News & Updates

Mexico’s 2021 Elections

InternationalNewsPolicy

June 23, 2021

93 million Mexican voters headed to the polls on June 6 to elect members of the lower house of Congress, 15 governors, 30 state representatives, and nearly 1,900 municipal government positions. The president’s MORENA party will now hold between 265-292 seats in the 500 person lower chamber, falling quite short of their current two-thirds majority. MORENA will depend on its allies (Labor Party and Green Party) to pass legislation requiring a simple majority.

In the gubernatorial races, MORENA will hold 11 of the governor seats including Baja California and Baja California Sur. Former Mexicali Mayor Marina del Pilar Avila will become Baja’s first female governor, joined by another 6 female governors shaping Mexico’s political history. Governor-elect Marina del Pilar announced a strategic plan for her first 100 days in office comprised by a list of priorities and action items to promote economic development, tourism, fisheries and aquaculture, sustainability, education. The plan also highlights the need to strengthen and increase cross-border collaboration in our Cali-Baja region.

MORENA also won all municipal elections across Baja California:

  • Montserrat Caballero (Tijuana);
  • Norma Bustamante (Mexicali);
  • Dario Benitez (Tecate);
  • Armando Ayala (Ensenada, reelected); and
  • Araceli Brown (Rosarito, reelected).

Despite the mixed results from the midterm elections, President Lopez Obrador stated that he is still planning to implement a recall referendum as promised during his campaign – a chance to vote him out of office in 2022.

Applications Open for 2021 Small Business Awards

EventEvents

June 22, 2021

 

– The application period has ended. Finalists will be announced on July 14.  –

 

Do you have a business success story? Is your business/minority business leading in your field? Or maybe you’re a nonprofit whose mission is all about the community… If so, we want YOU to apply for the Chamber’s 2021 Small Business Awards, where we honor our region’s top small businesses that are driving the San Diego economy forward.

Winning an award for your organization is a great way to strengthen your brand, increase your visibility and stand out from the competition. Finalists and award recipients will be recognized at our Summer Splash + Small Business Awards Mixer in front of 200+ business and community leaders.

Applications are quick, easy and free for members – submit your application below or nominate a business you know by Wednesday, June 30, 2021.

 

APPLY NOW!

 

Eligibility Requirements

All applicants must be a current member in good standing with the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce. Eligible applicants must have 50 or fewer employees in total. Small businesses (including nonprofits) must be independently owned and operated, and home-based, street front or office-based organizations. Organizations may apply to multiple categories. Award winners from the last 2 years will not be eligible to win again in the same category.

Benefits

Winning an award is an excellent opportunity to gain exposure for your company and earn recognition for your achievements.

Winners receive:

  • Recognition during the Summer Splash + Small Business Awards Mixer on July 22! Register here >
  • Award engraved with company name
  • Official award winner logo
  • Digital, and social media recognition
  • Complimentary tabletop exhibit at a future Chamber mixer

Finalists receive:

  • Recognition at the Small Business Awards Mixer and listing in the event program
  • Digital and social media recognition

Testimonials

zeynep_ex“Confirm Biosciences is honored to have received this award as Outstanding Emerging Business. We are grateful for this recognition and would like to thank the San Diego Chamber for their outstanding work in the community and their support of growing businesses.”

Zeynep Ilgaz | President & CEO, Confirm Biosciences

 

“As a nonprofit agency in the senior space, ElderHelp of San Diego works hard to convey the message that there are too many seniors in San Diego whose safety net has failed them. Those seniors are almost invisible, and we look forward to any opportunity to get the word out. We are very pleased that our Bill Trumpfheller Social Impact Award allowed a new audience to learn about ElderHelp and its social impact for seniors.”

Gretchen Veihl | Director of Philanthropy, ElderHelp

 

“Being recognized by the Chamber is a huge honor. Participating in award opportunities has helped us to elevate our brand awareness and establish our credibility.  Exposure to different audiences through the Chamber has helped us to gain additional clients, increase our presence in San Diego and allow others the chance to get to know us. We are grateful for the hard work the Chamber does to support small businesses and look forward to being part of the organization for years to come.”

Jennifer Barnes | CEO, Optima Office

Deadline

 

Submissions must be received by Wednesday, June 30 at 11:59 p.m. PDT to be eligible. Winners will be announced live at the Small Business Awards Reception in July.

Award Categories

Community Minded

– SPONSORSHIP AVAILABLE –

This award recognizes an organization that is dedicated to helping others and making a positive impact in the community during this time of crisis/uncertainty.

Best Success Story

– SPONSORSHIP AVAILABLE –

Now’s your turn to brag about your organization’s success this past year– large or small – but something you’re proud of.

Outstanding Minority, Woman, Veteran, DBE-Owned Business

– SPONSORSHIP AVAILABLE –
This award celebrates the success of a small business that is contributing to the growth and diversity of the American economy.

Customers First

– SPONSORSHIP AVAILABLE –
Customer service is what sets this organization apart from the competition.

 

APPLY NOW!

LEADers On The Move

LEADNews

June 8, 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.

Kenia Zamarripa (Impact 2019), Nancy Maldonado (Advance 2017 and Influence 2020), Sofia Salgado Robitaille (Impact 1997 ), and Linda Caballero Sotelo (Impact 2004) have been named to the City of San Diego’s Latinx Advisory Group. Read more.

Chanelle Hawken (Impact 2009 & LEAD Board member) has been named a 2021 SD Metro Woman of Influence. Read more.

Paula Zamudio (Advance 2018) is now the Community Relations Manager for Escondido Union High School District.

Jennifer Summers (Impact 2018) is now the Director of Tribal Relations & Land Management for SDG&E.

Karen Higareda (Advance 2019 & LEAD Board member) is now the Lead Case Manager for South Bay Community Services.

Kory Cavanary (Impact 2021) is now the Senior Consultant for the Transformation Management Team at Cognizant.

Vicki Mealer-Burke (Influence 2018 & LEAD Vice Chair) is now a Board Member for Make A Wish Foundation San Diego.

Itica Milanes (Advance 2019) is now the Director of Marketing, PR & Communications for JONES.

Carol Hazen (Impact 2021) is now the COO for the San Diego Housing Federation.

Emily Howe (Impact 2020) is now a Board Member for the San Diego Law Library Foundation.

Maggie Schroedter (Impact 2014) was named Partner at Robberson Schroedter, LLP.

Tonya Torosian (Influence 2013 & LEAD Board Member) was named a Clare Rose Sabbatical recipient from Fieldstone Leadership Network San Diego. Read more.

Valerie Attisha (Impact 2005 and Advance 2020) is now the Vice President of Client & Community Relations at PNC.

Megan O’Dowd (Impact 2012) is now the Program Coordinator for the Office of Homeless Solutions at the County of San Diego.

Member Spotlight: Webcor

Member Spotlight

June 3, 2021

A Golden State of Mind

Webcor is a full-service commercial builder celebrating their 50th anniversary with offices in San Francisco, San Diego, Los Angeles, and San Jose. They are known for building commercial office/residential hubs, modern hospitals, research facilities, and university campus infrastructure throughout the Golden State. They are not simply a builder that adopts traditional approaches just because they’re popular or because they’ve always been used. They are innovators and fresh thinkers who focus on opportunities to create value for our clients.

Helps Dreams Come True

They employ their full range of preconstruction and construction services delivered through Design-Build, Construction-Manager-At-Risk, and Public-Private-Partnership models with a significant emphasis on sustainability, wellness, virtual modeling, and detailed design management to create the vision of your dreams. They have built some of California’s most iconic buildings and will continue to do so for decades to come. Webcor Craft’s carpentry, concrete, and drywall self-perform groups are active on many Webcor-led projects and are often subcontracted on competitor-led projects.

A Culture of Community

Webcor’s company culture extends beyond the job site into the communities where they build. As the “People” category of their corporate social responsibility plan (https://www.webcor.com/csr) reflects, Webcor believes in the value of investing in our employees and communities. You’ll find their team distributing groceries at regional food banks, conducting hands-on carpentry workshops for local high school students, and much more.

A Value-based Business Model

Our clients come back to us over and over because of our attention to the smallest details, our dedication to transparent communication and cost estimating, and our foundational qualities of honesty, hard work, and genuine partnership. We establish every relationship with the confidence that it will be long-term, mutually beneficial, and future-proof.

Your local Webcor contact

Cecilia Kucharski, DBIA, LEED® AP

Vice President

Mobile – (619) 417-4540

Member Spotlight: California Manufacturing Technology Consulting

Member Spotlight

May 26, 2021

Established in 1992, California Manufacturing Technology Consulting® (CMTC) is a private non-profit organization that provides technical assistance, workforce development, and consulting services to small and medium-sized manufacturers (SMMs) throughout the state of California. CMTC operates as part of a National Network through a cooperative agreement between the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) under the Department of Commerce for the State of California.

In 2018, CMTC formed California’s Manufacturing Network (CMN) to expand capabilities and capacity to efficiently serve more manufacturers in California. This Network delivers services that address the regional challenges driven by a diverse manufacturing community. The Network is a collaboration of 32 partners focused on serving SMMs in rural and urban areas statewide. CMN has increased the number of SMMs served to more than 1,300 companies annually, which adds significant economic impact for manufacturers and the public good of the State of California.

Member Spotlight: Community HousingWorks

Member Spotlight

May 26, 2021

Community HousingWorks (CHW) is a nationally recognized nonprofit organization that develops, rehabilitates, preserves and operates affordable apartment communities in San Diego and throughout California. CHW owns over 3,600 apartments in 42 communities statewide, serving nearly 10,000 working families, children, veterans, and seniors.

Their unique approach extends beyond an affordable place to call home. In addition to providing working families and seniors with stable homes in healthy communities, they layer in powerful programs, services and connections to resources. These tools help people attain financial stability, improve their health and overall well-being, and set school-age children up for success in the classroom and beyond.

Under the umbrella of Next Generation Success, their Study Stars program helps over 200 K-5th graders achieve grade-level literacy and access other academic supports. Their Achievers Club is a leadership development and mentorship program for high school youth, and our VALOR Scholarship annually awards 30+ residents with scholarship support for their post-secondary pursuits.

Each year, CHW awards the VALOR Scholarship to high achieving CHW residents who want to pursue post-secondary education opportunities. The VALOR Scholarship is for students of all ages and can be applied to community colleges, four-year universities, career and technical certifications, GED programs, military education, and more. VALOR Scholarships can be used for education-related expenses, including tuition and fees, room and board, transportation, books and school supplies. Last year, 33 students received scholarships under the program. This year’s virtual Scholarship Celebration will take place on June 12, 2021.

CHW is resident-centered and invests in true communities for the long-term. In resident focus groups, CHW residents valued living in true communities, defined as communities where people knew their neighbors, and looked out for and helped each other. CHW homes are platforms for residents to overcome obstacles and succeed, and people are proud to call CHW home. Residents feel a sense of inclusion, belonging, and opportunity. All while CHW listens to, communicates, and engages with residents. They invest in residents and their success.

To learn more about Community HousingWorks, please visit their website https://chworks.org/. To learn more about becoming a VALOR Scholarship sponsor please visit https://chworks.org/valor-scholarship-celebration.

Member Spotlight: California Manufacturing Technology Consulting

Member Spotlight

May 26, 2021

Established in 1992, California Manufacturing Technology Consulting® (CMTC) is a private non-profit organization that provides technical assistance, workforce development, and consulting services to small and medium-sized manufacturers (SMMs) throughout the state of California. CMTC operates as part of a National Network through a cooperative agreement between the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) under the Department of Commerce for the State of California.

In 2018, CMTC formed California’s Manufacturing Network (CMN) to expand capabilities and capacity to efficiently serve more manufacturers in California. This Network delivers services that address the regional challenges driven by a diverse manufacturing community. The Network is a collaboration of 32 partners focused on serving SMMs in rural and urban areas statewide. CMN has increased the number of SMMs served to more than 1,300 companies annually, which adds significant economic impact for manufacturers and the public good of the State of California.

Border Restrictions Extended to June 21

InternationalNewsPolicy

May 26, 2021

Temporary restrictions on non-essential travel across shared ports of entry between Canada, the U.S., and Mexico were extended for an additional thirty days to  June 21. U.S. and Mexican federal authorities are working to increase flexibility on restrictions starting June 22 based on the propagation indexes of COVID-19 and the number of vaccines administered on both sides of the border.

Mayor Todd Gloria met with Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to discuss the negative impacts that border restrictions have had on San Diego’s economy. Secretary Mayorkas noted that multiple factors are considered monthly as decisions are made to extend border restrictions due to the pandemic. As part of our ongoing efforts urging the Biden administration to lift border restrictions, the Chamber shared an overview of the impact these restrictions have had on our business community. We appreciate your input in the matter – please send any information, data, or statements on how border restrictions have impacted your business via email to kzamarripa@sdchamber.org.

IBA Forum on Air Sustainability

InternationalNewsPolicy

May 25, 2021

San Diego and Baja California have leveraged complementing resources to create a $2.5 Billion co-producing manufacturing supply chain and became, together, the largest medical device cluster in the world. Our binational Cali-Baja region is home to global companies that have settled here thanks to our strategic geographic location that provides them with access to Latin America and Asia-Pacific markets. In fact, 90% of California exports travel through our regional ports of entry. The movement of goods and people across our region causes heavy congestion on our highways and at the San Ysidro and Otay Mesa land ports of entry. This congestion plays a large role in the release of pollutants in our atmosphere, damaging the air quality.

The key factors impacting our air quality come from greenhouse gas (GHG) and particulate matter (PM) emissions from energy generation, industrial activity, unpaved roads, and vehicles that transport goods and people across our region every day. The pandemic has also emphasized the importance of addressing this pressing issue, as air pollutants cause, or contribute to, respiratory illnesses such as asthma which increased our community’s risk of experiencing COVID-19 complications. Exposure to emissions that can also cause long-term health issues has been significantly reduced thanks to public programs and initiatives such as State Implementation Plans in California, ProAires in Baja, and cross-border efforts led by binational entities including the California-Mexico Border Relations Council.

Register here and join us on June 17 at 10:00am for a conversation on Cali-Baja’s road to air sustainability. Speakers will share an overview of efforts to ensure improved air quality for our binational community, cross-border collaboration, and the role the business sector plays in achieving this goal.

H.R. 3028 Creates Investment Opportunity for LPOE

InternationalNewsPolicy

May 25, 2021

After over a year of travel restrictions impacting land ports of entry, Texas Representative Henry Cuellar introduced a bill to establish a Land Port of Entry Modernization Trust Fund. H.R. 3028 would specifically create a trust fund within the U.S. Treasury for investments in land ports of entry in order to:

  • Build new land ports of entry;
  • Expand and improve existing land ports of entry to accommodate high volumes of commercial, private vehicle, and pedestrian traffic;
  • Procure technology and supporting infrastructure to facilitate the inspection and processing of commercial, private vehicle, and pedestrian traffic;
  • Facilitate major repairs and alterations of land ports of entry; and
  • Hire U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers, agricultural specialists, and professional staff to support the trade and revenue mission of CBP.

The bill is expected to figure into the debate over a larger infrastructure bill over the next few months.

In our region, CALTRANS and Baja’s Secretariat of Infrastructure and Urban Development (SIDURT) released the California-Baja California Border 2021 Master Plan (BMP). Developed in collaboration with regional stakeholders including the Chamber, the plan aims to coordinate planning and delivery of ports of entry and transportation infrastructure projects serving the ports in our region. The plan provides five key recommendations with action items to reach each goal, including the expansion of border collaboration and coordination, and to manage the border as a system.