SOUTH COUNTY CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE

C r e a t i n g p a r t n e r s h i p s a n d o p p o r t u n i t i e s t h a t e n s u r e S o u t h C o u n t y b u s i n e s s e s p r o s p e r

September 2019

Volume 59, Issue 9

Public Invited to Oct. 1 Workshop

Jocelyn Brennan

President l CEO South County Chambers of Commerce

UPCOMING CHAMBER

EVENTS

Sept 18

Luncheon:

Cannabis & Hemp in

South County

Sept 25

Free Event:

Progressive Chamber

Mixer in Grover Beach

Sept 26

Harassment Prevention

Training for

Supervisors

Sept 26

Free Live Webinar:

Customer Relationship

Management by

EMPATH

Sept 27

Free Event:

Membership Coffee

Nipomo Office

Oct 9

50+ Expo

Vendor space available

now. Contact office for

application.

Visit

our SCCC website

to view the

South County

Community Events

Calendar

Verdin is a team of

creative experts who are

passionate about the

power of marketing. Their

strength lies in collabora-

tion and the way they

care: about the work,

about clients, about the

world. They thrive by put-

ting their diverse skill sets

together to dream up and

deliver strategic solutions.

Founded in 2003, the

center of Verdin’s success

is the culture of being a

learning company: one

that builds capabilities,

tracks industry trends, and

supports team members to

be the best they can be.

Their core values are defined

by an emphasis on relation-

ships, passion, purpose, and

integrity. Their 24-Hour Give is

Verdin’s way of donating their

expertise and capabilities to

boost the visibility of a non-

profit in San Luis Obispo Coun-

ty. A nonprofit receives a full

rebrand, marketing strategy

and materials to carry out

the strategy. Everything is

given to the nonprofit free of

charge — a value of more

than $130,000. It’s all cre-

ated in 24 consecutive

hours. It’s a community gift,

including in-kind contribu-

tions from other local busi-

nesses and donations from

anyone who wants to partici-

pate. The gift includes a

complete rebrand, new web-

site, new PSA, full marketing

strategy with training, cus-

tom photography, ad cam-

September SCCC Business of the Month: Verdin Marketing

(SAG) an Annual Report and Work Plan by August 1 of each year from 2019 to 2022. According to the SOA the park dust emissions must be reduced by 50% by 2020. The Oceano Dunes State Park 2019 budget for the required Particular Matter Reduction Plan (PMRM) is over $2.6 million, this in-cludes an estimated 500 acres of mitigation efforts and the construction of a 23-48 acre foredune. The APCD in collaboration with California State Parks, would like to invite the public to participate in the upcoming October 1st workshop which will provide an opportunity to review the Draft 2019 Annual Report

The Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area is required by the Stipulated Order of Abate-ment (SOA) to prepare and submit to the San Luis Obispo Air Pollution Control District (APCD) and the Scientific Advisory Group

and Work Plan for the Oceano Dunes SVRA, solicit public feedback and discuss next steps. The draft Annual Report/Work Plan can be found on the SCCC website. At the workshop there will be presentations by State Parks, APCD, the Scientific Advisory Group, a Q&A panel with the Scientific Advisory Group and breakout stations. Questions submitted by the public will be gathered, organized by similar topics and staff will present the questions during the workshop. The public may submit comments re-garding the 2019 Draft Annu-al Report and Work Plan in advance of the workshop to info@slocleanair.org.

paign, media advertising

donations, printing mar-

keting materials, and a

venue to host a fundrais-

ing gala. The team at Ver-

din shares a passion for

their communities and are

often involved in volun-

teer work with nonprofits.

To support this culture of

caring, Verdin yearly gives

a designated amount of

marketing service hours

to each employee to do-

nate to nonprofits that

they support. Please visit

verdinmarketing.com.

Many thanks to our volunteers for another successful Stone Soup Music Festival Food & Street Fair. New this year was a mobile mural, the theme was “What does community mean

to you?” Thank you to Jeff Al-Mashat and the Grover Beach Public Art Group for

facilitating this.

South County Chambers of Commerce Welcome New Members

A Halcyon Dental Care

Sea Coast Seniors

pawTree

Five Cities Orchid Society

Balanced Beauty Boutique

Central Coast Behavioral Health Inc

Autry Cellars

Cruise Planners

Scenescapes

Race SLO

Hogge Insurance Services Inc

One Spirit Ministries

Timbre Winery

RE/MAX Del Oro Real Estate

Century 21 Hometown Realty– Dawn Valenti

Bill’s Place

Palo Mesa Pizza

Old Village Grill

Brisco’s Village Gift Shop

Posies in the Village

The Green Vase

Hello Village

Chic Interiors

Carols Specialties & Gifts

The Hive

SLO County Farmers Market

James R Murphy Jr

Siena Home Boutique

Strictly Nails

The Green Room

Village Salon

Bennet-Loomis Archives

Café Andreini

S Jacobson Plumbing

Mid State Brokers

Last Chance Liquor

Update from Supervisor Lynn Compton, District 4:

Oceano, Nipomo, and Arroyo Grande

The Board of Supervisors had a busy August

with meetings on August 13th and 20th. Here

are highlights from those two Board meetings:

• Approved an agreement with Arroyo Grande

Valley Harvest Festival allocating a total of

$3,000 from my Community Project Fund. Each

year the Harvest Festival reaches out and I am

glad to support the organizers financially as I

believe the festival is a great benefit to our

local community!

• Altered the Homeless Emergency Aid Pro-

gram (HEAP) Fund requirements for the 5 Cities

Homeless Coalition, so that the group may use

the previous funding dedicated to the Hillside

Church on another location. The amount of

funding given has not changed but the 5CHC

can now look at alternate locations for their

proposal.

• Approved a $100,000 community-based

organization grant with the Food Bank Coalition

of San Luis Obispo County.

• Appointed Jadon Smith as the District 4 rep-

resentative to Citizens Transportation Advisory

Committee.

• Received a report on the Countywide Com-

munity Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) from

the San Luis Obispo County Fire Safe Council.

• Approved a 10.5-year contract with Recrea-

tion Resource Management Inc. for the installa-

tion and management of cabins at Dairy Creek

Golf Course within El Chorro Park. A total of 25

cabins will be constructed and then rented to

the public for camping on site. It is anticipated

that these cabins will be very popular, so there

is an option to build more if needed.

• Received and filed a report on the implemen-

tation of Sustainable Groundwater Manage-

ment Act efforts in 8 local groundwater basins.

• Received an update on activities and gave

direction regarding the closure of Diablo Can-

yon Power Plant to the County Administrative

Office.

• Received and filed a presentation on the

Draft Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP) for

the Paso Robles Groundwater Sub-basin.

• Continued an appeal at the request of DCD

Membership Group for a permit to establish

2,500 square feet of indoor cannabis cultiva-

tion, an indoor cannabis nursery, and a non-

storefront cannabis dispensary within an exist-

ing building at 1291 Mesa View Dr. in Arroyo

Grande. The Board unanimously voted to con-

tinue this appeal at the applicant's request as

they work through an ongoing legal situation.

Page 3 South County Chambers of Commerce

The Quarterdeck Restaurant

5Cities Homeless Coalition

Thomas L Parsons

Key Property Management

Pacific Shore Stones

Natural Healing Center

Arroyo Grande Lions Club

Stadium 805

Pouring for Good

The Mortgage House Inc

Beach Bum Holiday Rentals

and Management

Mustang Waterpark

Pure Bliss Spa

doTERRA by Audrey

Holiday RV Park

Middle Path Medicine

Le Sage Riviera RV &

Mobile Home Park

Morris & Garritano Insurance-

SLO Office

Plus Property Management

Garing, Taylor & Associates Inc

Lucia Mar Foundation for

Innovation

Wilshire Health & Community

Services

Clark Center for the Performing

Arts

South County Transit

Hampton Inn & Suites

The Casitas of Arroyo Grande

Westvyne, LLC

Five Cities Fire Authority

Field To Table Catering &

Events

Chambers Tax & Consulting

AMF Media Group

SLO County Builders Exchange

Arroyo Grande News Thank You Renewing Members

Legacy. Can one build a legacy while still

alive – in my opinion, yes! Hopefully people will

also take the time to appreciate the accom-

plishments and even build upon what has been

started. I’ve had the privilege and the honor to

meet, talk and work with people who have de-

voted their lives and their talents to building

businesses and communities. Along these jour-

ney, legacies are established and community

vision is imparted to others.

Take the recently completed and thoroughly

enjoyed “29th Annual Stone Soup Music Festi-

val, Food and Street Fair” that had its origins as

(among other names) the Grover Beach Ethnic

Street Faire/Stone Soup World Music Festival.

This philanthropic legacy for Peter and Carol

Keith has drawn thousands of visitors to Grover

Beach for many years. Leaders and main

points of contact have changed over the years

but it continues to be a place for volunteers,

businesses and supporters to showcase Grover

Grover Beach News

Beach and what the area has to offer.

How about past legacies? Those people that

I’ve never met who shaped Grover Beach and

made it the great place we know today. We

appreciate those folks and see every day what

their efforts have created.

I’m looking forward to seeing what future

legacies are created…how about restaurant

owners Jacob and Brooke Town of The Spoon

Trade/Grover Beach Sourdough or Tom Rehder

of Mongo’s/3 Fat Guys and Grover Beach Unit-

ed? Or perhaps it will be Erica Andrade/Denise

Aguilar of 5 Cities Hope or even Krista Jeffries/

Jeff Al-Mashat/Alycia Drube of the Grover

Beach Public Arts Group.

Perhaps it will be your legacy that people

see and help you create…I’m looking forward to

the process and the results.

Jeff Lee

Mayor, City of Grover Beach

By the time you read this, Labor Day will

have just passed. While that day is traditionally

marked for "laborers,” I want to be sure to say

a hearty THANK YOU for all you do as business

owners to provide jobs that are the backbone

of our economy.

I come from a small-business family that

provided many jobs in the toy business. My

father rarely took a vacation, and we never saw

him on Christmas: our holiday was always a day

late. Maybe it's still the high season for you... I

know what it's like to sweat all year, waiting for

the high season, hoping that would put us in

the black for another year. I know the stress

you feel about caring for your employees as

humans while still looking out for the bottom

line. And I know all too well what changing

retail trends can do to a small business.

I want you to know that I TRULY appreciate

all the personal sacrifices you have to make

that are unique to the economic sector you

participate in. So for this Labor Day, I salute

you along with your employees. May you find

great success, and a chance for down time with

your family whenever you can fit it in.

Respectfully,

Caren Ray Russom

Mayor, City of Arroyo Grande

Pismo Beach News

We are fixing up Pismo

Beach. The Pier was finished

last year but we will start work

on the Pier Plaza hopefully this

Fall. Here is a rendering of the

sign facing the ocean:

The project will reconfigure

the pier parking lot to make

space for a new restroom away

from the entrance to the pier along with more

space for activities including a play area for

children. We expect the sign to be a “selfie”

attraction.

We expect the new hotel adjacent to the

pier, Vespara, to open in September which will

be another beautiful addition to our downtown.

We also completed a $4 million solar pro-

ject with a capacity of 700 kilowatts along with

a $1 million energy efficiency program to retro-

fit our city buildings to reduce our overall ener-

gy use.

Ed Waage

Mayor, City of Pismo Beach

Recent Ribbon Cuttings

Willow Kitchen & Cocktails

2131 Price St • Pismo Beach

pismo.willowrestaurants.com

Willow offers ocean views and a diverse menu of American classics

prepared daily from scratch. Enjoy fresh salads made from local produce,

signature prime rib, deviled eggs, or tacos and burgers made from the

house-ground brisket. Happy Hour happens daily from 3 - 6 pm or late

night from 10 pm - close. Their extensive collection of local wines, craft

beers, artisan drinks, and barrel-aged cocktails can be enjoyed while

watching sports on eight screens.

Page 4

SeaCrest Oceanfront Hotel

2241 Price St • Pismo Beach

seacrestpismo.com

Experience oceanfront relaxation at the perfect coastal getaway.

The SeaCrest offers fun, easygoing, family friendly vibes. Their hotel

offers bright, oceanview guest rooms, a pool with three surrounding

hot tubs, two terraces, and barbecues.

FoodJets

foodjets.com

FoodJets deliver the best local restaurants to your meeting, office

lunch, or event. Just pick the date, delivery time, and restaurant, and

they will do the rest. You will receive a text message when your “pilot”

leaves the restaurant so you can track your order live on a map. Your

pilot will deliver and set up your meal in your conference room, break

room, or preferred location.

Five Cities Orchid Society

fcos.org

The Five Cities Orchid Society is an affiliate of the American Orchid

Society and meets once a month in Arroyo Grande. Their purpose is to

provide members with knowledge of orchid culture and habitats, to

enable them to grow orchids well in their home environments, and

share their passion for orchids with other members and societies.

Meetings provide members with guest speakers, demonstrations, show

& tell, and plant opportunity tables.

Marie Poston, Independent Cabi Stylist

marieposton.cabionline.com

Marie serves as a personal stylist for Cabi, a line of boutique-

style, comfortable clothing that is on trend. Cabi offers a

personal styling experience that brings the clothing to you

and your friends in the comfort of your home or office. Get

personalized style tips to mix and match Cabi’s affordable

designer collection to suit your lifestyle.

Recent Ribbon Cuttings Page 5

CoastHills Credit Union

542 W. Tefft St. • Nipomo

coasthills.coop

CoastHills Credit Union's Nipomo branch serves Nipomo, Guada-

lupe, and Santa Maria. They are a not-for-profit, full-service finan-

cial institution offering low-rate car, home, and personal loans, bet-

ter deposit earnings, business banking, a rewards credit card,

online/mobile banking options, financial planning, and wealth man-

agement. CoastHills is out in the communities they serve, sleeves

rolled up, getting things done for our schools and neighborhoods.

C&H Storage

834 Sheridan Rd • Arroyo Grande

selfstoragearroyogrande.com

C&H Storage offers a simple, hassle-free self storage

experience for their customers. Their storage units are

clean, secure, and ready to rent. C&H offers a wide

variety of storage unit sizes and types to handle any

self storage need.

Page 14 South County Chambers of Commerce

Chamber Board of Directors, Staff, & Ambassadors Stacy Korsgaden

Farmers Insurance

Chairperson of the Board

Sean Schuur

Sure Mortgage Solutions

Immediate Past Chairperson

Jim Walker

Pacific Premier Bank

Interim Vice Chairperson

Erika Bylund

Point Sur Wealth Management

Secretary

Eric Daniels

PG&E

Treasurer

Wendell Cottle, Retired

Laetitia Vineyard & Winery

Nicole Moore

SeaCrest OceanFront Resort

Jeff Chambers

Tommy Hilfiger

Michael Specchierla

San Luis Obispo COE

Tony Goetz

The Casitas of Arroyo Grande

Rudy Stowell

Pure Bliss Spa

Scott Astrosky

Astro Finance and Insurance

Lynne Schlenker

The Great American Melodrama

Jake Barnick

Kautz Chevron

Chamber Staff:

Jocelyn Brennan

President I CEO jocelyn@southcountychambers.com

Ligia Zavala

Office Manager/

South County Regional Center ligia@southcountychambers.com

Audrey Powell

Director of Membership audrey@southcountychambers.com

Holly Leighton

Marketing & Tourism holly@southcountychambers.com

Marty Imes,

Executive Director: South County

Leadership

marty@southcountychambers.com

Jeff Al-Mashat,

Director of Business

Engagement

jeff@southcountychambers.com

Michelle Lea, Bookkeeper

Chamber Ambassadors:

Jeff Chambers

Tommy Hilfiger

Chairperson

Linda Vleit

Linda Vleit Insurance Services

Vice Chairperson

Sue MacCagno

Associate member

Lettie Fuller

Mechanics Bank– Grover Beach

Mary Schultz

Family Home Care

Mary Ishikawa

Allstate Suncoast Insurance

Services

Kris Sinay

Clark Center for the

Performing Arts

Rob Railsback

State Farm Insurance

Linda Aiello Madison

AaronPage Associates

Louis Camassa

Empath

Vince Perrine

Eternity Telecommunications

Shannon Bowdey

Keller Williams Realty CC

Shari Barnhart

Mechanics Bank- Arroyo Grande

LuAnne Quigley

Hurdle Hearing & Audiology

Kai Lynch

Guild Mortgage Company

Brenda Weaver

PB & Associates Real Estate

Arlene Gee

Gee Consulting

Renee Poirier

Achievement House Inc

Olivia Domingues

Pampered Chef

Kimberley Victor

Mary Kay Cosmetics

Fashions for a Purpose

Cosimo Allegretta

FoodJets SLO County

Cheryl Wakefield

Doc Burnstein’s Ice Cream

Anita Shower

Miss Etiquette/ Eco Club Five

Cities

Thank you to our Chairman’s Circle Sponsors!

Founding Level Sponsors Diamond Level Sponsors

Platinum Level Sponsors Gold Level Sponsors

South County Chambers of Commerce

800A West Branch Street

Arroyo Grande, CA 93420

Phone: (805) 489-1488

Fax: (805) 489-2239

Email: office@southcountychambers.com

www.southcountychambers.com

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

Standard Rate

U.S. Postage

PAID

Permit #101

Arroyo Grande, CA