Professional Documents
Culture Documents
COMMERCE
YOUR SUCCESS IS OUR BUSINESS.
Creating a Strong Local Economy
Marketing Group
This report for the first year of the 20112012 legislative session focuses on California legislators floor votes on California Chamber of Commerce priority bills. This is the 36th vote record the CalChamber has compiled. The CalChamber publishes this report in response to numerous requests by member firms and local chambers of commerce that would like a gauge by which to measure the performance of their legislators. To help readers assess legislators vote records, the charts group bills into six areas: economic development, environmental regulation, health care, labor and employment, litigation, and See VOTE on page 4... See Ceo on page 2 taxation.
Markstein Beverage Company Comcast Napa Valley Marketplace Magazine Silverado Resort and Spa Exertec Health & Fitness Napa Recycling & Waste Services Home Depot Hawthorn Suites by Wyndham Bank of Marin
Travis Credit Union Golden State Warriors Mark Coleman, State Farm Napa Planner Financial Group
The Napa Chambers Annual Dinner and Awards event offers a point in time for the Napa Chamber to install its new Board of Directors and show appreciation to the Chamber membership. This year they did just that at a beautiful gala evening held on January 20th at the Napa Valley Marriott and Spa. With Jeri Gill, CEO of Sustainable Napa County, at the emcee helm, the evening flowed smoothly with warmth and laughter from the immediate surprise announcement of the Napa Chambers new President and CEO, Chris Messina, who will be officially in place on February 21st; to the business of the Chambers 2011 wrap up remarks from outgoing Chairman Ryan Gregory; the installation of the 2012 Officers and Board Directors; and the positive and grateful
remarks by the new Board Chair, Debra Dommen, of Treasury Wine Estates. The theme for the 2012 membership meeting, Breathe, Balance, and Bold, was eloquently explained and supportive of what our business community has been experiencing. Reflecting the industry of the incoming Board Chair, Debra commented, The boundaries (community, regulatory and business climate) have been stretched and they wont go back to the old shape, so we must blend what weve learned and boldly move forward, thriving as a community. The award presentations shed a detailed light on the abundant work that is being accomplished in the community, much of which is unknown to many people. The three
See
DINNER on page 6
INSIDE
Meet Your 2012 Compliance Needs Member Spotlight: Business Competition Join us in Welcoming our New President & CEO
Ceo
Executive Director of Santa Rosa Main Street, a non-profit that worked directly with the Chamber of Commerce and the City of Santa Rosa. He is a graduate of the three year educational series of the Western Association of Chamber Executives
(WACE), the Certified Downtown Professional program (CDP), and will receive his Accredited Chamber Executive (ACE) certification in February, 2012. He is earning his Institute for Organizational Management (IOM) certification, and most recently he was chosen as one of twenty Chamber officials to attend a business trade mission to China. The Board is confident that his proven track record of creating and maintaining professional partnerships, his fundraising
and promotional expertise, and his commitment to community involvement are going be a positive contribution to the retention and expansion of the Napa Chamber of Commerces membership base and community partners. With the departure of Lisa Batto in September of 2011, the Board asked Randy Martinsen to act as Interim CEO until a new candidate could be found. Randy will continue in that role until February 21st, when Chris takes the helm.
Sherry McKillop, proprietor of Follow Your Compass, a leadership coaching and company, will lead you through this Series. Sherry has been successful at equipping business owners, managers, directors, and others with tools to assist them in overcoming todays common leadership challenges.
For more info or to reserve your seat today please visit us online:
Leadership: Cultivating The Best In Ourselves, Our Teams, and Our Relationships
Tues. February 14th, 2012 Check-in: 7:45 a.m.. Workshop: 8 a.m. -12 p.m. Tues. March 13th, 2012 Check-in: 7:45 a.m. Workshop: 8 a.m. -12 p.m. Tues. April 10th, 2012 Check-in: 8:45 a.m. Workshop: 9 a.m. -12 p.m.
bit.ly/NCCleadershipchallenge
Workshops will be held at the Napa Chamber, 1556 First Street, Napa, CA 94559
thE
BarragE
Stop for a second and think about the different ways you communicate every day at work phone calls, emails, meetings and more. With all the ways to contact people, it seems like communication in the workplace shouldnt be a problem. But according to a recent Hiring Trends a survey conducted by Express Employment Professionals, leaders and employees agree: effective communication is an issue in todays workplace. Survey results showed that both leaders and employees nationwide believe effective communication is the most lacked trait among their leadership team. The survey also revealed that effective communication was the most important quality a good leader can possess. Its important to start 2012 off the right way to help grow your business, and one of the best approaches to that is by becoming a better communicator. Meetings are one of the most common forms of communication in the office. A Microsoft survey showed that employees spend more than five hours a week in meetings. But unfortunately, 71 percent of respondents also said the meetings were un-productive. Despite this information, an abundance of meetings continue to persist, often being seen as an
Febraury 2012
unnecessary evil part of the job in which most employees are disengaged. To help combat some of the challenges that come with too many meetings like disengagement and ineffectiveness, consider declaring a weekly No Meeting Day to make sure your employees time isnt taken away by yet another meeting.
Another time-consuming form of communication is the barrage of emails workers receive every day. According to a study by market research firm Radicati Group, Inc., a business person received on average 75 emails per day and sent 37 per day in 2011. Its important to understand how much time emails add to your employees workday. So when sending
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out emails, make sure the information is clear, concise, and relevant to the recipient. Meetings and emails are typically the two most used forms of workplace communication, but we also spend a lot of time communicating with non-verbal signals. When youre speaking with coworkers and team members, be aware of your arm positioning, avoiding crossed arms as it sends a defensive message. A simple smile can also go a long way in starting the day off right, so remember that the next time you come into the office with your mind already racing through the days to-do list. Effective communication affects every aspect of the workplace, both positively and negatively. Communicating effectively can impact productivity and morale. In a 2011 Express Hiring Trends Survey, business leaders reported a 42 percent drop in morale. More efficient meetings, fewer emails, and a feeling of reassurance from company leaders can go a long way to a more engaged and happy workforce, which will lead to more growth and success in 2012. For information about Express Employment Professionals contact Sandi Weimer at sandi.weimer@expresspros.com or call 707-224-9252. Learn more at www.expresspros.com.
napachamber.com
by Debra Dommen,
Vice President, Govt & Community Relations, Treasury Wine Estates 2012 Napa Chamber of Commerce Chair of the Board
volunteer hours, so first Id like to extend a big thank you to this A Team. Our process began by reviewing the current job description, our policies and discussing what qualities we wanted our new leader to possess. Many descriptors were used: figure head, agent of change, possessing that wow factor, mentor, leader, seasoned CEO, etc. After placing ads and combing through over 200 resumes, we narrowed our list down to fifteen candidates.
chairs focus
...do we want an experienced Chamber CEo or someone who will come in with a fresh perspective to really bring value to our members?
The next step is what we referred to as speed dating. You know, when you first meet someone, not sure if you want to commit to dinner, but coffee seems appropriate? So we met, either by phone, Skype or in person, with fifteen candidates for thirty minutes each. We had a strict agenda, getting through our questions while giving them an opportunity to reveal more about themselves and ask us questions as well. After discussing the interviews and going through our notes, we went from fifteen to five.
At this point we decided to broaden our team to keep the Board informed and involved. We added Board members Paul Hicks, Jaime Penaherrera and Past Chair Jeff Gerlomes to our team. They were great assets, and quite frankly, validated our process and decisions. The next step, final interviews. We spent over an hour each with five top-rate candidates. While all were fabulous, and could have come in and hit the ground running, Chris clearly rose to the top. We could not contain our excitement and put the process on fast track in order to introduce Chris to our members and the community at our Annual Dinner. If you could not make it, I encourage you to reach out to Chris and introduce yourself. Hes excited to jump in and meet as many members as possible. One of the questions we kept asking ourselves during this process was do we want an experienced Chamber CEO or someone who will come in with a fresh perspective to really bring value to our members? We think we got both, a seasoned Chamber President/CEO that knows we can no longer conduct business as usual. I look forward to this years journey into success with Chris and all of you.
by Randy Martinsen,
Napa Chamber of Commerce Interim CEO
The Board of Directors of the Napa Chamber of Commerce welcomes Chris Messina, CDP, as its new Chief Executive Officer. Chris will begin working at the Chamber effective February 21, 2012. Chris comes to the Napa Chamber bringing experience and expertise as a business owner, as well as six years of NonProfit leadership including his present position as the President/CEO of the Foster City Chamber of Commerce, the former manager for the Advocacy Division of the Santa Rosa Chamber of Commerce and three years as the Executive Director of Santa Rosa Main Street, a non-profit that worked directly with the Chamber of Commerce and the City of Santa Rosa. He is a graduate of the three year educational series of the Western Association of Chamber Executives (WACE), the Certified Downtown Professional program (CDP), and will receive his Accredited Chamber Executive (ACE) certification in February,
2012. He is earning his Institute for Organizational Management (IOM) certification, and most recently he was chosen as one of twenty Chamber officials to attend a business trade mission to China. The Board is confident that his proven track record of creating and maintaining professional partnerships, his fundraising and promotional expertise, and his commitment to community involvement are going to be positive contributions to the retention and expansion of the Napa Chamber of Commerces membership base and community partners.
cEos focus
i have confidence in the process this Chamber follows and its dedication to our community.
I thought my last article in these newsletters was December of 2010 as my position as Chairman of the Board was winding down. I am honored that the Board felt confidence in my ability to fill in as Interim CEO giving them time to create a Search Committee for the new CEO. Given that this is my last article as an officer of the Chamber I want to express my gratitude for the many opportunities I have been given in my eight years of service on the Board and as Interim CEO. As a marketing consultant, I am proud that the Strategic Marketing Plan I helped to create in 2001 is still part of the marketing efforts of the Chamber today. Although I will not be involved with the day| COMMERCE | Page 3 |
to-day operation of the Chamber after Chris takes the helm, I will be involved as a Chamber Ambassador and a volunteer with Membership Services, Legislative Action Committee and Wake Up Your Business Wednesday events. I believe in the Napa Chamber of Commerce and what it does for all businesses in the Napa Valley. It is much more than just a marketing benefit to my business. It is an advocate on policy issues; it helps me understand propositions and candidates when voting time comes. It believes in and gives back to the community with the same passion I have for giving back. It believes in education and supports our education systems in Napa to make it possible for new entrepreneurs and developers to thrive. It is interested in making Napa a destination for visitors, and is an advocate for healthcare like no other Chamber in which I have been a member. I have confidence in the process this Chamber follows and its dedication to our community. I look forward to working with Chris, and the future Board of Directors. Lastly, I want to express gratitude for all the Board Members I have met and worked with over my eight years in these capacities of service. I thank the staff - who work so hard for our Chamber and the true passion they have to make the Chamber succeed in its vision. I look forward to many more years of association with the Chamber and with all of you its members! THANK YOU!
February 2012
napachamber.com
VOTE
No vote record can tell the entire story of a legislators attitude and actions on issues of importance to business. Each year, legislators cast thousands of votes on thousands of proposed laws. To fully evaluate your legislative representative, consult the legislative journals and examine your legislators votes in committee and on floor issues. You can view these via links at www.calchambervotes.com. Many antibusiness bills were rejected by legislators in policy or fiscal committees, thus stopping proposals before they reached the floor for a vote. The vote record does not capture these votes. Most bills in this report cover major business bills that are of concern to both small and large companies. The CalChamber recognizes that there are many bills supported or opposed by business that are not included in this vote record and analysis. The CalChamber considers the following factors in selecting vote record bills: The bills and votes reflect legislators attitudes toward private enterprise, fiscal responsibility and the business climate. Each bill was a priority for the CalChamber in a particular field. Priority bills have appeared in the Status Report sections of Alert. The bills were voted upon by either the full Senate or Assembly. This year the vote record covers 13 votes in the Senate and 14 votes in the Assembly. Unless otherwise noted, final floor votes are shown. Concurrence votes and conference report votes are considered final votes.
Reprinted with permission from the California Chamber of Commerce. Factors Considered
Partial Picture
http://www.calchamber.com/GovernmentRelations/Documents/VoteRecord_10-28-11.pdf
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Mark your calendar- space is limited. Attendee We Will Introduce You To Admission is the Service Youve Been Searching for... ONLY $5!
Presidents Circle Members: February 7, 2012 Members: February 14, 2012 MeriTage Non-Members: February 28, 2012
Booth Pricing:
Call Lynn Page for more information and to register your booth by phone: 707.254.1145
February 2012
youLL FinD EVEryonE aT ThE naPa VaLLEy BuSinESS ExPo! Open to the Public Visit over 70 local businesses!
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COMMERCE
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resorT
and
Tuesday,
spa
W elcoMe n eW M eMbers!
Ambulance Services
Day Spas
Telecommunications
Westminster Woods Camp & Conference Center William Pagan, 707-874-2426 william@westminsterwoods.org westminsterwoods.org
Pest / Rodent Control
Napa Valley Biscuits Curtis Lindley, 707-265-8209 1502 Main St, Napa
Solar Energy
Know someone who needs to be a member? Please contact: Sherrell Harper - 707.257.4598 Cathy Lavaroni Hall - 707.738.6763
VISIT ThE ChAMBER STORE fOR COMPLIANCE PRODuCTS, BOOKS AND guIDES, EVENT REgISTRATION, MAPS, MEMBERShIP, SAVINgS PROgRAMS, AND INfORMATION PACKETS.
February 2012 | COMMERCE | Page 5 |
Although my practice has been open in Napa for 20 years, I am only just realizing it is all about who you know. Joining the Napa Chamber expands the who I know in my community. I am now looking forward to the many events the Chamber offers. ~ Katrina Di Pasqua, DPM, family footCare Specialist
napachamber.com
DINNER
honorees were humbled, honored, and very grateful for the recognition. Accepting the award for Business of the Year, Queen of the Valley Medical Center President and CEO Walt Mickens said, I am proud to be part of an organization that is committed to its mission to continually improve the health and quality of life of people in the communities we serve. Being a part of and caring for the Napa community is at the heart of who we are as individuals and as an organization, Mickens said. Its an honor to accept this award on behalf of the amazing physicians, medical professionals, staff, volunteers and donors whose hard work, dedication and support make the Queen a great hospital. Nancy Pridmore, a real estate broker with
Davidson & Bennett Realtors, was named Ambassador of the Year. The value of a chamber (of commerce) lies in the legislative action support to the business community, Pridmore said. We give businesses a voice at the table, and not just for members we advocate for business in general. We operate as a consensus builder that brings together all the interested parties in the Napa Valley. Whether its agriculture, business, nonprofits, or even religious groups, we find we can be a help to one another. We try to keep everybody apprised of what is going on at the local, state and federal levels. If you are in business here, you need to be a Napa Chamber member. Gary Garaventa was named Citizen of the Year. Garaventa is the owner of Napa-
Snapshot Recap:
based Garaventas Florist & Gifts, and he has spent his entire adult life giving back and serving the Napa Valley community where he grew up. When informed of his award Gary, with characteristic humility, said; Im honored its not about just one person, Im one of many who work towards making Napa the best place to live in the Bay Area. Im taken aback and so very honored. Gary is first to point out that he could not accomplish all that he does without the help and support of his wife, Patty. The evening wrapped up with attendees collecting their silent auction purchases, networking, and planning for the future with colleagues. For more photos of the event, visit the Napa Chamber Facebook page at www.facebook.com/NapaChamber.
facebook.com/napachamber
February 16: Napa Valley Museum March 20: Napa Valley Business ExPO & Mixer April 19: MIxPO at Napa Smith Brewery & Winery May 17: No Mixer- Please attend Chefs Market June 21: Bank of Marin July: Benefit Golf Tournament & Mixer
For more mixer dates and a full schedule of events please visit napachamber.com/event_ataglance
as you can see, weve been pretty busy with the annual Dinner and could not hold a MIXER in January but nothing can stop us now, we are ready to start networking on February 16th. hugely popular, these events are attended by more than 200 people wanting to network and socialize with business leaders from all over the Napa Valley and beyond. held on the third thursday of the month from 5:30 - 7:00 p.m. at member businesses. Local wineries, caterers and restaurants also get an opportunity for exposure. No reservations are necessary. Bring plenty of business cards!
February 2012 | COMMERCE | Page 6 |
napachamber.com
We Focus on business
Chamber Member Spotlight:
thursday, may 24, 2012 11 a.m. -12:30 p.m. napa Valley marriott Hotel & spa 3425 solano avenue, napa
February 2012
COMMERCE
Page 7
napachamber.com
Well
February 3
Business Develop & Dine
E venT c alendar
February 15
Wake Up Your Business Wednesday
February 16
Napa Chamber of Commerce As the membership organization for business, we promote our communitys economic vitality and quality of life through leadership development, advocacy, facilitation and education.
Mixer
Napa Valley Museum
55 Presidents Circle Yountville
5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
miSSion
March 1
March 20
May 24
SAVE THE DATE
For membership information call Sherrell Harper - 707.257.4598 Cathy Lavaroni Hall - 707.738.6763
napachamber.com
February 2012