Committees and Programs
Joining a committee or participating in a program presented by the SFS Chamber is a great way to connect to other businesses and leaders in the community, and allows you to share in leading business growth. It’s our business to assist your business and the Chamber’s Committees and Programs are the resource tools to achieve the Chamber’s Mission of Partnering for your Success!
Ambassadors
The Ambassador Committee represents the SFS Chamber in the business community by planning networking events, coordinating and leading the monthly Business Card Exchanges, Open Houses, Ribbon Cuttings, and our yearly Business Expo. Ambassadors are appointed by the Chamber’s Executive Committee. The Ambassador Committee meets monthly on the fourth Wednesday.
Chairperson: Darwin Vande Hoef, Co-Advantage
Business Expo
This committee, along with the Ambassador Committee, plans and organizes the annual Business Expo which is held in September at Heritage Park.
Chairperson: Ross Gile, DigiCal
CHOICES®
Chamber members volunteer their time to present the CHOICES® program to all freshman classes in Santa Fe Springs. Using an interactive script and their own experiences, presenters teach students the importance of their academic and personal decisions and how these CHOICES will impact their future.
Destiny Dinner
This committee plans and coordinates the Annual Youth Enrichment Fund Dinner. The proceeds fund YEF youth activities such as the mentoring program, CHOICES seminars, the $20,000 Destiny Scholarship program and more. Duties include selecting event location, menu, dinner attendance, soliciting for Silent and Live auction items and monetary donations. Meetings are scheduled as needed February – June.
Chairperson: Lisa Boyajian
Economic Development Forum
This program is a joint Chamber-City coordination designed to attract new businesses to the city of Santa Fe Springs as well as communicate current trends and influences at work within the local business community. This is done through various task force meetings and presentations.
Chairperson: Mike Foley, Cushman & Wakefield of California, Inc
Future Business Leaders
The Future Business Leaders program provides leadership training for high school students wanting to learn about business. High school juniors and seniors meet monthly to learn business skills, hear from speakers in the community, and tour businesses. Students become active committee members and are prepared to become future leaders. If you have an interest helping “future business leaders” by speaking to students or offering tours of your company, please contact the Chamber Office.
Chairperson: Staff
Golf
The Golf committee organizes and plans the Chamber’s tournament held each year in the spring. Creative ideas and/or golf tournament experience are vital to help plan and host a successful tournament. Committee meets monthly November-January and then scheduled as needed until the tournament date.
Chairperson: Pete Galvan, Tangram Interiors
Government Affairs
As a member of the Gateway Chamber Alliance, (GCA) the SFS Chamber Government Affairs committee monitors and acts on local, state and federal legislation. They educate the business community on legislative issues that affect their business and the local community. And communicate with elected officials to provide business prospective on proposed legislation. They organize annual presentations with area elected officials. Chairperson: Patricia Kotze, Compliance Training Group
Human Resources Roundtable
Is a sponsored “members only” lunch meeting for HR professionals. At each monthly meeting a pre-selected topic is addressed. The topics are member-driven, in order to maximize relevance and value for all members. Facilitated by attorney, Paul Fleck of AALRR, these meetings provide members with the opportunity to network with peers and focus on specific issues facing California employers. Chairperson: Paul Fleck, Atkinson Andelson, Loya, Ruud and Romo
Leads Group
The goal of this group is to develop relationships and promote referrals within the group and Chamber. The group meets weekly in the Chamber Conference Room and Chamber Membership is a requirement. This is yet another opportunity for Members to connect on both a personal and professional level.
Chairperson: Carlos Gallardo, Farmers and Merchants Bank
Mentoring Program
The Mentoring Program is looking for business people who have a desire to provide young people with support, counsel, friendship and constructive examples. Through structured monthly activities such as career day, college visits, and business breakfasts, students meet with their mentors and get “hands on” exposure to reliable role models. This program runs September – May and meets 2 hours every month.
Chairperson: Mike Foley, Cushman & Wakefield of California, Inc.
Non-Profit Forum
The Non-profit Committee brings together non-profits in the community, and those that work with non-profits, to tackle the issues which are unique to the nonprofit world. Meetings include speakers, collaborating and coordinating event calendars. Committee meets monthly on the second Wednesday of the month.
Past-Presidents
This committee meets as needed to assist the Board of Directors and the Chamber Staff with creative ideas in areas such as: recruitment of new members, nominations of new Board members, suggestions for improvements to programs and overall guidance to the Chamber.
Chairpersons: Rick Landis, Santa Fe Springs Swap Meet & Tom Summerfield, Cascade Pump Company
Security & Safety/ Business Emergency Preparedness Network (BEPN)
SECURITY & SAFETY: This quarterly briefing communicates relevant safety-related information to the business community. It is a forum for local businesses to learn more about safety and security related topics as well as emergency preparedness. Any interested person can attend a Security & Safety briefing.
BEPN:
The Business Emergency Preparedness Network (BEPN) is a chamber committee working in conjunction with first responders from the City of Santa Fe Springs. The objective of the BEPN is to promote self- reliance in the event of an emergency. The network provides training, organizational guidance, and helps businesses develop formal emergency business plans for their companies.
Chairpersons:
Women in Business
The Women in Business Committee puts on an annual event featuring a keynote speaker and allows women to engage with one another while developing professional and personal partnerships. Committee members help plan and set up the large event.
Youth Education
The purpose of this committee is to coordinate partnerships between the business and educational communities of Santa Fe Springs in order to prepare our future workforce. Educators and business leaders are all invited to attend. Committee meets the first Thursday of the month.
Chairpersons: Toni Grijalva, Cerritos College & Hoda Tanious, Lake Center Middle School