The Glendora Chamber of Commerce held their annual Installation and Awards Dinner “A Red Carpet Event” at the Glendora Country Club June 28, 2017. At this year’s movie themed event, there were several awards given to deserving Glendora businesses and chamber members that were voted on by fellow members in the Glendora business community. Oscars were also awarded to the outgoing board members for their participation on the 2016-2017 Chamber Board. “The Glendora of Commerce has the best board any chamber could ask for,” said Joe Cina President/CEO of the Chamber. “Our board has dedicated professionals in all areas of business from homebased to big business which allows us to have a pulse on what all segments of the market are feeling and going through at all times.”
2017 Glendora Business of the Year was awarded to Dance Street West (DSW). This year DSW and owner Shannon Lancaster celebrated her 30th year in business. DSW provides a professional environment, both in the classroom and business functions. DSW offers Lyrical – Contemporary, Ballet, Tap, Hip Hop, Jazz, Combos, Musical Theater and much more! Also, over the last few years, if you have been lucky enough to attend our revamped Cuisines of the Foothills, there is no way you could have missed the stamp that Shannon and DSW have put on this event with many of her performers, costumes and much more.
2017 New Member of the Year was awarded to Tina Marie Schneider owner of Spin 360 Core Fitness. Spin 360 is a boutique studio for spinning, yoga, Pilates, booty barre and many other fitness classes not found at other local studios. With Tina, you’ll push past physical boundaries with an open mind and a beating heart, turning doubt into security, strangers into friends and stress into sweat. Tina and her Husband Tim opened the Original Spin 360 Fitness in 1998 with the goal of providing people with the means to a better quality of life, specializing in Total Body Transformation, through diet and exercise in a private atmosphere. Nikki Vitale good friend of Tina’s, and owner of Fiorina’s, was in attendance to receive the award for Tina who could not make the event.
2017 Ambassador of the Year was awarded to Deidre Young of Juice Plus. Deidre has stood out as an Ambassador this past year. She exemplifies what an Ambassadors is about. Deidra steps up to fill in a spot, help at an expo, work a booth, greet people at our mixers and she does all of this with a big smile on her face. The Glendora Chamber is truly lucky to have Diedre Young as a member and as an Ambassador.
2017 Non-Profit of the Year was awarded to Foothill Christian School (FCS). Jerry Kitchel, Director of Advancement was in attendance to receive the award for FCS. Teaching students the life-changing values of community service, compassion for the less fortunate, and personal sacrifice for the greater good, are integrally woven into the total experience a child receives at FCS. Examples of this commitment, and its practical application, are evident in the activities of the school’s Junior Beta Club, which has assigned teams of students to many projects in Glendora and surrounding communities, i.e. Neighborhood Homework House, Azusa, and New Unto Others and Kindred Care and Rehabilitation Center, both located in Glendora. To help the homeless in Southern California, teams of junior high students serve at LA’s Union Rescue Mission on Skid Row, as well as the homeless in San Francisco, where they help with food services and various volunteer jobs needed by these facilities.
During the evening festivities, the Chamber staff also awarded service awards to 4 deserving recipients for all their hard work and dedication to the Chamber. The Community Service Award was given to Dr. Patrick Bushman for his 30+ years volunteering at the Chamber and being an integral part of our Citizen of the Year dinner where he has chaired it for nearly 30 years. The Longevity Service Award was awarded to Keith Van Vliet, a 30+ year member that even after retiring many years ago continues a membership with the Chamber and serves on our Ambassador Committee. The Girl Scout Medal was awarded to Marilyn Sparks for “her constant dedication and commitment to our Chamber. Thank you for always lending a helping hand;” and the Boy Scout Medal was awarded to Doug Beach “for always being prepared to pitch in and do the big projects. You do it with excitement and we are very grateful!”
The attendees then heard from Fawn Imboden of America’s Christian Credit Union, our 2016-2017 outgoing Chamber Board Chair. This year under Fawn’s leadership the Chamber made great advances in working towards 5 goals she announced in her opening speech last year. The Chamber was able to advance membership by nearly 16%, built stronger collaboration with key stakeholders such as City Hall, Businesses, Schools, Non-profits and Residents, more education for business, robust diversity in every demographic and much more.
Finishing off the evening, was the installation of the 2017-2018 Chamber Board of Directors which will be led by Gary Clifford of Athens Services. The new Chamber board will include 5 new board members Jennifer Kerzie, owner of T. Phillip’s Alehouse & Grill, Deidre Young of NuSkin, Marilyn Sparks of Marilyn Sparks Agency – Farmers Insurance, Theresa Latasa Mumma of Glendora Employment Agency, and CJ Colley of Colley Auto Cars. “I am very excited to see several new faces to our board. Even though all of these business owners have been members for many years, it’s great to have new ideas and a fresh look at the direction the Chamber will go,” said Joe Cina President/CEO. Chairman Gary Clifford concluded with his goal for the coming year to connect with the residents. The Chamber will offer new programs to Glendora residents to shop our local businesses and attract visitors from outside Glendora to Shop Glendora and more. We are going to hit the streets and connect with the people.
To learn more about the Glendora Chamber and their programs stop by the office at 224 N. Glendora Ave in the Village or visit them online at Glendora-Chamber.org.
Photo credit: S. Alex Castro, Eagle Photography
About The Glendora Chamber
The Glendora Chamber of Commerce’s mission is to Promote, Connect & Grow and we do this by providing tools and resources to assist the business community in prospering and adapting to the economic climate, while growing membership and promoting local purchasing. For more information about the Chamber please contact Joe Cina, President/CEO at 626-963-4128 or visit us at 224 N. Glendora Ave. Our website is Glendora-Chamber.org. Thank you for supporting Glendora Chamber Members.
