BBUSINESSTHE USINESS SEPT/OCT 2019 CONNECTING THE BUSINESS A BI-MONTHLY PUBLICATION OF AND RESIDENTIAL THE WHITTIER AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE VOL. 25 NO. 7 FOCUS COMMUNITIES. City of Whittier and Senator Bob Archuleta Announce $14.6 Million in Grants for Whittier Public Library Foundation says, “We want to make it a in a book, or a 100-year-old person who more welcoming place so it’s not such a wants to look at historical archives, or a 1950s place.” The Whittier Public Library homeless person who wants to get out Foundation will begin raising money to of the street for a while and enjoy safety add the “bells and whistles” for the library. and air-conditioning,” explained Council Whittier Chamber Board Members, Representatives of the Whittier Uptown Association, and Whittier City “Thank you for believing in your city, Member Bouchot. He concluded, “We’re Offi cials gather to celebrate the grant given to the Whittier Central Library understanding that the city is part of the not just building a library, we’re building a Photo courtesy of the Whittier Uptown Association 32nd Senate District,” stated Senator dream factory.” “Today is the end of a promise that explained Senator Archuleta, “It has Archuleta, “I’m fi ghting for it; that’s why I is becoming fulfi lled,” said Mayor Joe serviced our veterans, it has serviced call it the Fighting 32nd.” Vinatieri. Recently, City of Whittier our kids…everyone who’s come to this “We have to acknowledge everyone: See what’s inside offi cials and Senator Bob Archuleta library has a story. The story of learning the council members, volunteers, Whittier gathered to announce that Senator to read, the story of fulfi lling dreams, ... Public Library Foundation members, and page 10 Bob Archuleta, Majority Leader Ian and family after family raising their kids our commissioners because this was a LLaa HHabraabra RResidentesident WWinsins team effort,” stated Council Member Calderon, and Supervisor Janice Hahn who are now part of the community, and $$10,00010,000 fforor SSavingaving MMoneyoney have granted a total of $14.6 million to that’s the dream,” he added. Henry Bouchot, “We couldn’t have done fund urgently needed upgrades to the The Whittier Public Library’s grants will it without you.” Whittier Central Library. address its plumbing, roofi ng, electrical, “Work isn’t expected to begin for Whittier Central Library has been and mechanical issues. Just recently, another 6 to 9 months while construction page 11 standing on the corner of Washington City Manager Jeff Collier said, “it may plans are prepared,” announced City Ave. and Mar Vista St. for 60 years. need to come to a point where we’d have Manager Jeff Collier. RRoseose HHillsills ttoo HHostost 99thth aannualnnual “The library has been a cornerstone to to close the doors.” Sue Settlage, past The library is for all ages. “It’s for a RResourceesource FFair,air, CCarar & TTruckruck ShowShow fforor our community for years and years,” president of the Whittier Public Library 2-year-old child who looks at the pictures VVeteranseterans aandnd ttheirheir FFamiliesamilies Los Angeles Philharmonic Ushers in the 2019/20 Season with a Free Neighborhood Concert at the Vic Lopez Auditorium at Whittier High School Whittier Union High School District to achieve and maintain excellence… The LA Phil is coming to Whittier! Thanks to a partnership between the The Los Angeles Philharmonic will Honorable Janice Hahn, 4th District usher in its 2019/20 season with a free Supervisor for Los Angeles County, the neighborhood concert this September. Whittier Chamber of Commerce and the Whittier Union High School District, the internationally renowned LA Phil orchestra will perform at the Vic Lopez Auditorium at Whittier High School on Friday, September 27 at 7 p.m. ACRO PAID “It isn’t always easy to get your STANDARD PRESORTED PERMIT # 355 PERMIT family to Downtown Los Angeles WHITTIER, CA U.S. POSTAGE or to the Hollywood Bowl to see the Philharmonic—so we are bringing the LA Phil to you,” said Supervisor Janice Hahn. “The LA Phil is a local treasure and these neighborhood concerts are an incredible opportunity to experience it, for free, right in your community. I have been looking forward to bringing the LA Phil to Whittier for a long time and I want to thank the Whittier Chamber of an LA Phil-commissioned work by of this exciting opportunity to bring Commerce and Whittier Union High Paul Desenne. This concert will also the LA Phil here!” exclaimed Whittier School for helping make it possible.” include a special demonstration of the Chamber Board Chair Elizabeth The concert, expected to last close newly restored 1927 Wurlitzer theater Martinez. to 80 minutes, will feature the LA Phil, organ which was dedicated to the Free tickets are available on a led by Associate Conductor Paolo Auditorium last year by the Whittier fi rst-come, fi rst-served basis Monday Bortolameolli, performing works by High School Alumni Association. through Friday from 8:30 a.m. – Whittier, CA 90602 Beethoven, Duke Ellington, Aldemaro “Whittier loves music and the arts 5:00 p.m. at the Whittier Chamber 8158 Painter Avenue Romero, and Leonard Bernstein, plus and the Chamber is thrilled to be part Continued on page 5 2 WHITTIER BUSINESS FOCUS WWW.WHITTIERCHAMBER.COM SEPT/OCT 2019 2019-2020 Board of Directors A MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR Elizabeth EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Martinez, Chair of the Board Chair of the Board Elizabeth Martinez What Makes an Organization Remarkable? Chair-elect & Vice Chair, Finance Bryan Tabizon, The American Society of place to take action based on what Rose Hills Memorial Park & Mortuary Association Executives (ASAE) best- is learned selling book 7 Measures of Success: • Promoting dialogue and engagement area. As an organization, we constantly Immediate Past Chair What Remarkable Associations Do about the organization’s direction take a pulse on the community and Gary Lee Martinez, The Traveling Traveler That Others Don’t reveals that there and priorities adjust when the “cheese moves.” In the are seven measures that differentiate • Facilitating and promoting visionary next few months we will be working on Vice Chair, Community Affairs a strategic plan with a goal to become Trese Childs, DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Whittier remarkable organizations from their thinking throughout the organization counterparts. No one measure by being a broker of ideas a top level “remarkable organization.” Vice Chair, Networking & Marketing outweighs the others and ALL If you have any feedback for us, we’d Sandra Hahn, Crepes & Grapes Café contribute equally to an organization’s Commitment to Action love to hear from you! ability to innovate, grow and thrive over • Remarkable organizations are In Chamber news, we hope Vice Chair, Administration you will join us for our 41st Annual Debra Legan, PIH Health time. Those measures are grouped into adaptable and learn from, and three categories: respond to, change Hathaway Golf Classic on September Vice Chair, Business Information • Able to build alliances for the right 16 at Friendly Hills Country Club. R.D. McDonnell, McDonnell Group Commitment to Purpose purpose that align with long-term This fun-fi lled tournament provides an • A customer service culture is built goals opportunity to “network on the greens” Vice Chair, Membership with clients and special guests. We Laurie Perschbacher, MAP Property Management into the organization’s structure and processes The Whittier Chamber is the have a special 19th Hole After Party Vice Chair, Special Events • Alignment of products and services leading business organization that Mixer that all are invited to attend which Cheryl Estep, State Farm Insurance with the mission exists to strengthen the local economy features plenty of mixing and mingling, delicious food and opportunities to win DIRECTORS • Consistency with the organization’s and build a prosperous community mission through business leadership. Our prizes. If you are looking for marketing Celia Alvarez, U.S. Bank diverse 21-member board of directors opportunities for your business, call the Leighton Anderson, Bewley, Lassleben & Miller Commitment to Analysis are business owners and community Chamber for ways to get involved. Calling all female business owners, Susan Ayala, Athens Services and Feedback leaders who dedicate their time and • Having data-driven strategies which entrepreneurs and professionals! Our Judy Bradt, A Special Event energy to setting policies and direction include gathering and analyzing for the Chamber and we are proud to be Women in Business Power Brunch Shannon Gimbel-Hammer, information and having processes in the largest advocate for business in the Shannon G’s Flowers & Clothing Boutique Continued on page 4 Louis Gomez, F.F. Gomez Oscar Hernandez, Boys’ & Girls’ Clubs of Whittier Kwan Lee, Martplan Insurance Agency, Inc. TAX TIPS Greg Nicodemus, $ Credit Union of Southern California Monica Peters, Hebert Design Werks Richard Nate Ploog, DialMED Home Care Scrivanich Employer-Provided Group Term STAFF Life Insurance President/CEO Does your employer provide you the employee would pay for comparable compensation” in Box 1 of the W-2, and Carol Crosby with group term life insurance? If so, and coverage under an individual term it's the Box 1 amount that's reported on Director of Member Programs if your salary is higher than $50,000, policy. This tax trap gets worse as the your tax return. Jessica Reyes this employee “benefi t” may be creating employee gets older and as the amount If you then decide that this cost is Director