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554 West Lancaster Boulevard Lancaster, CA 93534 (661) 948-4518
Serving the community by Promoting, Protecting, Encouraging and Developing Business since 1902

Business Connection

 

May 2017

In this Month's Issue

Lancaster Chamber of Commerce

 Executive Committee

                    
Chairwoman of the Board
Gina Rossall, Westside Union School District
 
Chair-Elect
Monica Grado, George's Cleaners

Past Chairman of the Board
Josh Mann, Waste Management

Vice-Chair
Luis Garibay, City of Lancaster

Vice-Chair
Katy Nelson, Hunter Dodge

Treasurer
Austin Rice, Alden & Associates, LLP

Secretary
Terry Roth, JAG Insurance Agency, Inc. 

Ex-Officio 
Mark Hemstreet - Chief Executive Officer, Lancaster Chamber of Commerce   
  
Lancaster Chamber of Commerce
Board of Directors
Theresa Dawson, Lancaster Sheriff's Station

Charles Hoey, Charles Hoey & Associates

Chris Spicher, Antelope Valley Florist

Gene Melchers, Melchers Construction

Elizabeth Diachun, AV College

Shandra Goben, TownePlace Suites

Bernie Longjohn, Learn 4 Life

Barry White, Carpeteria

Heather Massari, VINSA Insurance

Lancaster Chamber of Commerce

 Office Staff 

Mark Hemstreet, Chief Executive Officer
Sharon Molnar, Office Coordinator
Anna Zarley, Event Coordinator
What can the Lancaster Chamber of Commerce do to help grow YOUR business???

What is Your Chamber?

 

Since 1902, the Lancaster Chamber of Commerce has existed as a private, voluntary, nonprofit (501(C)(3) and (C)(6) business organization dedicated to improving the economic environment of business growth and prosperity. The business community now serves a greater Antelope Valley Region, with a population of more than 480,000 people


 

As the Antelope Valley continues to develop and thrive, the Lancaster Chamber of Commerce continues to evolve to meet the needs of its members and our growing community. The Lancaster Chamber offers a variety of benefits to help businesses, large and small, to network and grow. 

 

Membership Benefits 

  • Personal Page on Chamber Website
  • Chamber Mobile App
  • Monthly E-Newsletter
  • Community Calendar
  • Membership Directory Listing
  • Membership City Map Listing
  • Radio Talk Show - Free
  • Chamber Classes / E-Learning Portal
  • Conference room for Members
  • Quarterly Mega Mixers
  • Social Media Marketing
  • Endless Networking Opportunites
  • Grand Openings/Ribbon Cuttings
Monthly Events  
  • Membership Luncheon
  • Business-4-Breakfast

Discount Advertisement 

  • AV Press - Chamber Page
  • Video Commercials
  • Web Video - Business Showcase

Please call the Chamber for more information: (661) 948-4518 


Member Benefits
Maximizing you're Membership
 
We all talk about how to bring more awareness to our business or organization. Social Media is nothing new, but are you on top of your game?  Are you part of the Lancaster Chambers Facebook page?  Add a quick post on our member to member page. Having an event? Weekend sale? End of Season Sell-off?  or other promotional opportunity you would like to publicize?  Give it a try, it's all part of being a Member of the Lancaster Chamber of Commerce!

To join our Facebook page please log in and request to join the Lancaster Chamber Member-Member group and you will be added. 

New and Renewing Members

April 

  Introducing Our Newest Members!

Academy of Music
Performance & Education
Dina Taylor 
854 West Lancaster Blvd
Lancaster, CA 93534
(661) 726-2673

Advanced Therapies, Inc
Itaska Dheini 
43631 10th Street West, Unit C
Lancaster, CA 93534
(661) 202-4693

Arctic Air 
Jacob Wittkopf
42156 10th Street West, Ste T
Lancaster, CA 93534
(661) 945-8844

Cali Girls Rock 
Naomi Hightower
43631 10th Street West
Lancaster, CA 93534
(661) 236-2485

California Teachers Association
Michelle Johnson 
10247 West Lancaster Blvd 
Lancaster, CA 93534
(661) 948-6035

Expert Tutoring AV
Jennifer McDonald 
44830 Valley Central Way, Ste 102
Lancaster, CA 93534
(661) 523-9007

Purse'onal Touch Boutique
Damien Jones 
44275 Division Street, Ste 103
Lancaster, CA 93535
(661) 206-5928

We Are Pleased to Present Our Renewing Members


Southern California Edison
42060 10th Street West
Lancaster, CA 93534
(800) 655-4555
Member Since: 1987

Day Star Foundation
646 West Lancaster Blvd, Ste 109
Lancaster, CA 93535
(661) 945-7290
Member Since: 1991

A Digitech Inc
ADT Security Systems
4506 West Avenue M
Quartz Hill, CA 93536
(661) 722-3344
Member Since: 1993

AV Family YMCA 
43001 10th Street West
Lancaster, CA 93534
(661) 723-9622
Member Since: 1993

Donnell Printing  
44154 0th Street West
Lancaster, CA 93534
(661) 942-1449
Member Since: 1993

California State University 
Bakersfield
43909 30th Street West
Lancaster, CA 93536
(661) 952-5000
Member Since: 1999

Charles Hoey & Associates
42315 10th Street West, Ste B
Lancaster, CA 93534
(661) 723-3222
Member Since: 1999

Whole Wheatery
44264 10th Street West
Lancaster, CA 93534
(661) 945-0773
Member Since: 1999

DCS Satellite & Security
42263 50th Street West, Ste 207
Quartz Hill, CA 93536
(661) 722-5131
Member Since: 2000

Antelope Valley Adventist School 
45002 Fern Avenue
Lancaster, CA 93534
(661) 942-6552
Member Since: 2003

Merritt Tae Kwon Do 
Academy, LLC 
1945 West Avenue L
Lancaster, CA 93534
(661) 945-5293
Member Since: 2007

The Barber Shop
1221 West Avenue I
Lancaster, CA 93534
(661) 942-2581
Member Since: 2008

Lancaster United
 Methodist Church
918 West Avenue J
Lancaster, CA 93534
(661) 942-0419
Member Since: 2009

Source One Payroll Services
43141 Business Center Pkwy, Ste 108
Lancaster CA 93535
(661) 949-1124
Member Since: 2009

Charlton Weeks, LLP
Attorneys at Law 
1031 West Avenue M-14, Ste A
Palmdale, CA 93551
(661) 265-0969
Member Since: 2010

Antelope Valley Showcase Chorus
38713 Tierra Subida, Ste #200 PMB #260
Palmdale, CA 93551
(661) 273-0995
Member Since: 2011

Security Defenders
528 West Milling Street
Lancaster, CA 93534
(661) 949-2581
Member Since: 2012

Care 1st Health Plan
601 Potrero Grande Drive
Monterey Park, CA 91755
(323) 889-6638 Ext 3458
Member Since: 2013

After Hours Lock & Key 
Lancaster, CA 93534
(310) 930-2556
Member Since: 2014

Extremely Clean 
Professional Janitorial
Rosamond, CA 93552
(661) 547-8177
Member Since: 2014

J Salon Studios & Spa
44140 20th Street West, Ste 111
Lancaster, CA 93536
(661) 406-3515
Member Since: 2014

Light House Studios
42309 10th Street West
Lancaster, CA 93534
(661) 998-4200
Member Since: 2014

Paintball USA 
15112 Sierra Highway
Santa Clarita, CA 91390
(661) 255-5332
Member Since: 2015

Castle & Cooke Mortgage, LLC
1206 West Avenue J, Ste 220
Lancaster, CA 93534
(661) 902-6000
Member Since: 2016

Primo Burgers
44275 Division Street
Lancaster, CA 93535
(661) 510-6534
Member Since: 2016

Vinyl Alley 
Voodoo Vinyl
765 West Lancaster Blvd
Lancaster, CA 93534
(661) 945-6511
Member Since: 2016
Interested in Becoming an Ambassador?  
   

Ambassadors have a unique opportunity to represent the Lancaster
Chamber at many events, including breakfasts, luncheons, mixers, ribbon cuttings/grand openings and more!  Through this involvement, ambassadors are able to represent the chamber while also representing and marketing their own businesses--it's truly a "win/win" relationship!
 

 If you or someone at your place of business is interested in
 participating in our comprehensive training series and ultimately
 becoming an amba ssador, please contact the Chamber: 
(661) 948 -451 8

 

Lancaster Chamber of Commerce
 Upcoming Events
May 2017


Ribbon Cutting / Grand Opening 
Expert Tutoring Av 
05/06/2017
10:00 am - 11:00 am
44830 Valley Central Way, Ste 102
Lancaster, CA 93534

Lancaster Chamber 51st Semi-Annual 
Flea Market and Shop Local Showcase 
05/07/2017
Antelope Valley Fairgrounds 
2551 West Avenue H
Lancaster, CA 93534

Lancaster Chamber of Commerce
Finance and Executive Committee Meeting
05/09/2017
7:30 am - 9:00 am
554 West Lancaster Blvd
Lancaster, CA 93534

Lancaster Chamber of Commerce
Membership Luncheon
05/10/2017
11:30 am- 1:00 pm
JP Eliopulos Hellenic Center
43404 30th Street West
Lancaster, CA 93534


Lancaster Chamber of Commerce 
Board of Director's Meeting
05/17/2017
7:30-9:00 am
Lancaster Chamber of Commerce
554 West Lancaster Blvd
Lancaster, CA 93534

Ribbon Cutting  / New Ownership
Honda Lancaster
05/17/2017
10:00 am - 11;00 am
43244 Drivers Way
Lancaster, CA 93534

Ribbon Cutting / Grand Opening
Bella Bridal 
05/19/2017
3:00 pm - 4:00 pm
42055 50th Street West
Quartz Hill, CA 93536

Lancaster Chamber of Commerce
Membership Committee Meeting
05/22/2017
2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
554 West Lancaster Blvd
Lancaster, CA 93534

Lancaster Chamber of Commerce
Ambassador Corp Meeting
05/24/2017
12 Noon
Lancaster Chamber of Commerce
554 West Lancaster Blvd
Lancaster, CA 93534

Lancaster Chamber of Commerce 
Business-4-Breakfast  
05/25/20177
7:00 am- 8:30 am
A.M. Cafe
44205 10th Street West
Lancaster, CA 93534

Ribbon Cutting / New Ownership
Purse'onal Touch Boutique
05/26/2017
11:30 am - 12:30 pm
44275 Division Street, # 103
Lancaster, CA 93535

Memorial Day
Chamber Office Closed 
05/29/2017

For Job Seekers:

Use the resources below to connect with area resources that can help you with job placement.   Also, use the  Chamber's membership directory  to target specific industries.

For Employers:

Tell us about your job openings! 
Chamber members are encouraged to share their job postings with Chamber staff - email a job description to [email protected]

Internships:

The Chamber is always accepting resumes for interns. Projects may vary based on skill set. If you are seeking an internship for experience or college credit, contact us to see if we may be the right fit for you.  Email your resume to [email protected].

Member Job Openings




 Contact  Liz Montano 661-492-4234

 

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ChamberSTORE

Helping Support Your Local Chamber is a

WIN-WIN!!

Take advantage of these special rates for chamber members!!

  

"A LA CARTE" OPPORTUNITIES:

  •  Digital Display Ad on Chamber Wall - $250 / year (2050x1400 dpi).
  • Static Display Framed Poster* on chamber/visitor's center wall - $1000 / year (24x20 inches -8  AVAILABLE) -includes a free digital display for one year.
  • Chamber newsletter ad (600x600 dpi, includes link to your website) - $75 each or $750 for one year.
  • Website home page banner ad (along top of page) - $2500 per year 
  • Website home page ad $500 / year (600x600 dpi - TWO AVAILABLE).

PACKAGES:

  •  Package 1 - $500 - Includes one digital display ad and four newsletter ads.           
  • Package 2 - $1000 -  Includes one digital display ad, four newsletter ads, and one website home page ad (TWO AVAILABLE).
  • Package 3 - $1000 - includes one  24"x20" framed Chamber Wall poster* (12 AVAILABLE) and one digital display ad.

           *price includes poster production costs.

 

ADDITIONAL MARKETING/ADVERTISING

OPPORTUNITIES:

  • Community Calendar member event posting.
  • Annual area map and directories with advertising opportunities.
  • Referrals - Hundreds of request directed to members "ONLY".
  • Mailing Labels and Membership Lists available to members "ONLY".
  • Chamber Radio Talk Show and Chamber YouTube Free to members "ONLY".
  • Your business listed in the printed and online Membership Directory (Link to your website or social media!).

Chamber Membership Lists

 

 Labels by Alpha: $50.00

Email Data: $50.00

Office Depot National Chamber Program

Join thousands of others who benefit from perks, discounts and business solutions through the National Chamber Program. We've championed the office products space to give you the best in group purchasing and world class customer service. Help your business grow- it's more than just a discount!

Chairwoman's Message 


Greetings Members,

What a busy April we've had, and I thank you all so much for your participation.  I'd like to the thank Mayor Parris and the City of Lancaster staff for the excellent presentation on the State of the City.  It was very interesting to hear what has happened so far this year, and what great things are anticipated for the remainder of the year.  Crime continues to be on the decline, which is terrific for businesses and residents alike. Our City continues to close the gap towards the goal of being a net zero location, and exciting developments are happening around Antelope Valley Hospital. 

I hope you have all marked your calendars to participate in the upcoming semi-annual Flea Market on Sunday, May 7.  If you can give some time to help with the event, please contact Anna who is working ever so hard to put this event together and hoping to make it one of our best fundraising activities ever.  Your help will be appreciated.

Our Membership Luncheon program this month is an annual favorite.  On May 10, 2017 at the Hellenic Center, we will award our annual Work Ethics Scholarships.  Kim Keane Perkins has been the Chairwoman of this committee which continues to do outstanding work in both raising the funds for the scholarships, seeking the applicants, and making the final determination in awarding the scholarship. I thank her for her and the committee for their service.  I am hoping to see many of you at our lunch meeting this month as we celebrate the youth in our community who are already dedicated to making a difference.

Thanks to those stepping up to be Directors on the Chamber Board. Welcome Juan Diaz, Center Manager for Caliber Collision, Buddhika Ekanayake, owner of Lighthouse Studios, Ron Hier of The Hier Advantage, Liz Seelman, Government Affairs Rep at Southern California Edison and Incumbent Austin Rice of Fourr Alden & Associates. Becoming a Director  is a great way to get more familiar with the work of our Chamber and it is a chance to provide leadership as we move into the 17-18 Chamber year.

If you haven't had a chance to place your ad in the Membership Directory, please do so.  The final deadline is quickly approaching. We are planning to use this as a tool for those looking to do business with you. Call the chamber office if you have questions about the directory, please.

Don't forget our Business-4-Breakfast on May 25.  Breakfast starts at 7 a.m. at the AM Café.  As always there will be terrific opportunities to network, have a fun start to your morning, and enjoy a delicious breakfast. 

Happy Mother's Day to all of our moms in the Chamber and to moms everywhere.  What a great opportunity we have to celebrate moms who do so much for their families every day. 

May 29th is our observance of Memorial Day, which is a holiday of remembrance for those who have died while serving in the Armed Forces.  Always the teacher, I couldn't resist finding a bit of information about this somber recognition, and I hope you will find it interesting.  

"Memorial Day is a federal holiday in the United States for remembering the people who died while serving in the country's armed forces. The holiday, which is observed every year on the last Monday of May, originated as Decoration Day after the American Civil War in 1868, when the Grand Army of the Republic, an organization of Union veterans founded in Decatur, Illinois, established it as a time for the nation to decorate the graves of the Union war dead with flowers. By the 20th century, competing Union and Confederate holiday traditions, celebrated on different days, had merged, and Memorial Day eventually extended to honor all Americans who died while in the military service."


Regina Rossall
Chairwoman of the Board
Lancaster Chamber 
Membership Luncheon


Work Ethics Scholarship Presentations 

The Work Ethics Scholarship program is fully funded by donations and provides scholarships to local High School graduates who are attending Colleges and Universities next year.  The Lancaster Chamber is dedicated to building a strong future for the youth of today by supporting our students who have made a commitment of attending college. For over 100 years the Lancaster Chamber of Commerce has remained dedicated to encouraging higher education as a means of preparing young people to become stronger leaders and citizens in our community.
 
The Scholarships are based on Academics, the student's Demonstrated Work Ethics in 
either a paid job or internship, and future aspirations.  Awardees must graduate High School in the Antelope Valley and provide proof of college enrollment. Scholarships are provided in $500 levels, dependent on sponsorship's received.

Please join us in honoring these students

  EVENT INFORMATION
 
Date:  
May 10, 2017
 
Time:  
11:30 am - 1:00 pm

Location: 
J.P. Eliopulos Hellenic Center
43404 30th St West
Lancaster, CA 93536
 

All members who register and pay online will  be entered to win a business card sized ad in our newsletter!

2017 Scholarships  Awarded to:

Rebecah Ruiz
Daisy Servera
Grace Diaz
Christiana Han
Nelson Rivera
Margaret Smith
Daniella Asapokhai
Christopher Fidel Garcia
Brienna Best
William Casco
Sara Castro
Aaron-Rylee Quichocho
Isabeth Sevilla
Isabella Teague

2017 Sponsors include:

So Cal Gas Co.
Melchers Construction 
Zonta Club of AV
Care Pest Solutions
First City Credit Union
High Desert Health Systems Auxiliary

Thank you to all who supported our scholars through their membership renewals and raffle.

BUSINESS-4-BREAKFAST

 
   
   Join us for business, stay for breakfast!
 
     Thursday, March 23, 2017

   7:00 A.M.- 8:30 A.M

This Months Breakfast Sponsor:

JAG Insurance
Terry Roth 
661-547-3144
                       
 Event Location
A.M. Cafe
44205 10th Street West
Lancaster,  CA 93534
RSVP: 948-4518 

Please RSVP by Noon the day before the breakfast if you would like to be included in the list that gets handed out to all attendees.

Be sure to bring plenty of business cards

*Please note - If you RSVP and do not attend you will be invoiced for $12.00.
  

A Message from 
36th District Assemblyman
 Tom Lackey

AV Drivers and Small Businesses Shouldn't Have to Bailout California's Bad Roads

There's a funny way about how government works. When a government needs to impose something unpopular on the public, one common tactic is to purposely reduce the quality of a key service and then claim the only solution to fix it is through higher taxes. Any driver can see that's exactly what is happening here in California where the quality of our roads and highways have never been worse. Yet, it's not for a lack of money that they have deteriorated this badly.

The Governor and Legislature recently approved a plan that will raise registration and gasoline taxes under the guise of fixing the state's roads. The plan will raise vehicle registration taxes by approximately $50 per car on average and will hike the state's gas tax another 12 cents per gallon to raise about $52 billion in higher taxes over the next 10 years. They claim the need for this tax increase is due to a lack of transportation funding which has left the state unable to afford to properly maintain its transportation network.

Not only would this huge tax increase hurt Antelope Valley families-many of whom commute long distances to work every day-but small businesses will also be hurt as rising transportation costs trigger price increases all sorts of goods and services. This makes our community less competitive for recruiting new businesses to the area because we are further away from the main hubs of Southern California.

It is completely unnecessary and unfair to ask taxpayers and small businesses to bail out government for bad decision making. For many years, California has been diverting billions of dollars in transportation funding to other purposes. If state leaders were willing to put these funds to their true purpose of building and fixing roads, we would have never ended up with our streets and highways in this bad of shape. Failure to prioritize transportation infrastructure is the cause of this crisis, not a lack of taxes. My Republican colleagues and I develop our own solution which was a $7.8 billion plan for building and fixing roads that doesn't raise any taxes. Instead it restores transportation funds to their intended purpose, but it never even received a hearing from state leaders.

Californians already pay some of the highest fuel taxes in the country and were just hit with the hidden gas tax two years ago which is supposed to fund climate change programs. It's no wonder that California and Hawaii compete for the unwanted distinction of having the nation's highest gas prices. Drivers are right to ask where all the money they already pay is going.
It certainly is not helping us here in the Antelope Valley where commuter traffic clogs the 14 freeway every day starting around 4:00 am and we would be naive to think that we would get our fair share of benefits from California's new gas taxes. 
IT'S TIME TO PRINT THE 2017-18 EDITION OF THE LANCASTER CHAMBER OF COMMERCE DIRECTORY!
 

We are happy to announce our new partnership with Lunar Cow Publishing, a firm specializing in business-to-business marketing, for the 2017-18 Lancaster Chamber of Commerce Directory. We are excited about the opportunities this new publication will offer you. Please expect a call from the advertising sales team at Lunar Cow. They have been working closely with us to study the area, our markets and the best rates and opportunities for our members. 

ADVANTAGES OF ADVERTISING IN THE LANCASTER CHAMBER OF COMMERCE DIRECTORY:

  * 5,000 copies of the directory will be distributed throughout the area in the best locations to reach customers. 
* Your ad reaches a highly targeted and interested market that is looking to spend money at businesses just like yours. This directory, with your ad, will be available for a year or longer, giving your advertisement high visibility. 
* In addition, you will also be included in the GoGuide®; this is an interactive online version of the Lancaster Chamber of Commerce Directory and available to businesses, community members and visitors across the globe.
 * The online version of your ad in the GoGuide® will be linked to your website, giving readers "one click" access to your business.

 Please find the 2017-18 ad rates, which detail your options for participation. If you have any questions or wish to participate as an advertiser in the Lancaster Chamber of Commerce Directory, please do not hesitate to contact Ed Asper at Lunar Cow Publishing at  800-594-9620 x 31, or myself at 661-948-4518. 

Learn more on how you can take advantage of this great opportunity to promote your business. We are very excited about the new Lancaster Chamber of Commerce Directory and are looking forward to your participation. We look forward to seeing you in the next issue of our directory.

Warmest regards,

Mark Hemstreet 
CEO Lancaster Chamber of Commerce
Promote YOUR business 
FREE of Charge  
  
     FREE 
Chamber Radio 
Talk Show

"Minding Your Business "

Minding Your Business (MYB) the Lancaster Chamber of Commerce weekly radio show features Chamber members and Friends each Saturday at 12 noon on High Desert Radio 1380am. Hosted by Chris Spicher of AV Florist and Aaron Goldstein of GoldsteinDigital. Music is by Lions Named Leo of Bakersfield, CA.
                       
     Saturdays, 12-1 pm
 Call Chris Spicher: (661) 948-6006



  View our videos on YouTube 

The Month In Pictures

April

Ribbon Cutting / Grand Opening
Becoming Badass Training Center
1101 W Avenue M | Unit C, Lancaster
(661) 609-4096
Ribbon Cutting / Grand Opening
@theOffice 
626 West Lancaster Blvd, Lancaster
(661) 622-4000
Lancaster Chamber Membership Luncheon
State of the City Address
Mayor R. Rex Parris 
Ribbon Cutting / Open House
Charter College 
43141 Business Center Pkwy #109, Lancaster
(661) 341-3500
Ribbon Cutting / Grand Opening 
Title Max Title Loans 
473 East Palmdale Blvd, Palmdale
(661) 225-9725

Business-4-Breakfast "Table Sponsor"

AV Boys Scouts of America, 942-0582

Business-4-Breakfast 
"Best Commercial Winner"
The Tech Gods, 524-5140
 Ribbon Cutting / 6 New Businesses
Sol Plaza Boutique Mall
   1140 Commerce Center Dr, Lancaster
(661) 729-4900
 Ribbon Cutting / Grand Opening
Cricket Wireless
2012 W Ave K, Lancaster
(661) 992-6669
 Ribbon Cutting / Grand Opening
American School of Martial Arts   
852 W Lancaster Blvd 
(661) 265-8664 
 Ribbon Cutting / Grand Opening
Academy of Music
 Performance & Education 
854 W Lancaster Blvd 
(661) 726-2673