GT Chamber Welcomes New 2013–2014 Board

The Grand Terrace area Chamber of Commerce recently welcomed its new board with its annual Installation Banquet and General Meeting at the Pinnacle Peak Steakhouse, a Chamber business member, on July 16. Chamber member Frank Tetley of Tetley Law Offices acted as the evening’s Master of Ceremonies while California Assemblymember Cheryl Brown (D-San Bernardino) of the 47th District acted as the night’s keynote speaker, officiating at the installation ceremony. Longtime Chamber Board Member Stephanie Darwin was also specially recognized that evening for her efforts with the Chamber, having stepped down from her role to concentrate on her real estate ventures. More than 60 community members and local leaders attended the event, including San Bernardino County 3rd District Supervisors James Ramos, the Grand Terrace City Mayor Walt Stanckiewitz and the City Council: Mayor Pro Tem Bernardo Sandoval and Council Members Darcy McNaboe, Jackie Mitchell and Sylvia Robles; Colton Joint Unified School District (CJUSD) Superintendent Jerry Almendarez; and several past Grand Terrace Chamber presidents. Chamber President Stacey West, who has been a member of the Board since 2010, shared that her goals for the Chamber this year are both business and community minded. “We’re looking to bring in more business and also to retain business in Grand Terrace,” said West. “Right now we’re working with the city and finding out what direction they would like to focus on and what types of businesses they would like to see.” This year, West has a board she said has shown its commitment both to the chamber and to bringing in good business. “[The Board members are] all very dedicated to business and they’re ready to do all they can to help,” she said. “At the first board meeting [of my presidency] every Board member was there.” With help from residents, she looks to help lead the Chamber into welcoming various businesses to the Blue Mountain Community and aiding with establishing themselves in it. “Citizens are inviting businesses into Grand Terrace and we want to bank on that,” said West. “When you have businesses in the area, you have revenue and people aren’t taking their business elsewhere. If we can keep it in Grand Terrace, let’s do it. We really want to work hard on seeing what we can do to get good businesses up here and help relieve the City’s financial burden. We’re hoping to see the community develop out toward the freeway. [Business] doesn’t just support the City, but it also supports our schools. Undeveloped land brings hardly anything to our schools and to our city, but once we develop it and build on it, then it means huge tax dollars—property and sales tax—for our city and our schools.” The Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors is composed this year of Executive Director Sally McGuire, President Stacey West, Secretary/Treasurer Penny Radtke, and Board Members Sue Taylor, Carron Pagels, Anthony Cortez, Burt Seuylemezian, Andrea Lusk-Perez and Louise Lunstrum. The Board oversees its monthly business luncheon, participates in community events, honors businesses of the month, attends City Council meetings, welcomes new businesses and oversees the publishing of its monthly newsletter, the Blue Mountain Outlook. In addition, the chamber hosts various fundraisers throughout the year, and is currently gearing up for its largest, the annual golf tournament. The tournament is slated for Monday, Oct. 14—Columbus Day—at the Arrowhead Country Club, located at 3433 Parkside Dr. in San Bernardino. Those interested in participating may contact Golf Tournament Chairman Burt Seuylemezian, of Burt’s Jewelry Repair at 22533 Barton Road, at 909-783-0143.