Chamber Advocacy | Shaun Lumachi | Chamber of Commerce Consulting

May 2009

California Chamber Honors Four Chamber Advocacy Clients With Statewide Government Affairs Awards

Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce

The Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce was recognized on May 18, 2009 with the first-ever President’s Circle award from the California Chamber of Commerce (CalChamber) and the first-ever Political Partner of the Year award.

“The Long Beach Chamber thanks the CalChamber for honoring our efforts representing the interests of business at all levels of government,” stated Long Beach Chamber Chairman of the Board Blake Christian. “Our board of directors, staff and many volunteers are committed to strengthening our local economy and being honored twice in the same week is a reflection of all of their hard work and dedication,” continued Christian.

The new President’s Circle award, presented at the CalChamber’s annual Business Summit in Sacramento, recognizes chambers for excellence in business advocacy and helping their members comply with California’s ever-changing and often confusing labor laws.

“President’s Circle chambers are high achievers in two approaches to serving their members,” said CalChamber Executive Vice President Dave Kilby. “These chambers are both helping shape proposed laws by keeping the business perspective before lawmakers and guiding their business members to information that will keep them in compliance with existing labor laws,” continued Kilby.

President’s Circle recipients published vote records of their state legislators on key business issues, generated letters to state elected officials on issues of interest to members, participated in the CalChamber compliance product resale program at an exemplary level and brought a delegation to Sacramento for the CalChamber Business Summit.

The new Political Partner award, also presented at the CalChamber’s annual Business Summit in Sacramento, recognizes chambers for excellence in recruiting, endorsing and funding candidates for political office.

“Political Partner chambers are dedicated to taking their public policy efforts to the next level by effectively securing pro-jobs candidates for elected office,” said CalChamber Vice President, Public Affairs Rob Lapsley. “The Long Beach Chamber is one of the most aggressive and committed in California to electing candidates that protect our state’s economic vitality,” continued Lapsley.

Corona Chamber of Commerce

Cynthia Schneider was nominated by Bobby Spiegel, president and chief executive officer of the Corona Chamber of Commerce. Spiegel said of Schneider, “It is clear that Cynthia’s dedication to effectively representing the interest of Corona businesses at all levels of government has helped bring the return that our Chamber’s members demand on their investment in our chamber. She is a leading example for all business leaders who want to make a lasting impact.”

Schneider, who has been called a “visionary business leader,” serves as the chair of the Corona Chamber’s Legislative Action Committee (LAC). In 2006, while chair of the board of directors, she convinced the board to make an unprecedented investment in representing the interests of the Corona business community at all levels of government. As a result, Corona has built a results-driven business advocacy effort. Schneider has helped to activate the Corona membership on the top 100 most important state legislative proposals. She has helped to educate her members by e-mailing “Call to Action” campaigns and as a result, been able to secure hundreds of letters from the business community on each issue. She also assembles an annual vote record to help hold Corona’s state representatives accountable to the business community.

Greater Fresno Area Chamber of Commerce

2009 Winners (left to right:) Mark Waronek, Victoria Salisch, Dave Penry, Lou Monville. Not pictured Cynthia Schnieder Victoria Salisch was recently honored by the California Chamber of Commerce for her outstanding advocacy work in 2008. Victoria, an attorney and owner of Lang, Richert & Patch law firm in Fresno, was recognized for her role in the Chamber’s on-going effort to consolidate public safety services.

“Victoria has proven to be a valuable asset for the Chamber and a strong representative for the business community. She has always taken an active role in leading on issues that are important to the business community, our region and the state,” stated Al Smith, president and chief executive officer of the Fresno Chamber.\

Salisch has served on the chamber’s board of directors, the government affairs council, the government outreach committee and the downtown revitalization committee. In 2008, Salisch served as chair of the chamber’s political action committee. She helped the PAC make endorsements in several key races: mayor, city council, school board and state Assembly. Salisch also has taken a lead role in the chamber’s effort to convince the city and county to consolidate public safety services.

Since 2005, Salisch has served on committees that have examined how the city and county can keep public safety costs under control merging some functions. She serves on the Joint Powers Authority — a governance model selected by city and county officials to help move the consolidation forward. She also has spent time in Sacramento helping the Greater Fresno Chamber take an active role in legislation by testifying before policy committees, writing letters to the editor and sending letters to legislators.

South Bay Association of Chambers of Commerce

2009 Winners (left to right:) Mark Waronek, Victoria Salisch, Dave Penry, Lou Monville. Not pictured Cynthia Schnieder Mark Waronek served as the mayor of Lomita from 2002-06. Since 2003, Waronek has organized the annual Leadership Torrance class introductory trip to Sacramento, which includes arranging key meetings with various legislators. In May 2008, he organized the first-ever delegation of City of Torrance officials and chamber of commerce leaders on an exploratory and lobbying trip to Sacramento. Specifically, the groups met to discuss the potential “transit center in Torrance,” which was an issue in common for both the chamber and the city.

For the last two years, Waronek also has served on the Board of Governors of the Torrance Area Chamber of Commerce Political Action Committee (TACC-PAC). His political background provided insight into fundraising for the TACC-PAC and has helped the PAC take its efforts to a new level. Over the last five years, Waronek has testified on business issues in Sacramento, San Francisco, Los Angeles and the South Bay — including efforts to save the Los Angeles Air Force Base during the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission (BRAC) hearing, as well as the 310 area code issue — that directly affect the business community.