ARTICLE
On Wednesday morning, January 25th, the Santa Cruz County Chamber of Commerce kicked off the new year at the Chamber’s Annual Members Breakfast meeting. Hosted by our friends at the Dream Inn: it was a sold out crowd. Conversations about the latest stories on the atmospheric winter storms dominated the networking time as our county moves from the declared natural disaster to the recovery mode. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has set up Disaster Assistance Centers (DAC) in Capitola, Watsonville and in the San Lorenzo Valley to assist individuals applying for benefits. The Santa Cruz County Office of Response, Recovery, Resilience has information here: https://www.co.santa-cruz.ca.us/OR3/Emergency.aspx. I encourage any Santa Cruz resident or business who has suffered damages related to the storms to reach out to FEMA and make an application with proper documentation of your claim. Now, let’s talk about how your Santa Cruz County Chamber is looking forward to 2023. At our breakfast meeting, in traditional style, the Chamber recognized three individuals as our top Ambassadors for 2022. Drum roll please! Congratulations to Beverly Ritchie (David Lyng Real Estate), Chris Maffia (Santa Cruz County Bank - Retired) and Annika Kelsey (Santa Cruz Warriors) for their contributions to the Chamber throughout the year. The Chamber ambassadors are the eyes, ears and face of the Chamber. They greet you at our events, help introduce new members to the community, and bring a zest of energy to us. Thank you Beverly, Chris and Annika for going above and beyond to help make the Chamber a wonderful organization. The Annual Members Breakfast is a time to recap the past and set our path forward by introducing our 2023 Board of Directors. In fine fashion, outgoing Chair Alan Smith, Grunsky Law Firm thanked the community for giving him the opportunity to serve on the Chamber board for the past seven years. Alan turned the chamber chair over to Dan Smart, the Dream Inn, who introduced the 2023 Board: Executive Committee Alan Smith outgoing Chair — Grunsky Law Firm Bonnie Lipscomb, Vice Chair — City of Santa Cruz Duf Fischer, Mr. Chamber — Ambassador Extraordinaire Zach Davis — Co-chair Community Affairs Committee — The Glass Jar Jessie Bristow — Co-Chair Community Affairs Committee — Swenson Melissa Whatley — Chair, M&M Committee — UCSC Angelo DeBernardo — Interim-Chair Finance Committee — SCCB Board of Directors Shawn Adams, Santa Cruz Signs James Allen, Allterra Solar Keisha Frost Browder, United Way of Santa Cruz County Nicole Coburn, Santa Cruz County Jeff Daneff, Dignity Health/Dominican Hospital Kristin Fabos, Cabrillo College Clara Flores, HP Steve Gray, Sutter Health/PAMF Morgan Lyng Lukina, David Lyng Real Estate Laura Marcus, Dientes Community Dental Care Stephanie Munoz, BTF Enterprises Chris Murphy, Santa Cruz Warriors Christian Pellecchia, Slatter Construction Tejal Sood, Bayside Hotel Group As we move into our 134th year as the voice of the Santa Cruz County Business Community, we rely on the talents and skills of many chamber members. It is clear that past board members provide such value to our community that we could not let them walk away silently from the Chamber. As a result, the Board established a new standing emeritus committee where we can tap into their talent when and if necessary: Hilary Bryant, Community Foundation of Santa Cruz County Greg Lukina, David Lyng Real Estate Chris Maffia, Santa Cruz County Bank (Retired) Karl Rice, Santa Cruz Seaside Company Matthew Wetstein, Cabrillo College Reflecting back on 134 years — your Chamber has been in a leadership role and acted as a partner to our public sector leaders. We are catalyst for every major event in our community’s history. “Our mission from 1889 has not changed as your 2023 Chamber continues to seek ways to promote economic vitality, create jobs, improve our infrastructure, protect our natural environment and the beauty of the Monterey Bay and give back to the community.” This is your Chamber’s DNA. With a small staff of two (actually only our CEO at this time), an effective and resilient volunteer board, and our ambassadors: we cannot accomplish our goals without you. Each person in this room has a civic and moral obligation to pitch in and promote Santa Cruz County. With your input, energy, and collective involvement, we can become a more effective Chamber. One that pushes to represent the best interest of our members, and, more importantly — ensures Santa Cruz County is a vibrant place to work, live and play. But it takes more than a handful to make a difference, so please join our CEO, our ambassadors, and the board, to make a difference in Santa Cruz County in 2023. Part of your effort to improve our community is to participate in Chamber events and programs. Please consider attending, participating and sponsoring Chamber events during this year. Your support and involvement will make a difference. On behalf of the Chamber board I look forward to a successful and productive year.
On Wednesday morning, January 25th, the Santa Cruz County Chamber of Commerce kicked off the new year at the Chamber’s Annual Members Breakfast meeting. Hosted by our friends at the Dream Inn: it was a sold out crowd. Conversations about the latest stories on the atmospheric winter storms dominated the networking time as our county moves from the declared natural disaster to the recovery mode.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has set up Disaster Assistance Centers (DAC) in Capitola, Watsonville and in the San Lorenzo Valley to assist individuals applying for benefits. The Santa Cruz County Office of Response, Recovery, Resilience has information here: https://www.co.santa-cruz.ca.us/OR3/Emergency.aspx. I encourage any Santa Cruz resident or business who has suffered damages related to the storms to reach out to FEMA and make an application with proper documentation of your claim.
Now, let’s talk about how your Santa Cruz County Chamber is looking forward to 2023. At our breakfast meeting, in traditional style, the Chamber recognized three individuals as our top Ambassadors for 2022. Drum roll please! Congratulations to Beverly Ritchie (David Lyng Real Estate), Chris Maffia (Santa Cruz County Bank - Retired) and Annika Kelsey (Santa Cruz Warriors) for their contributions to the Chamber throughout the year. The Chamber ambassadors are the eyes, ears and face of the Chamber. They greet you at our events, help introduce new members to the community, and bring a zest of energy to us. Thank you Beverly, Chris and Annika for going above and beyond to help make the Chamber a wonderful organization.
The Annual Members Breakfast is a time to recap the past and set our path forward by introducing our 2023 Board of Directors. In fine fashion, outgoing Chair Alan Smith, Grunsky Law Firm thanked the community for giving him the opportunity to serve on the Chamber board for the past seven years. Alan turned the chamber chair over to Dan Smart, the Dream Inn, who introduced the 2023 Board:
Executive Committee
Alan Smith outgoing Chair — Grunsky Law Firm
Bonnie Lipscomb, Vice Chair — City of Santa Cruz
Duf Fischer, Mr. Chamber — Ambassador Extraordinaire
Zach Davis — Co-chair Community Affairs Committee — The Glass Jar
Jessie Bristow — Co-Chair Community Affairs Committee — Swenson
Melissa Whatley — Chair, M&M Committee — UCSC
Angelo DeBernardo — Interim-Chair Finance Committee — SCCB
Board of Directors
Shawn Adams, Santa Cruz Signs
James Allen, Allterra Solar
Keisha Frost Browder, United Way of Santa Cruz County
Nicole Coburn, Santa Cruz County
Jeff Daneff, Dignity Health/Dominican Hospital
Kristin Fabos, Cabrillo College
Clara Flores, HP
Steve Gray, Sutter Health/PAMF
Morgan Lyng Lukina, David Lyng Real Estate
Laura Marcus, Dientes Community Dental Care
Stephanie Munoz, BTF Enterprises
Chris Murphy, Santa Cruz Warriors
Christian Pellecchia, Slatter Construction
Tejal Sood, Bayside Hotel Group
As we move into our 134th year as the voice of the Santa Cruz County Business Community, we rely on the talents and skills of many chamber members. It is clear that past board members provide such value to our community that we could not let them walk away silently from the Chamber. As a result, the Board established a new standing emeritus committee where we can tap into their talent when and if necessary:
Hilary Bryant, Community Foundation of Santa Cruz County
Greg Lukina, David Lyng Real Estate
Chris Maffia, Santa Cruz County Bank (Retired)
Karl Rice, Santa Cruz Seaside Company
Matthew Wetstein, Cabrillo College
Reflecting back on 134 years — your Chamber has been in a leadership role and acted as a partner to our public sector leaders. We are catalyst for every major event in our community’s history. “Our mission from 1889 has not changed as your 2023 Chamber continues to seek ways to promote economic vitality, create jobs, improve our infrastructure, protect our natural environment and the beauty of the Monterey Bay and give back to the community.” This is your Chamber’s DNA.
With a small staff of two (actually only our CEO at this time), an effective and resilient volunteer board, and our ambassadors: we cannot accomplish our goals without you. Each person in this room has a civic and moral obligation to pitch in and promote Santa Cruz County.
With your input, energy, and collective involvement, we can become a more effective Chamber. One that pushes to represent the best interest of our members, and, more importantly — ensures Santa Cruz County is a vibrant place to work, live and play. But it takes more than a handful to make a difference, so please join our CEO, our ambassadors, and the board, to make a difference in Santa Cruz County in 2023.
Part of your effort to improve our community is to participate in Chamber events and programs. Please consider attending, participating and sponsoring Chamber events during this year. Your support and involvement will make a difference. On behalf of the Chamber board I look forward to a successful and productive year.