• Representing Business to Government• Promoting The Community

COMMERCE

NAPA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE • CONNECTING COMMERCE TO COMMUNITY1556 First Street | Napa CA 94559 | 707.226.7455 | napachamber.com

See GROwTH on page 2 …

• Biz Alert: FUTA Tax Increase• Member Spotlight: Connecting the Dots• Chairman’s Focus: The Year in Summary

• Free Webinar to keep employees safe at work!

• Welcome New Members!INSIDE

Simplifying Workplace Rules Stimulates Economic Growth

California Chamber of Commerce Policy Advocate Jennifer Barrera yesterday provided an employer perspective on the need for more workplace flexibility at an informational hearing of the Senate Labor and Industrial Relations Committee.

She pointed to alternative workweek schedules as one means of providing flexibility, as did Michael Pope, in-house counsel for Securitas Security Services USA Inc. Another employer representative, Rick Albiero from The Telecommuting Advantage, talked about telecommuting.Employer Struggle

California has some of the most stringent and complex labor laws in the nation, Barrera said, which means that employers struggle

with meeting the overwhelming employment requirements imposed, rather than being able to focus on trying to develop and grow their businesses.

Significant hurdles for employers in California discourage growth and job development, providing no flexibility for either the employer or the employee to develop alternative work schedules or options, Barrera said.

Barrera highlighted two areas in which California can provide relief to employers and employees: • Minimizing the procedures for adopting alternative workweek schedules; • Minimizing the risk of litigation for California employers.

The theme for the 2012 Annual Dinner membership meeting, “Breathe, Balance, and Bold,” is supportive of what our business community has been experiencing and reflects our incoming

chairperson, Debra Dommen of Treasury Wine Estates, and her position in and passion for the wine industry. “Breathe, Balance, and Bold” are terms typically used in evaluating wine vintages. In 2011 our economy experienced a year similar to our 2011 harvest... the kind of year that tests nerves, skill and the capacity to deal with conditions out of your control and find ways to be creative and sustainable. We took a deep breath and worked more with our networks, managed more with less and reflected on fundamentals. Balance brought a process of harvesting the good out of challenges and reconnecting with what’s important. The boundaries (community, regulatory and business climate) have been stretched and they won’t go back to the old shape, so we must blend what we’ve learned and boldly move forward, thriving as a community. See GOOd on page 2…

AnnuAl DinnER 2012: HARvESTinG THE GooD ouT of CHAllEnGES

2011PRESIdENT’S CIRCLE

PREMIER SPONSORS

DIAMOND LEVEL SPONSORS

Exertec Health & FitnessNapa Recycling & Waste Services

Home DepotHawthorn Suites by Wyndham

Bank of MarinTravis Credit Union

Golden State WarriorsMark Coleman, State Farm

Napa Planner Financial Group

Markstein Beverage CompanyRedwood Credit Union

ComcastNapa Valley Marketplace Magazine

Silverado Resort and Spa

Net-Flow CorporationInfluence Internet

The Valley’s Daily News Source

Marketing GroupBusiness Growth Strategies

Breathe Balance Bold

Balance Breathe

BoldBreathe Bold Balance Breathe

• 2012•

December 2011 • VOL. 22 NO. 12 YOUR SUCCESS IS OUR BUSINESS.

Presented by Richard Rybicki of Rybicki & Associates, P.C., a management-side employment law firm based in Napa.

LABOR LAW UPDATE FOR 2012What You Don’t Know CAN Hurt Your Business!

Thursday, Dec. 8, 20118:30 - 11:30 a.m. • Napa Chamber Board Room1556 First Street, Napa

$40 Chamber members$65 prospective members

Napa Chamber members who sign up and attend this event will receive a 50% discount on the 2012 Required Labor Poster with Poster Protect. Only one poster per company at this discount rate: Regular (member-only) sale price is $40.00. Your price will be $20.00! Register online at napachamber.com

Special Offer!

GROwTH continued from page 1...Alternative Workweeks

Given the current interpretations and/or requirements surrounding these issues, there is limited flexibility for employers to work with employees and adjust work schedules to accommodate the employees’ requests. Simplifying these requirements and providing the employee and employer with more authority to manage the work environment will alleviate some of the burden on employers while still addressing employee needs, Barrera told the committee.

Million-dollar class action lawsuits regarding alleged missed meal periods are rampant throughout California, and have a devastating impact on all industries, Barrera said. She cited several cases in which settlements exceeded $1 million but a significant portion of the judgment went to the attorneys who litigated the cases, leaving limited monies for employees.Telecommuting

Telecommuting is becoming increasingly popular in today’s work environment because of technological advances, Barrera told the

committee. Although many California employers would like to offer this option to their employees, these arrangements generate a number of legal issues relating to federal and state wage-and-hour laws, she said.

For example, with the employee off-site, it becomes difficult to track time worked, overtime liability, compliance with meal-and-rest periods, and work off the clock. Regardless of the challenge, employers must ensure compliance with federal and state wage-and-hour laws, Barrera noted.

Telecommuting arrangements also raise questions concerning federal and state workplace safety laws. Although an employer doesn’t control an employee’s premises and workstation, employers still bear responsibility for the safety of their employees, she said. In addition, injuries that arise out of and in the course of performing the job are compensable under workers’ compensation.■ Reprinted with permission from the California Chamber of Commerce.

November 2011 | COMMERCE | Page 2 | napachamber.com

Friday, January 20, 2012

Register online at napachamber.comor call 707.226.7455

Breathe Balance Bold

Balance Breathe

BoldBreathe Bold Balance Breathe

• 2012•

Napa Chamber of CommerceANNuAl DiNNer

Annual General Membership Meeting and Installation of Officers and Directors

connecting commerce to community

Join us in celebrating...Citizen of the Year - Gary Garaventa

Ambassador of the YearBusiness of the Year

(nominations are open until December 5)

Napa Valley Marriott Hotel & Spa

6:30pm • $110.00 ppTable of 10: $1000.00

black tie optional

3425 Solano Ave, Napa

To Dona te to the Silent Auc tion or for more informa tion please call 707.226.7455

The event also recognizes major community contributors with awards for the Citizen of the Year, Business of the Year, Ambassador of the Year and Family Friendly Business of the Year. The Chamber’s Annual Awards offer the community a springboard from which to honor notable citizens who routinely go above and beyond to support building a strong local economy and who take extra steps to ensure that the town of Napa is a healthy, growing and inclusive community.

The Citizen of the Year is chosen each year by a designated committee, who this year have selected Gary Garaventa as honoree. Garaventa is the owner of Napa’s Garaventa’s Florist & Gifts and he has spent his entire adult life giving back and serving the Napa Valley community where he grew up. His contributions include Past President of the Boys and Girls Club, Napa Valley Unified Education Board, Napa Valley Hospice Board and Queen of the Valley Medical Center Foundation Board. He has also served on the Napa Valley College Foundation Board and is an Honorary Trustee at Queen of the

Valley. He is currently President of Napa Valley Country Club and is serving on the Queen of the Valley Community Benefits Board. This doesn’t include numerous Trade Association positions over the years as well as involvement at St. Apollinaris Church and Justin-Siena High School. When informed of his award Gary, with characteristic humility, said; “I’m honored… it’s not about just one person, I’m one of many who work towards making Napa the best place to live in the Bay Area. I’m taken aback and so very honored.” Garaventa Florist & Gifts has been a family owned business for over 40 years and Gary is first to point out that he could not accomplish all that he does without the help and support of his wife, Patty.

“Selecting Gary Garaventa as Citizen of the Year is a superb choice, not only is Gary is a successful businessman, but he is a devoted and successful citizen as well. If I were to describe Gary in one word, I would use the word passionate. He’s passionate about his business, his city and his family. I’m proud to be his friend.”

—Ed Henderson, former mayor of Napa and President of Queen of the Valley Foundation.

“Gary is an example of someone who gives tirelessly to the community for no personal gain other than helping others.”

—Steve Silva, long time friend and associate, President, Steve Silva Plumbing Inc.

“His roots in this community run deep and true, and combined with his business acumen helped to guide our organization during challenging times.”

—Linda Gibson, CEO Napa Valley Hospice & Adult Day Services

Award winners in the remaining categories will be revealed over the coming weeks. The Napa Chamber’s Annual Dinner is to be held on January 20, 2012 at The Marriott Hotel and Spa in Napa. This festive annual gala includes dinner, a silent auction and the installations of the incoming Chairman of the Board, Debra Dommen, the Executive Officers and the Board of Directors. Tickets can be purchased for $110, or tables of ten for $1000. Tickets may be purchased online at www.napachamber.com. ■

Edward Shenk pictured with Ryan Gregory receives a Certificate of Appreciation

in recognition of 10 Years of Dedicated Service as Chair of the

Infrastructure & Transportation Task Force (ITT) Committee

GOOd continued from page 1...

November 2011 | COMMERCE | Page 3 | napachamber.com

BUSINESS continued from page 1...

THE YEAR in SummARY

Chairman’s FoCus

by Ryan Gregory, Vice President, Riechers Spence and Associates2011 Napa Chamber of Commerce Chairman of the Board

position and were successful in supporting significant change. We implored our elected State representatives to keep Napa’s Redevelopment Agency intact and instead look at other reforms and opportunities to balance the budget. In 2011 we took positions and made your voice heard with Federal, State, County and City officials and even took a trip to Capital Hill to deliver our message in support of Napa Valley’s economic vitality.

In addition to our comprehensive advocacy benefits, the Chamber has also been successful in our money-saving and no-cost marketing avenues. We have improved upon connecting with members by developing a new program, Napa Chamber Cares that focuses on visiting members to gain a better understanding of their products, services, and long-term goals. This boosts our promotional efforts through social media, advertisements, online materials and marketing collateral. We are in the process of evaluating our event frequency and content; with marketing research, we recently transformed the event formerly known as First Friday Business

Development Lunch to Business Develop & Dine. Along with the new name and graphic design elements, we listened to you to improve the content and tighten the schedule to provide a richer business development opportunity. Through your current feedback we’ve done a wonderful job on this redesign and will continue to improve our events in the coming year.

What work is left undone? One of our 2011 initiatives was to grow our membership by increasing membership retention and reaching out to new businesses and non-members. However, despite strong efforts by the Chamber’s sales staff, our membership renewals and new member sales stayed flat much of the year and began to decline toward the end of this year, which is currently indicative to the Chamber industry as a whole. Members are still struggling with the economy, and they are seeking maximum value for their dollar. We are finding that this new economy is having a significant impact on the Chamber’s business model.

In order to move forward and become a sustainable organization for our members,

Well, I can’t believe that my year as Chairman of the Board for the Napa Chamber of Commerce is almost over. It has been a challenging and rewarding experience, and it was truly an honor to lead the Chamber. As I reflect on the year, I think back on what we did well, what is left undone and what came completely unexpected. Despite my carefully-laid plans for 2011, the year had a mind of its own.

What did we do well this year? We made strides to improve the Chamber’s operations and efficiency. The Chamber’s Five Year Vision was updated and is ready to guide us in decision-making through the next five years. Our financial audit was completed and we passed with flying colors. Adjustments to our corporate bylaws have been made to reflect current practice and our policies and procedures have been compiled into one comprehensive governance guide for easy reference by staff, volunteers and Directors. We held our award-winning mixers, conferences and networking events providing business leaders a chance to socialize, network and compare notes.

We were diligent in delivering one of the Chamber’s core membership benefits— advocacy, being proactive and standing up for issues that our member businesses care about. We defended Napa County’s agricultural preserve by taking a position on the Mishewal Wappo’s request for tribal status and insisting that resulting land development projects be subject to our local land-use requirements. Realizing that the ordinances governing Napa’s food truck industry were outdated, we led an effort to bring this to City Council’s attention and supported the creation of a stakeholder group to update the ordinance. When we heard that the first draft of the Citizens Redistricting Commission’s maps severed American Canyon from the rest of Napa County, we quickly sprung into action, took an opposing

changes are necessary. This will require creativity and new ideas— in other words, a departure from “business as usual.” We will need to focus more on membership benefits and value in general. We will need to rethink our membership rates and become more flexible to accommodate the needs of our business community. We will need to reconnect with our members, reprioritize the Chamber’s functions and reconstruct our business model accordingly. The Chamber has started the work necessary to create this change, and I look forward to seeing it get implemented and pay dividends next year.

What came completely unexpected? Who knew that during my year as Chair we would see the unplanned departure of our President/CEO? The latter part of this year has been dominated by this and efforts to recruit our next CEO. But, thanks to the extraordinary efforts of the Chamber Staff and Board, the Chamber continues to run smoothly in the meantime. And thanks to the tireless work and countless volunteer hours of the CEO

Search Committee members, we are well on our way to finding our next CEO. What makes this daunting task manageable is the exciting opportunity it presents to find a CEO that has the vision, leadership and skill-set

to plan and execute the important improvements and changes described above.

This year has been a roller coaster ride. As Chair, the successes have invigorated me and the challenges have stretched me and made me stronger. Most of all, I will look back and remember the relationships I have built this year with the community, the Chamber Staff and members of the Executive Committee and Board of Directors. These are some of the most incredible people in Napa, and I am so pleased that they choose to spend their time with the Chamber. Thanks to all of you for your assistance, support, professionalism and dedication this year.

In closing, if nothing else, this year I was a strong steward of the Napa Chamber of Commerce and worked hard to leave it in better condition than when I started. Next year’s Chair Debra Dommen and her Board are ready to continue this stewardship and complete the work that needs to be done. And I look forward to continuing my involvement in the Chamber next year as Immediate Past Chair and beyond. ■

“it has been a challenging and rewarding experience, and it was truly an honor

to lead the Chamber.”

#THAnkS foR THE TWEETS! from @NapaValleyPenCo “Thanks to @NapaChamber for putting on the Mixpo last night! Fun and very well done event. Just wish we won the chainsaw in the raffle!”

from @NapadowntownRT @NapaAttorney: this is a good trend for downtown Napa... http://ow.ly/7bgeJ @NapaChamber (on article from Northbay Business Journal: Napa downtown continues as center of ‘excitement’; wine industry driving many deals)

November 2011 | COMMERCE | Page 4 | napachamber.com

BIZ ALERT: FUTA Tax Increase

Keep Your Employees Safe: Free Green Cleaning Webinar!

When: Tues. Dec. 13, 2011Time: 10:30 a.m. to Noon Registration is FREE but must be done by Dec. 9th! (see below)

To register, and for more information, please go to: http://bit.ly/freewebinargrn

Do you know what’s lying in your janitorial supply closet? Many conventional cleaners can cause serious harm to employees through toxic chemicals that can cause asthma, cancer or irritating burns to eyes and skin. Furthermore, when released into the environment, many of these conventional cleaners, especially those containing phosphates, can cause great damage to aquatic ecosystems.

The use of environmentally friendly cleaning equipment can greatly reduce harmful affects to human health and the environment.

Please join the Spare the Air Employer Program for a free webinar on how to successfully utilize “green” cleaning equipment for your organization. The

•SuPPoRTinG A SuSTAinABlE fuTuRE

“i wanted to take some time to outline the many other reasons being a member of the Chamber is a benefit to your business and give you a brief report card for the year.”

over 10,000 businesses and visitors each year. You get FREE Press Releases for your company and Ribbon Cuttings by our Chamber Ambassadors. You have access to our Chamber E-Sheets, social Mixers and Business Develop & Dine lunches where you can access great relationship building opportunities for your business. Don’t forget our very popular annual events: Napa Valley Business Expo, Benefit Golf Tournament, and E3 Conference. In fact, there are over 50 events each year and every event is an opportunity for you to make a new friend and

potential customer. But it’s not all about marketing… Here are other powerful benefits: 1. Business Products available for purchase at a discount. The savings on Labor Law Updates and posters each business is required to publish each year alone can be worth your entire membership fee.

2. Access to marketing expertise to help you edit your ads and press releases to make them more powerful at no cost to you. Only members have access to our marketing department resources in this way.

3. Save 15% to 25% on your total annual

The Napa Chamber of Commerce serves the business community and makes Napa a better place to work, live and grow. Chamber members are proud to belong to an organization that plays such a key role in the community. During the last two years the Chamber membership was relatively flat. We had projected growth for 2011, but it just didn’t happen as we had hoped. In making calls to members recently I have discovered there is a perception the Chamber is simply a “marketing expense” to many of them. I wanted to take some time to outline the many other reasons being a member of the Napa Chamber is a benefit to your business and give you a brief report card for the year.

While it’s true, the Chamber offers several ways for its members to market their business, some of them are not as easily traceable as others. Our Chamber directory with your listing is published to

expenditures for office supplies by using the Napa Office Depot and Staples benefit programs! Also, through a partnership with BEN-E-LECT, a leading provider of “Employer Driven Health Plans,” small businesses may save as much as 30% on their group healthcare costs.

4. Chamber representation for legislative action issues. Details of each of these actions can be found on our website under Legislative Action; please see the Chair’s article (page 3) for a recap on advocacy during 2011.

In the coming months we will hire a new CEO to take these benefits to a new level,

and provide even more to our membership.

Our conferences were rated the “Best of 2010” by North Bay Biz Magazine, and we believe this year’s conferences and Expo were

better than last year. The feedback from those who attended our E3 Conference in October was that it was the best of our economic conferences in many years.

Being a Chamber member is much more than getting help with your marketing. It gives you a powerful voice in the community that reaches all the way to our Nation’s Capitol. If you have questions about any of these services you can visit our website at NapaChamber.com or you may contact me directly at 707.254.1146. ■

WHAT ARE YouR REAl CHAmBER BEnEfiTS?

by Randy Martisen, President/CEO, Accelerated Marketing Group2011 Napa Chamber of Commerce Interim CEO

webinar will cover best practices such as identifying cleaners that have been certified as safer for workers and the environment by independent “eco-labels,” how these cleaners often perform as well or even outperform conventional counterparts, and how the implementation of green cleaners can save your organization money in many ways.

Speakers will include Alicia Culver, Director of the Responsible Purchasing Network (RPN) and Chris Geiger, Green Purchasing Program Manager at the San Francisco Department of the Environment. Alicia will provide a comprehensive overview of green cleaning equipment and must-know information for purchasers. Chris will tell us about the City’s real-world experience with switching to environmentally friendly cleaning equipment. ■

This webinar is FREE to attend, but advanced registration is required by Friday, December 9.

In the coming months you will see a FUTA Tax increase. This happens when states lack the funds to pay UI benefits, and they obtain loans from the federal government. To assure that these loans are repaid, and in accordance with Title XII of the Social Security Act, the federal government is entitled to recover those monies by reducing the FUTA credit it gives to employers, which is the equivalent of an overall increase in the FUTA tax. This process is commonly called FUTA Credit Reduction and was designed as an involuntary repayment mechanism. The credit reduction starts at 0.3 percent and increases 0.3 percent each year the state has not repaid the federal loans.

The California FUTA tax increase will be 0.3%, this applies to the first $7000 you pay each employee as wages throughout 2011. Therefore the FUTA credit reduction results in an additional $21 per employee ($7000 x 0.3% = $21).

The additional money will be due with the final filing of the Federal Form 940, Line 11 and Schedule A Line 2 on January 31, 2012. 20 other states are effected. ■

This vital Biz Alert is brought to you by Payroll Masters, Where Everday is Payday! 707.226.1428

Welcome NeW members!

November 2011 | COMMERCE | Page 5 | napachamber.com

MeMber benefit bulletin

Architects NVAE - Dean Jones Architects Dean Jones, 707-255-4422 www.DeanJonesArchitect.com

NVAE - Estudio Verde Architects David Horobin, 707-337-4144 1915 Second St, Napa www.estudioverde.com

Architectural Ornamental Features Copper Iron Designs, Inc. Andrew Bradford, 707-252-1949 849 Jackson St Unit 5B, Napa copperirondesigns@yahoo.com www.copperirondesigns.com

Bookkeeping Services Beyond Bookkeeping Barbara Felsch, 707-258-6100 1832 Soscol Ave Ste 116, Napa

Catering Amy Troutner Catering Amy Troutner, 707-299-9019

Credit Card Processing Beyond Bookkeeping Barbara Felsch, 707-258-6100 1832 Soscol Ave Ste 116, Napa

Dentists Parkview Family Dentistry Mojgan Yousefzadeh, D.D.S., 707-255-7477 720 Jefferson St, Napa parkviewfamilydentistry@gmail.com

Valley Dental Care Cheryl Hoey, 707-254-7600 1077 Trancas St, Napa info@napavalleycosmeticdentistry.com www.napavalleycosmeticdentistry.com

Podiatrists DiPasqua Podiatry Katrina DiPasqua, D.P.M., 707-224-8865 2017 Jefferson St, Napa

Search Engine Optimization Louden Leads Sean Louden, 707-879-1850 www.LoudenLeads.com

Signs Sign Dimensions Craig Rode, 707-226-5311 1726 Tanen St, Napa info@signdimensions.com www.signdimensions.com

Wildlife Rescue Wildlife Rescue Center of Napa County WRCNC- Phyllis Hunt, 707-224-4295 PO Box 2571, Napa www.napawildliferescue.org

Financial Services Resa Shore - Certified Financial Recovery Coach Resa Shore, M.B.A., C.F.R.C., 707-252-1423 www.yourmoneyhealth.com

Gas / Propane / Oil - Marketers & Distributors Napa Valley RV & Marine, LLC Melanie Glover, 707-252-6944 480 Soscol Ave, Napa

Gold / Silver / Platinum Buyers Napa Gold & Silver Jason Bowman, 707-252-2188 3033 California Blvd, Napa www.napagoldandsilver.com

Wine Country Coin Gold and Silver Don Cameron, 707-265-6500 1509 W Imola Ave, Napa www.winecountrycoin.com

Graphic Designers Linn Design Studio Amy Linn, 707-363-4254

Non Profit Organizations Napa Valley Architects Exchange Chris Craiker, 707-224-5060 3154 Browns Valley Road, Napa info@nvae.net www.nvae.net

V.O.I.C.E.S. - On The Move Jackie Davis, 707-251-9432 780 Lincoln Ave, Napa jacquelineldavis@gmail.com www.voicesyouthcenter.org

Connect with us...

To learn more about membership benefits and a complete listing of Napa Chamber members, updated daily, visit napachamber.com or phone us at 707.226.7455

promoting the community • creating a strong local economy • supporting a sustainable future (707) 226-7455

S u p p o r t Yo u r C o m m u n i t y W i t h o u t S p e n d i n g A n E x t r a D i m e !

Napa Town Center(First St & Coombs)

Downtown Napa

Oxbow Public Market(First St & McKinstry)

Wal-Mart Center(Soscol Ave & Lincoln) Main Street Shops (North of Third St.) Napa West End (1400’s of First St.)

Jefferson Square(Jefferson St & Trancas)

Grape Yard Shopping Ctr(Jefferson St & Claremont Way)

Silverado Plaza(Trancas St & Soscol Ave)

River Park Village(Imola Ave & Jefferson St)

Napa Premium Outlets(First St & Factory Stores Dr)

Redwood Plaza (Solano Ave & Redwood Rd)

Bel Aire Plaza(Trancas St & Hwy 29)

South Napa Market Place(Imola Ave & Soscol)

Northwood Shopping Ctr(Trancas St & Jefferson)

Auto Row(Soscol Ave)

V Marketplace(Yountville)

St. Helena Marketplace(St. Helena)

SHOP LOCALLY!

SPENDING YOuR DOLLARS IN THE CITY WHERE YOu LIVEHELPS CREATE A STRONG LOCAL ECONOMY!

Your dollars will support YOuR community by:• Keeping jobs in YOUR city• Keeping police, fire & emergency services STRONG• Maintaining LOCAL roads• and you will promote a SUSTAINABLE environment by

SAVING on gas!

promoting the community • creating a strong local economy • supporting a sustainable future (707) 226-7455

S u p p o r t Yo u r C o m m u n i t y W i t h o u t S p e n d i n g A n E x t r a D i m e !

Napa Town Center(First St & Coombs)

Downtown Napa

Oxbow Public Market(First St & McKinstry)

Wal-Mart Center(Soscol Ave & Lincoln) Main Street Shops (North of Third St.) Napa West End (1400’s of First St.)

Jefferson Square(Jefferson St & Trancas)

Grape Yard Shopping Ctr(Jefferson St & Claremont Way)

Silverado Plaza(Trancas St & Soscol Ave)

River Park Village(Imola Ave & Jefferson St)

Napa Premium Outlets(First St & Factory Stores Dr)

Redwood Plaza (Solano Ave & Redwood Rd)

Bel Aire Plaza(Trancas St & Hwy 29)

South Napa Market Place(Imola Ave & Soscol)

Northwood Shopping Ctr(Trancas St & Jefferson)

Auto Row(Soscol Ave)

V Marketplace(Yountville)

St. Helena Marketplace(St. Helena)

SHOP LOCALLY!

SPENDING YOuR DOLLARS IN THE CITY WHERE YOu LIVEHELPS CREATE A STRONG LOCAL ECONOMY!

Your dollars will support YOuR community by:• Keeping jobs in YOUR city• Keeping police, fire & emergency services STRONG• Maintaining LOCAL roads• and you will promote a SUSTAINABLE environment by

SAVING on gas!

For more information and a complete business resource directory, visit napachamber.com

Spending $Money$ WHeRe you live HelpS

create a strong local economy!

Don’t forget, shopping locally includes everything from business supplies to marketing & advertising resources!

Visit our business directory online to help guide your search!

Know someone who needs to be a member? Please contact:

Sherrell Harper - 707.257.4598Cathy Lavaroni Hall - 707.738.6763

November 2011 | COMMERCE | Page 6 | napachamber.com

miXPo at River Terrace inn

s Seth Herbey of Herbey Productions explains the unveiling of his big new

project, coming out soon!

Sherell Guyot, Catering Sales Manager and Cesar Cabrera of Cuvee, our wonderful hosts of the night.

s

s

The Umpqua Bank table had amazing chocolates, delicious coffee to take home and tons of other goodies. They know how to make banking fun!Tim Woods, Traci Taylor and Scott Taylor

Ariana Miller explains

how Napa Electric offers

specialty energy

efficient light bulbs and how

they are also a drop off for

recycling light bulbs as well.

• PRoviDinG nETWoRkinG oPPoRTuniTiES

Visit our FB page for more photo albums of fun!

facebook.com/napachamber

sMary Cervantes of NVC Small Business Development Center speaks with Sue Schwitalla of Edward Jones.

Welcome New

Members:

Our Third-Thursday event in November was a special MIxPO held at River Terrace Inn. The mood was set for an evening of successful networking. Everyone who attended was in agreement; the businesses’ display tables were well-done and informative as always! Great connections were made in a relaxed environment with delicious snacks provided by River Terrace Inn and Frida’s Mexican Grill. Wonderful wine and beer provided by Markstein Beverage Company, Castello di Amorosa and Napa Smith Brewery & Winery.

PLAN AHEAD: Don’t miss this month’s MIxER December 15th at Blue Oak School! ■

s

s

Susan Sharman of Sharman Studios shows off her beautifully designed marketing materials.

s

Maria Castro and Martha Llamas co-owners of Napa Spa Solutions!

and

Aft

er-H

ours

miX

ER

You’ll find everyone at the

napa valley Business Expo!Open to the Public • Visit over 70 local businesses!

*we will Introduce You To

the Service You’ve Been Searching for...*

napa Chamber of Commercepresents the 23nd Annual

*Attendee Admission is ONLY $5!

Tuesday, mARCH 20, 2012

meriTage resorT aNd spa875 Bordeaux Way, napa

4:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Call Lynn Page for more information and to register your booth by phone:

707.254.1145

*Booth Pricing: Members: $350

Non-Members: $500+ Extras, Electrical/Extra Table

Booth registration dates:President’s Circle Members: February 7, 2012

Members: February 14, 2012Non-Members: February 28, 2012

We Focus oN busiNessChamber Member Spotlight:

October 2011 | COMMERCE | Page 7 | napachamber.com

Holly Krasner launched her communications and marketing consultancy, Connecting the Dots, in 2009 – at the height of the recession. A bold move from a bold and energetic professional. Holly moved to Napa from San Francisco in 2000 as Marketing Director for the fledgling Copia Center for Wine, Food and the Arts. In that role she was instrumental in bringing the farmers market to the Copia parking lot and instituting the community free day at the center. From there and until 2009 she served as Marketing Director for Diablo Publications, which publishes multiple regional lifestyle magazines, including Napa Sonoma magazine. On taking that bold move in 2009 Holly says; “I had a great desire to focus efforts on the community in which I live and all of my clients to date have been located in Napa.”

Holly has more than 20 years of experience working with a range of businesses and nonprofits, including; positions in media (TV, radio, and print), at agencies (both PR and advertising), for nonprofits (visual and performing arts), in politics (including running a county-wide campaign to develop an environmental educational center in San Francisco), and with numerous clients as a consultant.

Connecting the Dots focuses on marketing arts and culture, education, environment, hospitality, retail and, of course, food and wine. Holly’s client roster includes a large range of local businesses. She specifically and intentionally does not include wineries among her clients so as not to directly compete with friends and colleagues.

Her emphasis is on “connecting the dots” through marketing, communications, strategic partnerships, community and government relations, Web 2.0, facilitation and more. Her clients are unanimous in their accolades:

Holly is a smart, enthusiastic, strategic marketer with creative ideas and a no nonsense approach. She has worked with Oxbow Public Market for over two years now, managing our newsletter, social media and special marketing programs. Holly’s marketing savvy and ability to tell Oxbow’s story have been instrumental in helping bring Oxbow to the next level -- we now have 12,000 newsletter subscribers and 3,500 Facebook fans -- and have made our mark as the local gathering place for great food and wine in Napa Valley. - Steve Carlin, Founder, Oxbow Public Market

Holly is an active community contributor, serving on several local Boards

and non-profits. Upon launching her consultancy one of Holly’s first moves was to join the Napa Chamber of Commerce, “I enjoy working with leaders in our community to make our community stronger, the Chamber serves as a valuable source of information about key issues. Membership has provided me a great opportunity to network with local business leaders and has encouraged me to “shop local” with member-to-member discounts.”

Napa Mayor Jill Techel says of Connecting the Dots; “Holly’s company name is so perfect. She makes things happen and takes you from idea to completion.... connecting the dots! Holly thinks big picture and has the talent to get the job done. During her year in Leadership Napa Valley her group raised $90,000 to do a tourism study and they hired Purdue University to do it. Amazing! Holly is just fun to be around. She is so upbeat and tackles every issue with that can do attitude.”

Holly lives in Napa with her husband Daniel Dawson, owner of 1st Street’s Back Room Wines. ■

CONNECTING THE DOTS707.252.7281holly@hkconnects.com

ConnECTinG THE DoTS

3 rock marketing 707.227.4273 3rockmarketing.com

Baillargeon Connect 707.927.5750 baillargeonconnect.com

BB&B Business Group 707.557.3182 bbandb.businessgroup.com

Big Vine Wines, LLC 707.252.7607 liquidtradesolutions.com

CBPR 707.255.5997 cbpublicrelations.com

Cornucopia Creations 707.226.6560 cornucopiacreations.com

The Derbin Group 707.224.6430 thederbingroup.com

First Press Productions 866.380.5746 firstpressproductions.com

Gelow Coaching Co. 707.255.5528 gelowcoaching.com

GrapeBomb.com 707.815.3518 grapebomb.com

Grove-Associates 650.274.3439 grove.associates.com

1250media 707.927.5822 1250media.com

DAB Enterprises 707.254.9899 dabenterprises.net

Louden Leads 707.879.1850 LoudenLeads.com Jeni Olsen Design 707.479.1734 jeniolsendesign.com

Linn Design Studio 707.363.4254

Sharman Studios 925.228.0686 sharmanstudios.com

designthis! 707.252.9425 designthis.com

Jack Wright Productions 801.710.2361 jackwrightproductions.com

White Sands Pro Media 707.927.3789 whitesandspromedia.com

Local Happenings 707.557.3182 localhappeningsmagazine.com

Napa Web Consultants 707.258.8566 napawebconsultants.com

Adams Walter Communications 707.255.0300 adamswalter.com

Accelerated Marketing Group 707.251.0346 mymconsulting.com

Leading Edge Marketing Solutions 707.294.2666 LeadingEdgeMarketingSolutions.com

Huffman Communications HC Napa 707.257.2585 hcnapa.com

NVC Small Business Development Center 707.253.3210 napasbdc.org

Prime Market Access International 707.934.5154

napachamber.com/business_directory

listed are some more

useful marketing resources for your

business. Please check our business

directory online to see if they offer

member-to-member discounts!

October 2011 | COMMERCE | Page 8 | napachamber.com

Ryan Gregory, Chairman of the Board ................ Riechers & Spence Associates, Inc. Debra Dommen, Chair-Elect ...................................................... Treasury Wine EstatesCherie Knox, Vice-Chair Advocacy ........................................... Redwood Credit UnionKent Kuhlmann, Vice-Chair Resources ........................ Kuhlmann Associates FinancialRichard Rybicki, Vice-Chair Membership ................................ Rybicki & AssociatesPamela Gleeson, Treasurer ...........................................................Business Consultant

Napa Chamber of Commercem i S S i o n

As the membership organization for business, we promote our community’s economic vitality and quality of life through leadership development, advocacy, facilitation and education.

BEnEfiT from being a member of the napa Chamber of Commerce

For membership information call Sherrell Harper - 707.257.4598

Cathy Lavaroni Hall - 707.738.6763

• Creating a Strong Local Economy• Promoting the Community• Providing Networking Opportunities• Supporting a Sustainable Future• Representing Business to Government• Engaging in Political Action

COMMERCE editorial is exclusively produced by the Napa Chamber of Commerce, 1556 First Street, Napa, CA 94559. 707.226.7455EDITOR: Katherine Zimmer Please email submissions to katherine@napachamber.com

Randy Martinson, Interim CEO 707.254.1146 • randy@napachamber.com Katherine Zimmer, VP Marketing & Communications 707.254.1147 • katherine@napachamber.comSherrell Harper, Membership 707.257.4598 • sherrell@napachamber.comCathy Lavaroni Hall, Membership 707.738.6763 • cathy@napachamber.comPaula Wick, Customer Service Manager 707.226.7455 • paula@napachamber.comLynn Page, Executive Assistant 707.254.1145 • lynn@napachamber.comAngelica Mancuso, Marketing Coordinator 707.254.1144 • angie@napachamber.comChristine Sullivan, Administrative Assistant 707.254.1143 • christine@napachamber.com Caryl Chakerian, Communications 707.738.6053 • caryljc@gmail.com

Scott Adams, Comcast; Dr. Edna Baehre-Kolovani, Napa Valley College; John Cardinale, State Farm Insurance; Ken Frank, La Toque; Clay Gregory, The Napa Valley Destination Council; Paul Hicks, Payroll Masters Inc; Cathy D’Angelo Holmes, Coldwell Banker Commercial; Bill Lockhart, Edward Jones; Barry Martin, City of Napa; Kevin Massie, Napa Ford Lincoln Mercury; Sherry McKillop, Follow Your Compass; Shawn Milburn, Napa Valley Marriott Hotel & Spa; Beth Painter, Balanced Planning; Linda Parks, Lixit Corp.; Dennis Pedisich, Rabobank; Jaime Penaherrera, Queen of the Valley Medical Center; Suzanne Shiff, Napa Valley Coalition of Nonprofit Agencies; Don Shindle, Westin Verasa Napa; Brenda Speth, Napa Valley Register; Rex Stults, Napa Valley Vintners; Dr. Patrick Sweeney, Napa Valley Unified School District; Kevin Teague, Holme Teague Roche Anglin LLP; Jay Williamson, Williamson and Company.HONORARY DIRECTOR: Julian Weidler, in Memoriam.

napa Chamber of Commerce STAff

We’ll meeT you There!For more information call 707.226.7455 or visit our website at napachamber.com

EveNT caleNdar

January 20

ANNUAL DINNER

Napa Valley Marriott

Hotel & Spa 3425 Solano Ave, Napa

6:30 p.m. Registration Required:

napachamber.com 707.226.7455

Community Awards

Give the Gift of Recognition

Nominate a Hero Today:

bit.ly/nomformCA

napachamber.com

nAPA CHAmBER 2011 offiCERS

nAPA CHAmBER BoARD of DiRECToRS

Business Develop & Dine

Hilton Garden Inn 3585 Solano, Napa

11:30 - 1:00 p.m.

$30 Members$60 Prospective Members

February 3

December 15

Mixer

Blue Oak School 1436 Polk Street

5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

$10 Members $30 Prospective Members

January 18

Wake Up Your Business Wednesday

“Essential Practices”

Napa Chamber Boardroom

7:30 - 9:00 a.m.

$20 per person Bring a friend for free

Register by calling SBDC at 707.253.3210

January 26All Member Briefing

Napa Chamber Boardroom1556 First Street8 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.

No Fee! Learn more about how to utilize your Napa Chamber membership!

Registration Required: napachamber.com

707.226.7455