MAY 2019 – President’s article by Marissa Kramer

Happy May Redlands Chamber Members!

Where does the time go? It seems like a few short weeks ago we were ringing in the New Year with the Orange Drop and now we are facing the end of the school year, planning summer vacations, and looking forward to those guaranteed high temperatures again. Sounds like fun, right?

This month we had the pleasure of welcoming and participating in the Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting of Bestdrive Tires, on Pioneer Avenue. Welcome to the Chamber! Coming up this month we have Calwest Bank and Apple One, on May 14th and 16th respectively. If you’d like to host a Ribbon Cutting or Re-Grand Opening, please let the Chamber Office know so we can add you to the schedule!

The Young Professionals Network hosted an extremely informative and fun Coffee with Fill featuring Paul Ideker of the Redlands Symphony. If I may take the liberty of speaking for the whole group at attended, we were all so pleasantly and absolutely surprised with how much we enjoyed hearing from Paul! What an important organization to our City the Symphony is, we should all take pride in, and support the Symphony! The Symphony is scheduled to perform twice this summer during the Redlands Bowl it will be well worth it to come out and support two wonderful Redlands organizations!

The State of the Community Luncheon is scheduled for Friday, June 21st at the Orton Center at the University of Redlands. This is one of the largest events that the Chamber partners with the City on and it definitely a ‘who’s who’ of Redlands! Anyone who is anyone is at the State of the City luncheon! PLEASE RSVP early and save our staff of twenty, I mean Jan, an unnecessary heart attack.

Circa 2020 hosted Business to Business for March, thank you to the entire team at Circa 2020 for opening your doors and making us all feel welcome! If you have an event space or venue and you’d like to host a Business to Business, please contact the Chamber Office.

The Executive Search Committee is accepting and reviewing resumes for the position of “Fearless Leader” of this great organization! If you (or someone you know) is interested in becoming the next Executive Director for the Chamber of Commerce they can always reach out to me directly or the Chamber Office.

 

Sincerely,

Marissa Kramer

2019 Chamber President

May 2019 – Member Profile – Redlands Floorhouse

 

Redlands Floorhouse a family tradition since 1938

In 1980, in a tiny location on West State Street, Mike Flood opened the Redlands Floorhouse. Mike is a third-generation wood flooring contractor, learning the trade from his father and grandfather. Hugh Flood brought his family from Oklahoma to the San Bernardino Valley in 1938. He and his sons made a successful business installing and finishing wood floors throughout the Inland Empire. When Mike was a teenager, he too went to work for his grandfather. Years later, Mike opened his business in Redlands using a unique blend of modern technology and the Flood Family’s Old-World craftsmanship. Mike’s son, Caleb, inherited the Flood family’s love for wood floors and has made the company four generations strong.

They pride themselves on having one of the most extensive showrooms in the Southland.  Stop in for a visit and browse countless samples of hardwood, laminate, tile, carpet and vinyl.  You can even check samples out for viewing in the comfort of your own home.

Ask any trendy stylist or interior designer, and chances are you’ll get the same answer. The key to a fashion-forward, pulled-together appearance all comes down to selecting the right accessories. Your home’s no different. The key to a major decorating success often lies in the small details.

The experts at Redlands Floorhouse can help you every step of the way from choosing the perfect flooring the accessories that will tie everything together.

Visit the showroom at 36 W. Stuart, or contact the team at 909 798-2644. Log on to www.redlandsfloorhouse.com to learn more about your local flooring specialists.

MAY 2019 – Pay your taxes? More may be on the way

Pay Your Taxes? Take a breath, more may be on the way

By – Loren Kaye,Calchamber

More than $15 billion in tax increases – mostly aimed at business taxpayers – await hearings and decisions in the Legislature. If the tax proposals get that far (they require two-thirds approval by the Legislature), then new Governor Newsom will have his say.

California’s treasury is awash in surplus revenues, more than $13 billion when the Governor introduced his budget in January, which is on top of a nearly-filled Rainy Day Reserve. Economic growth signals remain strong. And we haven’t seen the last of budget-brimming Silicon Valley IPOs that will boost revenues even more.

The response to this bounty of good fiscal news? Raise taxes!

Record budget surpluses have been met with record tax increase proposals. Here’s just a taste:

Massive corporate tax increase. A state senator is proposing one of the steepest corporate tax increases ever contemplated in California. It would bring the top tax rate for some companies to an eye-popping 22.26%, about 150% higher than today’s rate. It would make the California corporate tax rate easily the highest in the nation.

Were this $5 billion tax increase to pass, California would have the highest or second-highest tax rates nationally for income taxes, corporation taxes, sales taxes and motor vehicle fuel taxes.

While the author means this bill to attack alleged wage disparities and foreign outsourcing, it would likely have little effect on those objectives and more likely have the easily-anticipated effect of harming workers in California or elsewhere in the United States.

While CEO compensation is a favorite topic of class warriors, this legislation ignores the enormous responsibility placed on these individuals to maintain or improve the success of a company that creates jobs for hundreds or thousands of workers, and value for thousands of shareholders, including pension funds.

Companies have also been reshoring jobs from overseas steadily since the beginning of the recovery, with more than a half million jobs returning since 2010 because of better access to skills, favorable transportation or marketing needs.

A $5 billion tax increase cannot just be waved away by corporate taxpayers. This bill would increase revenues from this source by about a third, but would fall on just a small percentage of corporate taxpayers. The malignant effects inevitably would include reduction of workforce or constraint in workers’ pay or benefits. Another outcome could be a reduction in the value of the company, which would affect shareholders. Note that more than 20 percent of household assets are in stocks, and retirement plans own a majority of corporate stock.

Corporate tax revenues in California are at record highs, having increased by 80 percent since 2012. Federal tax reform broadened the corporate tax base and has generated more revenues for the state, and on a parallel track, the Governor has proposed further conformity to the federal tax law to bring in even more revenues.

New taxes on food, farmers and innovation. Another Senator will be proposing to eliminate a dozen tax incentives and exemptions, raising at least $8 billion in general revenues. The key changes: (1) eliminating the sales tax exemption for meat and fish, for animal feed and medicine, and for plants, seed and fertilizer used for food production, (2) eliminating tax credits that encourage companies to create innovation in California, and (3) eliminating a longstanding separate tax benefit for small business pass-through organizations (called Subchapter S firms) to help the owners minimize double-taxation.

California hasn’t taxed food for generations, or what’s necessary to grow food, so now is the right time to hit low income consumers the hardest? That one is a head-scratcher.

This bill would also repeal the research and development tax credit, which rewards innovative activity in California, which in turn is the main engine for small business growth and the creation of well-paid, middle class jobs.

According to the Milken Institute, innovation is crucial for the creation of high-quality jobs and strong economic growth, and in the global race for innovation, California enjoys advantages that others envy. California’s research credit is a crucial part of the tax environment that businesses evaluate in choosing whether to site new research activity in California or in another innovation hub.

Exhumation of the California death tax. Repealed by voters in 1982, another state senator has proposed imposing a new inheritance and gift tax at a 35% rate, on estates valued at more than $3.5 million, up to the point where the federal inheritance tax kicks in. The tax would in effect step into the void vacated by the federal tax reform, which upped the estate exemption to $11.4 million . This bill would directly affect many small business and farm owners who seek to pass along their businesses to family. The tax base is not indexed for inflation, so as time goes on will capture more estates of lower value.

But wait, there’s more. In the category of products that are unpopular or unfashionable:

  • new tax on sweetened soft drinks, targeting a single product to pay for health programs that have many causes and beneficiaries.
  • new tax on oil and gas produced in California that will increase costs, prices, carbon emissions, out-of-state oil imports, and cut jobs in the hard-pressed San Joaquin Valley.
  • new tax on pain-killer pharmaceuticals, which will increase costs and potentially reduce availability of drugs for some of patients who most need pain medication.
  • new tax on tires to pay for water pollution that comes from many sources.
  • Lurking in the background and awaiting launch: a new tax on business services.

MAY 2019 – Member Profile – Right at Home, Home Care

Right at Home, home care services specific to your loved one’s needs

Right at Home offers caregiving services for almost any family and practically any situation. In-home care lets loved ones enjoy healthy lives in the comfort of a familiar environment. The Right at Home team tailors care to your unique situation through a Custom Care Plan. These individualized care programs include whatever your loved one needs from any of our care categories:

Right at Home provides the right care to California seniors with in-home care services that fall into several categories, including special care situations due to medical conditions.

The in-home caregivers are trained to handle the needs of your loved ones.

Owner Terry Jeffers has a background working in sales and marketing with major corporations. He developed an interest in senior care after watching some of his grandparents go through the dementia process. The experience made him realize that he wanted to work with others to help them get through the same challenges. Another grandmother, who lives on her own, fell and broke her hip. He witnessed how important it was for her to have extra assistance after she was sent home.

Co-owner Lisa Jeffers, worked for the California Department of Social Services for 12 years in the disability evaluation program. She also worked in licensing for group homes and assisted living facilities. While working for the state part of her responsibilities included conducting abuse investigations and testifying at hearings. She worked closely with Child and Adult Protective Services, Alzheimer’s Association, the District Attorney’s office, law enforcement, hospice agencies, the medical community and other agencies to protect and promote the health, welfare, safety and quality of life of each person in care.

To learn more about Right at Home care services contact Terry or Lisa at 909 795-8838 or log onto www.rightathome.net.

MAY 2019 – New Chamber Members – April 2019

APPLE ONE – SAN BERNARDINO
Mark Petrash
1955 Hunts Lane, Suite 201
San Bernardino, CA 92408
Phone: 884-6351

FABULOUS FINDS OF REDLANDS
Jeff Diehl
200 W. Redlands Blvd
Redlands, CA 92373
Phone: 478-1000

HOMETIME WINDOWS AND DOORS
Judith Molden
1081 W. 9th Street
Upland, CA 91786
Phone: 982-1400

MB COLLISION CENTER
Cyndi Schuyler
335 Iowa
Redlands, CA 92373
Phone: 335-0005

ELITE CAR STEREO INC
Fabian Pina
1647 W. Redlands Blvd, Suite E
Redlands, CA 92373
Phone: 335-7191

MACHETE, TACOS & CRAFT BEER
Elena Bonifaz
1580 Barton Road, Unit C
Redlands, CA 92373

PEOPLEREADY
Jacklynn Carswell
1776 Calimesa Blvd
Calimesa, CA 92320
Phone: 795-4731

REDLANDS SMP
Cisco Canizales
108 Orange Street, Suite 6
Redlands, CA 92373
Phone: 488-6267

SELF MADE TRAINING FACILITY
Mark Ayala
1380 Industrial Park
Redlands, CA 92374
Phone: 936-9853

THE WEDDING SINGER LA
Dante LaMadrid
Apple Valley, CA  92307
Phone:  818-392-4988

THRIVE AFFORDABLE VET CARE
Ross Massimiano, DVM
27580 W. Lugonia Avenue
Redlands, CA 92374
Phone: 748-1858

VAC AND BOBBIN
Ken Grier
Redlands, CA 92374
Phone: 674-2499

 

MAY 2019 – Chamber members renewing April 2019

ALL FOUR PAWS PET CARE
Elizabeth Kulbin
P. O. Box 1322
Redlands, CA
Phone:  380-1337

BILL & WAG’S INC.
John Brewer
945 W. Brookside Avenue
Redlands, CA 92374
Phone: 798-4863

BURGESON’S HEAT & AIR CONDITIONING
Kathi Cochran
P. O. Box 7310
Redlands, CA 92375
Phone: 793-3685

COLDREN’S CLEANING CREW
David Coldren
P.O. Box 8181
Redlands, CA 92375
Phone: 215-2533

COMMUNICATIONS LAB
Barbara Thomas
701 E. Chapmen Avenue
Orange, CA 92866
Phone: 949-215-5539

DAVE & VIRGINIA BARNES
ASSOCIATE MEMBER
Redlands, CA 92373

FAMILY SERVICES OF REDLANDS
Kyra Stewart
612 Lawton Street
Redlands, CA 92373
Phone: 793-2673

ENTERPRISE FUNDING CORPORATION
Jeff Sceranka
300 E. State Street, Suite 230
Redlands, CA 92373
Phone: 792-3803

HOME INSTEAD SENIOR CARE
Kim Hicken
461 Tennessee, Suite O
Redlands, CA 92373
Phone:  370-0343

INLAND PRESORT & MAILING SERVICES
Nick Chudasama
2025 W. Park Avenue, Suite 8
Redlands, CA 92373
Phone: 307-1300

JOHN & CAROL JAMES
ASSOCIATE MEMBER
Redlands, CA 92373

JUNIOR’S PARTY RENTAL CORPORATION
Silva Gonzalez
1154 Brookside Avenue, Suite CC
Redlands, CA 92373
Phone: 798-7180

MONTESSORI IN REDLANDS
Lisa Oliver
1890 Orange Avenue
Redlands, CA 92373
Phone: 793-6989

MOUNTAIN WEST FINANCIAL, INC.
Karen Kirsch
1209 Nevada Street, Suite 200
Redlands, CA 92374
Phone: 793-1500

MR. TACO REDLANDS
Fernando Barr
855 Alabama Street
Redlands, CA 92373
Phone: 792-4477

MUFFIN TOP BAKERY
Natalie Cox
233 E. State Street
Redlands, CA 92373
Phone: 792-9911

NICHO’S ICE CREAM
Ernesto Lopez
202 E. State Street
Redlands, CA 92373
Phone: 503-3696

OPTIONS FOR ALL
Serena Saints
202 Airport Drive #130
San Bernardino, CA 92408
Phone: 475-9503

REDLANDS BOWL PERFORMING ARTS
Beverly Noerr
168 South Eureka Street
Redlands, CA 92373
Phone: 793-7316

REDLANDS SEWING MACHINE CENTER
Trenna Anderson
422 W. State Street
Redlands, CA 92373
Phone: 792-3994

SHIMOFF LAW CORPORATION
A PROFESSIONAL CORPORATION
P. O. Box 9116
Redlands, CA 92375
Phone: 792-8919

SOLA SALON STUDIOS
TD Karle
1436 Industrial Park Avenue
Redlands, CA 92374
Phone: 522-1986

STOR-N-LOCK SELF STORAGE
Del & Pam Armstrong
1006 No. Wabash Avenue
Redlands, CA 92374
Phone: 435-4351

THE MITTEN BUILDING
Jami Spencer
345-A North 5th Street
Redlands, CA 92373
Phone: 793-1294

THE ROYAL FALCONER BRITISH PUB
John Arroyo
108 Orange Street
Redlands, CA 92373
Phone: 307-8913

THINKWISE CREDIT UNION
George San Martin
P. O. Box 2007
San Bernardino, CA 92406
Phone: 882-2911 Ext 8430