMINISTRATIvE ASSISTANTDylan Bacon 209.547.2770

RECEPTIONIST/ CUSTOMER SERvICEMai Vang 209.547.2770

PUBLISHER Stockton Chamber of Commerce 209.547.2770

GRAPHIC DESIGNNever Boring Design Associates 209.526.9136

ADvERTISING Kristin Bowker 209.423.4940

PRINTINGSnyder Parks 209.466.9026

MAILINGSnyder Parks 209.466.9026

Greater

PORT CALL Greater Stockton Chamber of Commerce6

From Your CEO...by: Doug Wilhoit

Some have accused me of, when it comes to my hometown

Stockton, California Area Code 209, of wearing “rose colored

glasses” or do not see the forest for the trees when it comes to

the problems we all face here in Stockton. To those folks I say

I can understand where they are coming from for they have a

pessimistic attitude about life in general and usually are the ones

who think reality is a television show or a video game! They are

the ones that think carrying a baseball bat to a public forum and

disrespecting people who work every day to do the best they can

is a “wonderful thing!”

Well, to that I say “balderdash” for I know that for every one

negative or bad thing that happens here there are hundreds of

good things that good people of Stockton do to help others and

say thank you to their place of birth or others who have come

here from elsewhere also show there community spirit and pride.

Please see President Long’s article other examples that reinforce

that belief and below I will outline how a golf club is more positive

than a baseball bat!

Case in point is the Tuesday October 9, 2012 Record Sports

Page headline “Hometown Booster” and the accompanying story

by Record Sports Editor Bob Highfill on the very successful

Ricky Barnes Charity Pro-Am held on Monday October 8th at

the Stockton Golf and Country Club. It is even more telling the

captioned quote by Kathy Barnes, Ricky’s proud mother, “This is a

really good thing for Stockton and our community. It’s important

to Ricky and Suzanne (Ricky’s wonderful wife who was raised in

Linden) to help the place where they grew up.

In the printed program there was a message from Ricky which

read: “Welcome – The Ricky Barnes Foundation was established

by my wife, Suzanne and me to promote the physical and mental

well-being of children. We will be reaching out to children in

the San Joaquin County, many of whom come from low-income

homes. On behalf of the organizing committee we would like

to thank all our generous sponsors, donors, corporations and

personal contributors. With this support we hope to make an

impact on the youth in our community.”

The event was a huge success and benefitted The First Tee of

San Joaquin and the Obesity Prevention for Youth in San Joaquin

County. That success was not due only to Ricky and Suzanne

proudly giving back to their home community (they should get

the lion’s share of gratitude) but also to the many residents of

Stockton, San Joaquin County and outside friends (including 8

other PGA Touring Professionals who participated all day) of the

Barnes’s and Stonebarger family (Suzanne)! They served on the

Executive Committee, the Core Committee. The major sponsors

were Davis and Associates Insurance Brokers, American AgCredit

and Chase Chevrolet, the too many to list of hole sponsors, donors,

tee prize sponsors, the wine donated by the Klein family Rodney

Strong Vineyards, the silent and live auction (I was honored to be

the auctioneer) donors, the Stockton Golf and County Club staff

from the golf shop to the food and beverage staff, a very special

congratulations to Don Miller who is the Executive Director of

the First Tee of San Joaquin and his staff and volunteers who did

a wonderful job not only on this day but all through the year with

a great program.

The energy of the day and evening was so powerful that I

wish I could have bottled it and be able to spoon feed it to the

NOv2012 7@ Heidi Altamirano: [email protected]

sit back and do nothing but complain pessimists who are truly a

small part of your community but seem to permeate the air with

negative dark cloud. But each and every day there are people like

I saw on the 8th, and in President Long’s article, who help let the

sun shine through and I know we will be a better community for

it due to many just like them.

All present and who participated in so many ways showed

Ricky and Suzanne that they are truly appreciated as REAL AND

LONGLASTING HOMETOWN HEROS who will continue to

support not only those most in need here but I know they are

active in many other areas. Thank you Ricky, Suzanne and all

those who are showing the real way to be a community made up

of good people who will be here no matter how difficult a task

the community is facing and are truly “part of the solution and

not part of the problem!”

The First Tee Nine Core Values are something that is so greatly

needed more than ever today and they are : HONESTY– the quality

or state of being truthful; not deceptive. INTEGRITY —strict

adherence to a standard of value or conduct. Personal honesty

and independence. SPORTSMANSHIP – observing the rules of

play and winning or losing with grace. RESPECT—to feel or show

deferential regard for; esteem. CONFIDENCE –reliance or trust.

A feeling of self-assurance. RESPONSIBILITY – accounting for

one’s own actions; dependable. PERSEVERANCE – to persist in an

idea, purpose or task despite obstacles. COURTESY—considerate

behavior toward others. A polite remark or gesture. JUDGMENT

– the ability to make a decision or form an opinion. A decision

reached after consideration.

Hope you will share these basic human core values with

family, friends and co-workers! It would also be great if you

reached out to the First Tee of San Joaquin and/or so many

other nonprofit groups in Stockton and San Joaquin County

who are really dedicating themselves to make a real difference

in so many lives and would be forever grateful for your help of

any kind.

Eventsby: Heidi Altamarino

Chamber Diversity Mixer December 6

Make sure to mark your calendars for Thursday, December

6, because you are not going to want to miss the Chamber’s

annual Business Diversity Mixer from 5:00 p.m. - 7:15 p.m. at

the Haggin Museum in Stockton. The Greater Stockton Chamber

of Commerce, in partnership with the Hispanic Chamber, the

African-American Chamber and the Asian American Chamber,

will each feature food tastings reflecting their specific ethnicity.

Come kick off the holiday season in style and make some great

business connections while you’re at it.

PORT CALL Greater Stockton Chamber of Commerce8 @ Timm Quinn: [email protected]

Green Your Bottom Line with Product Stewardship!

Economic benefits abound: reduced operating costs, energy savings, reduced disposal costs, the creation of green jobs.

www.CalPSC.org

Design it Green | Make it Clean | Conserve Resources | Reduce | Reuse | Eliminate Toxics | Take it Back!

Become a Certified Green Business! Save money & gain customers by:

Reducing waste Conserving water and energy

Protecting public health Using recycled-content in your products

www.GreenTeamSanJoaquin.com

SMALL BUSINESS HAZARDOUS WASTE DISPOSAL*

Affordable Hazardous Waste Management for Your Business A Program of San Joaquin County Public Works

www.SJCrecycle.org (209) 468-3066

i Low cost way to safely dispose of hazardous materials. (Costs depend on your waste types.)

i Documentation that you properly manage hazardous waste.

i Assurance that the material will be disposed of properly. *Conditionally Exempt Small Quantity Generators (CESQG)

We also accept universal and electronic waste.

Leadership Stocktonby: Timm Quinn

Leadership Stockton Class Picks Community Project During Annual Retreat

Leadership Level Sponsor: Financial Center Credit Union

Pilot Level Sponsor: Delta Center for the Arts

The Leadership Stockton Class of 2013 chose their class community

project at September’s overnight retreat at Community of the Great

Commission in Forresthill. The beautiful camp welcomed the class for

their Retreat with open arms and great weather.

The class started the retreat with an expectations exercise and that

got them thinking about what to expect in the next day and a half. Then

Chris Stevens, President, Summit Solutions Consulting, LS Class of

2007, took over and led the class through some leadership theory and

fun team-building games.

The afternoon brought a fun little game called “Little Known Fact

Bingo” where the class learned fun random facts about each other.

After that, the class did an exercise learning the finer points of Voting

vs. Consensus and how they as a class will determine how to choose

their community project. Then it was time for presentations on the

three potential community projects the class was to choose from. After

the presentations, the class was free to enjoy the great outdoors for the

evening, including s’mores around the campfire. The morning light

brought a hearty breakfast followed by a discussion of the pros and

cons of all three projects. After a little discussion, the class chose their

project and planned out the leadership, subcommittees, action plan and

timeline for their project.

The Class of 2013 has chosen a “homeless assistance project” where

they will be helping the Stockton Shelter for the Homeless and the

Gospel Center Rescue Mission. It is going to be a great project!

We would like to thank Ramon Valez and Chris Stevens for coming

and sharing their expertise and working with this year’s class.

Please look for future updates on this year’s project as we follow the

class of 2013 on their journey through Community Leadership or visit

www.leadershipstockton.com for all of the latest. If you would like

more info on Leadership Stockton or wish to sponsor an upcoming

session, please contact Timm Quinn at 209.547.2770 or

[email protected].

Oak Valley COmmunity Bank

We Mean Business

1.866.844.7500 • www.ovcb.com

Experience business banking the way it should be – the perfect blend of old-fashioned personal service and modern technology to meet your every need.

Let us make your banking, our business.

“We love the efficiency and convenience of our new Remote Deposit Capture

system and the service and support we receive from Oak Valley is terrific.”

- Dr. Thomas Bianchi & Dr. William Marweg,

Delta Endodontics

Dr. Thomas Bianchi and Dr. William Marweg of Delta Endodontics with Loretta Trevena, Stockton Branch Manager, 209-320-7856

Dr. Thomas Bianchi and Dr. William Marweg of Delta Endodontics with Loretta Trevena, Stockton Branch Manager, 209-320-7856

Leadership Stocktonby: Timm Quinn

PORT CALL Greater Stockton Chamber of Commerce10 @ Wes Rhea: [email protected] www.visitstockton.org

Be sure to become a fan on our Facebook page www.facebook.com/Stockton.CVB

Convention & Visitors Bureauby: Wes Rhea

CVB Welcomes New Team Member

The Stockton Convention & Visitors Bureau is proud to announce the hiring of Heather Duffett to manage the bureau’s marketing and graphic design functions.

Duffett obtained a design certificate from San Joaquin Delta College in 2008 and a BA in graphic design from the prestigious Savannah

College of Art & Design in 2011. Heather previously worked as a graphic designer for Never Boring Design in Modesto.

Heather currently lives in Valley Springs with her husband Matt, but was born in Stockton and still has many family ties here. She enjoys baking, riding jet skis, reading and shopping.

Heather joined the SCVB team on September 17th. You can reach

out to her at [email protected].

New Initiative Focuses On The Visitor

The Stockton Tourism Ambassadors Program will be a certification program that serves to increase tourism by inspiring front-line hospitality employees and volunteers to work together to turn every

visitor encounter into a positive experience.The premise is simple. If front-line employees and volunteers

(those who come into immediate contact with the visitor) provide quality service to visitors (convention attendees, sports groups, leisure and business travelers, etc.), the visitor is more likely to have a positive experience.

Visitors who have a positive experience are more likely to return at some point in the future. And, they will share their perceptions with their friends. Everyone benefits – visitors, hospitality workers and their employers, and the local and regional economies.

This nationwide certification program is rapidly being adopted by CVBs across the country. Over 8,000 individuals have achieved the CTA designation nationwide to date, and the number continues to grow.

This huge initiative begins in October and we anticipate the kickoff of the citywide program to take place in May 2013. We hope to certify at least 100 of our front-line employees during the first year of the

Stockton Tourism Ambassadors Program. For more info call

Wes at 209.938.1551.

DON’TPROMISE

WHAT YOU CAN’T

DELIVERWhat sets us apart from our competition….dependability.

WE DELIVER WHAT WE PROMISE

Lesson #1

printing • mailing • fulfillment • promotional items • cross media marketing

parksprinting.com | 209.576.2568

NOv2012 11www.stocktonchamber.orgBe sure to become a fan on our Facebook page www.facebook.com/Stockton.CVB

For more info, contact Frank Ferral at [email protected]@

PORT CALL Greater Stockton Chamber of Commerce12

New Members For more information on becoming a new member, please call Brittney Doty

at 209.337.2723 or [email protected]. Please allow up to 90

days for your listing to show.

Photographers

Fritz Chin Photography, Inc.2014 Pacific Avenue

Stockton

www.fritzchin.com

Marketing / Advertising & Marketing

Cimoli Media Innovations205 Marina Lane

Waterford

Dentists

Dr. James L. Rore D.D.S.4255 Pacific Avenue, #12

Stockton

www.jamesroredds.com

Graffiti Removal & Cleaning

Graffiti Abatement Society of S.J., Co. Inc.3817 Steve Lillie Circle

Stockton

www.graffitiabatementsociety.cfsites.org

Educational, Consultants – Educational, Youth Organizations

Kern Community College District2100 Chester Avenue

Bakersfield

www.beccv.com

Trailers Rental Service

McKinney Trailer Rentals1021 S. Stockton Street

Stockton

www.mckinneytrailers.com

Restaurants

Nena’s Mexican Restaurant45 W. Weber Avenue #120

Stockton

www.nenasmexicanrestaurant.com

Educational

SBG Breastfeeding Center2821 N. California Street, #2

Stockton

www.sbg-breastfeedingconsultant.com

Service Organizations

Stockton Sunrise Rotary320 Lincoln Center

Stockton

Retail Shops Theatres – Live

That’s Show Biz1744 Pacific Avenue

Stockton

Social Service Organizations

valley Caps7333 Tam O’ Shanter Drive

Stockton

www.valleycaps.org

Consultants

Investment Advisory Service venture Leverage Group3520 Brookside Road

Stockton

Grocers Retail

Neighborhood Market1189 E. March Lane

Stockton

www.wal-mart.com

NOv2012 13www.stocktonchamber.org

Programs and Public Policy Departmentby: Frank Ferral

Call Mike at 800-570-5627 • sjpnet.org • [email protected]

Grow it, make it & ship it!

Connect with the San Joaquin Partnership.

• Northern California's center of commerce

serving the western US and Asia. The best

location solution for expanding

manufacturers and supply chain providers

• The San Joaquin Partnership provides

centralized confidential information

and connection to key business and

community decision makers

@ San Joaquin, USA

Thank you to our generous Green Team San Joaquin Sponsors:

What does the theme “Divert and Convert” mean?

With the Greater Stockton Chamber of Commerce’s annual

Holiday luncheon fast approaching on December 12, many

people have asked the question, “what does Divert and

Convert mean”.

Diversion

The City of Stockton current diversion rate is over 68%, which

exceeds the goals set under AB 939. Under the new 75% recycling

goal that took effect in the State of California on July 1, 2012,

certain businesses are required to increase their recycling and

divert more material from going to the general trash. This is

actually a cost savings to the business. In the City of Stockton, your

franchised waste hauler can provide you with a complimentary

recycling container (please check with your service provider for

details and availability) that should reduce the amount of trash

pickups at your place of business.

Currently, approximately 5-20% of the recyclable materials

collected in California remain in the State for remanufacturing;

the majority of the recycled materials are shipped to other parts

of the United States or to global markets. In other words, 80-95%

of our recyclable materials are leaving California, specifically to

overseas markets. So too, are our jobs, tax revenue and commerce.

Conversion

Public Resources Code (PRC) Section 41000(c) emphasizes

that recycling market development is the key to successful

and cost-effective implementation of the 50% landfill

diversion requirement throughout California, Also, pursuant

to Section 42001 of the PRC, the state must take a leadership

role in encouraging the expansion of markets for recycled

products by working cooperatively with the public, private

and nonprofit sectors.

The Recycling Build Infrastructure Now (BIN) Coalition—

which is composed of a diverse set of partners seeking to address

these joint economic and environmental goals—declares its intent

to build upon Public Resource Code Section 42001 to develop,

stabilize and expand domestic markets for recyclable materials

generated in California, expanding economic activity and job

creation in the process.

In support of this goal, recycling needs to be considered not just

as an environmental activity, but as a fundamental consideration

of land use and economic development for every region in the

state, and as a vital component of California’s infrastructure for

implementation of AB 32.

For more information on the BIN Coalition, contact Frank

Ferral at [email protected] .

American Recycling

Carpenters Local Union 152

CBC Steel Buildings

City of Stockton

Dorfman Pacific

Durst Contract Interiors

Granite Construction Co.

Healthy Air Living

Modern Energy Concepts

The Newark Group

Onsite Electronics Recycling

Pacific Gas & Electric Company

Queirolo’s Heating & Air

Conditioning, Inc.

San Joaquin Council

of Governments

San Joaquin County

Public Works

SAWS

ServiceMaster Clean

Sims Metal Management

Surtec

Valley CAN

Universal Service Recycling

PORT CALL Greater Stockton Chamber of Commerce14

F

COVER STORY

or 26 years, the Stockton

community has presented the

prestigious ATHENA award

to deserving women in the community.

Honorees are women who have

demonstrated excellence, creativity and

initiative in their business or profession,

contributed time and energy to improving

the quality of life for others in the

community and actively assisted women

in realizing their leadership potential.

The ATHENA Award was created in

1982 to help inspire women in the

business community to reach their

full potential and to create balance in

leadership worldwide. Nearly 500 different

communities hand out the awards

annually to honor notable local women

who have made a real difference in their

local or regional areas.

Within Stockton, dozens of women

have been honored with the awards.

Recipients of the ATHENA Award are

chosen by a committee of past recipients

and community leaders and are each

recognized for having made a lasting

impact in the Stockton community.

Recipients of the ATHENA Young

Professional Leadership Award recipient

are recognized as women under 40 who

are powerful and active leaders in the

Stockton community.

This year’s ATHENA Award recipient is

local philanthropist Phyllis Grupe. The

Young ATHENA recipient is University of

the Pacific Community Relations Manager

Jennifer Torres Siders.

Phyllis Grupe

Phyllis Grupe, this year’s ATHENA

Award recipient said she was floored by

the honor. “This is a wonderful group of

women who have shown great leadership

in our community and I’m just honored to

be included in their number.”

Grupe has dedicated her life to helping

her community through a variety of

nonprofit and faith-based organizations.

Since 1998, Grupe has led and developed

the Community Partnership for Families,

a group that ties together the many

organizations and programs that offer

help and support to women and families

in at-risk and other communities

throughout San Joaquin County. The

Partnership establishes resources centers

in high risk neighborhoods that serve

around 5,000 families a year with basic or

advanced social services.

As Board Chair of the Partnership,

Grupe has helped countless families find

steadier footing over the last 14 years.

“We work with families to identify their

particular needs and to help build on

their strengths so that they can move to

the next level.”

Grupe said that twenty years ago, she

had no idea she’d be working in some of

the most at-risk areas of the community.

“It’s been a pretty amazing trip and a

wonderful education for me. I’m very

proud to have been part of forming this

and watching it grow along the way.

When you see the positive results, it just

makes you want to do more. I’ve also

learned that you can’t outgive God: the

more you give, the more is given to you.

I’m very grateful for that.”

According to Grupe, many inspiring

women have shaped her life. “All the

women in my life have inspired me to do

whatever my heart led me to do. I had

a great mom and a great grandmother

and there have been so many other

women who were active in their families,

communities and businesses who have

taught me that you can really enjoy

success in many facets of your life.”

Engendering Change in the Community:

The 2012 ATHENA Awardsby: Justin Souza

Jennifer Torres Siders

Jennifer Torres Siders said she was

very surprised by the Young ATHENA

Leadership Award, as well. “It’s humbling

that anyone would think I deserved this

sort of honor,” said Torres Siders. “What

means the most to me is that people I

respect and admire would nominate me.”

As a writer who worked for over seven

years at the Record before taking

her current position as Community

Relations Manager at University of the

Pacific, Torres Siders has spent many

years encouraging and fostering youth

education in San Joaquin County.

In her role at Pacific, Torres Siders helps

lead the Beyond Our Gates initiative

which brings together community

leaders to direct the University’s efforts

to tackle challenges in the Stockton and

San Joaquin County communities. Torres

Siders has helped develop and implement

a Reading By Third goal. “We know that

if kids can’t read proficiently by the end

of third grade, they will very likely fall

behind and they become much more at

risk of dropping out in the future. That

third grade benchmark is sort of a make

or break moment in a child’s education.

Right now, only around 36% of San

Joaquin county kids are reading at grade

level by third grade.”

Torres Siders also serves the community

through leadership on the board of

the Stockton Community Council

for the United Way, the Community

Neighborhood Renaissance Committee

and El Concilio, an organization

which supports the Spanish speaking

community of San Joaquin and Stanislaus

Counties. “It’s very valuable to be part

of an organization that does so much

in the community for very vulnerable

populations,” said Torres Siders. “They

have programs for people starting from

prenatal care for expectant mothers all

the way through seniors. I think some of

the most exciting work they do is with

preschool and parent education, which

ties in nicely with our early literacy goals.”

Torres Siders said that she sees the award

as a challenge. “I am very fortunate to be

supported by strong professionals, to have

had a good education, to have had access

to many opportunities. With that comes

an obligation to give back and also prepare

young women and young people to do the

same things in their lives.”

The ATHENA Awards will be presented at

the annual ATHENA Luncheon at 11:30

a.m. on November 15, at the Stockton

Golf and Country Club. Tickets for the

event are available by calling the Greater

Stockton Chamber of Chamber

at 209.547.2770.

This is a wonderful group of women who have shown

great leadership in our community and I’m just

honored to be included in their number. –Phyllis Grupe

Phyllis Grupe and Jennifer Torres Siders

Photo by Arturo Vera

PORT CALL Greater Stockton Chamber of Commerce16

Ribbon Cuttings For additional information go to www.stocktonchamber.org

Attending Ambassadors Sylvester Aguilar, Bank of the West Tim Aguirre, Impact Promotions Tim

Aragon, Telepacific Communications Ojesa Asejo-Clark, Rabobank Gloria

Blaine, Basket Caravan & Gourmet Gifts Geri Blas, United States Postal Service

Tracee Bucio, Hands on Healing Carol Clemons, Angel’s Caring Helpers Alisa

Cline, Costco Becky Deal, Rabobank Shannon Ding, Assemblymember Bill

Berryhill’s Representative Kristen Dyke, Port City Marketing Sally Fandrich,

Allied Waste Gary Ghan, Brooksfalls Water Steve Glovsky, Kamps Propane

Patti Gulick, New Image Signs Blair Hake, Ameriprise Financial Services

Alex Halcon, City of Stockton Nick Harbut, Eco Chic Salon Elaine Harlan,

The River, KRVR 105.5 Tom Hobbs, Park West Self Storage Jeff Johnson,

Central Valley Business Journal Glenn Jose, H.O.P.E. Loretta Lee, CA DEPT

of Rehabilitation Jennifer Lewis, Stockton Hilton Chester Lum, ABC Wallace

Funeral Services Frank Martinez, H.O.P.E. Reggie Martinez, UEI College

Marilyn Mason, RHA Mark McDonald. Legal Shield Rich McDonald,

Dale Carnegie John Medina, H.O.P.E. Ross Moerman, Doctor Data Aldo

Montijo, Premier Chiropractic Tyler Moran, Central California Safety Council

Gillian Murphy, Small Business Development Center at SJ Delta College

John Paval, Kansas City Life Ellen Powell, Assemblymember Cardoza’s

Representative Rich & Cherie Pruitt, RP Painting Specialists Annie Randazzo,

Allied Waste Diana Reyes, St. Joseph’s Employee Assistance Program Maria

Rosado, California Human Development vince Rosato, New Image Signs

Fernando Ruelas, Kaplan College Dora Ruiz, EZ Network Systems Zack

Sharkey, Stockton Ports Baseball Club Michelle Sherlock, Optimal Hospice

Care Melanie Speer, Costco Max vargas, Assemblymember Galgiani’s

Representative Gregory Walther, Press F1 Computer Services Ed Wanket,

WorkNet Sam Ward, Xango vernel Wofford, Vernel’s Photography, Inc.

Ph

oto

grap

hy b

y: Ulm

er P

ho

to

Networking MixerOctober 4, University Plaza Waterfront Hotel

Venture Leverage Group

3520 Brookside Road Stockton

Stockton Breastfeeding Center

2821 N. California Street, Suite 2 Stockton

San Joaquin County Fair

1658 S. Airport Way Stockton

Patriot Logistics

4447 S. Airport Way Stockton

NOv2012 17www.stocktonchamber.org

Erna Murphy

Musical Evening to Honor

Erna Murphy

The Stockton Opera Guild and Opera

Association are proud to recognize

the contributions of Erna Murphy at

“The Curtain Goes Up” on November

1, 2012 from 6:00-8:30 p.m. at the

Stockton Golf & Country Club, 3800

West Country Club Blvd.

Guests will enjoy fine wines and a dinner buffet plus musical

entertainment. Cost is $50 per person. The event benefits the

Stockton Opera Guild’s Kathe Underwood Scholarship fund. Info:

209.475.9795, www.StocktonOperaGuild.org,

[email protected]

Gordon Zuckerman, a successful retired

businessman who was born and raised in

Stockton, will be signing copies of his new

book “The Sentinels: A Matter of Importance”

at The Haggin Museum on Thursday,

November 15, at 7 p.m. Now retired,

Zuckerman is the director of The Brubeck

Institute and several private companies.

His debut novel, “The Sentinels: Fortunes of

War,” was a No. 1 best-seller on Amazon.com in the WWII thriller-

fiction category. Call 209.940.6312 or visit hagginmuseum.org

Strike Out Homelessness Fundraising Bowling Tournament

Saturday, December 1st, 2012

Pacific Avenue Bowl 5939 Pacific Ave, Stockton, CA 95207

11:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.

The Leadership Stockton Class of 2013 has chosen to upgrade the

Stockton Shelter for the Homeless and the Gospel Rescue Mission

for their year-long community service project.

You are invited to join with us in supporting these worthy projects

by sponsoring and participating in the “Strike Out Homelessness”

Bowling Tournament fundraiser. Please help us spread the word

by liking us on Facebook-Leadership

Stockton 2013 page.

The tournament will be held on Saturday,

December 1st at Pacific Avenue Bowl,

5939 Pacific Ave, Stockton, CA 95207,

from 11:00am-3:00pm with 2 bowling times, 11:00am-1:00pm and

1:00pm-3:00pm. To get more information on sponsoring, donating

a raffle prize or to sign up your bowling team please contact Donnie

Hernandez at (209) 482-6075 or [email protected].

The Stockton Chorale will a “Make a Joyful Noise” for the Holidays

at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, November 30 at the Central United

Methodist Church, 3700 Pacific Avenue, Stockton and at 3:00 p.m.

on Saturday, December 1 at St John’s Episcopal Church, 1055 S.

Lower Sacramento Road, Lodi. Single tickets are $20 in advance

from www.stocktonchorale.org or Chorale members or $25 at the

door for adults and $5 for students.

OUT

News BriefsSubmission Guidelines: News Briefs must be submitted before the first of each month to [email protected]. Please put “PORT O CALL” in the subject line. Submissions must be no longer than 50 words total and should include contact information. News Briefs will be included on a space available basis and may be edited for content.

PORT CALL Greater Stockton Chamber of Commerce18

Contact the Chamber at 209.547.2770 for more info*

Calendar November 2012Highlights11/1- Networking Mixer – 5:15 - 7:15 p.m.

@ Atria Bayside Landing

3318 Brookside Rd

also don’t miss... 12/6 - Business Diversity Mixer - 5:00-7:15 p.m.

@ Haggin Museum

1201 N.Pershing Ave.

12/12 - Munchies at the MuRF Holiday Luncheon

1 Networking Mixer – 5:15 - 7:15 p.m. @ Atria Bayside Landing

2 ATHENA Committee Meeting – 8:00 @ Chamber Conference Room

2 Leadership Stockton Economy Session – 8:00 -5:00 p.m. @ Stockton Metropolitan Airport

8 Manufacturers Industrial Distribution Roundtable – 7:30 a.m. @ TBA

9 Government Relations Council – 7:30 a.m. @ Chamber Conference Room

11 Liaison Committee Meeting – 12 p.m.-1p.m. @ Chamber Conference Room

12 Chamber Offices Closed in observance of Veteran’s Day

14 Executive Committee Meeting – 7a.m. @ Stockton Golf & Country Club

15 2012 ATHENA Luncheon – 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. @ Stockton Golf & Country Club

19 Liaison Committee Meeting – 12 p.m. - 1p.m. @ Chamber Conference Room

20 Effective Strategies Group – 8 a.m. @ Chamber Conference Room

28 Business Education Alliance – 3:30 p.m. @ Chamber Conference Room

30 Government Relations Council – 7:30 a.m @ Chamber Conference Room

A Unique Community Banking Experience

Member FDIC www.bankbac.com

We Help You Succeed

It’s not our promises that are unique ... it’s our ability to

fulfill them!

Claudia Cozad

[email protected]

VP, Commercial Banking OfficerEddie Lira

[email protected]

VP, Commercial Banking Officer

Highlights11/1- Networking Mixer – 5:15 - 7:15 p.m.

@ Atria Bayside Landing

3318 Brookside Rd

also don’t miss... 12/6 - Business Diversity Mixer - 5:00-7:15 p.m.

@ Haggin Museum

1201 N.Pershing Ave.

12/12 - Munchies at the MuRF Holiday Luncheon

Our doctors treat you like you’re one in a million. Not one of millions.From giving you access to some of the most respected hospitals and doctor groups in the region, to providing access to a large array of specialists, choosing the Sutter Health network of doctors and hospitals means you’re choosing a network that is committed to you.

Choose a Sutter doctor and get a health partner you can count on.

TheDoctorForYou.com/CentralValley

01124

01124_OE_PortOCall_Ads-2012.indd 2 9/20/12 8:30 AM

The Greater Stockton Chamber of Commerce would like to thank the U.S. Department of Energy and the City of Stockton

for their support of the REACON program!

Our collaboration is reducing the cost of doing business through environmental stewardship!

Helping Local Businesses Prosper Since 1901

WWW.GREENTEAMSANJOAQUIN.COM AD FUNDED BY THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY