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January 2014
Vol. 5, Issue 1
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Business Leaders Council
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New Business Leaders
U.S. Bank
Renewed Business Leaders
Sansum Clinic
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2014 Chamber Staff
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President/CEO
Membership Director
Scott Ericson
Events/Marketing Director
Stephanie Armstrong
Public Information Coordinator
Danielle Singer
Visitor Center Director
Annmarie Rogers
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2014 Board of Directors
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Chair
Joanne Funari
Vice Chair
Laura McIver
Treasurer
Lisa Rivas
Secretary
Jonathan Miller
Immediate Past Chair
Scott Hadley
Steven A. Amerikaner
Earl Armstrong
Steve Byrd
Tom Caesar
Michael Fauver
Janey Garufis
Renee Grubb
Michael Holliday
Paul Jaconette
John Longbreak
Cynder Sinclair
Sherry Villanueva
Bonnie Zappacosta
Lifetime Board Members
John Davies
John Wiemann
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Visitor Center Report
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January 2014
Santa Barbara had the warmest December that we can remember! The locals long for rain but the tourists are thrilled! The Visitor Center on 1 Garden Street had a 4% increase in visitors in 2013; 194,375 people walked in the door to get advice and a free map with lots of coupons.
Here are some of the fun events you can attend in 2014:
* SB International Film Festival, January 30-February 9
* International Orchid Show, March 14-16
* SB Fair & Expo, April 23-26
* SB's 232nd Birthday & Founding Day, April 26 * Earth Day, April 26-27
* Sea Festival, May 3 * Jewish Festival, May 4 * SB National Public Gardens Day, May 9
* The Amgen Tour arrives in Santa Barbara May 15 * Classic and Hot Rod Car Show, May 17-18
* I Madonnari, May 24-26 * Live Oak Music Festival, June 13-15 * Summer Solstice, June 20-22 * Independence Day Celebration, July 4 * Olde 4th of July, Rancho La Patera & Stow House, July 4 * Goleta Fireworks Festival, Girsh Park, July 4 * Pacific Pride Festival, Leadbetter Beach, July 12 * French Festival, Oak Park, July 12-13 * CA Wine Festival, Chase Palm Park/ Soccer Field, July 17-19 * Greek Festival, Oak Park, July 26-27 * Fiesta- Old Spanish Days, July 30-August 3 * Woodies Car Show, SB City College, August 16 * Taste of the Town, Riviera Park, September 7 * Lemon Festival & Car Show, (cars Sat. only) Girsh Park, September 20-21 * ArtWalk, Natural History Museum, September 27-28 * Epicure.sb: A Month to Savor Santa Barbara, October * Fall Plant Sale, Botanic Garden, October * Avocado Festival, Carpinteria, October 3-5 * Harbor & Seafood Festival, October 11 * Old-Time Fiddlers Convention & Festival, Stow House, October 12 * Open Streets Festival, October * Halloween Safe Trick or Treat Downtown, October 31 * Veterans Day Parade, State Street, November 9 * Downtown Holiday Parade, December 5 * Annual SB Motorcycle Toy Run, December 7 * Harbor Parade of Lights, December 7 For information about many more events go to: www.sbchamber.org, click on Calendars and then City Events. All ongoing events are listed at the beginning followed by events in date order. Happy New Year! AnnmarieRogers, Visitor Center
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Members in the News
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| | Public Invited toLuncheon Event Honoring Certified Green Businesses
Businesses that have achieved certification during the past year as "green" businesses from the Green Business Program of Santa Barbara County (GBPSBC) will be honored on Wednesday, February 5, 2014 during a luncheon from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Santa Ynez Valley Marriott, located at 555 McMurray Road in Buellton. Jacqueline Burge, Senior Director of Facilities for lynda.com, a certified "green" business, will serve as the keynote speaker. The cost of the luncheon is $25.00 per person, if payment is received by January 29th or $30.00 per person for payments received after that date.
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Santa Barbara Auto Camp
Celebrates One-Year Anniversary
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The Autocamp is a boutique hotel that features five, beautifully renovated Airstreams. Right in the center of town, the Autocamp focuses on bringing guests a local, Santa Barbara experience. The accommodations offer guests two free bikes to explore town, a walking map of locally owned restaurants nearby and an unconventional hotel 'mini-bar' that features Santa Barbara artisan goods such as SB Popcorn, 24 Blackbirds Chocolate and a handful of others. Guests are offered free Handlebar coffee in the morning in substitute of a more traditional offered brand.
Locals are always welcome! Come for a stay-cation and take advantage of this gorgeous 'winter weather.'
We still have January and February dates!
Visit their website at http://autocamp.com/
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Labor Law Posters
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Order your 2014 Labor Law Posters Today!
All businesses must post a compliant Employment Poster with new 2014 updates!
Make sure your business is in compliance with the law!
 Click HERE to download the order form.
Please fill out and email to
or fax to
(805) 966-5954
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Stay updated!
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Keeping Score
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Happy New Year, and on behalf of the Board of Directors and my staff here at the Chamber, I hope 2014 proves to be a wonderful, prosperous year for you and yours.
With the start of the New Year comes the start of the 2014 California Legislative Session, and I'm pleased to say that The Chamber is ready to speak on your behalf. At the end of last year, your Government Relations Council (GRC), chaired last year by Steve Amerikaner of Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, approved The Chambers first Guiding Principles & Legislative Priorities. Please take just a few moments to link over to it and take a look.
This Guiding Principles and Legislative Priorities is a comprehensive look at a number of broad-based , business-related issues. By approving positions on these issues now, The Chamber will be in an outstanding position to respond quickly to issues being discussed in Sacramento, and in partnership with our fellow Chambers across the state, push for decisions that will be good for business and for our community.
Along with these positions, we will be keeping close track of the issues on which we speak on your behalf. Whether it is at City Hall, the County offices, or Sacramento, we'll be keeping track of the bills we think are of most interest to you throughout the year, and we will communicate back to you the positions taken by your elected representatives.
This end of the year legislative report, or Score Card, will be an important tool for you and for The Chamber as we build stronger relationships with our elected officials. However, we look forward to keeping you informed throughout the year on what we are doing on your behalf, and how our elected officials are responding.
For 2014, I'm pleased to welcome Jim Youngson of Terrain Consulting as our new GRC Chair. If you'd like to get involved in our work this year, please don't hesitate to let me know. I can be reached at the office at 805/965-3023.
Ken Oplinger, ACE
President/CEO
Santa Barbara Region Chamber of CommerceCongratulations to Councilmember Gregg Hart, Mayor Helene Schneider, Councilmember Bendy White, and Councilmember Frank Hotchkiss. We look forward to working with you over the next four years!
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Upcoming Chamber Events
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Click the link above or the image below to view the calendar!
Business After-Hours NetworkingTHURS │ January 9 │ 5:30 PM to 7:30 PMTOMORROW!
5:30 to 7:30 PM at DCH Lexus of Santa Barbara Join the Santa Barbara Region Chamber of Commerce and 5 other local Chambers of Commerce for After-Hours Networking!
RSVP to rsvp@dchlexusofsantabarbara.com
See below for more information.
We can't wait to see you all there!! 
THURS | January 16 |7:30 AM to 9:00 AM
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Business of the Month
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Our Company History
In 1984, Henry and Winston Bartley, two brothers from Saint Andrew Jamaica, started a small two man cleaning company in Santa Barbara California. Their first steady account was cleaning a small 500 square foot pharmacy store near down town Santa Barbara. With very little equipment and no commercial trucks, they hauled their cleaning tools to their one and only client using a small sedan. The early years proved to be difficult, but also taught Henry and Winston the value of hard work and perseverance. This one small service account would be the launching pad for additional accounts and well equipped commercial vans that would be added in the years to follow. Over a short period of time Henry and Winston developed a strong reputation for their commitment to their clients and the level of care that went into their work. With integrity, honesty and a genuine helpful disposition the two brothers expanded their company over the next 30 years.
Currently Unique Maintenance Inc. has 25 employees that service over 600k square feet of office, warehouse and retail banking space, in six California counties ranging from Los Angeles to Monterrey Counties. We are registered with CB-Richard, Ellis as an Approved CBRE Supplier. We are proud to say that we are a Certified Minority Business Enterprise (MBE).
2014 Goals: 8(a) Certification, SIMS-GB, Goldman-Sachs 10,000 Small Business Certification Course CompletionVisit Unique Maintenance website: http://www.uniquemaintenanceinc.com 
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Upcoming Member Events
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The Santa Barbara Workforce Investment Board Needs Your Help!
This survey is being conducted on behalf of the Santa Barbara Workforce Investment Board who would value your participation in a brief survey about Santa Barbara County's workforce.
This survey has been commissioned by the Santa Barbara Workforce Investment Board which is committed to developing the regional workforce. The survey is being conducted by BW Research, an independent research organization.
The survey should take approximately ten minutes of your time. By answering this survey, you can help the Santa Barbara Workforce Investment Board to better understand and support the workforce needs of local businesses.
Fielding Graduate University Presents: The Fielding Educational Series
THURS - FRI │ January 9-17
FREE TO THE PUBLIC! Fess Parkers Doubletree Resort, 633 East Cabrillo Boulevard.
Please join us for the following presentations and discussions:
Thursday, Jan. 9th, 7:00- 9:00 pm - San Rafael Room
Homeless in Paradise: From Innovation to Transformation
The Phoenix Drug & Alcohol Recovery & Education Society Director will discuss the ways his organization in Surrey, British Columbia created effective and enduring partnerships between private and public agencies. A discussion will follow featuring a panel of local officials and nonprofit staff.
Friday, Jan. 10th, 7:00- 9:00 pm - San Rafael Room
The Mystery of the Mona Lisa Revealed at Last
Jean-Pierre Isbouts, author of the brand new book The Mona Lisa Myth, will lift the veil and unlock the ultimate mystery of the painting. Book signing to follow.
Thursday, Jan. 16th, 7:30-9:00 pm
From the Margins to the Center: Sexual Assault and Ethnic Minority Women
Thelma Bryant-Davis is an internationally recognized speaker and her work is based in an interdisciplinary understanding of spirituality, gender, culture and psychology. Racial and ethnic dynamics related to sexual assault prevalence, mental health effects, and disclosure will be examined in this presentation.
Friday, Jan. 17th, 7:00-10:00 pm
The Fielding Alonso Center presents:
Movie Screening: The Stories We Tell
Award-winning documentary by Sarah Polley, explores the nature of memory and storytelling.
For more information and registration: https://fieldingeducationalseriesws14.eventbrite.com
Celebrate Santa Barbara: Culture Redefined
TUES │ January 14 │ 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM
SUN │ January 19 │ 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM
Location: Museum of Ventura County │ 100 E. Main Street, Ventura CA 
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