port o call - december 2012

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PORT CALL GREATER STOCKTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE www.stocktonchamber.org DECEMBER 2012 Vol. 58 No. 8 PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO 461 STOCKTON CA Make Your Holidays “Hassle Free” Visitors Bureau Launches iPhone App Giving Local: Local Nonprofits Support the Stockton Community this Holiday Season

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Stockton Chamber of Commerce monthly magazine

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Page 1: Port O Call - December 2012

PORT CALLGREATER STOCKTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.stocktonchamber.org dECEMBER 2012

Vol. 58 No. 8

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Make Your Holidays “Hassle Free”

Visitors Bureau Launches iPhone App

Giving Local: Local Nonprofits Support the

Stockton Community this Holiday Season

Page 2: Port O Call - December 2012

He just saved two hours. And a copay.

kp.org/centralvalley

How? He simply e-mailed his doctor, instead of leaving

work for an office visit. My Health Manager online services

can prevent productivity losses—for your people and your

organization—at a time when it’s crucial to do more with less.

And these services are available at no added charge.

Members can:

• e-mail their doctor’s office

• check most lab results

• request routine appointments with their personal physician

• order prescription refills

See how we can bring greater value to your health care dollars—view a demo at kp.org/experience.

Or contact your Kaiser Permanente broker or account manager.

Progress_PortOCall_June_9.25x11.75.indd 1 5/15/12 12:04 PM

Page 3: Port O Call - December 2012
Page 4: Port O Call - December 2012

CONTENTS

PORT CALL

14

Don’t MissNetworking Mixer

University of the Pacific, Come for the Mixer

Stay for the Basketball Game.

January 10, Mixer 5:00-6:30 p.m., Basketball Game 7 p.m. University of the Pacific, Alex G. Spanos Center.

Mixer will be held on the South Concourse inside the Spanos Center.

Free tickets to that evening’s game against the UC Santa Barbara

Gauchos will be given out at check in.

From Your President 5

From Your CEO 6

Events 7

Leadership Stockton 9

Convention & Visitors Bureau 11

New Members 12

Programs and Public 13 Policy department

Cover Story 14

Ribbon Cuttings 16

News Briefs 16

Calendar 18

VotedBest Painter

(209) WE-PAINT • 209wepaint.com

Best Residential PainterFour Years in a Row!

Professional, reliable, trustworthy … from start to finish!

• Interior/Exterior• Shopping Centers• HOA • Restaurants• Churches• Apartments

• Condominiums• Distribution Centers• Office Buildings• Medical Facilities• Pressure Washing• Graffiti Removal

Commercial Painting Services Offered:

Lic# 836278

(937-2468)

11

Giving Local: Local Nonprofits Support the Stockton Community this Holiday Season

Make Your Holidays“Hassle Free”

Page 5: Port O Call - December 2012

It is with a lot of excitement and

enthusiasm that I wish you and your

families a very wonderful Christmas

and holiday season.

As we welcome this very joyous

time of year, we should take a minute

to thank the many organizations, their

support teams and volunteers, that

help the less fortunate citizens living in

our community. The Greater Stockton

Chamber of Commerce would like to

recognize and thank all for being an

important part of our community.

Stockton and San Joaquin County are

truly blessed to have several of these organizations, such as the Women’s Center

that helps women and children escaping a violent environment; the Homeless

Shelter that houses those without homes; St. Mary’s Dining Hall that helps others

by feeding the hungry; and the Emergency Food Bank that not only helps feed

families, but also teaches them to grow nourishment at home, just to name a few.

I know there are individuals that will say, “The City of Stockton’s glass is half

empty with a hole in bottom,” but the Chamber and I know better!

I am often asked, as a small business owner and Chamber President, how this

unprecedented economic environment and unique business cycle has affected our

community’s day-to-day business activities. Businesses have not stopped servicing

our community or shut down because of the city’s bankruptcy!

People are utilizing LOCAL businesses of all types from goods to food,

the housing market is starting to turn around local restaurants, the Port

of Stockton is growing at a record pace, the Prison Hospital will soon be

hiring a huge workforce to compliment the construction jobs, the highway

construction continues to bring jobs, and economic forecasts look to a

brighter future once the issues are behind us.

From Your President...by: Gary J. Long

dEC2012 5www.stocktonchamber.org

PORT CALL

GREATER STOCKTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE445 W. Weber Avenue, Suite 220, Stockton, CA 95203

209.547.2770 fax [email protected]

Official publication of the Greater Stockton Chamber of Commerce. Serving the Greater Stockton area business community since 1901.

CHAMBER OFFICERS

PRESIdENT Gary J. Long, Gary J. Long Jewelers

SR. VICE PRESIdENT Steven Crabtree, Herum Crabtree

FINANCIAL VICE PRESIdENTBlain Bibb, ServiceMaster Building Maintenance

VICE PRESIdENT Judith Buethe, Judith Buethe Communications

VICE PRESIdENT Dan Durst, Durst Contract Interiors

IMMEdIATE PAST PRESIdENT Debbie Armstrong, Old Republic Title Co.

CHAMBER dIRECTORSMichael Cera, SMG/Stockton Arena/Bob Hope TheatreDonna DeMartino, San Joaquin Regional Transit DistrictPatricia V. DeSoto, Patricia V. DeSoto, CPAPat Filippone, Stockton Ports Baseball ClubLewis Gale, Eberhardt School of BusinessClint Harless, Stockton Auto Glass/Quick’s Glass ServiceMikey Kamienski, Charterhouse Center for FamiliesDan Keyser, Grupe Commercial CompanyDarryle Oakman, San Joaquin County Rental Property AssociationBakul Patel, Dorfman PacificJustin Redman, Central Valley Community BankTina Williams, Pacific Gas & Electric CompanyDiane Vigil, Dameron Hospital FoundationBob Young, Stockton Golf & Country Club

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICERDouglass W. Wilhoit, Jr. 209.547.2766

PROGRAM & PUBLIC POLICY dIRECTOR/ BEAFrank Ferral 209.547.2763

SPECIAL EVENTS dIRECTORHeidi Altamirano 209.547.2764

STAFF ACCOUNTANTLia Her 209.547.2768

MEMBERSHIP dIRECTORBrittney Doty 209.337.2723

SPECIAL EVENTS/ LEAdERSHIP STOCKTON COORd.Timm Quinn 209.547.2960

SCAP COORdINATOR/ AdMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANTMikki Gilbert 209.337.2730

SCAP-SE COORdINATORMichael Morales 209.337.2716

BEA/ SCAP AdMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANTDylan Bacon 209.547.2770

RECEPTIONIST/ CUSTOMER SERVICEMai Vang 209.547.2770

PUBLISHER Stockton Chamber of Commerce 209.547.2770

GRAPHIC dESIGNNever Boring Design Associates 209.526.9136

AdVERTISING Victor Randolph 209.988.5800

PRINTINGSnyder Parks 209.466.9026

MAILINGSnyder Parks 209.466.9026

Greater

Page 6: Port O Call - December 2012

PORT CALL Greater Stockton Chamber of Commerce6

From Your CEO...by: Doug Wilhoit

I am honored to join your Chamber

President Gary J. Long, your Chamber

Board of Directors and your hard

working Chamber staff in saying that

it is our hope that you and yours had

a wonderful Thanksgiving, and here

is wishing each and every one of you

a blessed and Merry Christmas and

holiday season!

With that in mind, I want to

thank all of you who were so kind to

my family and I after losing both my

parents in 2012! Your many deeds,

words, prayers and acts of kindness

were not only greatly appreciated,

but also reinforced my strong

belief in how great the people are

of this great City of Stockton and

County of San Joaquin.

This is such a joyous time of

the year that I would hope we all

could continue to have during

the entire year, year in and year

out, but I know this is not going to happen in this tumultuous

and sometimes self-serving world we now live in.

One of the things I am so happy about is that the election

season is over and we are rid of the 24-7 political ads. Some

good, some bad, some true, some lies, some fair and some just

plain nasty and cruel. What has happened to civility and just

public honesty? And to that point, how long are we going to put

up with that type of misuse of our democracy and “freedom

of speech?”

No matter who you voted for, it is important to note that

being in public office in this day and age is not an easy thing

to do! My hat is off to those who have served to the best of

their ability, along with their families, dealing with issues of all

types, even if they did not cause or have control of the day to

day problems confronting them 24-7, 365 days a year! And, to

those who are just starting to learn that the campaign is the easy

part, but now they have to put their (our) money where their

mouth was. I am glad my time came and went. Yes, in the last

century from 1979 to 1995, when it was nowhere near as cruel,

cutthroat, nasty, demeaning, dishonest or blatantly outlandish.

This also goes for the “social networks” as well. Manners and

personal responsibility truly go out the window when you just

have a “screen name” and can hide behind that.

It is to be remembered that those in elected office, under the

greatest form of government in this world, are just only “citizen

politicians” and not some form of extra super human. They

do not have all the answers and cannot solve all the problems

caused by so many sources. Some may think they are

somewhere at a higher level, but as my father told me years ago:

“Son, remember you put your pants on one leg at a time just as

everyone else does, so don’t think you are any different or more

special than anyone else.” I am seeing more and more elected

officials who see it different in that they feel or believe they can

just “leap” into their pants in one wonderful

motion! Wrong!

Let me again share with you and soon to be past elected

officials and the new ones two of my favorite quotes and add

to that something on true leadership that I have read before.

First from President Theodore Roosevelt: “Far better it is to

dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though

checkered by failure, than to take rank with those poor spirits

who neither enjoy much nor suffer much, because they live in

the gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat.” He also

stated, “We must remember not to judge any public servant by

any one act, and especially should we beware of attacking the

men (women) who are merely the occasions and not the causes

of disaster”. Benjamin Franklin stated: “The world is full of fools

Page 7: Port O Call - December 2012

dEC2012 7@ Heidi Altamirano: [email protected]

and faint hearts; and yet everyone has courage enough to bear

the misfortunes and wisdom enough to manage the affairs, of his

(her) neighbor”.

From the book “The Servant Leader” by Ken Blanchard and

Phil Hodges comes: “The journey to effective servant leadership

turns outward when the heart and mind now guide the behavior

of the leader in interaction with those who follow. This is where

good intention and right thinking start to bear good fruit. It

is where real discipleship is truly tested.” “The decision-by

decision behaviors of leaders can make or break their long-range

effectiveness and their ability to inspire trust. Right leadership

motives and clear leadership thinking, when coupled with inept

or self-serving behavior, will bring frustration and inefficiency

into any leadership effort”.

Or let me, in my own words, put it another way: To newly

elected or re-elected officials-you are here for ALL OF US and

not just one small group that you may feel you are beholding to.

I have found that those who feel you owe them will be the first

to abandon you when you first make the right decision for the

many and not just the few! Believe me when I say that for it is

true! And please remember this and engrain it in your heart

and every fiber in your body: you have been entrusted with a

sacred mission in life for the greater good of all. Please use it well

and honestly! We here at the Chamber will help you succeed if

you are faithful to your oath of office!

Again a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all

of you, and remember to “Shop Local” for all your needs this

Christmas season and all year long.

Eventsby: Heidi Altamarino

Sign up Now for Taking Care of Business!

There is still time to get in on the Taking Care of Business

Sponsorship program for our remaining 2013 events like the Golf

Tournament, State of the City, Business Awards Luncheon, and

Installation Dinner.

The Taking Care of Business Program offers our member

businesses a wealth of marketing and sponsorship opportunities

for the upcoming year. This popular program was created to

give Chamber members an excellent way to receive exposure

throughout the year at a dramatic discount off normal pricing.

Sponsoring companies typically select several options from

the events line up. The Chamber allows its members to wisely

choose a yearlong program that meets their marketing, consumer

exposure and community involvement goals. Package prices

enable sponsors to select from several marketing and promotional

opportunities at a significant savings.

For more information on stretching your marketing dollars

through Taking Care of Business, contact Heidi Altamirano,

Events Director, at 209.547.2764, or e-mail to

[email protected].

A.G. Spanos CompaniesBank of Agriculture & CommerceBank of the WestBuilders Exchange of StocktonCalifornia Water Service Co.Collins Electrical Company, Inc. Dorfman Pacific Co., Inc.EZ Network Systems, Inc. F&M BankFinancial Center Credit Union

Grupe Commercial CompanyHerum/CrabtreeKaiser PermanenteLincoln CenterMoss Adams, LLPNeumiller & BeardsleeOak Valley Community BankPacific Records Management/ Pacific ShreddingR & S Erection of Stockton, Inc.

San Joaquin Delta Community CollegeSan Joaquin RTDSt. Joseph’s Medical CenterStockton East Water DistrictSutter Gould Medical FoundationThe Record/San Joaquin Media GroupUnited Way of San Joaquin CountyUniversity of the Pacific

The Greater Stockton Chamber of Commerce proudly recognizes the following companies for their year round support of the Chamber through our Taking Care of Business 2012-2013 Sponsorship Program

Page 8: Port O Call - December 2012

PORT CALL Greater Stockton Chamber of Commerce8

Page 9: Port O Call - December 2012

9dEC2012www.stocktonchamber.org@ Timm Quinn: [email protected]

Green Your Bottom Line with Product Stewardship!

Economic benefits abound: reduced operating costs, energy savings, reduced disposal costs, the creation of green jobs.

www.CalPSC.org

Design it Green | Make it Clean | Conserve Resources | Reduce | Reuse | Eliminate Toxics | Take it Back!

Become a Certified Green Business! Save money & gain customers by:

Reducing waste Conserving water and energy

Protecting public health Using recycled-content in your products

www.GreenTeamSanJoaquin.com

SMALL BUSINESS HAZARDOUS WASTE DISPOSAL*

Affordable Hazardous Waste Management for Your Business A Program of San Joaquin County Public Works

www.SJCrecycle.org (209) 468-3066

i Low cost way to safely dispose of hazardous materials. (Costs depend on your waste types.)

i Documentation that you properly manage hazardous waste.

i Assurance that the material will be disposed of properly. *Conditionally Exempt Small Quantity Generators (CESQG)

We also accept universal and electronic waste.

Leadership Stocktonby: Timm Quinn

Leadership Stockton

Stockton: History, Arts, and Culture

Leadership Level Sponsor: Financial Center Credit Union

Pilot Level Sponsor: Delta Center for the Arts

Session Sponsors: Stockton Convention & Visitors Bureau, Haggin Museum

Whether you are new to Stockton or have lived here a lifetime, you

are sure to learn something during the Leadership Stockton, “Stockton:

History, Arts, and Culture” session. Held each year at the Haggin

Museum, the day is full of fascinating information spanning from the

founding of our great city to the present day, and including a look at our

arts and cultural resources.

Tod Ruhstaller, Director of the Haggin Museum (and Stockton

history guru) was the guide for the first part of the day, taking the class

through a PowerPoint history lesson from the time before settlers

arrived to the present day. After our history overview, Tod guided the

class through the entire museum explaining the history of the museum

and its contents.

After the history lesson and tour, the class enjoyed lunch in the

museum and those who brought a jacket enjoyed the beautiful scenery of

Victory Park, a true Stockton gem.

After lunch, the class returned to the museum and heard from Wendi

Maxwell (LS Class of 1984), who spoke on the importance of the arts

and what the Stockton Arts Commission and Stockton Arts Foundation

do to help. She was followed by Wes Rhea (LS Class of 2004), from the

Stockton Convention & Visitors Bureau who debunked the myth that

“there is nothing to do in Stockton.”

The day finished with Maestro Peter Jaffe from the Stockton

Symphony. Peter spoke of the long history of the Stockton Symphony

(third oldest continuously operating symphony in California), and

previewed the upcoming season. The class was jazzed to here Peter play a

few pieces from the upcoming year.

A big THANK YOU to the following: Ramon Valez (LS Class of 2006)

for all your help throughout the day; to Tod Ruhstaller, Kristen Anema

(LS Class of 2011) and the hard working staff of the Haggin Museum

for the use of the Museum and the all access tour; Peter Jaffe and the

Stockton Symphony; Wendi Maxwell and the Stockton Arts Foundation;

and Wes Rhea and the Stockton Convention & Visitors Bureau.

HAPPY GREEN HOLIDAYS!

(209) 468-3066

Be a Green Business. Save money and get on

Santa’s Nice list. Ask him for our low-cost hazardous waste disposal

program for your business.

‘TIS THE SEASON TO REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE, RETHINK

SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY PUBLIC WORKS SOLID WASTE DIVISION

Your Local Insurance Super Hero Has Arrived!

Auto & Home • Business Insurance • Health Insurance

Call and Save Today!(209) 451-9010

The Waterfront Warehouse445 W. Weber Ave., Ste 140Stockton, CA 95203lic. #of74463www.trustopi.com

Page 10: Port O Call - December 2012
Page 11: Port O Call - December 2012

dEC2012 11www.stocktonchamber.org

Convention & Visitors Bureauby: Wes Rhea

Make Your Holidays “Hassle Free”

The Stockton Convention & Visitors Bureau (SCVB) has partnered with local hotels to offer specially priced overnight packages during the holiday season. These special rates were available during Thanksgiving and will also be available around the Christmas holiday.

The lighthearted campaign is focused on encouraging local residents to forego the hassle of hosting friends and relatives at home by setting them up in a nice hotel during the holiday season. Allowing guests to stay in local hotels also provides a boost to our local economy. Rates at local hotels start at $45, and many hotels are offering complimentary breakfasts and other amenities.

All of the deals can be found at the SCVB site by visiting

www.StocktonHassleFree.com.

Visitors Bureau Launches

iPhone App

You now have the ability to access the Stockton area’s largest events calendar from the convenience of your mobile

device. The full-featured iPhone app also features listings for things to do, restaurants and hotels in Stockton. Users can easily sort listings alphabetically or by proximity to their current location.

The new app also includes an itinerary builder as well as the ability to share information via social media, emails and text messages. Users can easily search for information or listings on the app, access the SCVB social media pages and even enjoy the mobile version of the Stockton virtual tour.

The app can be downloaded from the Apple App Store or Google Play, simply search using the keywords “Stockton, California Guide.”

If you have any questions or comments, please call 209.938.1555.

Oak Valley Community Bank

Announces branch manager hiring

Oak Valley Community Bank recently

announced that Karrie Knight has

joined the bank as AVP, Branch

Manager of the 12th & I location

in Modesto.

Knight has 12 years of banking

experience throughout the Central Valley. During that time, she

served in branch manager and real estate lending officer positions.

Knight currently lives in North Stockton with her fiancé Manny

and son Taylor.

For more information on Oak Valley Community Bank, call

1.866.844.7500 or visit www.ovcb.com.

The 15th National Exhibition of the American Society of Marine

Artists will open at The Haggin Museum beginning December 20,

2012. The works on display, from

depictions of ships and seascapes

to marine life and coastal scenes,

represent the very best from

the 530+ artist members of the

Society. For more information,

call 209.940.6300 or e-mail [email protected].

Community Center for the Blind’s 6th Annual Crab Feed

Join Community Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired for

our 6th Annual Crab Feed, Sat., January 19, 2013 at 6PM at the

Waterloo Gun & Bocci Club, 4343 N. Ashley Lane, Stockton. Feast

on crab, delicious sides, wine & dessert. Grab a cocktail from the

bar, browse our silent auction and win some great door prizes &

raffles! Tickets are $45.00 each, call 209.466.3836 or visit

www.communitycenterfortheblind.org/crabfeed to get

yours today!

Karrie Knight

News BriefsSubmission Guidelines: News Briefs must be submitted before the first of each month to [email protected]. Please put “PORT O CALL” in the subject line. Submissions must be no longer than 50 words total and should include contact information. News Briefs will be included on a space available basis and may be edited for content.

Greater Stockton Chamber of Commerce @ Wes Rhea: [email protected] www.visitstockton.org

Be sure to become a fan on our Facebook page www.facebook.com/Stockton.CVB

Page 12: Port O Call - December 2012

PORT CALL Greater Stockton Chamber of Commerce12

New Members For more information on becoming a new member, please call Brittney Doty

at 209.337.2723 or [email protected]. Please allow up to 90

days for your listing to show.

Building Materials, Building Hardware

Fremont Plaza Ace Hardware2060 E. Fremont St.

Stockton

www.acehardware.com

Food Services Truck Washing & Cleaning

La Comercial Corp.2900 E. Harding Way

P.O. Box 379

Stockton

www.lacomercialcorp.com

Sign Manufacturing – Custom Signage

Sign City1325 El Pinal Drive, #1A

Stockton

www.signcityca.com

Solar Products – Dealer & Services

Solar City2031 Oak Branch Drive

Stockton

www.solarcity.com

Banks, Financial Services

Valley First Credit Union1611 W. March Lane

Stockton, CA

www.valleyfirstcu.org

Page 13: Port O Call - December 2012

dEC2012 13www.stocktonchamber.orgFor more info, contact Frank Ferral at [email protected]@

The REACON Team is the outreach arm of the Green

Team San Joaquin. REACON is a collaboration between the

Greater Stockton Chamber, private businesses, municipal

and county solid waste divisions, economic development

professionals and the communities of San Joaquin County.

Our purpose is to promote environmental stewardship

solutions, to address environmental and economic

development issues and to create a nexus to enhance the

delivery of Chamber services in Stockton and all of San

Joaquin County. REACON will show your business how

to reduce your costs through environmental stewardship.

To schedule a REACON visit, please call Frank J. Ferral at

209.547.2763.

The Stockton Chamber Apprenticeship Program –

Subsidized Employment (SCAP-SE) will reimburse 50% of

wages paid to new employees for up to 6 months when you

hire using SCAP-SE. SCAP-SE is offered to any business

in San Joaquin County. At no cost to businesses, SCAP-SE

will pre-screen and recruit qualified candidates for your

business. Contact Mikki Gilbert, 209.337.2730,

[email protected] or Michael Morales,

209.337.2716, [email protected] for more

information and to get signed up.

Programs and Public Policy Departmentby: Frank Ferral

Call Mike at 800-570-5627 • sjpnet.org • [email protected]

Grow it, make it & ship it!

Connect with the San Joaquin Partnership.

• Northern California's center of commerce

serving the western US and Asia. The best

location solution for expanding

manufacturers and supply chain providers

• The San Joaquin Partnership provides

centralized confidential information

and connection to key business and

community decision makers

@ San Joaquin, USA

Thank you to our generous Green Team San Joaquin Sponsors:

American Recycling

Carpenters Local Union 152

CBC Steel Buildings

City of Stockton

Dorfman Pacific

Durst Contract Interiors

Granite Construction Co.

Healthy Air Living

Modern Energy Concepts

The Newark Group

Onsite Electronics

Recycling

Pacific Gas & Electric

Company

Queirolo’s Heating & Air

Conditioning, Inc.

San Joaquin Council

of Governments

San Joaquin County

Public Works

SAWS

ServiceMaster Clean

Sims Metal Management

Surtec

Valley CAN

Universal Service

Recycling

Page 14: Port O Call - December 2012

Photography by: Artruro Vera

PORT CALL Greater Stockton Chamber of Commerce14

is the season for bustling

crowds, familiar carols and

comfort food! But this holiday

season, don’t forget that the best way to

exercise your holiday spirit is to give back

to your local community. San Joaquin

County has many local agencies that work

hard throughout the holiday season to

make a difference in the lives of county

residents. From holiday traditions grounded

in community service to award winning

programs, these organizations are giving

back this season and making the greater

Stockton area a safer, happier and healthier

place to live.

Armed with caring staff and giving

volunteers, these organizations are proving

that Stocktonians’ passion for their

community extends through the holiday

season and throughout the year.

Tree of Lights

For many here in the Greater Stockton

area, the lighting of the Hospice Tree

of Lights at Delta College’s entrance on

Pacific Avenue marks the official start of

the holiday season. But this twenty-four

year Stockton holiday tradition, a long

time collaboration between Delta and

Hospice of San Joaquin, is more than just a

festive reminder of the season.

According to Gene Acevedo, Community

Outreach Director for Hospice of San

Joaquin, “The Tree of Lights gives families

an opportunity to remember lost loved ones

by dedicating one of the Tree’s colored lights

to them.” The names of the more than 1,600

commemorated individuals are displayed on

one of a dozen marquees adjacent to

the tree.

“[The tree] serves the purpose of

remembrance and also serves as a

bereavement tool for the family, so they can

cope with the grief of losing their loved ones

by commemorating their name and who

they were,” said Acevedo. “When you don’t

have your loved one with you during the

holidays, there’s a void. The lights on the tree

share the memory of these lost loved ones.”

Hospice of San Joaquin serves county

residents year round with its mission to

“provide the next level of care when a cure

is no longer an option.” The organization

provides quality of life support and

compassionate end of life care to terminally

ill people—including 120 current

patients—through the recommendations of

interdisciplinary teams qualified to address

patients’ physical, psychological, social

and spiritual needs. With its holiday Tree

of Lights and a number of other outreach

events throughout the year, Hospice of

San Joaquin helps educate and inspire the

community to provide the best level of care

for terminally ill patients and support those

left behind with bereavement services.

For more information on the mission of

Hospice of San Joaquin, visit

www.hospicesj.org.

The Women’s Center – Youth and Family Services

For more than 35 years, The Women’s

Center – Youth and Family Services has

provided essential support to individuals in

San Joaquin County who have been affected

by domestic or other violence. Since its

foundation, the organization has expanded

to provide a long list of services throughout

the holiday season and beyond.

“We provide hope, safety, compassion

to ease trauma and suffering, and provide

comfort to those in need,” said Executive

Director Joelle Gomez. The organization’s goal

is to build a stronger community by providing

a wide range of supportive, educational, and

crisis intervention services to adults, children,

youth and families and ultimately enabling

them to regain control of their lives.

This past November, the Women’s

Center was the first nonprofit organization

to receive the ATHENA Organizational

Leadership Award from the greater Stockton

T

COVER STORYGiving Local: Local Nonprofits Support the

Stockton Community this Holiday Seasonby: Justin Souza

Page 15: Port O Call - December 2012

dEC2012 15www.stocktonchamber.org

Chamber of Commerce. The organization

was recognized for its tireless commitment

to improving the lives of men, women and

children in the community by providing

intervention and crisis services. Since its

inception in 1975, the Women’s Center has

worked to end violence in the community.

The organization’s staff and committed vol-

unteers provide services including shelters

for battered women, children and homeless

youth, 24-hour crisis lines and group and

individual support

for individuals.

For more information about the Women’s

Center, visit www.womenscenteryfs.org.

St. Mary’s Dining Room

Since 1955, St. Mary’s Dining Room has

responded to poverty in San Joaquin County

by feeding the hungry, caring for health

issues and restoring human dignity to over

700 individuals each day.

According to CEO Edward Figueroa,

St. Mary’s does this by providing several

essential programs, including its dining

room, where individuals are served hot

breakfast and lunch 365 days of the year,

clothing and hygiene centers where individuals

can shower and receive new clothing, and

health and dental clinics where they can receive

necessary medical treatment.

“All services are free of charge,” said

Figueroa. “There are no fees or questions

asked. Anyone is able to come in and avail

themselves of services.”

This past Thanksgiving, St. Mary’s once

again mobilized more than 300 volunteers

to organize one of the largest Thanksgiving

Day meals in San Joaquin County. “That’s

our biggest day for volunteers,” said Figueroa,

“People like to get out and help on Thanksgiving,

but we like to remind them that the needs [of

the poor] are a 365 day a year issue. We can use

volunteers every day of the year.”

Figueroa added that while the number of

people served stays consistent throughout the

year, the holiday season brings a significant

increase in the number seeking season-

appropriate clothing and blankets. The recent

local economy has also prompted an increase

in the number of families and children seeking

care from St. Mary’s, according to Figueroa.

Now more than ever, St. Mary’s Dining Room

provides essential support to San Joaquin

County’s most disadvantaged residents.

For more information about St.

Mary’s Dining Room, contact Volunteer

Coordinator Art Ramirez at 209.467.0703 or

visit www.stmarysinterfaith.org/

Shop Local to Help the Community

While the county’s many worthy nonprofit

organizations provide essential support to the

local community, it’s important to remember

that volunteering time, money and energy are

not the only ways to help support the greater

Stockton area this holiday season.

Shopping locally during the holidays doesn’t

just support San Joaquin County’s economy

and retailers, it helps ensure that 70 cents

of every dollar collected in sales tax stays in

Stockton, said Gary Long, President of the

Greater Stockton Chamber of Commerce.

“That goes to pay our police, our fire

department, keeps our libraries open. It all

comes back and helps support our community.”

“The holidays are a great festive time, but now

more than ever the community needs to make

a conscious effort to come together to support

Stockton and San Joaquin County.”

...the best way to

exercise your

holiday spirit is

to give back

to your

local community.

Page 16: Port O Call - December 2012

PORT CALL Greater Stockton Chamber of Commerce16

Ribbon Cuttings For additional information go to www.stocktonchamber.org

Attending AmbassadorsSylvester Aguilar, Bank of the West Tim Aguirre, Impact

Promotions Tim Aragon, Telepacific Communications

Gloria Blaine, Basket Caravan & Gourmet Gifts Shannon

ding, Assembly member Bill Berryhill’s Representative Sally

Fandrich, Allied Waste Sally Fandrich, Allied Waste Joe

Furtado, Omega Pacific Insurance Gary Ghan, Brookfalls

Premium Bottled Water Steve Glovsky, Kamps Propane Patti

Gulick, New Image Signs Blair Hake, Ameriprise Financial

Services darlene Hensen, Heald College Loretta Lee,

CA DEPT of Rehabilitation Jennifer Lewis, Stockton Hilton

Chester Lum, ABC Wallace Funeral Services Brian Meadows,

Stockton Ports Ross Moerman, Doctor Data Henry Peralta,

Stockton Auto Glass Ellen Powell, Assembly member Cardoza’s

Representative diane Reyes, St. Joseph’s Medical Center dora

Ruiz, EZ Network Systems Michelle Sherlock,, Optimal

Hospice Care Melanie Speer, Costco Mark Tenenbaum,

Premier Chiropractic Max Vargas, Assembly member Galgiani’s

Representative Bailey West, Stockton Ports

Networking MixerNovember 1, Atria Bayside Landing

Juice It Up

347 E. Weber Ave Stockton

Neumiller and Beardslee

509 W. Weber Ave Stockton

Planned Parenthood

4555 Precissi Lane Stockton

Neighborhood Market

1189 E. March Lane Stockton

That’s Show Biz

1744 Pacific Avenue Stockton

Global Innovative Solutions

3520 Brookside Road Stockton

La Comercial

2900 E. Harding Way Stockton

Page 17: Port O Call - December 2012

dEC2012 17www.stocktonchamber.org

Attending Ambassadors

STOCKTON MODESTOMODESTO

ADVERTISING I GRAPHIC DESIGN I WEB DESIGN I MARKETING I PROMOTIONAL SOLUTIONS I FILM & MULTIMEDIA I CUSTOM SIGNS & FLEET GRAPHICS

AIR FORCE BAND • AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY • CATHOLIC CHARITIES, DIOCESE OF STOCKTON •

CENTRAL VALLEY WOMEN’S ALLIANCE • CENTER FOR HUMAN SERVICES • CENTRAL CALIFORNIA

ART ASSOCIATION • CRIME STOPPERS • THE COMMUNITY BRUNCH • THE FIRST TEE • GALLO

CENTER FOR THE ARTS • GRACE M. DAVIS HIGH SCHOOL • DMC FOUNDATION • HAVEN WOMEN’S

CENTER • HOWARD TRAINING CENTER • MCHENRY MUSEUM AND HISTORICAL SOCIETY • MODESTO

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE • MODESTO COMMUNITY CONCERT ASSOCIATION • MODESTO CONVENTION

& VISITORS BUREAU • MODESTO DOWNTOWN IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT (DID) • MODESTO

INDEPENDENT BUSINESS ALLIANCE • MODESTO ROTARY • SALVATION ARMY • SIERRA VISTA CHILD & FAMILY SERVICES • SAN JOAQUIN ENTREPRENEURIAL

CHALLENGE • SOCIETY FOR HANDICAPPED CHILDREN & ADULTS • SOROPTIMIST: INTERNATIONAL OF MODESTO NORTH • STANISLAUS COUNTY OFFICE OF

EDUCATION • STANISLAUS SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT • THE STATE THEATRE • UCP OF STANISLAUS COUNTY - LEMONADE DAY • UNITED SAMARITANS • UNITED WAY

The greatest joy isn’t found in what you get, but in what you give. This holiday season, we offer our thanks to the local community organizations to whom we lend support and all others that give so much to so many. Thank you for your commitment to spreading the spirit of giving year round. You make the world a better place to live, one act of generosity at a time.

Page 18: Port O Call - December 2012

PORT CALL Greater Stockton Chamber of Commerce18

Contact the Chamber at 209.547.2770 for more info*

Calendar December 2012

also don’t miss... 1/10 - University of the Pacific, Come for the Mixer Stay for the

Basketball Game. Mixer - 5:00-9:00 p.m.

University of the Pacific, Come for the Mixer Stay

for the Basketball Game.

Mixer 5:00-6:30 p.m., Basketball Game 7:00-9:00 p.m.

Mixer will be held on the South Concourse inside the

Spanos Center. Free tickets to that evening’s game against

the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos will be given out at check in.

6 Chamber Board Meeting - 4 p.m. @ Chamber Conference Room

6 Diversity Mixer – 5:00 - 7:30 p.m. @ Haggin Museum

7 Leadership Stockton Local Government Session – 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

@ City Hall/County Administration Building

10 Liaison Committee Meeting - 12-1 p.m. @ Chamber Conference Room

Pacific.edu/Business

[email protected]

209.946.2239

Celebrating 35 years of excellence

in business education at PaCifiC. We are proud

to be in StoCkton!

nniversaryA1977-2012

35th

12 Executive Committee Meeting - 7am @ Stockton Golf & Country Club

12 Munchies at the MuRF – 11:30 a.m. @ Waste Management Material Recovery Facility,

1333 E. Turner Road, Lodi

14 Government Relations Council– 7:30 a.m. @ Chamber Conference Room

18 Effective Strategies Group – 8 a.m. @ Chamber Conference Room

Page 19: Port O Call - December 2012

Our doctors treat you like you’re one in a million. Not one of millions.From giving you access to some of the most respected hospitals and doctor groups in the region, to providing access to a large array of specialists, choosing the Sutter Health network of doctors and hospitals means you’re choosing a network that is committed to you.

Choose a Sutter doctor and get a health partner you can count on.

TheDoctorForYou.com/CentralValley

01124

01124_OE_PortOCall_Ads-2012.indd 3 9/20/12 8:30 AM

Page 20: Port O Call - December 2012

The Greater Stockton Chamber of Commerce would like to thank the U.S. Department of Energy and the City of Stockton

for their support of the REACON program!

Our collaboration is reducing the cost of doing business through environmental stewardship!

Helping Local Businesses Prosper Since 1901

WWW.GREENTEAMSANJOAQUIN.COM AD FUNDED BY THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY