News

Santee Chamber Weekly Update 23JUN22

Hello Santee!  On Tuesday afternoon our East County Young Professionals group hosted a lunch and learn to “spark your momentum”! I’m so grateful to have this group reactivated this year… we’ve been focusing on networking, professional development and finding opportunities to give back to our community. We are looking forward to doing a padres game this summer with the group and creating a book club to help continue our personal growth (which we see also positively impacting our business lives).  I want to

Santee Chamber Weekly Update 16JUN22

Hello Santee!How many of you went out to the first of the City’s Summer Concert Series last Thursday? By the looks of it, A LOT of you! I’ll be back again tonight from 6:30-8pm at Town Center Community Park East. For those who were there last week, thank you for your patience as the City and the Chamber formally thanked the outgoing reign of young ladies who have served out community over the past year. These volunteers have impressed me many times over and have been a joy to be around.  To Junior Miss

Santee Chamber Weekly Update 10JUN22

Hello Santee!The East County Advanced Water Purification Program broke ground on June 1st and I was honored to be among those that were invited to the Groundbreaking Ceremony. Marking the important milestone, Program partners Padre Dam MWD, City of El Cajon, County of San Diego and Helix Water District to celebrate this key milestone on the project that will provide up to 30% of East County’s drinking water supply. We are so excited to see this project come to fruition, thank you to all the partners for

Santee Chamber Weekly Update 03JUN22

Now that we are almost a week since our 2022 Santee Street Fair took place us 3 staff members would like to thank everyone that helped us put on this event! Charlie Plavi was a rockstar volunteer and was there on Friday in addition to Saturday from the early morning hours until we were done with the cleaning of the street late Saturday evening (you can see him driving away behind us!). We could not have done it without him! Thank you to Susie Parks from Coffee Corner and Greg Gagnon with The UPS Store for

Santee Chamber Weekly Update 20MAY22

Hello Santee! The end of the school year is upon us and with that comes many celebrations. I was so grateful to be invited back to one for the Santee School District. Each year, they honor the top performing 8th graders from their campuses in the Academic Achievement Awards ceremony. Each school honors two 8th grade students and there are special competitions among them for areas in writing, speech and math. But the highest honor goes to their overall winner of the year which was bestowed upon student Sarah

Santee Chamber Weekly Update 13MAY22

Hello Santee! This week we were welcomed into Chick-Fil-A Santee for a quick night of networking at our May Business After 5 event. Local resident, veteran and operator, Kyle Steck made sure to have the place ready for us with his amazing staff (special thanks to Alex Kuty!) and exceptional service they provide. If you haven’t been into this location lately, come check out their dining room! It was remodeled last summer and has a great new look and feel. If you don’t have time to sit, they probably have one

Santee Chamber Weekly Update 6MAY22

Hello Santee! Last week I was invited to join Waste Management at the 26th Annual “Goldens” hosted by the San Diego Taxpayers Association. The San Diego County Taxpayers Association is a non-profit, non-partisan organization, dedicated to promoting efficient use of tax payer dollars. Might sound boring to some, but their event was quite the contrary! They celebrated good AND bad policy decisions that took place over the last year, really bringing awareness to the failures and success stories of our tax

Santee Chamber Weekly Update 28APR22

Hello Santee!Tuesday night we hosted our Santee Heroes Celebration at Carlton Oaks. This is an event we started back in 2019, just to have to hit the pause button on it over the past two years. Bringing this event back to life has meant a lot to our Chamber as it’s allowed for so much joy, placing these community heroes on a well-deserved pedestal. We honored 3 organizations (non-profit, community organization and place of worship) along with 9 special honorees ranging from teachers, first responders and

Santee Chamber Weekly Update 7APR22

Hello Santee!Tonight is going to be a fun one… we are back to hosting our annual Business Awards Night and are excited to be hosted by Sycuan Casino Resort! With about 200 guests expected, we are so looking forward to announcing the winners of our online voting program, Santee’s Favorites. In addition to those winners, we are also celebrating many others for their personal and professional contributions made over the past two years while the world went haywire.  One being, Tim Staump and the team at Staump

Santee Chamber Weekly Update 31MAR22

Hello Santee! Last week we were hosted by Carlton Oaks Golf Club  on their beautiful patio for our monthly Business After 5 Mixer. It’s one of my favorite spots in town for many reasons, but that patio view is a huge determining factor when I want to work remote, yet stay in town. It makes for a perfect event space to occupy their patio with our 300+ days of amazing weather in town. As it warms up and the course gets busier through the year, I’m reminded of how grateful I am to have them as a community

Santee Chamber Weekly Update 25MAR22

Hello Santee!   I wanted to give a quick note of thanks to our local Chick-fil-A as they hosted a blood drive this past week in their parking lot. Having a rare blood type keeps me on a six-week rotation with our local blood bank as they always give me reminder calls when I’m eligible to donate again, but it was a wonderful convenience to schedule this donation with a Chamber member. It was a pleasant surprise to also be told upon donation completion, that the restaurant was giving each donor a free

Santee Chamber Weekly Update 18MAR22

Hello Santee! I got to sit down with another neighboring chamber CEO and a dual member of ours recently. Mary England of the La Mesa Chamber and Karina Cunningham of Lantern Crest Senior Living joined me for lunch at Junction 52 where we were able to talk about one of my favorite networking events of the year, out joint mixer at Lantern Crest.    For many, you may have noticed the ever-improving development where Prospect meets Graves. Visible from the 67/52 interchange, Lantern Crest has been

Grossmont High School to Dedicate Expansive New Event Center

Santee Chamber Weekly Update 11MAR22

Hello Santee, I attended an event on Sunday night, back with our neighboring chamber, East County Regional. They hosted their annual East County Honors celebration, honoring their businesses, welcoming new directors to their board, and showcasing some special awardees who have made an impact this past year and beyond.  I was so pleased to be invited as a guest of Cox Communications. As a partner of our chamber as well, Cox’s team is dedicated to finding solutions that make sense for businesses and residents

Santee Chamber Weekly Update 3MAR22

Hello Santee!Something great about living and doing business in Santee is the wonderful neighbors we have. Sometimes these neighbors expand outside our city limits and offer us regional support, augmenting our sphere of influence. This past week was a lovely example of both! The Santee Chamber co-hosted an evening networking mixer at Sportsplex USA with local neighbor, the East County Chamber of Commerce.  Rick Wilson, President/CEO of the EC Chamber has been such a great addition to our region. His

Santee Chamber Weekly Update 24FEB22

Hello Santee,   It is with great sadness that we inform you of the passing of Eugene “Gene” Chubb in his Santee home on Thursday, February 3rd. Gene has been a part of our East County community from the moment he was born in La Mesa. In 1948, Gene graduated from Grossmont High School and his family founded La Mesa Block Company. Gene then moved on to San Diego State University where he met Marvin Finch, owner of R.C.P. Company and who would eventually become his business partner. Gene took a break from the

Santee Chamber Weekly Update 11FEB22

Hello Santee!I'm back from a week in Arizona with some of the best in my business after attending my favorite annual conference hosted by the Western Association of Chamber Executives. I am so grateful for these experiences that push me personally and professionally to develop, educate and elevate myself. I'm especially grateful for my amazing Board of Directors who continue to keep these experiences worked into our budgets, knowing the value of these investments.  I am proud to announce that during this

LOCAL CHAMBER PROFESSIONAL RECEIVES HONOR AT ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE

New Members of Emerging Leaders Council Announced

Santee Chamber Weekly Update 03FEB22

Hello Santee!  Last Friday we hosted our annual retreat for the volunteers who make my board of directors for the Santee Chamber. These 16 individuals help carry out the mission of the chamber through strategic business planning efforts and serve as advocates for our entire business community. It is my pleasure to introduce and thank (in advance) these representatives, and wish them well as they serve their terms this year and beyond: Melissa Dombo - Raceway Electric & Solar, Daniel Buksa - Mission

Start the New Year Off by Nominating an Outstanding Teacher for SDCCU Classroom Heroes®!

For Immediate Release February 1, 2022   Nathan Schmidt EVP, Chief Experience Officer & Digital Channels  San Diego County Credit Union PO Box 261209, San Diego, CA 92196-1209 P: (858) 597-2504 nschmidt@sdccu.com     Start the New Year Off by Nominating an Outstanding Teacher for SDCCU Classroom Heroes®!   Winners will be recognized and receive a $250 SDCCU Visa® gift card   SAN DIEGO, Calif., (February 1, 2022) -- San Diego County Credit Union® (SDCCU®), San Diego’s largest locally-owned

Santee Chamber Weekly Update 27JAN22

Hello Santee!Last week we kicked off our year with the first evening networking mixer of 2022. I knew if we wanted to have a good time, feel welcome and make new connections, the best place to be was at the newly remodeled office of Mission Realty Group. Luckily for us, Daniel Buksa (owner of MRG) is on our Board of Directors and was the first to offer his space when we said we needed to be in person again.  Daniel is very well-known in our community (so it seems odd to even attempt to introduce him), but

Superintendent Theresa Kemper Announces Retirement

Santee Chamber Weekly Update 20JAN22

Hello Santee!Although the pandemic has taken away many things, it has also given. Wednesday, it gave us the opportunity to celebrate a one-year anniversary of Beauty Bar by Thrive after they decided last year to not host a traditional grand opening ceremony. Not only is this business owned by some of the nicest people in town, but they are also owners of Salon Thrive and Curtis has joined our Board of Directors this year, further increasing his visibility in our community.  But if you know Curtis,

Santee Chamber Weekly Update 13JAN22

Hello Santee! Last week we hosted a grand opening for one of our newest members, F45 Training. They recently took over the space formerly known as CKO Kickboxing and have given life back to the street-facing corner on Mast near Magnolia after the pandemic left a small shadow on the building. The sun shone through when owner, Wendi Sekach, brought her amazing energy to town. Her humble approach to an already successful program was immediately credited to her supportive husband and incredible staff. It was

Santee Chamber Weekly Update 06JAN22

Hello Santee! I am pleased to announce that with a new year comes a new face at the helm of our leadership team. I'd like to formally welcome and congratulate Melissa Dombo of Raceway Electric for taking on the Chair position on our Board of Directors. Melissa has been a chamber member for several years and wasted no time getting involved! She is quick to pitch in with hard work and honesty and her expertise in many areas has encouraged me to challenge my own work. Looking forward to a great year ahead,

Santee Chamber Weekly Update 17DEC21

Hello Santee! Yesterday we welcomed Advance Auto Parts to Santee, located on the corner of Mission Gorge Road and Tamberly Way. Their Santee location is the first of fourteen local stores coming to the San Diego region and we were so proud to participate and help host their first local ribbon cutting. Their store has been remodeled inside and arranged so you can easily find common products and they have quite the inventory of additional parts behind the curtain, housing hundreds of products.  My favorite

CDPH Requires Masking for All Public Indoor Settings to Slow the Spread of COVID-19 In Response to Increasing Case Rates and Hospitalizations

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE PH21-352 CONTACT: CDPHpress@cdph.ca.gov   CDPH Requires Masking for All Public Indoor Settings to Slow the Spread of COVID-19 In Response to Increasing Case Rates and Hospitalizations   With case rates increasing 47% since Thanksgiving, the California Department of Public Health will require universal masking to increase protection to individuals, families, and communities during the holidays   SACRAMENTO - The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) continues to

State Issues Mask Mandate for Indoor Public Places

Read the County News Center article regarding the mandate here: https://www.countynewscenter.com/state-issues-mask-mandate-for-indoor-public-places/?fbclid=IwAR2UQFIFtnrs7lG7MQpmFEmZaBT1TH6X3MjCjDoajuf76wOJk2JU8UKBxIk

The 2021 Regional Plan Approved

Let’s Get There Together: Moving Forward with the 2021 Regional Plan We are proud to announce that today the SANDAG Board of Directors adopted the 2021 Regional Plan and certified the Final Environmental Impact Report (EIR). This decision to invest in a modernized transportation system over the next 30 years will serve the entire San Diego region for generations to come.   The vision for the 2021 Regional Plan was developed using a data-driven approach and incorporating public input from community

Santee Chamber Weekly Update 09DEC21

Hello Santee! Last week we hosted our annual Taste of Santee which has been a longstanding tradition of the Chamber's each December. Taking last year off due to the pandemic, I felt so much gratitude for being able to host again, and especially for a new venue, thanks to Pathways Community Church. With their staff and my Board volunteers (like two pictured with me: Susie Parks and Darlene Fenn), we hosted a beautiful evening showcasing local eats and drinks, a student performance from Staump Music School,

Santee Chamber Weekly Update 24NOV21

Hello Santee! Well it's been a whirlwind past two weeks and we are jumping right into the holidays. I have to start by saying thank you to every single person, business and organization who contributed towards the construction of the Santee Veterans Memorial we dedicated on Veterans Day to the City on Veterans Day. The event was a success with an estimated crowd of over 500 and the only photo I think I grabbed was with Senator Jones as he made sure the Chamber received a certificate of recognition. We

‘Tis the Season to Help Our Furry Friends Have a Happy Holidays - Donate Online to SDCCU ‘Presents for Paws’

SDCCU is proud to once again partner with local animal shelters and rescues in San Diego, Riverside and Orange Counties to help provide supplies and resources for our four-legged friends. Last holiday season, SDCCU’s “Presents for Paws” combined donation efforts collected a total of $10,000 for shelter animals in need, and our goal this year is $10,000 again! This will be SDCCU’s tenth consecutive holiday season supporting the “Presents for Paws” campaign.   Please help us raise funds for much needed

Santee Honors Our Veterans on 11-11-21 with a One-of-a-Kind Memorial Monument and Bridge Dedication

Santee Chamber Weekly Update 04NOV21

Hello Santee!This week I was able to sit down with member John Olsen, Realtor, and hop back into the co-host podcast seat and he recorded another weekly episode of his show, The Santee Update. His guest this week was no stranger to the Santee Chamber, it was Operator of the local Chick-fil-A, Kyle Steck. His restaurant just won a Santee's Favorites award from us last month and it's not just their Spicy Chicken Sandwich getting attention from those who voted for his location.  Kyle has done an amazing job

Santee Chamber Weekly Update 28OCT21

Hello Santee!Last week I was a guest of Cox Communications at the East County Chamber's 19th annual Women In Leadership Luncheon at Viejas Casino & Resort. It was a perfect afternoon of networking and getting to know one of Cox's newer team members, Allen Young, their Manager of Government Affairs. He was a gracious host and wonderful company as we were privileged to sit among friends as we heard the tale of Rose Schindler's life. Rose is an author, educator, and Holocaust Survivor who exemplified the theme

Santee Chamber Weekly Update 21OCT21

Hello Santee! Yesterday I had the privilege of attending the Grand Opening Ceremony for the Pedego Electric Bike Store here in Santee. Pandemic impacts had delayed the ceremony for several months so the anticipation was substantial. When it comes to Pedego, the owners Greg and Stephanie Carter are as enthusiastic as they are knowledgeable. Their genuine passion as experienced users is evident and compliments their deep understanding of the product they believe in.    The ceremony was my first

Interactive Cyber Security

SAN DIEGO, Calif., (October 12, 2021) –  San Diego County Credit Union® (SDCCU®), one of California’s largest locally-owned financial institutions, is going one on one with cyber security expert Jim Stickley with an interactive interview on Wednesday, October 20, 2021 from 12:30 – 1:30 p.m. (PT). This free webinar is open to the public, but virtual seating is limited and reservations are required. To register and for details, please visit sdccu.com/fww.   Stickley will offer an inside look into various

Santee Chamber Weekly Update 14OCT21

Hello Santee! Some of my favorite events with the Chamber have been on hiatus the past year and a half and honestly, it’s been saddening to not gather the way we had pre-pandemic. It never feels good to postpone, suspend or even cancel an event and it’s always followed by disappointment. I’m happy to report we finally held an event for our members that was both “large” (about 100 guests) and intimate at the same time! Sycuan Casino Resort came in to save the day when we told them we still hadn’t hosted our

Santee Chamber Weekly Update 08OCT21

Hello Santee! Wednesday night was one for the books. Lantern Crest Senior Living officially premiered their newest building for senior independent living, The Plaza, and the party showcasing their newest space was incredible. I've never been more excited for my 55th birthday to be able to consider living at a property like this! This luxury facility boasts a 50s Diner with bowling lanes, a dinner theater, a credit union, pharmacy, dog park, chapel, gym, indoor pool and spa, tea room, bocce ball court,

“Cox Presents: Salute to Teachers” television special to air Sunday, Oct. 17 at 9 p.m.

“Cox Presents: Salute to Teachers” television special to air  Sunday, Oct. 17 at 9 p.m. on YurView Network     Pre-recorded one-hour program to highlight new San Diego County Teachers of the Year, share inspirational stories from local educators amid COVID-19 pandemic    San Diego, Calif. – Oct. 7, 2021 – As part of the 31st annual “Cox Presents: Salute to Teachers,” Cox Communications will televise a one-hour special that shares the stories of five teachers from across the region named a 2021-22 San

Santee Chamber Weekly Update 30SEP21

Hello Santee! Yesterday I was invited into Momentum Tutoring for a deeper-dive into what they've been offering our community and primarily, what I've been missing out on! Founder and Executive Director, Terri Bozhor, was an incredible host... She not only spared her time for my visit but also arranged for me to meet one of her mentors, a collaborative partner, an employee, several students and a parent, giving me a well-rounded look at how incredible her business has become and the diversity which helps her

Santee Chamber Weekly Update 23SEP21

Hello Santee! It's been no secret that the Chamber moved to remote working after the pandemic showed itself as a plunge into the abyss rather than a swim in shallow waters. After working for months and people easing back to in-person meetings, I have had the privilege of business members offering their workspace as a place of my own when needed. Often times it's Mission Realty Group or selfishly, the Coffee Corner or Carlton Oaks Golf, but recently I've been able to pop into Sportsplex USA and combine some

Santee Chamber Weekly Update 03SEP21

Hello Santee! Wednesday was a very special day in town. We held a small groundbreaking ceremony for what will soon be home to the Santee Veterans Memorial. This project is something that has been a longtime dream of resident and business owner, Dustin Trotter (TDT Construction) but he has been able to move it forward in his short time so far as he is serving his first term on City Council. For those who haven't heard about this project, it will be fast and furious. Being 100% self-funded, the Santee Chamber

Santee Chamber Weekly Update 19AUG21

Hello Santee!I have to admit... there are a lot of days when my job is really fun. Tuesday started out that way and here we are on Thursday, continuing the trend through the week. A few days ago I sat down as John Olsen, Realtor's sidekick on his podcast: The Santee Update. This time he let me sneak in my good pal, Santee resident and longtime radio host, Clint August. At one point, I thought to myself: How cool is it that I get paid to hang out and talk with my friends?  But as the saying goes, "Work hard,

Cox helps people connect to the internet through FCC’s Emergency Connectivity Fund

A reliable internet connection can make all the difference by breaking down barriers and giving people the chance to participate in life more fully, even beyond their neighborhoods. That’s why Cox Communications is working with local schools and libraries to help provide internet service through the FCC’s Emergency Connectivity Fund (ECF) program to help people get connected to what matters most.    The ECF program is open to students, educational staff and library patrons who would otherwise lack a

Santee Chamber Weekly Update 12AUG21

Hello Santee!Have you all noticed the construction that has taken place under Sky Ranch? Or maybe for those who have lived here a while, you may still call that area Rattlesnake Mountain (guilty). Over the years we've seen a lot going on there... in addition to the Sky Ranch development, Lantern Crest Senior Living now boasts three large buildings in addition to the villas onsite. This facility continues to impress as each addition becomes a bigger, bolder statement and a redesign of how I've ever viewed

Santee Chamber Weekly Update 05AUG21

Hello Santee!Tuesday night you may have seen a large crowd over in Trolley Square, full of emergency vehicles, personnel and more! That's because it was "National Night Out".  National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to make neighborhoods safer, more caring places to live. It enhances the relationship between neighbors and law enforcement while bringing back a true sense of community. Furthermore, it provides a great

Santee Chamber Weekly Update 30JUL21

Hello Santee!After months of anticipation, Handel's Homemade Ice Cream is now open in town! With a special friends and family night on Wednesday, they rolled right into the first full day of business with long lines and excited customers. A special thanks to local resident, Jennifer Johnson, as she allowed me to "borrow" this picture of her adorable kids from yesterday. Her eldest child (Dominic) was a student of mine at Guardian Angels and I still enjoy seeing him around town or just enjoying family

Santee Chamber Weekly Update 22JUL21

Hello Santee!Yesterday I was invited to celebrate the success of some regional chamber leaders who have been making an impact on a national level. The CEOs of Murrieta/Wildomar Chamber (Patrick Ellis) and the Greater San Fernando Valley Chamber (Nancy Hoffman-Vanyek) were honored at an Economic Forecast event with the Small Business Advocate of the Year award for their establishment and hard work on the Save Small Business Coalition (SSBC). The SSBC was their response to the economic hardships of the

Ingo Hentschel named Senior Vice President and Region Manager for Cox Communications' California Reg

Ingo Hentschel has been named Senior Vice President and Region Manager for Cox Communications‘ California region, overseeing day-to-day operations and employees in San Diego, Orange County, Palos Verdes and Santa Barbara.    A former crew chief with the U.S. Marine Corps, Hentschel has held various leadership roles during his nearly 30-year career at Cox and most recently served as Vice President of Field Operations for California. He succeeds Sam Attisha, who was promoted to lead a new national team

Santee Chamber Weekly Update 08JUL21

Hello Santee!There are many advantages to living in this big-little town of ours. For me, I've always loved our small-town vibes with big-city access, giving us the best of both worlds. In town we have low crime rates and great schools, but just outside of town we have all of San Diego from beaches, to zoos and museums, to exciting night life and beyond. We really have it all, or can drive for about 20 minutes to get it!  Something I've always enjoyed in our outskirts is the casinos and accompanying