Claudia and Edgar Leon (center) |
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Donna Visits Andes Florist |
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Out and About columns have been highlighting Torrance area businesses for over five years. In this column, it brings pleasure to spotlight, Andes Florist, a small family-owned business who celebrated their 26th anniversary on December 1st.
When Claudia and Edgar Leon opened their doors in 1995 with a 9-month-old boy and a 5 year old girl, they had one goal in mind, "Let's sell the freshest flowers, create the most modern designs, but most of all let's make sure each person that walks through our doors feels like family." Read More
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CalChamber Board Endorses California Fair Pay and Employer Accountability Act |
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The California Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors has voted to support the California Fair Pay and Employer Accountability Act, a reform initiative that would repeal the Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) and replace it with enhanced enforcement mechanisms by the Labor Commissioner.
“This initiative eliminates an abusive method for trial attorneys to file frivolous claims, and provides a pathway for employees to pursue claims for wages and penalties, where the employee keeps 100% of the recovery” said CalChamber President and CEO Jennifer Barrera...Read More
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CalChamber Board Votes to Oppose Tax Cut and Housing Affordability Act |
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The California Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors voted last Friday to oppose The Tax Cut and Housing Affordability Act of 2022, which proposes a split roll property tax on all property valued at more than $4 million per parcel.
The measure must collect at least 997,139 valid signatures by mid-April 2022 to qualify for the November 2022 Read More...
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Josel Sends Inspiring Holiday Greeting to Members
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Serena Josel
Kaiser Permanente
2021-2022 Chair of the Board Torrance Area Chamber of Commerce
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Dear Chamber Members,
Many of you will read this message as you prepare to take time away to celebrate the holidays. My husband, daughter and I are heading back east to spend time with family for Christmas – catching up with aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents who we have not seen nearly enough during this pandemic.
Like many of you, we’re trying to piece together some sense of normalcy as we close out another abnormal year. Amid so much uncertainty, the Torrance Chamber and our local business community have been buoys of optimism and connection for me. Despite the challenges of COVID, our members have been nimble, innovative, and resilient. They have demonstrated an incredible commitment to protecting public health and safety, while also working to rebuild our local economy. Read More
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Duperron Reflects on Year as Chair of BizFed |
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This year I had the honor of being chair for the Los Angeles County Business Federation (BizFed). With more than 215 business associations representing 410,000 employers with more than five million employees throughout the region, BizFed is a massive, diverse grassroots alliance centered in Los Angeles County that advocates for policies and projects that strengthen our economy.
As Chairman of the Board, I had the incredible opportunity to see firsthand how businesses can mobilize and advocate at local, regional, state, and federal levels of government to ensure sustainable economic growth and job... Read More
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Tracy Hernandez, BizFed Founding CEO and Donna Duperron, Torrance Area Chamber of Commerce President & CEO and BizFed Chairman of the Board |
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Halvorsen Receives Shaun Lumachi Advocacy Award |
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Larry Halvorsen
Board Member
President, Express Employment Professionals
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Larry Halvorsen, Expressed Employment Professionals, received the Shaun Lumachi Advocacy Award at the South Bay Association of Chambers of Commerce luncheon. Larry was presented this recognition as a result of his advocacy in the creation of AB-255, Assembly Member Al Muratsuchi. Halvorsen met with the assembly member, along with other business owners to discuss issues facing their businesses during the pandemic. "We just talked to Assembly member Muratsuchi about issues we were experiencing, including a need for landlords to negotiate good faith with their tenants before evicting them, which was similar to what was put in place for tenants of residential properties. Businesses are suffering massive loss of revenue of 40% - 100%, but in many cases landlords still want 100% of their rent. So, they are not suffering, and they are in many cases not willing to re-negotiate rent.”
The Torrance Area Chamber of Commerce (TACC) t had the pleasure of speaking with Larry about winning the Shaun Lumachi Advocacy Award, and his participation in the Torrance Chamber’s Government Affairs Program (GAP). By interacting with the GAP, members are given a voice
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Ambassadors Celebrate the Holidays |
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Holiday party attended by Torrance Mayor Patrick Furey and 12 Ambassadors. |
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Torrance Area Chamber of Commerce ambassadors are an exclusive group of volunteers who work for Chamber member organizations, believe in the Chamber’s mission, support their community, and help with many of the Chamber’s activities and events.
“Being an ambassador helps Callas Rennsport be an active part of the Torrance community. We have been in Torrance for 30 years. The connections for networking are valuable, but welcoming new businesses and celebrating the growth of other Torrance businesses creates a supportive environment Callas Rennsport wants to help foster in the area, stated Chamber ambassador Sadie Durning....Read More
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In an effort to support local businesses, the Torrance Area Chamber of Commerce signs up each year to serve as a Neighbor Champion in an effort to support the Torrance Area community by providing marketing and promotion for Small Business Saturday.
This year marketing materials were provided by American Express to small business owners and the Torrance chamber provided various promotions of small businesses through social media... Read More
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Waronek Installed as SBACC Chairman of the Board |
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Donna Duperron (far right) with Mark Waronek, incoming Chairman of the SBACC Board and Elise Swanson, immediately past Chairman of the SBACC. |
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Mark Waronek was installed on Friday, December 10th as Chairman of the Board for the South Bay Association of Chambers of Commerce (SBACC). Waronek and the 2022 executive board were installed by Janice Hahn, Los Angeles County Supervisor, Fourth District. Executive board members include: Serena Josel, Kaiser Permanente South Bay; Elise Swanson, San Pedro Chamber of Commerce; Chad Maender, LAX Coastal Chamber of Commerce; Dominik Knoll, Redondo Beach Chamber of Commerce; Donna Duperron, Torrance Area Chamber of Commerce; Heidi Butzine, Lomita Chamber of Commerce; Jill Dunn, Chevron; Julia Parton, Malaga Bank; Faviola Ochoa, SoCal Gas.
(SBACC) is a regional association of local chambers dedicated to regional issue advocacy in the South Bay of Los Angeles County. Read More
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Members Attend 'Women in Business Book Exchange' |
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Torrance Chamber members gather at Smog City Brewing for the annual ‘Women in Business Book Exchange.’ A special thank you to Jeanne Imbrogno, AMAG Technology; Sarah Myers, Volunteer Center South Bay and Nadia Sandoval, DAUM for their leadership as co-chairs. |
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Business at Noon at Depot Restaurant |
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A monthly networking event, Business at Noon will be held on January 25th at the Depot Restaurant from 11:45 am to 1:15 pm. Gina Lee; American Illumination, will be the master of ceremonies and facilitate self-introductions of chamber members. Admission of $26 includes lunch, a beverage, tax, and gratuity. For maximized networking, please arrive and check-in at 11:45 AM. Vaccination cards or an electronic vaccination card must be presented upon entry. During lunch, each attendee will take 30-seconds to introduce themselves and their business to all guests. Don’t forget your business cards, and feel free to bring a raffle item to promote your business. The reservation deadline is Monday, January 24th at 12:00 pm. Vaccination cards or an electronic vaccination card must be presented upon entry. To register, please visit the following link: https://www.torrancechamber.com/event/bus-noon-january/
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Red Card Brewery to Host HYPE |
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HYPE (Helping Young Professionals Excel) will be at the Red Car Brewery and Restaurant, on Thursday, January 20th, at 4 pm. Jonathan Anderson of Visual Experience Fine Art, is the HYPE Chair and master of ceremonies. Through HYPE, young professionals are provided with meaningful, dynamic, engaging opportunities for networking and career development. Laurie Brandt, co-proprietor of Red Car Brewery & Restaurant, and a former Chairwoman of the Board for the Torrance Area Chamber of Commerce, is the STAR speaker for HYPE in January 2021. Laurie will speak on her professional journey, where Red Car Brewery was opened in 2000 as the first brewery in Torrance. She will also discuss developing her brand, and her active involvement in the community. It is free to members, and the event is listed on the website calendar with a hyperlink to to RSVP. HYPE adds value to one’s company through personal and professional development by sharing resources and communication skills. Registration is required to attend.
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Learn to Speak Like a Pro |
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People join Torrance Chamber of Commerce Toastmasters to improve their public speaking skills. Toastmasters is an international organization that has helped people conquer their fears, improve their communication and leadership skills and build confidence. You learn something new at every fun hour-long meeting. During the pandemic, members adapted and learned to communicate effectively online also. Encouragement and camaraderie among members fosters lifelong friendships. Jolene Stockman, a New Zealand Toastmaster, says: “Members are all similar - scared, vulnerable and determined to be better...
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11 - 20 Years
21 - 55 Years
51 or More Years
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