Sept 2012 – President’s Article by Paul Barich

        Get ready to vote. Our City Council election is just 60 days away. Your Chamber will review all the candidates and endorse the people we feel will best represent the business community.  

        The holiday season will be here before you know it. Remember to “Shop Redlands First”, starting with your Halloween costumes and candy.

        Our Mud Run is “stuck in the mud” because of difficulty in locating a large enough vacant property to hold the event. We plan to have the problem solved very soon so keep your mud runners ready and stay tuned for the announcement of both date and place.

        This is a short message this month but things are happening in the in the next couple of months so until then, keep shopping in Redlands.

Sept 2012 – Another Shop Redlands Winner Announced

     Congratulations to Sue Young, the lucky winner of the Shop Redlands, August  $100 Massage Gift Certificate provided by Zack Zacharias with Zack’s Hands, located at 17 South 5th Street in Redlands.

     Bring in your shopping receipts from chamber members or local businesses and be eligible for the drawing that will be held the last day of September. By shopping at chamber members you will receive two tickets for the drawing, non member receipts qualify you for one ticket. The member directory can be found on the Chamber’s web site at www.Redlandschamber.org. The receipts must be $25 or more.

       Once again congratulations to Sue Young, and thank you to Zack Zacharias with Zack’s Hands. Here we go again …… let’s get shopping inRedlands!

Sept 2012 – President elect announces directors

President Elect Bachiu announces slate of Directors

            President Elect Daney Bachiu, Redlands Blueprint and Commercial Press, announces slate of Directors for Chamber Board.

            Jennifer Dobbs: University ofRedlands has been asked to continue her service on the Board for another three years. Dobbs has been a model Director volunteering both her time and talent when ever and where ever needed. She devoted two days of cheerful reception to Redlands Chamber LIVE, has acted as the coordinator of the Small Business Committee, has spearheaded the effort to update the Chamber’s outdated computer equipment, serves on the Rise n Shine Committee and assisted in shifting the Chamber’s newsletter from print to e-news taking on the design and technical challenge of tutoring staff. Dobbs is the University’s Chamber’s President’s Circle representative.

            Matt Leeds: Whitefrog Design, will be joining the Board of Directors for a three year term of office. Matt has been instrumental in bringing the Chamber into the tech world by first designing and maintaining the extraordinary interactive Chamber website. He also took on the challenging Redlands Mud Run site and was responsible for the lightening fast logo designs and graphic genius that is helping launch the first time event.Leeds was instrumental in streaming Redlands Chamber Live to a mass audience online and has been the patient tech teacher to Chamber staff.

            Ken Ramirez: San Manuel Indian Bingo & Casino, steps onto the Board representing the tribe and organization. San Manuel Indian Bingo & Casino, has long been a supporter of the Redlands Chamber participating in Redlands Chamber LIVE as a major sponsor, and as a President’s Circle Member, Ramirez is a long time Redlands resident and is eager to roll up his sleeves and dig into business end of the organization.

            “I am pleased to present this slate of willing leaders, each committed to the organization and willing to contribute time and talent to lead our Chamber over the next three years.” said Bachiu.

            The organizations’ Bylaws provide for additional nominees by petition signed by 20 members in good standing. Petitions must be filed at the Chamber office fifteen days after public notification, a general election will allow.

 

Sept 2012 – Chamber announces PAC

            The Redlands Chamber Board of Directors voted to approve the formation of the Redlands Political Action Committee (REBAC) to assist local candidates seeking office. REBAC is dedicated to striving to create a local legislative environment that is open and fair when considering business issues. REBAC Trustees will gather information, interview candidates and support those who best represent business and economic interests.

            A political action committee is a committee that raises money, typically by a personal voluntary contribution, from people that have a common interest or belong to an organization. All contributions are strictly voluntary and completely separate from Chamber dues monies. The purpose of political action committees is to give organizations, companies and other groups, a vehicle for supporting candidates and issues. There are very specific rules that a PAC must follow as it relates to contributions and expenses. A local PAC can solicit personal, voluntary contributions from members of the organization and their families and can use those contributions to provide resources to the committees of political candidates of their choosing. They may also use PAC resources to pay for campaign material on behalf of the candidate they are supporting.

            By law, the PAC is required to have chairman and treasurer upon registering and soliciting funds. Bylaws developed by the PAC help to outline the role of all of the parties involved within the PAC and should clearly explain the process for determination of a PAC contribution. Members may feel more willingness to contribute if they know exactly how the PAC committee will function. Bylaws of the PAC will allow member to see exactly how the PAC will function.

Sept 2012 – Shop Redlands First….it pays!

          In an effort to encourage customers to Shop Redlands First through the year the Chamber has successfully administered a campaign that has been both fun and fruitful for all the businesses inRedlandsespecially Chamber members.

            Each month the Chamber has offered a prize valued at $100 or more. Shoppers have been encouraged to bring original receipts from Redlands businesses showing purchases of $25 or more to the Chamber office, the date on the receipt reflecting the date of the month of the drawing.  The receipts are signed by the Chamber staff and exchanged for a ticket… the customer fills out address and phone number and the ticket  is placed in a basket to be a part of the month end drawing. If the receipt is from a Chamber member the customer gets two tickets (Chamber members can be found on the Chamber’s website).

            At the end of each month a drawing takes place for the $100 prize and the winner is announced on the Chamber’s website, in an email blast and in the Redlands Quarterly Magazine Chamber page as well as the local press. Shoppers have flocked to the Chamber office each month with receipts vying for gift cards, cash cards, gas cards and more.

            President of the Chamber Paul Barich, Barich & Associates Insurance, who originally brought the idea to the organization, said, “It’s a great program that hopefully makes people stop and think about shopping locally first. It’s important to keep the dollars local, to support our local businesses and to champion the small business owners ofRedlands.”

Why shop local?

1. Protect Local Character and Prosperity

Redlandsis unlike any other city in the world.  By choosing to support locally owned businesses, you help maintainRedlands’ diversity and distinctive flavor.

2. Community Well-Being

Locally owned businesses build strong neighborhoods by sustaining communities, linking neighbors, and by contributing more to local causes.

3. Local Decision Making

Local ownership means that important decisions are made locally by people who live in the community and who will feel the impacts of those decisions.

4. Keeping Dollars in the Local Economy

Your dollars spent in locally-owned businesses have three times the impact on your community. When shopping locally, you simultaneously create jobs, fund more city services through sales tax, invest in neighborhood improvement and promote community development.

5. Job and Wages

Locally owned businesses create jobs.

6. Entrepreneurship

Entrepreneurship fuelsAmerica’s economic innovation and prosperity, and serves as a key means for families to move out of low-wage jobs and into the middle class.

7. Public Benefits and Costs

 Local stores in town centers require comparatively little infrastructure and make more efficient use of public services.8. Environmental Sustainability

Local stores help to sustain vibrant, compact, walkable town centers-which in turn are essential to reducing sprawl, automobile use, and air pollution.

9. Competition

A marketplace of tens of thousands of small businesses is the best way to ensure innovation and low prices over the long-term.

10. Product Diversity

A multitude of small businesses, each selecting products based, not on a national sales plan, but on their own interests and the needs of their local customers, guarantees a much broader range of product choices.

 

Sept 2012 – Business Profile – West Coast Dermatology

     Dermatology Billing Associates (DBA) and West Coast Dermatology Billers (WCDB) were founded in 1995 and 1996, respectively, by Inga Ellzey, who also is the founder and current president of the Inga Ellzey Practice Group, the nation’s leading dermatology-consulting company.  Both companies are widely recognized as leaders and innovators in the dermatology billing.

     Dermatology Billing Associates was started as a joint venture between Ellzey and Medical Software Management (creator in the late 1980s and early 1990s of the popular Kiron billing software).  Noticing a growing demand across the country for dermatology billing services, Ellzey co-founded WCDB as a joint venture with Medical Software Management and a group of prominent Southern California dermatologists.  A third company, PPA Billing, was founded by Ellzey in 1998 and eventually merged with BDA in early 2002.

     Ellzey eventually bought out her partners and continued to grow and develop both companies.  Today, DBA and WCDB combined are ranked in the top 50 of all billing companies nationally, and currently service more than 100 dermatology practices in 28 states.  Professional services are administered by a staff of 85 billing specialists and 10 senior managers.

     Dermatology Billing Associates and West Coast Dermatology Billers strive to provide physicians, their staff, and their patients with a WOW experience in every aspect of the billing process.  They strive to make their clients feel special, to value their organization, and to be a proud business partner.  To that end, they do their best to help them maximize profitability by outperforming billing-industry benchmarks and reducing long-term billing costs.

To learn more visit www.wcdermbillers.com.

 

 

 

Sept 2012 – Business Profile – Redlands Auto Center

           Redlands Auto Plaza, a Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram Mazda dealer in Redlands, has a very clear mission – to provide outstanding products and service to our clients, and strive to make every client a raving fan of the dealership.  We have been serving the business community through our retail sales for the past 2 years, and to improve our sales and service we recently appointed Alex Delgado to focus on developing and better serving our business clients.

            Outstanding Selection, Easy Financing with Extended Warranty options, and great trade in or purchase values are important to every customer, but the business customer also demands even higher levels of professionalism and knowledge to meet their business transportation needs.  Our Chrysler Business Link franchise offers many unique advantages to commercial clients including additional benefits such as additional rebates, no cost maintenance programs, commercial graphics installation allowances, and specialized equipment upfits.

            Please contact Alex Delgado at (909) 793-2141, or on his cell at (951) 852-8430 to discuss your business transportation needs; he will be your advocate for all your cars, trucks, SUV’s or even specialized service or parts requirements. 

           Redlands Auto Plaza is located at500 W. Redlands Blvd,Redlands,CA

Sept 2012 – Renewing Chamber Members August 2012

A Storage Place
Ray Atencio
650 New York Street
Redlands,CA 92374
792-0185
 
Arrow Staffing
Matt Thalmayer
499W. State Street
Redlands,CA 92373
792-1252
 
Arrowhead Orthopaedics
Nabil Razzouk
1901 W. Lugonia Avenue, Suite 230
Redlands,CA 92374
557-1600
 
CitrusValleyPlumbing
Jill Riley
Redlands,CA 92374
792-5461
 
Congregation Etz Hadar
Michael Humack
516 Texas Street
Redlands,CA 92374
792-8792
 
Covington Engineering Corporation
Dan Drouault
715W. Colton Avenue
Redlands,CA 92374
793-6636
 
First California Bank
Wayne Stair
218 E. State Street
Redlands,CA 92373
798-3611
 
Geoffrey H. Hopper & Associates, Inc.
Michelle De Johnette
645 Brookside Avenue
Redlands,CA 92373
798-9800
 
Inland Temporary Homes
Jeff Little
26300 Mission Road
Loma Linda,CA 92354
795-6381
 
JDRF-Juvenile Diabetes Research
Tamara Moreno
2023 Chicago Avenue, Suite B-13
Riverside,CA 92507
951-784-4156
 
King House Dental Group
Steve Tatevossian
529 Brookside Avenue
Redlands,CA 92373
792-5000
 
L. Ray Ashworth, CPA
L. Ray Ashworth
1101 Orange Street
Redlands,CA 92374
307-0880
 
Lifehouse Theater Productions
Wayne Scott
1135 No.Church Street
Redlands,CA 92374
335-3037
 
Outback Physiotherapy Centre
Teresa Rogers
1189W. State Street
Redlands,CA 92373
307-9121
 
Party Plus, Inc.
Randy Rozema
24831 Redlands Blvd
Loma Linda,CA 92354
796-3388
 
Primecare ofRedlands
Gladeen Peterson
1520 Barton Road
Redlands,CA 92373
798-7766
 
Procare Physical Therapy
Ed Castro
1752 Orange Tree Lane
Redlands,CA 92374
307-2244
 
RedlandsBaseball for Youth
Dave Eason
P. O. Box7875
Redlands,CA 92375
793-4895
 
RedlandsBenchwarmers
Dave Eason
P. O. Box824
Redlands,CA 92373
 
RedlandsCommunity Foundation
David Wilson
Redlands,CA 92373
792-7225
 
RedlandsUnifiedSchool District
Lori Rhodes
20W. Lugonia Avenue
Redlands,CA 92374
307-5300
 
San BernardinoCountySuptof Schools
Susan Oberhelman
601 North “E” Street
San Bernardino,CA 92405
386-2413
 
Stater Bros. Markets #18, #89 and #112
KenyaGray
301 South Tippecanoe Avenue
San Bernardino,CA 92324
733-5437
 
 

Sept 2012 – New Chamber Members for August 2012

Welcome to our newest Chamber Members:

 CORNER BAKERY CAFÉ
Kristi Smith
402 No.Orange Street
Redlands,CA 92374
Web Site:  www.cornerbakerycafe.com
(TO OPEN END OF SEPT)
 
DEVI FOR MARIO’S OF PALM SPRINGS
Debbie Foland
109AEast State Street
Redlands,CA 92373
Phone:  792-9789
 
JAM SPORTSWEAR
Mike Sullivan
325Alabama,Suite1
Redlands,CA 92373
Phone:  798-4552        Fax:  798-0703
 
ROK “N” FONDUE
Marlisa Hodgin
25 E. State Street
Redlands,CA 92373
(TO OPEN END OF OCT)
 
SHARP VINE MARKETING, INC.
Richard Guy
301 9th Street, Suite 100
Redlands,CA 92374
Phone:  307-1111       
Web Site:  www.sharpvinemarketing.com

Sept 2012 – City News by Mayor Pete Aquilar

Economic Development.  Street and Road Repair.  Increased patrol and police presence.  Safety Hall.  Investments in Parks and Open Space. The Redlands Mall.  Balanced Budgets.

By Mayor Pete Aguila

     Which of these priorities is the most important to Redlands? Which is most important to you? Or is there something we’re missing that should be prioritized above all of these.

      The City has no shortage of important priorities.  But we do have limited staff, revenues and resources to address everything that is important to our residents and local businesses. So how should the City allocate available resources to address those things that are most important to the greatest number of people?

     The truth is, the City doesn’t have all the answers.  What priorities are we missing?  Which are the top priorities? How do we stretch existing resources or find new resources to address each?

    What can the City do to attract high quality businesses, retain those we have and assure the success of our local economy?

         How do we make the significant capital investment needed to reverse decades of neglect on our City’s streets and roads?

      What is the appropriate size and role for our police force, which has been reduced along with other City departments as a result of decreasing revenues? And how does the City address the Police Department’s need for a permanent facility to replace the shuttered Safety Hall?

          Our parks, trees and open space are a large part of Redlands’ unique character. What can we do to properly maintain them and even expand our open space for current and future generations?

          The City doesn’t own the Redlands Mall and talks with the owners have been unproductive. How can we use the City’s existing asset – the parking around the mall – to encourage quality development there? Or is there another direction we should be taking?

          And, in the midst of all of these priorities, how do we maintain a balanced budget and continue to build reserves, as we’ve done for the past five years? 

          The City Council has asked for comprehensive review of these issues and will give direction to City staff to map out a strategy to address a few of these concerns at a coming meeting in October.

          The input from community stakeholders is essential. We welcome and appreciate your thoughts and comments as we begin to shape those discussions.

          As we begin these discussions, there are sure to be a wide range of opinions. This City Council has proven that we can work together to discuss important issues and significant differences in an atmosphere of respect, hammering out solutions that are in the best interest of our community. While we don’t always agree on items and priorities there is a genuine openness and desire to hear from each other and the community before we make decisions.

          The City Council and staff stand ready and committed toward setting priorities and discussing solutions with public input in the weeks ahead.  Be sure to let us know what you think.