Annual Installation and Business Awards Dinner Network and connect at Wake Up Sierra Vista

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1 Volume 2012, Issue 5 The Chamber Vista A monthly publication of the Sierra Vista Area Chamber May 2012 Volume 2012, Issue #5 Annual Installation and Business Awards Dinner An Update from Executive Director Amanda Baillie 2 Loan Program for SSVEC Business Members 2 Member Spotlight 3 Chamber Staff Spotlight: 3 John Hargraves Chamber Calendar 4 Events at A Glance 5 Benefits of Hiring a Veteran City Partners with EPA Watersense Member Page 7 Board of Directors/ Chamber Staff We Mean Business Congratulations to the winners of the Chamber s Business of the Year Awards, presented in April. The recipient of our first Home Based accolade went to CerendipiTees (Top Left), a t-shirt printing and design company. Pet boarding facility Goin To Grandma s (Top Right) won the Small Business award, and the Large Business of the Year was government contractor CGI (Bottom Left). Randy Sueskind (Bottom Right), of Cherry Creek Radio, was announced as the 2011 Ambassador of the Year. Network and connect at Wake Up Sierra Vista Join us Thursday, May 17th for Wake Up Sierra Vista. This event allows you to network over breakfast, learn something new about your community from local leaders, and promote your business, in just one hour. Jim Shockey, Dean of the University of Arizona South, (pictured right) will be discussing higher education and how education is connected with business, workforce and economic development in Sierra Vista and Cochise County. He will discuss the challenges facing higher education and how partnerships can help to overcome these challenges. Pre-registration is $15 for Chamber members and $25 for Non-Chamber members and at the door prices are $20 for Chamber members and $30 for Non Chamber members. To pre-register for this event please visit the Chamber s website at sierravistachamber.org.

2 Page 2 The Chamber Vista Chamber Update by Executive Director Amanda Baillie Our monthly BATs are always well attended, and we hope this event will be no exception. This month we are trying something new at our Business At Twilight. For the first time, this popular networking event will be hosted by our neighbors in historic Bisbee. In recent months, we have seen an increasing number of Bisbee businesses join our Chamber. And we are more than happy to help them market their goods and services to Sierra Vista and beyond. When the Bisbee After 5 group asked if it could host the BAT, we thought it was a great idea, and we hope you will join us in supporting this active and creative business association. Every month, Bisbee After 5 and its members stage an art walk where restaurants, art galleries and retail stores stay open later than usual and offer culinary treats to visitors. The organization is recreating this event especially for the Business At Twilight on Thursday, May 10, and we think it will be a lot of fun. Due to technical difficulties, the transportation we had been planning to provide is now unable to join us. However, we are encouraging our members to car pool for the short drive to Bisbee to participate in what we know will be a highly enjoyable evening. Those who wish to car pool should meet at the Chamber at 5:15 p.m. the first 35 members to arrive, who would have secured a place on the bus, will instead be eligible to enter a drawing to win a $50 credit toward their annual membership dues. You must be present at the drawing in Bisbee to win. We will then head to Bisbee, where more than a dozen businesses will be waiting to host our members. After taking a leisurely stroll through the historic town, we will all meet in Peddler s Alley on Main Street at 8 p.m. for the usual drawings and networking, before driving back to Sierra Vista. Our monthly BATs are always well attended, and we hope this event will be no exception. Loan Program for SSVEC Business Members by David Bane, SSVEC Zero Interest loan for energy efficiency upgrades* The Arizona Corporation Commission has set new energy efficient requirements for utilities to help lower energy consumption for all utilities. This helps the utilities postpone upgrades driven by growth and building new power plants. SSVEC is growing, so every kwh that we can help you save will be used by someone new and we don t have to expend funds to find energy for the new guy. This program is to help businesses make energy efficiency improvements in their properties. Perfect for lighting upgrades, replacing old inefficient HVAC equipment, loading management systems, almost anything. Interest rate is at 0% with no pre-payment penalties. The Sierra Vista Area Chamber took advantage of the program to upgrade its lighting and HVAC systems. Over a six month period in 2011 the Chamber saw a 15 percent drop in its monthly electricity bill, compared to the same period in 2010, said Executive Director Amanda Baillie. The upgrade also allowed the Chamber to lower it s monthly billing rate and we have continued to see the benefits. We are always looking at ways to provide more efficient services to our members and the loan program has helped to do that. Approval of the loan is based on the following: Must be a Co-op member for at least one year Must own the property or have the owner as a co-applicant No more than two late payments in the last year Project has to have a reasonable rate of return (Savings on your electric and gas bills) Secured by a lien on the property For more information, please contact David Bane at *This is a pilot program with limited funds and is subject to change without notice. Don t forget that SSVEC also offers Free Energy Audits, rate checks, and rebates for high SEER Heat Pumps.

3 Volume 2012, Issue 5 Page 3 Member Spotlight: Berean Pre-School by Executive Director Amanda Baillie When Rachel Waterbury joined Berean Pre-School as its Director in August 2010, there were just six children enjoying the facility. Today, that number has steadily grown to 30 and the school is hopeful that will continue to increase in years to come. Located at 4699 E. Highway 90 in Sierra Vista, Berean Pre-School is housed in the former home of Berean Academy, a local charter school. While the original vision was to have the pre-school act as a natural pre-cursor to the academy, Berean Pre-School has since become an independent entity, which views itself as more of a cousin of its larger namesake. Financed through its tuition fees, Berean Pre-School mainly caters for two to five-year-olds, but is also licensed to care for children up to the age of 12, which it often does during its summer programs. Its two full-time teachers and three part-time staff are responsible for instilling the children with Christian values. A part of the ministry of Oasis Foursquare Church, Rachel believes this is a very positive aspect of what the pre-school provides. A Christian pre-school appeals to many families, she said. We are teaching the children how to make good choices, but also how to learn from the consequences of those choices. The Character Counts program is also a large part of what we do here. Currently licensed for 59 children, Rachel hopes the facility will continue to welcome local students and grow into the spacious classrooms left behind by the Academy. For further information on Berean Pre-School, contact or visit Would you like your business to be featured in the Member Spotlight? Join us at our next Business at Twilight for your chance to win this free benefit. Chamber Staff Spotlight - John Hargraves John was born in Philadelphia, PA. and grew up as a military dependent. He has lived in places such as Germany, Hawaii, Georgia, Washington, Maryland and Virginia. After graduating from high school in Arlington, VA., John was hired by the local telephone company C&P Telephone as a Customer Service Representative while attending Prince George s College. He later met his bride of 28 years, Karen. They have two daughters, Kristina and Kara. He and his family moved to Brooklyn, NY. for two years and then moved to Sierra Vista from an early visit through a high school friend. He accepted a position as an installer with the local cable company, Desert Cablevision, and rose through the company to become the Marketing Manager. He stayed on for seven years through the various company acquisitions, TCI of Southern Arizona and Cox Communications. After the last acquisition, John decided to move his family to Northern California where he accepted a position as Marketing Manager of Communications for AT&T Broadband which later became Comcast. He spent ten years in the San Francisco area with his family. He and his wife were able to raise their daughters to complete their undergraduate degrees and are currently completing their doctorates. John and Karen decided that they have given their children a good start on life and decided to come back to their home in Sierra Vista. John has a customer service, sales background and a passion for marketing. He holds a degree in Business Management with an emphasis in Marketing and Sales. He is the past President of the Sierra Vista South Rotary Club and current member of the Sierra Vista Rotary Club. John joined the Chamber staff in July 2010, as the Marketing / Membership Director. John is responsible for the acquisition and the retention of Chamber members, assisting members with marketing, as well as member webpage setups, ribbon cutting events, and presenting our Chamber 101 orientation class.

4 Page 4 The Chamber Vista Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat May LAC MAC 9 Ambassadors/ Free Resource Day Leadership Graduation BAT 17 Wake Up Sierra Vista West End Fair Schedule of Events May 5 - West End Fair, 11 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. May 8 - Legislative Affairs Committee meeting 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. May 9 - Ambassadors Meeting Luncheon, Morning Glory Café, 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. May 9 - Free Resource Day, Sierra Vista Chamber, 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. May 10 - Business at Twilight, Bisbee After 5, 5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. May 16 - Leadership Graduation 2:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. May 17 - Wake Up Sierra Vista, Pueblo Del Sol, 7:30 a.m. - 8:30 a.m. HOSTED BY: Business At Twilight Thursday, May 10 Bisbee, AZ Due to mechanical problems, the Bisbee Trolley is unable to transport members to Bisbee for the May 10 Business At Twilight. However, we are encouraging everyone to car pool by meeting at the Chamber between 5:00 p.m. and 5:15 p.m. The first 35 members who would have secured a seat on the trolley will instead be eligible to enter a drawing for a $50 credit toward their membership dues. You must be present at the drawing in Bisbee to win. Drawings will be held in Peddler s Alley on Main Street at 8:00 p.m. Event: Stroll through historic Bisbee beginning at Screaming Banshee Pizza and ending at Peddler s Alley at 8:00 p.m. for networking and raffles Attendees are encouraged to these Chamber Members: Screaming Banshee Pizza, Chocolate, Finders Keepers, Exquisite Designs, 55 Main Gallery, Divine Teas & Novelties, Jewelry Designs by Owen, PanTerra Gallery, Vixen Metal Gallery, Bisbee Oil, Optimo Hatworks, Bisbee Coffee Company

5 Volume 2012, Issue 5 Page 5 Events at A Glance Clockwise from top left: Leadership - Law Enforcement Day, Sierra Vista Food Co-Op - 1 year Anniversary Ribbon Cutting Ceremony, April s Business at Twilight sponsored by Nova Home Loans, Randy Sueskind Ambassador of the Year, CGI - Large Business of the Year, Mary & Glenn Baxter Goin to Grandma s - Small Business of the Year, Cheryl Cervantes - CerendipiTees - Home Based Business of the Year, Chamber Staff at the Annual Installation and Awards Dinner For upcoming events please visit us at Did you know that you can place your business card size ad in the Vista for only $50 per issue or your logo for $25!!! Sign up for 12 issues and save $100 on a business card ad and $50 on a logo placement.

6 Page 6 The Chamber Vista Benefits of Hiring a Veteran by Robin Mitchell - Cochise County Workforce Development Center What employer would not want to hire a job applicant who is accustomed to working evenings and weekends, comes with an ingrained work ethic, is able to assimilate information quickly, can plan effectively, and build new relationships easily? Military veterans stand ready to serve. In this time of economic turmoil when jobs are scarce and so many of our vets are returning from overseas conflicts, utilizing your armed services workforce can help an employer see cost savings in recruitment and training of good employees. The military equips its members with skills and attributes that are particularly valuable in this economy. Hiring a veteran could be the smartest personnel decision you make. What makes a veteran such a sought after employee? Here are a few reasons why: Work Ethic: The work ethic of veterans is unparalleled due to the need to depend on each other for their lives. Every military person knows that their life and success depends on their team mates. As a result, the work ethic of veterans is vastly stronger than the normal civilian work ethic. People who have served in the military are used to working long hours in non-traditional environments. Proven Leadership: Veterans were put into leadership roles at early stages of their time in the service. The real world leadership developed in the military is well beyond that of a similar person in a civilian job. Team Players: From the early stages initial training, all members of the military are used to working in a team environment. Some teams are small, others very large, but all members of the team know that their individual efforts are to support the team in reaching the larger objective. Training and Education: Today's military veteran has been trained in nearly every occupation imaginable, with a strong emphasis on technology. Most of the training schools of the military that teach technology, leadership, sales, management and operations surpass those available to civilians. Immediate Contributor: Veterans, through their proven experiences in the military, become valuable contributors from day one of employment. Veterans are used to being challenged, encouraged to demonstrate initiative, think quickly on their feet and give recognition for performance to those who earn it. Physically fit and and drug free: Which translates into less sick days. Levelheaded: Members of the military are trained to remain calm in the face of initial stressors and to analyze and evaluate a situation before reacting. This leads to levelheaded thinking when faced with a stressful work environment. How Do You Find Qualified Veterans? Contact your local Workforce Development Office. City Partners with EPA WaterSense The City of Sierra Vista has teamed with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency s (EPA) WaterSense program to help residents save water for future generations and reduce costs on their utility bills. Residents are encouraged to do their part to save water by replacing their high flow toilets to low flow WaterSense labeled toilets. The City s Toilet Rebate Program offers City residents up to $100 per toilet to replace their pre-1994 toilets with highefficiency models as certified by EPA s WaterSense. The goal of EPA s WaterSense program is to help Americans save water and money by offering simple ways to reduce water use though water-efficient product choices, says Sheila Frace, Director of the EPA Office of Water s Municipal Support Division. Using water more efficiently can help delay the need to create more supplies, saving communities money and resources, as well as ensuring that water will be available for future generations. The City of Sierra Vista has offered toilet rebates of up to $100 per toilet for the past 10 years, for city residents who replace older, high flow toilets with new toilets that use 1.6 gallons or less per flush. As an EPA WaterSense Partner, the City is adjusting its Toilet Rebate Program requirements. Only highefficiency toilet models certified by the EPA WaterSense Program are eligible for the City s rebates. WaterSense labeled toilets cannot use more than 1.28 gallons per flush, which is 20 percent less water than the current federal standard. The average home, retrofitted with water-efficient fixtures, can save 30,000 gallons per year. If one out of every 10 homes in the United States upgraded to water-efficient fixtures, it could save more than 300 billion gallons and nearly $2 billion annually. The City currently has funds for the Toilet Rebate Program and is now accepting registration forms. Forms are available online at (search Toilet Rebate ).

7 Volume 2012, Issue 5 Page 7 A Special Welcome to Our New Members! Applebees - (520) Bisbee Coffee Company - (520) Bisbee Olive Oil - (520) Buffalo Corral BBQ Frye s Ultimate - (520) Kelley s Hair Company - (562) Kestrel Graphic Design - (520) Kissed By A Cake Pop - (480) Nu-View! Window Cleaning - (520) Optimo Hatworks - (520) Vixen Fine Art Metal Gallery Westover Garage Door Service - (520) Thank You to These Members for Renewing Their Commitment to The Business Community: 4 Paws Inn, Inc. Above Board Best Western Mission Inn Carmelita Apartments Century 21 Frank McMullan Cochise College Sierra Vista Campus Cool Dreams Custom Window Executive Club Members American Family Insurance Arizona Water Company Best Buy Booz Allen Hamilton BrightStar CACI, Inc. Campstone Transfer, Inc. Castle & Cooke, Inc. Castle & Cooke Mortgage, LLC CGI Cherry Creek Radio City of Sierra Vista Coca-Cola Refreshments USA, Inc. Cox Data Systems & Technology, Inc. Dental Village Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriot Farmers Insurance - Ginny Francis Garden Terrace Assisted Living Home General Dynamics Information Technology Horizon Moving Systems of Sierra Vista, Inc. Huachuca Mountain Insurance Agency KKYZ Radio Landmark Café Lawley Automotive Center Lawley s Team Ford Tinting E.F. Edwards Financial, Inc. Enchanted Dragon Tattoo Kiwanis San Pedro Club, Just Kids, Inc. Foundation M & M Auto Paint Supplies Patricia Turner Pizza Hut Italian Bistro Life Care Center Long Realty Co. Longhorn Restaurant Mall at Sierra Vista ManTech Telecommunications & Info Systems Mission Essential Personnel (MEP), LLC Mobile Marketing Blueprint Nathan Williams, Law Office National Bank of Arizona New Frontier Animal Medical Center Northrop Grumman Corporation Patio Pools & Spas Pioneer Title Agency Pueblo del Sol Country Club Restless Wings Photography Rosemont Copper Company Salient Federal Solutions Sentrillion Sierra Vista Ace Hardware Sierra Vista Herald Bisbee Daily Review Sierra Vista Regional Health Center SMPLFY IT Southeastern Arizona Contractors Association Pizzeria mimosa SAIC Sierra Vista Personnel Sierra Vista Food Co-Op Sierra Vista Herald/ Bisbee Daily Review Southwest Pawn Southern Arizona Media Productions Southwest Gas Corporation Southwestern Eye Center Stachel & Associates, P.C. STG Inc. Stilwell s Learning Center, LLC Suburban Extended Stay Hotels Sulpher Springs Valley Electric Coop. Sun Canyon Inn TDY Housing, LLC TMS - Ty Media Services TownePlace Suites by Marriott University of Phoenix -Sierra Vista Campus Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. Waddell & Reed Financial Advisors, David Burnett Wayland Baptist University Wells Fargo Home Mortgage Windemere Hotel & Conference Center Want to reach over 1,000 potential customers for $50 a month? Call To Find Out How!

8 The Chamber Vista is a publication of the Sierra Vista Area Chamber 21 E. Wilcox Drive, Sierra Vista, AZ (520) , Fax: (520) Mission Statement The Sierra Vista Area Chamber promotes business and provides leadership for the improvement of the community Board of Directors Executive Officers Chairwoman - Dee Dee Hoeft, Wells Fargo Home Mortgage Past Chairman - Frank Gonzalez, Lawley Automotive Treasurer - Michael Benson, TDY Housing Secretary - Jean Giuffrida, Long Realty Member at Large - Rick Shelley - Horizon Moving Systems Board Members Elsie MacMillan - Sierra Toyota Ken Cecil - Mall at Sierra Vista Phil Vega - Sierra Vista Herald / Bisbee Daily Review Randy Sueskind Cherry Creek Radio Pamela Anderson - Landmark Café Jack Blair - Sulphur Springs Valley Electric Cooperative Anita Farrow - National Bank of Arizona Joe Stroud - Edwards Financial, Inc. Nancy Nash - Stuff N Baskets Nathan Williams - Nathan Williams, Law Office Chamber Staff Executive Director - Amanda Baillie, abaillie@sierravistachamber.org Membership & Marketing Director- John Hargraves III, jhagraves@sierravistachamber.org Communications Director - David Elkins, delkins@sierravistachamber.org Office Manager - Leah Hastings, officem@sierravistachamber.org Events Coordinator - Diane Erwin, derwin@sierravistachamber.org Administrative Assistant - Leah Barnes, info@sierravistachamber.org Sierra Vista Area Chamber 21 E. Wilcox Dr. Sierra Vista, AZ PRESORTED STANDARD US POSTAGE PAID HEREFORD, AZ PERMIT NO. 29 CURRENT RESIDENT OR