News & Updates

LEADers On The Move

LEADNews

October 7, 2021

We enjoy seeing what our graduates are doing and how they are making an impact on the world. Share your good news with us via email: lead@sdchamber.org.

Travis Ives (Impact 2014 graduate), Cassandra Weinlein (Impact 2020 graduate), Erika Schimmel Guiles (Impact 2021 graduate), and Claire Groebner (Advance 2019 graduate) were named to San Diego Metro’s 40 Under 40. Read more.

Gabrielle Peng (Advance 2019 graduate) is now the Manager of Marketing Operations at Midland Credit Management, an Encore Capital Group Company.

Dawn Wensel (Impact 2021 graduate) is now the Vice President of Development at Reality Changers.

Wendy Urushima-Conn (Impact 1998 graduate) was named a Woman of Distinction by Salvation Army Women of Vision.

Hazzy Pippo (Advance 2021 participant) is now a Board Member for the San Diego Hunger Coalition.

Jim Floros (Influence 2013 graduate) is now the President & CEO of Impact the Change.

Tracy Stayton (Advance 2021 participant) is now the Recreation Services Manager for the City of Encinitas.

Juan Hernandez (Impact 2021 graduate) is now the Director of Veterans Affairs Relations at UCLA.

Ryan Hall (Impact 2021 graduate) is now the Director at Caliber Corporate Advisers.

Esther Northrup (Impact 2013 graduate) is now the Executive Director of Market Expansion – Government & Public Affairs for Cox Communications.

Andrew Harmatys (Influence 2020 graduate) is now the COO for the Farmers Insurance Open (Century Club of San Diego).

SANDAG Recognizes 144 Local Employers for Promoting Green Commute Choices

Sponsored

October 4, 2021

Employers all over San Diego County are embracing methods to reduce traffic congestion and greenhouse gas emissions. The San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) celebrated their hard work with a virtual event on September 21. One hundred forty-four employers countywide were recognized with Diamond Awards for their outstanding efforts to encourage employees to use environmentally sustainable transportation choices.

The Diamond Awards are administered by the SANDAG iCommute program, which provides a variety of services to commuters and employers to help reduce traffic congestion, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and improve mobility.

Diamond Award recipients promote alternatives to driving alone, including carpool, vanpool, bike, walk, transit, telework, and compressed workweek schedules. Some organizations also provide incentives, subsidies, or pre-tax deductions to support their employees’ participation in eligible programs.

This year, many local employers turned to iCommute for complimentary assistance with implementing and formalizing their telework programs. iCommute’s Telework Assistance Program is complimentary for employers, and resources for teleworkers are also available at iCommuteSD.com.

A record-breaking twenty-seven local companies were presented with a plaque for a Platinum Diamond Award, the highest award level. A full recording of the event is available on the SANDAG YouTube channel. A full list of Diamond Awards recipients is posted on the iCommute website.

Employers throughout San Diego County are invited to take advantage of complimentary iCommute employer services to be eligible for Diamond Awards. To learn more about the program, visit iCommuteSD.com/Employers.

Next month, many of these employers will encourage their employees to pledge to clean the air and leave their car at home in celebration of California Clean Air Day on Wednesday, October 6. Employers who take the pledge for Clean Air Day will receive a toolkit of promotional materials from iCommute and earn a Diamond Awards point. More information about Clean Air Day can be found at iCommuteSD.com/CleanAirDay.

Employers can alternately earn a Diamond Awards point by participating in Rideshare Week, October 4-8. Employers are encouraged to promote alternative commute methods like carpooling, vanpooling and taking transit. Registered employers will receive a toolkit of promotional materials from iCommute. More information about Rideshare Week can be found at iCommuteSD.com/Rideshare.

 

Member Spotlight: San Diego Mission Bay Resort

Member Spotlight

September 23, 2021

 

Discover San Diego Mission Bay Resort, where the best of the Southern California lifestyle is at your fingertips – sun, sand, and so much more. The newly transformed resort invites you to indulge in the heart of San Diego, where you’ll enjoy everything you could want to do in our vibrant city.

Your beachside retreat awaits. Feel at home and inspired in the all-new sophisticated, beach chic rooms and suites. Decorated with touches of sea hues, your modern, open, and airy room welcomes you with sunlight and gentle breezes. Bask in the sun poolside in a lounge chair or your own private cabana… or just dive right in. The pool is complete with kids’ activities plus tempting snacks and beverages from the pool bar. If you’re looking to relax, head over to Spa Brezza with a focus on wellbeing, treat yourself to a massage, facial, treatment on the only Himalayan salt table in San Diego, and so much more.

Join the team for happy hour or dinner at Covewood, right on the water at Mission Bay where you’ll experience a front row seat to beautiful sunsets paired with California coastal cuisine and an extensive beer and wine list. Or if you’re looking for a more energetic and lively feel, come hangout at Plaza Del Sol with nightly live music for Sol Sessions featuring a different genre every night, you’ll be sure to enjoy San Diego’s evenings by the firepits. Sip, unwind and embrace the good times.

Work hard, play hard is the motto they live by with their corporate meetings and events – from creative catering, flexible space, and a dedicated onsite coordinator, San Diego Mission Bay resort is your one stop shop for a specular event. For a quintessential San Diego Venue, say “I do” overlooking Mission Bay.

Take the San Diego lifestyle one step further and be on vacay all year round with a Club Membership. With access to the resort pool and tennis and pickleball courts, discount on all dining, spa treatments, and guestrooms – you’ll never need to leave the city.

 

US-MX High-Level Economic Dialogue

NewsPolicy

September 23, 2021

Earlier this month, the Chamber met with Mexico’s Secretariat of Foreign Affairs as part of this year’s Mexico City Summit and heard to explore efforts to restart a High Level Economic Dialogue between both countries. The formal convening took place on September 9th and focused on binational collaboration in economic recovery, promoting sustainable economic and social development in Southern Mexico and Central America, investing in people and human capital (focus on education), and securing the tools for future prosperity.

The dialogue initiated in 2013 under the Obama administration but was later suspended by President Trump. HLED was originally created to prioritize the U.S.-Mexico economic relationship and as a platform for cabinet level policymakers to strategize how to leverage the bilateral relationship to increase their global competitiveness.

President Biden Proposes Sweeping Vaccine Mandates

NewsPolicy

September 23, 2021

On September 9th, the President proposed sweeping vaccine mandates that will extend to over 2/3 of the country’s workforce. These directives include the doubling of fines for unruly passengers on planes, requirements for federal contractors and large employers to be vaccinated, and streamlined processes for EIDL loans and PPP forgiveness, among others. That day, the Chamber released a statement from Jerry Sanders and a breakdown on the full list of policies. At this time, we are awaiting additional guidance within the Emergency Temporary Standards that will outline the basic how-to’s for the implementation portion of the proposals.

California Legislative Cycle Comes to Close

NewsPolicy

September 23, 2021

The legislative cycle has concluded, with a flurry of last minute priority discussions either dying on the vine or being pushed over the finish line at the last minute. Among these late-game bills are the major housing policies supported by the Chamber are SB 9 (Atkins) and SB 10 (Wiener) which would allow for additional homes on traditionally single-family properties. These ideas continue to be controversial, reflective in many ways of the San Diego housing policy dynamic, and are sure to add an additional measure of intensity now that they’ve been signed by the Governor.

Also considered in the final days were policies to extend COVID-19 era policies like the enhanced paid sick leave originally included in SB 95, and the eviction moratorium, which expires at the end of this month. Ultimately, those policy ideas died. Finally, a proposal to protect businesses who pursued vaccine verification measures for their staff from liability was also shelved amidst strong pushback from the anti-vaccine contingent across the state.

Mexican Senate Passes Revocation Bill

NewsPolicy

September 23, 2021

With 102 votes in favor and two against, the Mexican Senate passed the Presidential Mandate Revocation bill which would allow the early termination and removal from office of President Lopez Obrador next March. In Mexico, Presidents remain in office for a six-year term, with the next federal elections scheduled for 2024.

The bill specifies that the revocation process will only proceed at the request of at least 40% of citizens registered to vote, and is now awaiting a vote at the Chamber of Deputies. It is not yet clear what the role of the National Institute of Elections would be or whether Mexico would potentially hold elections next year as a result. The bill was part of President Lopez Obrador’s campaign in 2018 and is widely supported by the MORENA party.

New IBWC Commissioner

InternationalNewsPolicy

September 23, 2021

President Joe Biden appointed the second woman and first Latina to lead the U.S. section of the International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC). Maria-Elena Giner previously served as General Manager of the Border Environment Cooperation Commission (BECC) where she focused on policies that addressed U.S.-Mexico cooperation on water, energy, and climate change.

The Chamber looks forward to working with Commissioner Giner as part of our ongoing efforts to address transboundary pollution impacting our region.

2021 Mexico Summit Recap

InternationalNewsPolicy

September 23, 2021

Thank you again to everyone that joined our Mexico City Summit. In case you missed it, here’s a few highlights:

  • Roberto Velasco, Unit Chief for North America for the Secretariat of Foreign Affairs, welcomed delegates and shared insights on the High-Level Economic Dialogue between the U.S. and Mexico to strengthen our global competitiveness.
  • A message from Baja governor-elect, Marina del Pilar Avila Olmeda. The Chamber will be meeting with her and her team in the coming weeks.
  • Secretary of Economy Tatiana Coulthier shared an update on the implementation of USMCA, including ongoing conversations with the U.S. to follow up on discrepancies between each party’s interpretation of the rules of origin.
  • A conversation with members from the Mexican Senate.
  • A panel with agencies involved in advancing the Otay Mesa East Port of Entry, reiterating their commitment to complete the project by 2024.
  • A roundtable discussion with the Mexican section of the IBWC, the National Water Commission, and NADBank on efforts to address transboundary pollution.

We look forward to continued collaboration with Mexico and going back to Mexico City next year. Check out our Twitter thread for more highlights of the summit.

LEADers On The Move

LEADNews

September 14, 2021

We enjoy seeing what our graduates are doing and how they are making an impact on the world. Share your good news with us via email: lead@sdchamber.org.

Influence 2021 graduate Sarah Lyman, Impact 1994 graduate and Past Board Co-Chair Stath Karras, and Board Member Satomi Rash-Zeigler now serve on the City of San Diego’s Middle-Income Housing Working Group. Read more.

SDYL Board Member and Impact graduate of 2018 Javier E. Metoyer is now serving on the Board of Walden Family Services.

Influence 2019 graduate Allison Soares now serves on the City of San Diego’s Balboa Park Committee.

Influence 2020 graduate Ken Barnes is now a Dean’s Advisory Board Member for LeBow College of Business, Drexel University. Read more.

Impact 2006 graduate D. Todd Philips is now the Planning Manager for the City of Chula Vista.

Influence 2020 graduate Ashley Camac is now the Chief Executive Officer of zero8hundred.

Impact 2012 graduate Kwofi Reed is now the Manager of Housing Programs for LISC.

Impact 2021 graduate Eric Keen-Louie is now the Executive Producer for the La Jolla Playhouse. Read more.

Impact 2015 graduate Brad Carter is now the Director of Electric Energy Infrastructure Portfolio for the Cordoba Corporation.

Impact 2020 graduate Laura Rice is now the Senior Director of Sustaining Philanthropy for the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance.

Influence 2011 graduate & Past Board Member Lidia S. Martinez was named a recipient of the Inaugural 2021 Champion Award by the Latino Leaders Network.

Influence 2011 graduate & Past Board Chair Carisa Wisniewski was featured in McCauley & Co.’s Leadership Journey Podcast. Read more.

SDYL Board Member Charles Lu is now the Associate Dean of Diversity & Inclusion for The Johns Hopkins University.

Advance 2021 participant Padma Nagappan was named a 2021 Life Sciences Woman of Influence Honoree by the San Diego Business Journal. Read more.

Impact 2016 graduate Ingrid de Llamas is now the Director of Philanthropy & External Relations for the Epilepsy Foundation of San Diego County.

Impact 2012 graduate Rita De la Fuente is now the Director of External Affairs for San Diego Community Power.

Influence 2021 graduate Susan Guinn is now the President & CEO of The San Diego Regional Policy & Innovation Center. Read more.

Influence 2021 graduate Kirti Gupta now serves as a Board Member for the Womens Museum of California.

Advance 2021 graduate Carla Nesbitt Stokes now serves on the Board for Longwood University College of Business & Economics (Virginia).

Influence 2021 graduate Lisette Islas is now the Vice Chair of Inclusive Growth for the San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation.

Influence 2013 graduate Brian Zotti now serves as a Board Member for San Diego Pride.

LEAD Board Member and Impact 2009 graduate Chanelle Hawken is now Chair of the Board for Downtown San Diego Partnership.

Influence 2021 graduate Randy Frisch is now the Interim President of National University.

Impact 2016 graduate Joel Stern is now the Manager of Talent Acquisition Operations at Cue Health.