May 30 | Napa Valley
Community Awards

Seventh annual Community Awards pay tribute to our everyday heroes for their outstanding leadership, contributions and achievements.

Our newest Chairman's Circle member, BottleRock Napa Valley, is taking place this week! Over 60 bands on three Napa Expo stages. Top wineries. The best of Napa food, microbrews, and today's top comics. Plus late night VIP events and downtown after-parties. Tickets are still available: three-day passes, four-day passes, four-day VIP packages and single day tickets. And don't forget, Napa residents can get two-for-one tickets Thursday -- they just need to be purchased in person, with proof of residence, at the BottleRock office at 1232 First St. in downtown Napa. Click here for more information on BottleRock Napa Valley.

Learn to be more effective in the workplace at the SBDC Customer Service Academy on Time Management, May 14 from 5:30 to 7:30 pm. This training is designed to provide participants with strategies and tools to make maximum use of your limited time. It will cover how to prioritize, identify time wasters, delegation techniques and goal setting. Participants get a handle on clutter, filing, recordkeeping and emails. Cost is $30; click here to register.

Thursday, May 30

 

The following are among the caring citizens who make the Napa Valley not merely a geographical spot but a genuine community. We are proud to honor these everyday heroes at our annual Napa Valley Community Awards on Thursday, May 30, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

• Doris Gentry, Community Booster of the Year
• Dr. James Cotter, Healthcare Professional of the Year
• Leila Carmel Norris AND Nicholas Glaccio, Napa Valley College Students of the Year
• Sara Brooks, Hospitality Tourism Award of the Year
• Craig Smith, Nonprofit Employee of the Year
• John Robertson, Public Safety Officer of the Year

We will also reveal this year's Outstanding Teacher and the Outstanding Nonprofit Organization of the Year at a special luncheon at the Napa Valley Marriott & Spa. We hope you'll join us in "Celebrating Community." Click here to purchase tickets to attend the luncheon.

 

Sponsored by the Napa Chamber Foundation and Mechanics Bank, with additional support from The Doctors Company. 

 

As part of its ongoing efforts to support the Napa Valley community, the Napa Chamber has developed a workforce development plan focused on students who will be our future workers. In the first of many strategic discussions about education and workforce development, the Chamber convened a roundtable discussion of Napa Valley K-12 education leaders last Friday, along with Senior Policy Director, Institute for a Competitive Workforce, Cecilia Retelle visiting from Washington DC.

 

Retelle first addressed education on a national level stating that "for the first time in history, kids in America are less likely to graduate from high school than their parents."  The skills gap is also a problem. By 2020, 123 million American jobs will be high-skill, high wage, but only 50 million Americans will be qualified to fill them. The group also discussed Common Core Standards, intended to provide a consistent, clear understanding of what students are expected to learn, so teachers and parents know what they need to do to help them. 

 

National statistics show that among high school graduates, only half are academically prepared for postsecondary education with career-readiness statistics abut the same.  Common Core standards develop K-12 standards in English language arts and mathematics.  Retelle observed that Napa was significantly ahead of the national curve in implementation of Common Core standards, but all agreed that there is still more work to be done. 

 

The Napa Chamber of Commerce is working with key community partners to support policies and initiatives that improve student outcomes and encourage partnerships that connect the private sector with the city's public education system. Working together, we can ensure that students make progress each year and graduate from school prepared to succeed in college and in a modern workforce.

California's heat illness regulations require employers to take specific steps to protect employees from heat illness, and employers in certain industries must also follow high-heat procedures when the temperature exceeds 95 degrees. California's Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) enforces the heat illness regulations (8 CCR sec. 3395). California agencies take a multi-faceted approach to stopping heat illness -- including preventative measures, planning and training. Heat illness is a serious medical condition resulting from the body's inability to cope with a particular heat load and includes heat cramps, heat exhaustion, heat syncope (fainting) and heat stroke. Click here for more information about heat illness prevention and training.

Janna Waldinger & Lowell DowneyArt & Clarity

 

Using the latest technologies blending photography, video and social media, Janna Waldinger and Lowell Downey of Art & Clarity, a full-service multimedia company, are helping their clients grow their visibility and their bottom-line. Artistry, experience, and professionalism are the keys to their success. Studio sessions, editorial portraits on location, corporate events, the fine art of creating imagery for the food and wine industry, wedding photography and video storytelling, all pair well with the contagious creativity of this award-winning team. They are celebrating 20 years serving the Napa Valley and passionate about helping people "show up and shine." Their work takes them from the West Coast to the East Coast and beyond. Click here to see their portfolio, and this year they are launching a teaching and adventure wing of Art & Clarity. Additionally, the Napa Chamber of Commerce is proud to sponsor a Lunch & Learn series presented by Janna and Lowell, focusing on building an effective marketing presentation and communicating clearly using photography and video. The first program, focused on online marketing, is on Wednesday, May 29 from 12 to 1:30 pm. Click here for more information and to register now.

 

May 14 -- Professional Development Day

Santa Rosa Young Professionals Network hosts a half-day conference filled with fantastic speakers, networking opportunities and a chance to get your foot up on the competition.

 

Silverado Cooking School welcomes Chef Neela Paniz for a cooking demonstration on Friday, May 17 and a hands-on cooking class on Saturday, May 25, both focused on regional Indian cuisine. 

 

Learn how to build an effective marketing presentation and communicate clearly using photography and video at this monthly series. The program on May 29 focuses on online marketing.