CONTENTS

06  MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

08  SOUTHWEST AIRLINES’ DECORATES PLANES MAKING NONSTOP FLIGHTS TO HAWAII

12  LGB, THE COOLEST PLACE TO LAND IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

18  WOMENSHELTER OF LONG BEACH

22  QUIET SKIES AHEAD

26  TESTIMONIALS

30  SPECTRUM ANNOUNCES $50,000 TO CONSERVATION CORPS

34  CHAMBER LEADERSHIP

35  CHAIRMAN’S CIRCLE

36  NEW MEMBERS

Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce

One World Trade Center,
Suite 101

Long Beach, CA 90831-1650

PH 562-436-1251

FAX 562-436-7099

www.lbchamber.com

The Chamber is the winner of
The California Chamber of Commerce’s Advocacy Partner of the Year Award, 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006; Political Partner of the Year, 2008; and President’s Circle Award, 2009-2022.

Chamber Staff:

Jeremy Harris, President/CEO
562-436-6723 | jharris@lbchamber.com

Ajmaa Heggie, Controller
562-437-8823 | aheggie@lbchamber.com

Judy Nelson,
Vice President, Business Councils
562-432-8128 | jnelson@lbchamber.com

Marilynn Singer,
Communications Manager
562-436-1251 l msinger@lbchamber.com

Natalie Leighton,
Vice President, Membership
562-590-9234 | nleighton@lbchamber.com

Sharlyn Ouzounian, Executive Assistant
562-432-7830 | souzounian@lbchamber.com

To advertise in our next issue,
please contact Kathy Moore at
kmoore@metromediapublishers.com.

On the cover:
The Chamber’s Destination Tomorrow Honoree Long Beach Airport: Celebrating their 100 Year Anniversary. Featuring Cynthia Guidry, Director.

Photo by DayDreamCinema

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Message from
the President/CEO

am thrilled to kick off this issue by extending a warm and enthusiastic welcome to Trini Jimenez as our Chair of the Board for The Chamber year 2023-2024. A respected figure in the Long Beach business community, Trini currently holds a pivotal role at the Watson Land Company. As Vice President of Public Affairs, he diligently collaborates with elected officials and government agencies at the local and state level to implement effective strategies that safeguard their company’s interests. With Trini at the helm, leading our organization under the theme of “Advocacy Works: Protecting Business in an Unfriendly Environment,” we are confident in his ability to guide us towards a prosperous future.

We had the privilege of recognizing Trini at the Chamber’s 132nd Annual Gala this past June. The Gala was held at the beautiful Westin in downtown Long Beach, and in addition to welcoming him, we thanked our outgoing Chair, Rhiannon Acree, President of Cambrian Homecare. The Chamber is honored to have such outstanding local leaders guide our organization year after year.

At the Gala we recognized a historical Long Beach institution, the Long Beach Airport, who will be celebrating their 100 year anniversary this fall. They were presented with the Chamber’s highest honor - the “Destination Tomorrow” Award. They are a critical part of the local economy as they assist with the future workforce for our community. We celebrated the Airport’s history, achievements and exciting plans for the future - many of them already well underway.

Along with welcoming Trini, we had the opportunity to welcome 11 community leaders to the board, including Cliff Buford of Southwest; Bryce Cullinane of Keesal, Young & Logan; Mark Dodson of Bank of America; Kris Gragson of GK Media; Melissa Infusino of Long Beach City College; Blair Kent of MemorialCare; Celina Luna of Southern California Edison; Faviola Ochoa of Liberty; Dr. Lourdes Ramos of MOLAA; Tomi Riley of Air Products and Yvonne Santos of Poppy Bank.

As we embrace this new era of leadership and welcome our new board members, let us now turn our focus to the influential role advocacy plays in shaping our impact. The Chamber’s Government Affairs Council (GAC), led by our member Alicia Berhow of Charter, has been busy at work tracking, voicing concerns, and positioning on legislation that ultimately impacts our member’s bottom line. Critical call to actions have taken place throughout the year and more to come as The Chamber works with elected leaders to understand the cost of business in our city and throughout our state.

In addition to our advocacy efforts, we are delighted to announce a momentous milestone in the journey of the launch of our Chamber Foundation. Which is now in motion, serving as the charitable arm of The Chamber. As of July 1st the Foundation is eligible to receive funding, opening up new opportunities to enhance its initiatives and programs. Its primary focus is researching and identifying the roadblocks that keep employers awake at night, while also acquiring resources to assist members with pressing issues such as childcare and return-to-office challenges just to name a few.

Looking back at the previous Chamber year, we celebrate an incredible success as we achieved a significant milestone of reaching 800 members. This remarkable growth is a testament to the value and benefits that our Chamber provides to businesses in the community. In light of this achievement, we are excited for our upcoming office move! This new larger space will allow us to better serve our membership. We will be able to provide small businesses, future entrepreneurs and nonprofits with a larger conference room space updated with the latest technologies, drop-in desking, open kitchen concept for members, a podcasting and live streaming studio and much more as we improve our services and benefits to our members.

I truly hope you will take advantage of your investment in the Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce and look forward to serving as your CATALYST for business growth; CONVENER of leaders and influencers; and CHAMPION for a stronger community.

Sincerely,

Jeremy Harris

President/CEO

Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce

Southwest Airlines’ decorated planes making nonstop flights to Hawaii

outhwest Airlines offers 48 departures a day to 24 cities from Long Beach Airport (LGB), including flights to and from Hawaii, now using colorful planes.

In late April, Southwest introduced Imua One™, a Hawaii-themed aircraft livery that symbolizes an enduring partnership between the Hawaiian Islands and the Dallas-based airline.

“We were thrilled to kick off our Imua One dedication at LGB as it’s one of the eight mainland gateways where Southwest offers nonstop service to the Islands. It was a beautiful event dedicated to Southwest employees and the people in Hawaii they serve,” said Kayla Valencia, Community Outreach Regional Manager for Southwest Airlines.

According to a news release from Southwest Airlines, Oahu-based Osaki Creative Group designed Imua One with the guidance of Herman Pi’ikea Clark, Kanaka Maoli/indigenous Hawaiian artist, designer and researcher.

The design includes eight elements that represent concepts in Hawaiian culture that also align with Southwest’s values, the release states.

The artwork features stars for each of the five airports in Hawaii Southwest serves — Honolulu, Lihue (Kauai), Kahului (Maui), Kona (Island of Hawaii), and Hilo (Island of Hawaii).

It shows six paddlers in an outrigger bringing to life the concept of Imua, a rallying cry in the Hawaiian language that translates to an urging forward. There are also six turtles in two groups of three to represent harmony and balance. Near the nose of the aircraft, a lei honors unique islands through their official flowers.

“Reflective of distinctive colors in the Southwest Heart livery, including bold blue, warm red, and sunrise yellow, a gradient transition from blue to yellow represents the evolution from night to day, and honors Hawaiian history of journeying the Pacific using wind, and following the guidance of the sun, stars, and moon to navigate,” the release states.

Showing its commitment to Long Beach, in June, Southwest took part in LGB’s first Careers Taking Flight Externship Program where 13 students from Cabrillo and Jordan high schools learned about aviation careers and how to make themselves competitive for future positions.

“We were excited to participate,” Valencia said.

A news release issued by the City of Long Beach noted that during the 40-hour, five-day program, students learned about job duties, pay and credentials required for more than a dozen careers working for airports, airlines, the Transportation Security Administration, the Federal Aviation Administration and the business aviation sector.

Students who completed the course received a $500 incentive payment. They also were offered a free exploration flight on the final day of the program.

If any of those students go on to aviation-related careers, and stay in the Long Beach area, there’s a chance they could be working for or with Southwest Airlines, LGB’s dominant carrier.

Southwest employs 218 people involved in ground operations and two who work in technology at Long Beach Airport.

Along with four daily nonstop departures from LGB to Oakland, Southwest also offers flights from Long Beach to Albuquerque, Austin, Boise, Chicago (Midway), Colorado Springs, Dallas (Love Field), Denver, El Paso, Honolulu (Oahu), Houston (Hobby), Kahului (Maui), Kansas City, Las Vegas, Nashville, New Orleans, Orlando, Phoenix, Portland, Ore., Reno/Tahoe, Sacramento, Salt Lake City, San Jose and St. Louis.

At 100 years old, LGB is still the coolest place to land in Southern California

viator Charles Lindbergh — who flew his famous Spirit of St. Louis to Long Beach the same year Cal Rodgers landed the first U.S. transcontinental flight on the city’s salty shoreline — once said, “Life is a culmination of the past, an awareness of the present, an indication of a future beyond knowledge, the quality that gives a touch of divinity to matter.”

As it marks its 100th anniversary, Long Beach Airport (LGB) celebrates a rich past intertwined with the demands of today and tomorrow’s travelers: From the storied days when Lindbergh praised LGB for having paved runways and the country’s first illuminated airfield to now, with operations that include state-of-the-art modernizations for the 21st Century.

LGB’s earliest origins took flight with hot air balloons and fabric-covered biplanes on the beach in the early 1900s, inspiring aviation pioneers such as Earl Daugherty and Amelia Earhart. The municipal airport was officially established in 1923 — later playing a vital role with women answering the call of “Rosie the Riveter” in World War II — and is now the oldest in California.

Always innovating, LGB is in the final stages of a major pre-security terminal area improvement project, which included this spring’s completion of a consolidated Baggage Claim facility as well as last year’s new Ticketing Lobby and Checked Baggage Inspection System. The projects have beautified and streamlined the travel experience in a more sustainable way from curb to gate while also being designed to complement and preserve the airport’s unique history and original architecture.

The latest improvements build upon LGB’s reputation as one of the best airports in the United States — ranking among the Top 10, based on votes by readers of Condé Nast Traveler magazine who have taken note of its uniquely relaxing beachside vibes and convenient Southern California location, which is just a few minutes’ drive from anywhere in the city.

Whether travelers are sitting at a fire pit in the lushly landscaped open-air concourse or enjoying local concessions, LGB provides a uniquely Long Beach atmosphere and effortless access to 24 nonstop destinations nationwide — which is more nonstop service than any other time in LGB’s century of service.

The 1,166-acre airport has three runways, the longest being 10,000 feet, and is used by major passenger airlines such as Southwest Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines and Delta Air Lines. It’s a hub of corporate activity with more than 200 businesses—including a municipal golf course — located on site, nearly 100 acres of space for mid-rise business parks and hotels, and two top-rate fixed base operators and specialty aviation service companies. It’s also one of the world’s busiest airports in terms of general aviation activity.

LGB accounts for nearly $1.6 billion in economic impact and supports more than 10,000 jobs, according to a 2019 study. The broader Long Beach Aviation Complex generates $8.6 billion in economic impact and supports nearly 46,000 jobs in the region.

If its past and present are an indication of the future, as Lindbergh believed, Long Beach Airport is primed for another divine century of serving as the coolest, most convenient gateway to Southern California.

WomenShelter of
Long Beach a ‘powerful force’ in supporting those who need it most

By Mike Danahey

omenShelter of Long Beach started as a grassroots organization to meet a need in the community.

“A couple of compassionate women turned that effort into a 46-year legacy of helping thousands of people. Today it is the oldest program for addressing domestic violence in Long Beach,” said WomenShelter of Long Beach Executive Director Kathy McCarrell.

WomenShelter not only provides families with shelter, but also provides them with a cadre of services including trauma-informed care, legal advocacy, mental health support, domestic violence education, health assessments, eye glasses, hearing tests and referral to long term housing.

“Our youth program provides individual services for young children through adolescents to help them process the trauma they have experienced,” McCarrell said.

McCarrell said she’s also proud of the incredibly robust prevention and education program that WomenShelter offers to address the issue of teen dating violence.

“Research shows that the roots of adult family violence often show up first in adolescence. We go into primarily Long Beach schools — middle and high school, and college classes — to teach the dynamics of healthy relationships, the ability to spot unhealthy patterns forming and what to do to stop the cycle of domestic violence before it becomes a life pattern,” she said.

In 2022, that program served more that 7,300 youths, while a youth conference about health relationships drew more than 300.

This puts WomenShelter on the forefront of serving families ready to make that difficult decision to leave their homes for a safer, healthier life, McCarrell said. It also provides the largest prevention program in the Long Beach School District designed to prevent relationship violence before it happens.

“We must continue to change the consciousness of our nation that family violence is not an option. Our prevention and intervention programs are a powerful force toward that mission,” McCarrell said.

McCarrell has been the nonprofit’s executive director for nearly two years. She said she has close to 30 years of experience in the field of preventing family violence.

“I originally came as the Interim Executive Director, but I loved the mission and the people so much that when the Board of Directors asked me to be the permanent ED, I enthusiastically answered yes,” she said.

McCarrell said that WomenShelter of Long Beach provided 15,900 direct services to struggling families last year alone.

Along with the teen programming, WomenShelter provided 4,542 shelter bed nights for children and their parents. Its domestic violence hotline received more than 1,000 calls for emergency assistance and trained 106 community volunteers to become domestic violence advocates through its state-certified 40-hour domestic violence advocate program.

“WSLB is also impacting the well-documented issue of homelessness by placing homeless families in housing. Ninety-eight percent of the clients we served last year lived at or below 200% of the poverty guidelines. We have our finger on the pulse of families with the greatest needs,” she said.

McCarrell said the need for WomenShelter of Long Beach’s services is reflected in CDC statistics which claim about 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men have reported experiencing severe physical violence from an intimate.

McCarrell also noted a report released by the Council on Criminal Justice in Washington D.C., states that domestic violence incidents in the U.S. increased by 8.1% following the imposition of lockdown orders during the 2020 pandemic.

“The need for our services is huge, and we currently have 30 families sitting on our waiting list. At the same time, our biggest need is for additional funding to meet that need,” she said.

To that point, WomenShelter of Long Beach will be holding its annual “Leading With Love” gala Sunday, Oct. 8 at the Hotel Maya, during National Domestic Violence Awareness month.

“We will be honoring three outstanding people in the community who have provided many years of service to the WSLB — Harry Saltzgaver, Kristi Fischer and Jane Nadeau,” McCarrell said.

Top Sponsors to date include: Lisa and Frank Chapman, The Coral Group, St Mary’s Medical Center, Air Products, TABC Toyota, Kristi Fischer and Joe Vanderhorst and the Long Beach Grand Prix Foundation.

As for what McCarrell enjoys about her work, she noted the passion of the WomenShelter staff and the importance of the mission.

“In addition, the support we receive from residents, political leaders and local corporations in the Long Beach community is incredibly valuable to us. Two Long Beach residents included us in their estate plans, resulting in almost $200,000 worth of support for our programs,” she said.

For more information, see www.womenshelterlb.org.

Quiet Skies Ahead: Long Beach Airport’s Journey from Turmoil to Tranquility?

t the heart of Southern California lies Long Beach Airport (LGB) - a testament to the dynamic relationship between economic progress, community activism, and legislative evolution. Emerging from a historical and political journey marked by turbulence and compromise, LGB today stands as a symbol of Long Beach’s resilience and innovation.

In 2012, a modern, streamlined airport terminal was unveiled, reflecting the area’s growing significance as a strategic aviation hub. This was no easy feat, as the expansion of the airport was fraught with resistance from the community, manifesting in the form of a noise ordinance established in 1980. This legislation strictly limited the number of flights and the level of noise emanating from the airport, a product of Long Beach citizens’ desire to maintain their tranquility and protect property values.

An important chapter in the airport’s narrative revolves around its relationship with JetBlue, the low-cost carrier that named Long Beach its West Coast hub in 2001. The partnership had its ups and downs and left a lasting mark on LGB. JetBlue commanded 32 of the 41 flight slots, significantly influencing the airport’s landscape for nearly two decades.

The turbulence continued as the LB HUSH2 community group, founded by Councilwoman Rae Gabelich, remained steadfast in their opposition to any airport expansion. Their unwavering activism shaped many aspects of the airport’s operations, from procedural minutiae, such as the manual moving of staircases and ramps, to the larger question of having an international terminal capable of receiving international flights to and from destinations like Cabo in Mexico.

JetBlue’s exit from Long Beach in 2020, largely due to the city’s refusal to allow a customs facility for international flights, was a significant blow for the business community. Yet, it also allowed a diverse array of airlines to fill the gap, representing a new chapter for LGB.

The intricate balance between maintaining the noise ordinance and promoting commerce presents a continuous challenge. The Federal Government’s drive to expand interstate commerce, particularly aviation, offers a potential conflict with Long Beach’s quest to control noise pollution and maintain quality of life for its citizens.

What will the future hold with quieter electric planes and electric helicopters transporting citizens all over our region? The advent of electric airplanes and helicopters may serve as a game changer in this ongoing saga, potentially recalibrating the dynamics of the noise ordinance and commerce. These electric-powered crafts promise a future of significantly quieter operations, which could effectively neutralize the main concern that led to the establishment of the noise ordinance. The reduced noise levels from electric aviation could pave the way for an increase in flights without breaching the community’s peace or infringing on the quality of life for Long Beach residents. This paradigm shift would thus allow LGB to enhance its commercial operations while respecting the community’s needs, creating a win-win situation. Or would the community object to more flights even without a significant increase in noise?

The political journey of Long Beach Airport reflects a tale of resilience, compromise, and determination. As we move forward, the question remains: how will we reconcile the need for economic growth with the need to protect our local communities? The evolution of LGB provides insights into this ever-relevant dilemma, offering a fascinating case study for other cities grappling with similar challenges.

What is clear is that the airport, once a point of contention, has become a touchstone for the community – a shared piece of Long Beach’s identity. With the strength of local businesses, support from the Chamber, and steadfast community advocacy, Long Beach Airport will undoubtedly continue to evolve, mirroring the dynamic city it serves.

Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce

Testimonials

Jeremy and his team bring a personal, human perspective to business. As a longtime member of the Chamber, I value the opportunity to attend Chamber events as we come together and have the chance to catch up with friends. We all lead such busy lives; we need those moments to connect, to learn, and to share. I also appreciate the opportunity for some of my staff to attend wonderful networking opportunities including for young professionals as we invest in the future for our businesses, our city, and our nation.

– caryn desai

Artistic Director/Producer, International City Theatre

GK Media SEO has been a member of the Long Beach Chamber of Commerce for over 5 years, and we have been consistently impressed with the value of our membership. The Chamber provides us with a wealth of resources and opportunities to connect with other businesses in the community, and we have always found the staff to be helpful and knowledgeable.

One of the most valuable benefits of our Chamber membership is the access to networking events. We have met many potential clients and partners at Chamber events, and we have also been able to learn about new trends and opportunities in the business community.

Overall, we have been very happy with our membership in the Long Beach Chamber of Commerce. We would highly recommend the Chamber to any business that is looking to grow and succeed in the Long Beach community.

Sincerely,

Kris Gragson, GK Media Inc

The Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce is more than just an organization – it’s a supportive community of passionate individuals dedicated to the success of local businesses and the betterment of the Long Beach community as a whole. The Chamber has been actively promoting the products and services of the various businesses within the community. Their focus on supporting local causes makes a positive difference in the lives of Long Beach. I am incredibly grateful for the opportunities, relationships, and growth that the chamber has brought to WTC WorkSpaces. I wholeheartedly recommend the Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce to any business owner or entrepreneur looking to thrive in the local business landscape.

– Amy Martinez

Community Manager, WTC WorkSpaces

NEWS

SPECTRUM ANNOUNCES $50,000 TO CONSERVATION CORPS OF LONG BEACH THROUGH SPECTRUM COMMUNITY CENTER ASSIST

Donation Includes 50 Laptops for Organization’s Job Skills Training and Technology Programs

Long Beach, CA – June 10, 2023 – Spectrum today announced Conservation Corps of Long Beach received $50,000 through Spectrum Community Center Assist (SCCA), the company’s $30 million philanthropic initiative to revitalize local community centers and invest in job training programs in underserved rural and urban neighborhoods where Spectrum operates.

Spectrum kicked off the partnership on June 10 at the center located in Long Beach, where Spectrum employees and community volunteers built a new technology center and made renovations to the organization’s conference and training rooms.

Conservation Corps of Long Beach is a nonprofit organization founded in 1987 and envisions a world where all young adults thrive and are stewards of the community and the environment. Its workforce development programs include paid job training, educational services, individualized case management and more.

“Congratulations to Conservation Corps of Long Beach on your partnership with Charter Communications. This collaboration represents a significant step towards empowering young adults and creating opportunities for their growth and success,” said Councilmember Kristina Duggan. “Thank you, Charter, for investing in their future and enabling them to thrive and become stewards of our community.”

“Thank you, Charter Communications, for providing resources and support to Conservation Corps of Long Beach’s workforce development programs,” said Assemblymember Josh Lowenthal. “By investing in the potential of our young adults, it will ensure their access to opportunities that will help shape their lives.”

Conservation Corps of Long Beach received $50,000 to support its job skills training program and facility improvements as Spectrum employee volunteers spent the day making improvements to a conference room, planting drought tolerant plants, landscaping, painting, assembling furniture and installing a new fence covering.

Spectrum donated 50 new laptops to support the organization’s workforce development programs. They will use the Spectrum funding to grow and impact more young people interested in participating in the program at no-cost to the young adults.

Conservation Corps of Long Beach and Spectrum also dedicated a new Spectrum Training and Technology Center at the Nieto Avenue campus.

“We are grateful to have been selected by Charter Communications as a Spectrum Community Center Assist partner,” said Dan Knapp, Executive Director & CEO. “The donation will enable us continue our mission in providing young adults with essential job skills, education and more. Together, we will create a brighter future for these individuals and foster a more resilient and inclusive community.”

Additionally, because broadband is a critical component of a community center’s infrastructure, Spectrum will provide Conservation Corps of Long Beach its advanced 1 gigabit-per-second internet service, for the life of the program.

“The long-term partnership we are creating with Conservation Corps of Long Beach will make a real difference in the lives of local residents by giving them the skills, tools and updated facilities they need to improve their economic situation,” said Rahman Khan, Group Vice President, Community Impact for Charter Communications, which operates the Spectrum brand of connectivity services. “Already thousands of people around the country have participated in SCCA in the neighborhoods we serve, and we look forward to working with Conservation Corps of Long Beach to provide essential job training in a safe and revitalized space.”

Spectrum launched Spectrum Community Center Assist in 2021 and will invest $30 million to benefit
100 community centers and job training programs in underserved areas across the company’s 41-state footprint. At each location, Spectrum invests in the community center’s job training efforts with cash grants and in-kind contributions, improves physical classroom spaces, sponsors rebuilding events with volunteers to repair and enhance the physical buildings, and provides new equipment, including laptops and furniture.

More information about Spectrum Community Center Assist is available here.

About Spectrum

Spectrum is a suite of advanced communications services offered by Charter Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ:CHTR), a leading broadband connectivity company and cable operator serving more than 32 million customers in 41 states. Over an advanced communications network, the company offers a full range of state-of-the-art residential and business services including Spectrum Internet®, TV, Mobile and Voice.

For small and medium-sized companies, Spectrum Business® delivers the same suite of broadband products and services coupled with special features and applications to enhance productivity, while for larger businesses and government entities, Spectrum Enterprise provides highly customized, fiber-based solutions. Spectrum Reach® delivers tailored advertising and production for the modern media landscape. The company also distributes award-winning news coverage and sports programming to its customers through Spectrum Networks. More information about Charter can be found at corporate.charter.com.

Media Contacts:

Mike Mena

mike@ileanainternational.com

(310) 913-0625

Pam Collazo

pam.collazo@charter.com

858-635-8235

Leadership Cabinet

Trini Jimenez

Chair of the Board

Watson Land Company

Rhiannon Acree

Immediate Past Chair

Cambrian Homecare

Ryan Partridge

Chief Financial Officer

HCVT

Faviola Ochoa

Vice Chair, Economic Development

Liberty Utilities

Alicia Berhow

Vice Chair, Public Policy

Charter

Heather Summers

Vice Chair, Community Development

LBS Financial Credit Union

John Howard

Vice Chair, Membership

Chick-fil-A at the Long Beach Towne Center

Sumer Temple

Chair-Elect

Don Temple Storage

Carolyn Caldwell

Member at Large

Dignity Health-St. Mary’s Medical Center

Ken Houp

Member at Large

UHS Insurance Agency

Jim McCluskie

Member at Large

Moffatt & Nichol

Mitra Rogers

Member at Large

Amazon Web Services

Fred Sutton

Member at Large

California Apartment Association

Jeremy Harris

President/CEO

Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce

BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2023-2024

Rhiannon Acree
Cambrian Homecare

David Babore
City National Bank

Alicia Berhow
Charter

Michael Brascia
Brascia Builders, Inc.

Cliff Buford
Southwest Airlines

Carolyn Caldwell
Dignity Health-St. Mary Medical Center

Megan Christensen
Bryson

Mario Cordero
Port of Long Beach

Bryce Cullinane
Keesal, Young & Logan

Brian Devot
Farmers & Merchants Bank

Mark Dodson
Bank of America

Kris Gragson
GK Media Inc.

Greg Guthrie
Hotel Maya

Ken Houp
UHS Insurance Agency

John Howard
Chick-fil-A at the Long Beach Towne Center

Craig Ima
Windes

Melissa Infusino
Long Beach City College

Trini Jimenez
Watson Land Company

Otto Jun
DENSO Products & Services Americas, Inc.

Blair Kent
MemorialCare Long Beach Medical Center

David Koch
Halbert Hargrove

Peter Kosa
Wells Fargo Bank

Dan Lipton
Beach Cities Media LLC

Celina Luna
Southern California Edison

Patrick Maloney
SCAN Health Plan

Jim McCluskie
Moffatt & Nichol

Lynette McKinnon
Boeing Company

Silvano Merlo
Courtyard Marriott
Long Beach Downtown

Faviola Ochoa
Liberty Utilities

Ryan Partridge
HCVT

Dr. Lourdes Ramos
MOLAA

Chris Reese
CSULB

Tomi Riley
Air products

Sofia Riley
TGIS Catering

Mitra Rogers
Amazon

Yvonne Santos
Poppy Bank

Patty Senecal
WSPA

Brissa Sotelo-Vargas
Valero

Sue Snead
YMCA of Greater
Long Beach

Hans Stone
BluPrint Home Loans

Heather Summers
LBS Financial Credit Union

Fred Sutton
California Apartment
Association

Dr. Nishan Tchekmedyian
City of Hope

Sumer Temple
Don Temple Storage

Jesse Urquidi
P2S Inc.

Dan Vozenilek
AT&T

Justin White
Centennial Advisers

Jim Zehmer
TABC, Inc./Toyota

CHAIRMAN’S CIRCLE MEMBERS 2023-2024

MemorialCare

AES Alamitos

California State University,
Long Beach

City National Bank

Dignity Health -
St. Mary Medical Center

Don Temple Storage

Moffatt & Nichol

P2S Inc.

Port of Long Beach

Southern California Gas Company

Southern California Edison

Valero

Charter Communications

DENSO Products &
Services Americas, Inc.

Hyatt Regency Long Beach

Long Beach Airport

Long Beach City College/
Small Business Development Center

Marathon Petroleum Corporation

TABC, Inc./Toyota

United Parcel Service

Amazon

Boeing

Brascia Builders

Cambrian Homecare

California Resources Corporation

Centennial Advisers

Chick-fil-A at the Long Beach
Towne Center

Crown Castle

Farmers & Merchants Bank

Hotel Maya

Kaiser Permanente South Bay Medical Center

Keesal, Young & Logan

Mitsubishi Cement Corporation

Southwest Airlines

Watson Land Company

Westin Long Beach

Wells Fargo Bank

Air Products

BNSF Railway Company

Building Industry Association Los Angeles/Ventura Chapter

Catalina Express

Chase

City of Hope

Enterprise

Laserfiche

Liberty Utilities

Molina Healthcare

Republic Services

SA Recycling LLC

Shoreline Village

Signal Hill Petroleum

UHS Insurance Agency

Union Pacific Railroad

Verizon Wireless

WalMart

Western States Petroleum Association

AT&T

BluPrint Home Loans

Bryson

BYD

Forest Lawn

Halbert Hargrove

HCVT

IKE Smart City

International City Bank

LBS Financial Credit Union

PBF Energy

SA Recycling

SCAN Health Plan

Special Olympics
Southern California

Starbucks Coffee Co

The Queen Mary

Union Pacific Railroad

UTI

Waymo

Windes

YMCA

New Members

From April - July 2023

Addend Financial

Daniel Kramer - Vice President, Operations & Business Development

(562) 330-1192

10280 Laurelwood Lane

Downey, CA 90242

darin@addendfinancial.com

http://addendfinancial.com

Financial Services & Advisors

Cal Heights Music

Billy Mohler - Owner

(562) 528-3118

1240 E. Wardlow Rd

Long Beach, CA 90807

http://www.calheightsmusic.com

Music

Commune Communication

Ryan La Rosa - Co-Founder, Director of Strategy

(562) 366-0080

245 E 3rd St

Long Beach, CA 90802

ryan@communecommunication.com

http://www.communecommunication.com

Advertising Agencies

Epson America

Russ Nielsen - Business Technology Consultant

(949) 307-5558

3131 Katella Ave.

Los Alamitos, CA 90720

russ.nielsen@ea.epson.com

http://www.epson.com

Technology

Erica Ruiz State Farm Insurance

Dennis Ruiz - Account Manager

(562) 375-0037

4412 E. 7th St.

Long Beach, CA 90804

dennis@ruizagencylb.com

http://www.RuizAgencyLB.com

Insurance and Financial Services

First Citizens Bank

Yuliana Robles - Business Service Representative

(562) 370-1881

3500 East 7th St.

Long Beach, CA 90804

yuliana.roblescazares@firstcitizens.com

Banks

Foodbank of Southern California

Val Parker - Corporate Engagement & Volunteer Manager

(562) 435-3577

1444 San Francisco Ave

Long Beach, CA 90813

vparker@foodbankofsocal.org

http://www.foodbankofsocal.org

Non-Profit Organization

Gratitude Lodge

Elisabeth Williams - Public Relations Coordinator

(661) 619-2692

3849 Chatwin Ave

Long Beach, CA 90808

elisabeth@gratitudelodge.com

https://www.gratitudelodge.com

Health Care Facilities

Hey Girlie Studio

Sonia Ledezma - Owner

(562) 507-8180

3611 E 10th St.

Long Beach, CA 90804

Sonialedezma43@gmail.com

https://www.heygirliestudio.com/

Beauty Salons and Day Spas

Holos Communities

Aaron Perry-Zucker - Director of Marketing & Communications

(213) 316-0108

11739 Victory Blvd

North Hollywood, CA 91606

https://www.holoscommunities.org/

info@holoscommunities.org

Affordable Housing

Kern Energy

Adam Alvidrez - Public Relations Manager

(661) 845-0761

7724 E. Panama Lane

Bakersfield, CA 93307

aalvidrez@kernenergy.com

http://www.kernenergy.com

Refinery

Khashan Law Firm

Marisabel Jasso - Marketing Director

(562) 583-1323

4401 Atlantic Ave., Suite 230

Long Beach, CA 90807

marisabel@khashanlaw.com

http://wwww.khashanlaw.com

Consultants - Management

Lucy’s Boudoir

Nathan Culley - Sr. Commissioning Specialist

(562) 997-8786

3925 Long Beach Blvd.

Long Beach, CA 90807

orderslucysboudoir@gmail.com

http://www.lucysboudoir.com

Retail Specialty Shop

Luxe Beauty Supply

Marcella Barraza - Owner

(562) 349-0010

6252 Long Beach Blvd.

Long Beach, CA 90805

info@luxebeautysupply.org

Retail Merchandise

McKenzie Mortuary

Marcella Barraza - Owner

(562) 961-9301

3843 E. Anaheim St.

Long Beach, CA 90804

kenjmckenzie@aol.com

http://www.mckenziemortuaryservices.com

Funeral Services/Mortuaries/Cemeteries

Nike Factory Store Long Beach

Randy McClelland - Head Coach

(562) 432-7304

71 Aquarium Way

Long Beach, CA 90802

randy.mcclelland@nike.com

http://www.nike.com

Retail Merchandise

Nothing Bundt Cakes

Cindy Castro - Operating Manager

4680 Los Coyotes Diagonal

Unit 102 and 104

Long Beach, CA 90815

cindycastro961@gmail.com

https://www.nothingbundtcakes.com/
?location=0174&fulfillment=07/31/2023

Pastries & Bakery

The Distinguished Speaker Series of Long Beach

Brooke Winterhalder - VP of Operations

(310) 546-6222

511 21st Street

Manhattan Beach, CA 90266

contact@speakersla.com

https://www.speakersla.com/

Entertainment

The NextGen Garage

Alba Danely - Chief Inspiration Officer

(562) 833-8805

ideas@thenextgengarage.com

http://thenextgengarage.com

Youth Organizations & Centers

T-Mobile for Business

Lend Chuor - Major Account Executive

(562) 206-2636

430 E 68th Way.

Long Beach, CA 90807

leng.chuor@t-mobile.com

http://t-mobile.com/business

Telecommunications

ToursX, Inc

Nilda Langston - CEO

(562) 235-5403

5319 E Walkerton St

Long Beach, CA 90808

toursxinfo@gmail.com

http://www.theseaviewcruises.com

Travel

Rental Gym Equipment

Lance Zavela - CEO

(857) 220-7283

1402 Daisy Ave

Long Beach, CA 90813

assistant@rentalgymequipment.com

https://rentalgymequipment.com/

Fitness

SA Recycling LLC

Moises Figueroa - Regional General Manager

(562) 628-8156

901 New Dock Street

Terminal Island, CA 90731

mfigueroa@sarecycling.com

http://www.sarecycling.com

Recycling

Schooley Mitchell

Jay Gillam - President

(310) 622-4773

201 W. Palm Ave. #1

El Segundo, CA 90245

jay.gillam@schooleymitchell.com

https://www.schooleymitchell.com/office/jgillam/

Consultant

Waymo

Rebecca Tjahja Harvey - Policy Operations Specialist

(562) 481-4772

1600 Amphitheatre Parkway

Mountain View, CA 94043

tjahjaharvey@waymo.com

https://waymo.com/

Technology