CONTENTS

06  MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

08  LONG BEACH’S SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC FUTURE

12  NAVIGATING CALIFORNIA LAW SB 1439 AND THE ROLE OF THE CHAMBER’S PAC

16  25TH ANNUAL CITY NATIONAL BANK ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR AWARDS

26 CHAMBER TESTIMONIALS

28 RECENT EVENTS

30 LEADERSHIP CABINET

31 CHAIRMAN’S CIRCLE MEMBERS

32 NEW MEMBERS

Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce

One World Trade Center,
Suite 1650

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, Membership & Communications Manager
562-436-1251 l msinger@lbchamber.com

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

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

Photos by Stephen Russo

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

This is a Town Square Publications, formerly MetroMedia
(since 1997), publication created and produced for the
Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce

Copyright © 2023 Town Square Publications

P.O. Box 280, Arlington Heights, IL 60006

(847) 427-4905 | marketing@tspubs.com
www.TownSquarePublications.com

Every effort has been made to ensure the Accuracy of the information in this publication. The Chamber and Town Square assume no Responsibility for misinformation. Please contact the Chamber with any additions or corrections. Reproduction in whole or in part without Permission of the Chamber and Town Square Is prohibited.

Chairman, CEO and Publisher | Douglas K. Ray

President and Chief Operating Officer | Scott Stone

Vice President / Director | Scott Ray

Managing Director | David Small

Director of Production | Ryan Moore

Senior Account Executive | Kathy Moore

Editor | Bob Oswald

On the cover:
Traffic Management, Inc. owners Chris Spano and Jonathan Spano were named City National Bank Entrepreneurs of the Year.
Photo by Stephen Russo

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Message from
the President/CEO

am thrilled to share with you the exciting news about our recent City National Bank Entrepreneur of the Year Awards Luncheon, which took place on April 27, 2023. This year marked a significant milestone as we celebrated the 25th anniversary of presenting this prestigious program, made possible by the unwavering support of our title sponsor, City National Bank.

The awards luncheon was a momentous occasion where we recognized and honored outstanding entrepreneurs, rising stars, and philanthropic pioneers who have made extraordinary contributions to the Long Beach community and beyond. It was truly inspiring to see the entrepreneurial spirit and community impact of these remarkable individuals and businesses.

I am delighted to announce the winners of this year’s awards. The City National Bank Entrepreneur of the Year Award was presented to Chris Spano and Jonathan Spano, Co-Founders of Traffic Management, Inc.

TMI was founded by brothers Chris and Jonathan Spano in 1995, when they were just teenagers, starting in their great grandmother’s garage with a handful of employees. Today, TMI has grown into an industry leader, providing a wide range of safety products and services, including traffic control services, engineering, equipment rentals, product sales, sign manufacturing, installation, and 24/7 emergency dispatch response. Their core clients include utility agencies, construction contractors, municipalities, and large special events. Their dedication, innovation, and entrepreneurial mindset have earned them this well-deserved recognition.

We also honored Tenisha Anderson and Kelvin Anderson of V.I.P. Records with the Don Temple Storage Philanthropic Pioneer Award for their exceptional efforts in giving back to the community.

Chick-fil-A Community Spirit Award: Rich Archbold, Public Editor and Community Liaison of Long Beach Press-Telegram. His generosity of time, expertise, and service have made a significant impact on the community, earning him this well-deserved honor.

Becca and Billy Mohler of Cal Heights Music were recognized with the Long Beach City College Shaun R. Lumachi Rising Star Award for their high growth potential, entrepreneurial mindset, and community engagement in developing their business.

Lastly, the HCVT Corporate Citizen of the Year honor was received by Shelly Anghera, Member of the Board and Vice President of Moffatt & Nichol for their exemplary ways of giving back to the community.

The City National Bank Entrepreneur of the Year Awards Luncheon has become a favorite event of mine, and I am proud to see it thrive and evolve over the past 25 years.

Congratulations to all of the winners once more, and thank you to everyone who came out and supported this unforgettable event. We continue to celebrate and acknowledge the incredible successes of our local entrepreneurs and businesses, and we look forward to commemorating their tremendous contributions to our community for many more years.

Sincerely,

Jeremy Harris

President/CEO

Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce

*electronic signature*

Long Beach's Sustainable Economic Future:

The Grow Long Beach Initiative

ong Beach, a vibrant city known for its diverse culture, beautiful coastline, and rich history, is now on the cusp of a significant economic transformation. The Grow Long Beach Initiative, approved on March 7th, 2023, is a forward-thinking strategy designed to increase local revenues, catalyze economic growth, and prepare the city to transition away from fossil fuel production. As members of the Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce, it is vital to understand the implications of this initiative for our businesses and the broader community.

The Need for Change

For generations, Long Beach has relied on revenue streams tied to the production of oil and fossil fuels, which has become increasingly unsustainable due to community health and financial concerns. With the urgent need to address climate change and move towards a more sustainable economy, Long Beach must transition away from these diminishing revenue sources. The city’s oil revenues are expected to decline significantly over the coming years, impacting the funding of essential city services. To avoid cuts to these services and secure the city’s financial future, new structural revenue streams need to be identified.

The Grow Long Beach Initiative

The Grow Long Beach Initiative aims to focus on growing Long Beach’s economy in new and more sustainable directions as part of Mayor Richardson’s Opportunity Beach Agenda. By promoting the phased-in growth of other revenue-generating sectors of the local economy, Long Beach can transition towards a more sustainable economy and reduce its dependence on diminishing revenue sources.

The City Manager has been tasked with working with the Economic Development Department to develop targeted strategies, policies, and benchmarks to propel the growth of key sectors in Long Beach, such as aerospace and aviation, ports and supply chain, entertainment and hospitality, healthcare and hospitals, and education. These strategies should include sector-specific revenue targets that will help secure Long Beach’s financial future.

Additionally, the City Manager is requested to work with the Financial Management Department to identify alternative revenue-generating strategies and opportunities to offset projected reductions in oil revenues over the next decade and grow Long Beach’s revenues in the short, medium, and long term.

Embracing Growth Sectors

The Grow Long Beach Initiative focuses on five key sectors that present clear opportunities to grow the city’s revenues and secure its financial future:

1.  Aerospace and Aviation: Long Beach has a strong history in the aerospace industry, and there is potential for growth in areas such as space exploration, satellite manufacturing, and drone technology. The city can attract new companies and investments in these fields, generating new property and sales tax revenue.

2.  Ports and Supply Chain: As a global trade hub, Long Beach can capitalize on the electrification of trade infrastructure at the Port of Long Beach to support Utility User’s Tax revenue. Investments in clean and renewable energy can help modernize the port and attract environmentally conscious businesses.

3.  Entertainment and Hospitality: Long Beach has a thriving arts, culture, and tourism scene, which can be further developed to increase Transient Occupancy Tax revenue. Expanding the city’s entertainment offerings, attracting major events, and promoting local restaurants can help drive economic growth.

4.  Healthcare and Hospitals: Long Beach is home to several major hospitals and healthcare facilities, and there is potential for growth in areas such as medical research, biotechnology, and telemedicine. By attracting new talent and taxpayers to the city in search of well-paying union jobs, the healthcare sector can contribute to the city’s financial stability.

5.  Education: With a strong education sector, including California State University, Long Beach, and Long Beach City College, the city can leverage its educational resources to attract new businesses, support workforce development, and drive economic growth.

The Grow Long Beach Initiative is a bold step towards a sustainable economic future for the city. By focusing on key growth sectors and developing targeted strategies to support their expansion, Long Beach can successfully transition away from its dependence on fossil fuel production and create a more diversified and resilient local economy.

As members of the Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce, we need to understand the opportunities and challenges the Grow Long Beach Initiative presents. By working together, we can help create a thriving, sustainable, and prosperous Long Beach that will benefit all residents, businesses for generations to come.

In the spirit of collaboration, the Chamber will continue to engage with the city and its members to ensure that the local business community is at the table for the Grow Long Beach Initiative. We invite all chamber members to actively participate in discussions and contribute their expertise to help shape the future of Long Beach. The Chamber remains committed to promoting the interests of its members and the broader community, fostering economic growth, and ensuring that Long Beach remains a vibrant and thriving city for all.

Strengthening the Business Community's Voice: Navigating California Law SB 1439 and the Role of the Chamber's PAC

he Long Beach Chamber of Commerce has long been a champion for the local business community, advocating for the interests of its members and supporting initiatives that foster economic vitality. Recently, the passage of California Law SB 1439 has brought changes to the landscape of campaign contributions and conflicts of interest for local elected officials. This article will explore the key points of this new law and discuss its implications for the Chamber and its Political Action Committee (PAC).

SB 1439 expands the existing conflict of interest rules, prohibiting locally appointed and elected officials from participating in decisions involving parties or participants who have contributed more than $250 to their campaigns in the preceding 12 months and prohibits the official from receiving contributions of more than $250 from those parties or participates within 12 months after the decision. This law has the potential to limit the influence of individual business leaders and companies who seek to support candidates who align with their interests.

In response to these changes, the Chamber's PAC has become an even more essential tool for advocacy, influence, and change. The PAC not only contributes to the campaigns of candidates and issues aligned with the business community but also actively recruits and trains potential candidates for office. Recent successful endorsements and support by the PAC include Dr. Robert Garcia (U.S. House of Representatives, California's 42nd District), Kristina Duggan (City Council's 3rd District), Megan Kerr (City Council's 5th District), Dr. Joni Ricks-Oddie (City Council's 9th District), and Robert Luna (Sheriff of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department).

The importance of the Chamber's PAC is further highlighted by its successful 2010 lawsuit against the City of Long Beach, which protected the Chamber PACs' right to influence local elections. This victory ensures that the Chamber and its PAC can continue to support candidates and initiatives that benefit the business community, even as they face challenges such as minimum wage increases, overreaching government legislation, and potential job losses.

In light of SB 1439's restrictions on individual campaign contributions, the Chamber now has an opportunity to play a more significant role in business community advocacy by collectively contributing to the PAC to strengthen its voice. As Aristotle once said, "The whole is greater than the sum of its parts." By pooling resources and working together, the Chamber and its members can effectively navigate the challenges posed by SB 1439 and continue to promote the interests of the Long Beach business community.

The Long Beach Mayors race was the most expensive election in the city's history, raising over 1.3 million from individual contributions. With the Maximum contribution being $900 and assuming everyone maxed out, that's 1,444 individuals and businesses providing donations. Most contributions range from $99 to $350, with about a quarter maxing out. But, as you can imagine, that's a lot of work convincing folks to part ways with their hard-earned cash.

"if there's no conflict, there's no interest" is rooted in the idea that tension and opposing viewpoints drive engagement and progress. In the context of political contributions, this concept comes to life in the way that individuals choose to financially support candidates whose viewpoints align with their own self-interest. The act of giving a political contribution is not intended to change a candidate's position or influence them; rather, it is a way to lend support to a candidate who champions the issues that matter most to the contributor. Candidates need money to amplify their message to voters so they become the best choice in an election.

Based on the continued increased trajectory of PACs playing a role in local elections and the new limits candidates and elected officials can raise during the election season, there is an opportunity for the Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce to play an even larger role in elections to come. The Chamber PAC should be a leader in the total dollars raised and spent during each election cycle.

In conclusion, the Long Beach Chamber of Commerce is uniquely positioned to help its members adapt to the changing political landscape brought about by SB 1439. By leveraging the power of its PAC and working together as a business community, the Chamber can continue to advocate for the interests of its members and support candidates and initiatives that drive economic vitality in Long Beach.

Practical Tips

•  Develop an internal or agency tracking system to flag potential conflicts.

•  Identify major upcoming contracts, licenses, or projects to avoid soliciting or accepting contributions of more than $250 from particular donors if the official wants to participate in the decision.

•  After identifying upcoming contracts, licenses, or projects, return any contributions received from parties or participants within 30 days of becoming aware of the upcoming decision to avoid a potential conflict.

•  Spouses and adult children who are not otherwise parties, participants, or agents and who make their own contribution decisions generally are permitted to make contributions but cannot be reimbursed for the donations.

Election Contribution limit:

Citywide office- $900

Councilmembers maximum contribution is $500

Officeholder Contribution Limit:

City Councilmembers - $750 per calendar year

Citywide Offices* - $1000 per calendar year

Officeholder total contributions must not exceed:
City Councilmembers - $30,000 per calendar year Citywide Offices* - $75,000 per calendar year

* Mayor, City Attorney, City Prosecutor, and City Auditor.

Community Spirit, Business Success

Long Beach Area Chamber honors the business community with 25th annual City National Bank Entrepreneur of the Year Awards

By Mike Danahey

Enthusiasm, determination and enduring service to community set apart the 2023 award winners. As a unique piece of Long Beach, each honoree has achieved success as historic cornerstones of the city.

Chris Spano

and

Jonathan Spano,

Traffic Management

City National Bank Entrepreneur of the Year

onathan Spano, Chief Executive Officer and cofounder of Traffic Management, Inc., said being named City National Bank Entrepreneur of the Year is special.

“This is our community. This award is more personal because we call Long Beach our home,” Spano said.

Spano and his brother, Chris, started TMI® in the early 1990s in their great- grandmother’s garage in Long Beach. It was a family affair for a while, but between Chris’s technology skills and Spano’s entrepreneurial ambition, the brothers were able to maintain sustainable growth before things started to really take off in the early 2000s.

What makes TMI Entrepreneur of the Year, Spano said, is its long-standing company mission:

“Keeping our customers, employees and the public safe is our purpose. Our passion is innovating the industry, forming partnerships, and providing reliable solutions.”

“To me, this is the whole reason we got into this business. We want to do the best and be the best, in turn keeping communities we all live in safe. At the end of the day, TMI is serious about safety,” Spano said.

TMI now has more than 55 branches nationwide and is still growing. The privately-owned Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) specializes in construction along with municipality and utility Industry safety services.

One of its claims to fame is handling traffic management for the New Year’s Day Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena.

“What the television crews don’t capture when broadcasting the parade is the complexity behind the logistics of a 5.5-mile parade in the heart of a congested city. That’s where TMI’s expertise comes in,” Spano said,

Its most famous project thus far has been moving the Space Shuttle Endeavour 12 miles through the streets of Los Angeles to its final resting space at the California Science Center.

“What shocked our team was just how much crowd control was needed,” Spano said. “The community flocked to the streets to witness this moment in history pass through their neighborhood. It was shocking and humbling. It really ignited the fire within our team to keep growing.”

Spano is also proud of the perseverance TMI’s field employees had through the vast and various stages of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

“Because utilities are considered an essential business, and a vast majority of our customers are utility companies, TMI was classified as an essential business as well,” Spano said. “This meant, during all the scary, confusing, and devastating stages of the pandemic, our crews were out there every day, guaranteeing safe work zones for the utility crews to keep community infrastructure.”

Becca

and

Billy Mohler,

Cal Heights Music

Long Beach City College Shaun R. Lumachi Rising Star Award

By Mike Danahey

he couple behind Cal Heights Music — this year’s Long Beach City College Shaun R. Lumachi Rising Star Award winners — have worked with stars themselves.

“If a parent or student wants to learn or know about our backgrounds we love to share it, but we also know that what is most important isn’t us. What’s most important is our students and their experience and the stories being created at each lesson, recital and performance,” Becca Mohler said. “Our message is always positive, and it’s our goal to ensure that coming to a music lesson is one of the best parts of a student’s week. Our advice to our students and their families is that music and learning music should be fun.”

Mohler and her husband, Billy, moved to Long Beach in 2017 from Los Angeles to be closer to Billy’s family. They opened their space in October 2018.

“After settling in the neighborhood we had lots of local friends and neighbors ask if we could give music lessons to their children or asking us where we planned to send our children for music lessons. That opened the door to many fun discussions dreaming up what our own music school would be like,” Mohler said.

On a whim, the Mohlers looked at a spot not far from their home. It checked all the boxes for what they had in mind.

“In less than two months we transformed a drab and generic office space into our dream music school space. We added bright murals on each wall, vibrant colors, and an ultra clean, mid-century modern vibe,” Mohler said.

Billy Mohler once toured the world with The Calling in support of the band’s hit single “Wherever You Will Go.” He has been a songwriter and producer, with a Grammy nomination to his name. He’s toured, performed with, or recorded for Lady Gaga, Dolly Parton, Ringo Starr, Miley Cyrus, Katy Perry, Kelly Clarkson, Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Smashing Pumpkins and AWOLNation.

He also has released two solo albums as a jazz artist for his own quartet and performs regularly on the local jazz scene.

Becca once worked in marketing for BMG Distribution for acts including The Strokes, Moby, Avril Lavigne and Foo Fighters. When she moved to LA, she worked for Linkin Park’s Machine Shop label and started a band called War Tapes, which wound up touring with Smashing Pumpkins, She Wants Revenge, The Bravery, Tiger Army and VNV Nation.

“I have my own solo project now and work on music daily. I sing and play piano, guitar, ukulele, bass and drums,” Mohler said.

The Mohlers have three children, too, who all play music.

“Our daughter plays piano, drums and bass and has been in our Cal Heights Music indie band program. We have twin boys. One takes piano while the other takes drums,” Mohler said.

When asked if the family will form a band like the Beach Boys, Jacksons, the Jonas Brothers, Haim or even TV’s Partridge Family, Mohler said, “Well, family bands are something quite familiar to us since I played in War Tapes with Billy and my brother. So you never know.”

https://www.calheightsmusic.com/

Tenisha Anderson

and

Kelvin Anderson,

V.I.P. Records

Don Temple Storage Philanthropic Pioneer Award

his year’s Don Temple Storage Philanthropic Pioneer Award winners operate a legendary business known locally for its goodwill and known to the world for its contribution to urban music culture.

“What sets us apart as a brand is our relationship to people,” said Tenisha Anderson, daughter of Kelvin Anderson, longtime owner of V.I.P. Records in Central Long Beach. “My father has always taken the time to get to know people, to invest in them and to invest in the community.”

That generosity has meant everything from giving money to those who are down on their luck, to feeding the homeless, Tenisha said.

That’s along with V.I.P. Records building a reputation throughout nearly 45 years in Long Beach as a safe, hopeful place. Back in the day, when the shop was at the corner of Pacific Coast Highway and Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard, young musicians could come to polish their craft in a storage room that had been turned into a recording studio and where music lovers could come to hear DJs spin the latest urban sounds from a mockup deck of the Queen Mary.

Last November Giveon and Tres Generaciones Tequila unveiled a new recording studio at V.I.P. Records. An emphasis is being placed on providing recording time for community programming, including an effort in April focusing on working with neurodivergent people, Tenisha said.

People of all sorts still come from pretty much everywhere to meet Kelvin and hear the lore he knows firsthand. Those stories include tales about Snoop Dogg, Nate Dogg and Warren G, recording as 213, making their demo in the store’s studio and of Snoop using the shop’s original spot for part of his “Who Am I (What’s My Name Video?)” video.

“A lot of the tourists used to come from Japan,” Kelvin said. “Lately there’ve been quite a few from France, Germany, Switzerland, Canada, Mexico, and other Asian countries.”

Some head straight from the airport to the store, Kelvin said, while others show off their tattoos of the V.I.P. Records “Whistling Man” sign and logo. While guests these days pose with a smaller replica of that sign, the original — declared an historic landmark by the city of Long Beach in 2017 — remains in storage.

Working with Long Beach to find a spot to once again display the sign — ideally near the original store’s location — is part of bigger, benevolent plans the Andersons have. With their VIP Family Foundation, they are also seeking funding and a place to house an education and business center along with a museum celebrating urban music and culture.

Displaying the sign would be a lasting tribute to the V.I.P. Records legacy, the Andersons said, and just the second historic landmark in Long Beach with direct ties to the Black community. The building being sought would provide a place to maintain and sustain local culture, and serve not just Long Beach but any artists with the passion and desire to learn about various aspects of the music industry, Tenisha said.

https://www.worldfamousviprecords.com/

Rich Archbold

Chick-fil-A Community
Spirit Award

ich Archbold said when he learned he would be receiving the Chick-fil-A Community Spirit Award he told the Chamber of Commerce he would accept the accolade under one condition.

“I would take it with an order of waffle fries,”Archbold quipped.

That Archbold is receiving such an honor is no surprise to friends. They note he is well known for his enthusiasm, be that for his career in journalism, for the city of Long Beach and for life and people in general.

Of his longtime friend and colleague, Long Beach Post Publisher David Sommers wrote, “Rich has never ceased his celebratory chronicling of our community — Long Beach and the people in this city are an endless party, captured across the decades in Rich’s work. He’s never backed down in his belief in the power and vitality of local journalism or his championing of and steadfast support in the Press-Telegram.”

Archbold serves as public editor of the Long Beach Press-Telegram, where he has been working since 1978.

His involvement in the news business dates back to the second grade, when his grandmother made him get a job as a paperboy, delivering the Chicago Tribune by bicycle in suburban Lombard. His first writing assignment came in high school where he interviewed the principal, whom students had nicknamed “The Beast.”

“After I finished, kids gathered around me to ask me what he was like. It was kind of neat,” Archbold said.

Archbold wound up attending the University of Illinois, where he worked for the school’s paper, the Daily Illini, and graduated in 1960. From there he headed west to Lincoln, to cover the state legislature, then a stint in the Army Reserves, before time at the Omaha World Herald, then to Florida.

“It was snowing in Nebraska when I left. I went swimming when I got to Miami,” Archbold said.

A chance to become managing editor and to be his own boss brought Archbold to Long Beach, where he wound up as the longtime executive editor.

For the last 11 years, as public editor he’s been a face for the paper in the community, including time spent talking to journalism classes. Archbold is also involved with the Long Beach area’s Send A Kid to Camp program, which is in its 24th year.

Archbold writes a weekly column for the paper, too. He especially enjoys telling the tales of the town’s diverse residents and of people who “work their butts off” volunteering for local nonprofits.

“I write about people. I love the people of Long Beach. It’s our job to get their stories out,” Archbold said.

Archbold has also chronicled his own case of skin cancer. Diagnosed in January 2022, Archbold said he had a “three-inch chunk of skin” removed. This March, though, he learned that cancer currently couldn’t be detected in his body.

Writing about his situation helped deal with the emotional stress of cancer, Archbold said. It also brought an outpouring of support from the community he knows and loves.

“What I do is exciting. It can have such an impact on people’s lives,” Archbold said. “I don’t consider writing a job. Journalism is a miracle and the greatest profession in the world.”

Moffatt & Nichol

Holthouse Carlin & Van Trigt Corporate Citizen of the Year Award

eing recognized as Long Beach Chamber of Commerce’s HCVT Corporate Citizen of the Year is a great honor for Moffatt & Nichol. Founded in 1945, Moffatt & Nichol has maintained headquarters in Long Beach continuously since then and now approaches eight decades as a presence in the city’s engineering and professional services business sector. Today Moffatt & Nichol has more than 48 offices throughout North America, Europe, Latin America, and the Pacific Rim.

“Being a good corporate citizen is part of our culture,” said Goska Nichol, who co-leads Moffatt & Nichol’s Long Beach office. “While Moffatt & Nichol may be a corporation, first and foremost the organization is about people and our shared community in Long Beach.”

As a professional services firm, Moffatt & Nichol has long sought to contribute in a meaningful way to the advancement of small businesses in engineering and related fields.

“We understand what it means to start small,” said Nichol. “Moffatt & Nichol began with two business partners who shook hands at the kitchen table, then set up an office in the dining room. We recognize how important smaller businesses are to enterprise as a whole.”

“Much of our local work is with public entities, such as the Port of Long Beach and the City of Long Beach,” added Long Beach office co-leader Robert Beasley. “They are dedicated to creating opportunities for small business growth, and we actively support that. Over the years we have always partnered with smaller firms that add high value for specialized and niche services that we don’t offer.”

Over the years, Long Beach has proven to provide fertile ground for young engineering firms and a ready talent pool of graduates from nearby Cal State Long Beach’s prestigious engineering program.

“In Long Beach, we are privileged to have great small, disadvantaged, woman-owned, and disabled veteran-owned businesses locally to join our project teams. This is a real opportunity to help these business grow, and, in some cases, an opportunity to establish a mentoring relationship,” Beasley said.

Volunteerism is also in Moffatt & Nichol’s DNA, with staff regularly showing up to take part in community service events.

“The ocean and coastlines are where we do business, and their health is important to us, both as practitioners and citizens who live near them. You can count on our teams showing up for beach clean-up events on a regular basis. We are also invested in furthering the profession and inspiring future engineers. Our experienced engineering and science professionals are consistent participants in STEM-week and learning events,” Beasley said.

Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce Testimonials

Becoming a member of the Long Beach Chamber was a vital decision I made to get more brand exposure. The resources, and networking culture that they provide are outstanding in building your brand. When I call the Chamber Team for feedback or resources they are always willing to help and make sure that I get the information that I need to set me up for success. The leadership that the Chamber exemplifies time after time is second to none and gives you more confidence that you made a great investment in being a member.

Kevyn Palmer

It’s Always Long Beach

The value that the Long Beach Chamber has provided for my business has been significant throughout my career. It has helped me build my business through education, networking and resources. More specifically, the Long Beach Young Professionals Group has been integral in the early years of my profession. As an early member years ago, I learned the networking skills and professionalism that is essential to my line of work. Now as a board member for the LBYP I continue to gain value that is propelling my career. The relationships and knowledge that I have acquired through the Long Beach Chamber are the foundation of my business. The Chamber staff is always friendly and extremely helpful.
Their welcoming spirit makes this chamber a fun and valuable experience.

Pejmon Noori

Baypoint Insurance Services

It’s been a pleasure to be a member of the Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce. I have both lived and worked in Long Beach for the past six years and am always looking to further expand my network, and the Long Beach Chamber has been essential in providing those opportunities. Recently I have furthered my involvement by becoming a board member with the Women’s Business Council which has benefited me both personally and professionally. Not only has it been great exposure as I have been able to represent the Hotel Maya which I have been an employee for over six years, but personally I have also been able to make strong connections and friendships. I am also looking forward to further my personal growth as I hope to accept a leadership position on the board in the next term. I look forward to continuing my involvement, thank you Long Beach Chamber!

Kristina Kovacic

Hotel Maya

Since becoming a member we have: secured over 100K in new business, produced 50+ videos, found and hired the best Creative Content Strategist to our team. I have made real-life friends and my business is involved in the Chamber enough to have been asked to write this testimonial. So do I think there is a tangible benefit to joining? Yes, I think you should join the Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce.

Isaac Svensson

7SUN MEDIA

Recent

EVENTS

Space Beach

BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2022-2023

Rhiannon Acree

Cambrian Homecare

David Babore

City National Bank

Tala Baltazar

Alicia Berhow

Charter

Michael Brascia

Brascia Builders

Cliff Buford

Southwest Airlines

Carolyn Caldwell

Dignity Health-
St. Mary Medical Center

Megan Christensen

Bryson

Mario Cordero

Port of Long Beach

Brian Devot

Farmers & Merchants Bank

Manuel Gouveia

Republic Services

Greg Guthrie

Hotel Maya

Nancy Hays

Kaiser Permanente
South Bay Medical Center

Jonathon Hilton

California Resources Corporation

Ken Houp

UHS Insurance Agency

John Howard

Chick-Fil-A at the
Long Beach Towne Center

Craig Ima

Windes

Trini Jimenez

Watson Land Company

Otto Jun

DENSO Products & Services Americas

David Koch

Halbert Hargrove

Peter Kosa

Wells Fargo Bank

Amber Kusar

Kusar Court Reporters

Dan Lipton

Beach Cities Media Llc

Patrick Maloney

Scan Health Plan

Jim Mccluskie

Moffatt & Nichol

Lynette Mckinnon

Boeing Company

Silvano Merlo

Courtyard Marriott
Long Beach Downtown

Dr. Mike Munoz

Long Beach City College

Ryan Partridge

Holthouse Carlin & Van Trigt

Christopher Reese

CSULB

Sofia Riley

TGIS Catering

Mitra Rogers

Amazon Web Services

Natalie Sauer Rutledge

Northwestern Mutual

Patty Senecal

Western States Petroleum Association

Sue Snead

YMCA of Greater Long Beach

Michael Solt

CSULB
College of Business Administration

Brissa Sotelo-Vargas

Valero

Robert Stemler

Keesal, Young & Logan

Wayne Stickney-Smith

Special Olympics of Southern California

Hans Stone

BluPrint Home Loans

Heather Summers

LBS Financial Credit Union

Fred Sutton

California Apartment Association

Dr. Nishan Tchekmedyain

City Of Hope

Sumer Temple

Don Temple Storage

Jesse Urquidi

P2S, Inc.

Dan Vozenilek

AT&T

Justin White

Centennial Advisers

Weikko Wirta

AES Alamitos

Jim Zehmer

TABC, Inc./Toyota

CHAIRMAN’S CIRCLE MEMBERS 2022-2023

• City of Hope
  
• Dignity Health - St. Mary Medical Center
  
• MemorialCare
  

• AES Alamitos
  
• California State University, Long Beach
  
• City National Bank
  
• Don Temple Storage
  
• Moffatt & Nichol
  
• P2S Inc.
  
• Southern California Gas Company
  
• Southern California Edison
  

• DENSO Products & Services Americas, Inc.
  
• Hyatt Regency Long Beach
  
• Keesal, Young & Logan
  
• Long Beach City College/Small Business Development Center
  
• Marathon Petroleum Corporation
  
• Port of Long Beach
  
• TABC, Inc./Toyota
  
• Valero
  
• United Parcel Service
  

• BNSF Railway Company
  
• Boeing
  
• California Resource Corporation
  
• Cambrian Homecare
  
• Charter Communications
  
• Centennial Advisers
  
• Chick-fil-A at the Long Beach Towne Center
  
• Enterprise Rent-A-Car
  
• Farmers & Merchants Bank
  
• Hotel Maya
  
• Kaiser Permanente South Bay Medical Center
  
• Mitsubishi Cement Corporation
  
• Press Telegram
  
• Southwest Airlines
  
• Turkish Airlines
  
• Westin Long Beach
  

• Amazon
  
• AT&T
  
• Brascia Builders
  
• Bryson
  
• Catalina Express
  
• Crown Castle
  
• Hilton Long Beach
  
• HCVT
  
• Laserfiche
  
• LBS Financial Credit Union
  
• Republic Services
  
• Signal Hill Petroleum
  
• Shoreline Village
  
• UHS Insurance Agency
  
• Verizon Wireless
  
• WalMart
  
• Watson Land Company
  

• Air Products
  
• BluPrint Home Loans
  
• Building Industry Association (BIA)
  
• BYD Company
  
• Chase Bank
  
• Halbert Hargrove
  
• International City Bank
  
• Kusar Court Reporters & Legal Services
  
• Long Beach Airport
  
• Molina Healthcare
  
• Orange Barrel Media - IKE Smart City
  
• Pacific Coast University School of Law
  
• PBF Energy
  
• Queen Mary
  
• SCAN Health Plan
  
• Special Olympics
  
• Starbucks Coffee Co
  
• Universal Technical Institute (UTI)
  
• Western States Petroleum Association
  
• Windes

New Members

From January - April 2023

Ace Handyman Services - Long Beach

Darcy Musler - Operations Manager

(714) 902-1440

11919 Valley View St.

Garden Grove, CA 92845

dmusl@acehandymanservices.com

https://www.acehandymanservices.com/offices/long-beach

Real Estate - Property Management

BYD Company

Michael Tan- Regional Sales Director

(213) 748-3980

1800 S Figueroa St.

Los Angeles, CA 90015

https://en.byd.com/

Manufacturer

Cancer Support Community South Bay

Theresa Plakos - Public Relations Director

(310) 376-3550

2601 Airport Drive Suite 100

Torrance, CA 90505

theresa@cscsouthbay.org

http://www.cscsouthbay.org

Non-Profit Organizations

Candified Inc.

Amy Mason - Co-founder

(800) 931-6335

5334 East 2nd Street

Long Beach, CA 90803

hello@itscandified.com

http://www.itscandified.com

Retail Specialty Shop

Circuit

Daniel Kramer - Vice President, Operations & Business Development

(562) 252-6680

777 S. Flagler Dr. Suite 800 West Tower

West Palm Beach, FL 33401

daniel@ridecircuit.com

http://www.ridecircuit.com

Transportation Services

Compassionate Artists Inc

Carol Gibson - Executive Director

(562) 334-5031

1400 S. Sunkist Street #75

Anaheim, CA 92806

http://www.compassionateartists.org

Compassionateartists@gmail.com

Non-Profit Organizations

Cross-Cultural Dynamics

Jeff McGee - CEO/Principal Consultant

(323) 212-6050

111 W. Ocean Blvd Suite 400

Long Beach, CA 90802

info@ccdynamics.org

http://www.ccdynamics.org

Consultants - Management

Dentist of Bixby Knolls

Margarita Petrosian - Marketing Director

(562) 287-5175

3960 Atlantic Ave

Long Beach, CA 90807

om@bixbyknollsdentist.com

https://bixbyknollsdentist.com/

Dental Office

Emcor Services Mesa Energy Systems

Nathan Culley Sr. Commissioning Specialist

(949) 377-4584

2 Cromwell

Irvine, CA 92618

nculley@emcor.net

http://www.mesaenergy.com

Engineering - Mechanical & Electrical

Employed Security Service Center, Inc.

Musheer Rasheed - President

(626) 765-9589

3530 Atlantic Ave Suite 200

Long Beach, CA 90807

musheer@employedsecurity.org

http://www.employed
security.org

Schools - Industrial/Technical/Trade

Envision Family Law, LLP

Michelle Goldner - Marketing Director

(562) 379-4704

4300 Long Beach Blvd. Suite 240

Long Beach, CA 90807

BHSales@attorneys253.com

http://www.envisionlawca.com

Legal Services

EXP Realty

Lawrence Arnwine Realtor

(562) 881-9617

780 East Meadbrook St.

Carson, CA 90746

laArnwinerealtor@gmail.com

http://www.caringtouchre.com

Real Estate

Floor Coverings International of Long Beach

Ashley Birdsall - Owner/CEO

(206) 369-8527

4401 Atlantic Ave Suite 200

Long Beach, CA 90807

Ashley.Birdsall@fcifloors.com

http://lgb.floorcoverings
international.com

Flooring/Installation

Grand Welcome of Long Beach Vacation Rental Management

Michael Cole - Managing Director

(562) 245-4220

6285 E. Spring Street, Suite 578

Long Beach, CA 90808

michael.cole@grandwelcome.com

https://www.longbeachvrm.com/

Property Management

IKEA

Maggie Holton - Communication & Events Specialist

1-714-751-7167

7611 Carson Blvd.

Long Beach, CA 90808

magdalene.holton@ingka.ikea.com

https://www.ikea.com/us/en/stores/planning-studio-long-beach/

Retail Merchandise

Island Pitch LLC

Jonathan de Armas - Owner / Solutions Architect

(562) 270-4844

3716 E 7th Street

Long Beach, CA 90804

info@islandpitch.com

https://islandpitch.com

Technology

Liberty Utilities

Faviola Ochoa Director - Government Affairs

9750 Washburn Road

Downey CA 90241

Faviola.Ochoa@libertyutilities.com

https://libertyutilities.com/

Renewable Energy

Long Beach Animal Emergency

Andrew Pongyan - Practice Manager

(562) 735-5200

4720 E Pacific Coast Hwy

Long Beach, CA 90804

andrew.pongyan@thrivepet.com

https://www.thrivepetcare.com/locations/california/long-beach/long-beach-animal-emergency

Education

Long Beach Animal Urgent Care

James Colwill - Owner

(562) 438-0051

2540 E Anaheim St

Long Beach, CA 90804

lbanimaluc@gmail.com

http://www.longbeachanimal
urgentcare.com

Medical Clinics

Mayor’s Fund For Education

Karissa Selvester - Executive Director

(562) 548-0440

65 Pine Ave #898

Long Beach, CA 90802

kselvester@mayorsfundfored.org

http://www.mayorsfundfored.org

Non-Profit Organizations

MyRuck, Inc

Victor Hill - CEO

(310) 462-3342

3723 Cerritos Avenue

Long Beach, CA 90807

hello@myruck.ai

http://www.myruck.ai

Veterans Services

New Life Social Services of Atlanta

John Cole - President & CEO

(562) 833-8578

111 Ocean Blvd

Long Beach, CA 90802

johnc@newlife-ss.org

http://nlss-ss.org

Non-Profit Organizations

Orange County Podiatry

Ebonie Vincent Physician

(949) 651-1202

1040 Elm Ave. Suite 300

Long Beach, CA 90813

eboniev86@gmail.com

http://www.myocpodiatrist.com

Podiatrists

The Queen Mary

Jeff Nolte - Director of Sales & Marketing

(562) 435-3511

1126 Queens Hwy.

Long Beach, CA 90802-6331

David.Bodette@queenmary.com

http://www.queenmary.com

Attractions - Things to See & Do Hotels/Motels

QMI Restore the Queen

Mary Rohrer - Founder & Secretary

(951) 532-5711

2105 S. Bascom Ave, Suite 360

Campbell, CA 95008

Mary.Rohrer@qmi.care

http://www.Qmi.care

Non-Profit Organizations

Salusky Law Group

Anna Salusky - Founder

(562) 855-0004

3738 Bayer Avenue Suite 104

Long Beach, CA 90808

asalusky@saluskylaw.com

http://saluskylaw.com

Legal Services

StretchLab LBX

Rebecca Huber - General Manager

(562) 534-5913

3860 Worsham Ave Suite 320

Long Beach, CA 90808

lbexchangegm@stretchlab.com

http://www.stretchlab.com/location/longbeachexchange

Health and Wellness

TreImage

Charles Singleton - CEO

(562) 786-0303

One World Trade Center 8th Floor

Long Beach, CA 90802

csingleton@treimage.com

http://www.treimage.com

Marketing/Consulting

Vero Pilates

Veronica Colwell - Studio Owner

(562) 343-5511

3934 E 4th St

Long Beach, CA 90814

veronica@vero-pilates.com

http://www.vero-pilates.com

Fitness

The Wicked Wolf

Thea Mercouffer - Owner

(310) 383-8763

2332 Pacific Ave

Long Beach, CA 90806

2332pacific@gmail.com

http://www.thewickedwolflb.com

Taverns