Volume 2013, Issue 5

The Chamber Vista A monthly publication of the Sierra Vista Area Chamber May2013

Volume 2013, Issue #5

“We Mean Business”

Update from

Executive Director Amanda Baillie

2

Member Spotlight: The Mall at Sierra Vista/Ken Cecil

2

Board Members Start New A Term

4

Chamber Events 4

April in Pictures 5

Chamber members celebrate the best in business community at annual gala

6

Member Page 7

Board of Directors / Chamber Staff

8

Chamber is game to try new event at Fort Huachuca

Are you ready to get your game on? This month the Chamber is trying something a bit different with its new event, Game On! Sierra Vista. We have partnered with local gaming store, Orbital Games, to stage our very own ver-sion of Comic-Con. Game On! Sierra Vista will focus on gaming and collectibles, and will include vendors and activities to suit all ages and interests. From strategy board games and role playing activi-ties to comics, sports cards, memorabilia and fantasy costumes, this exciting event is expansive. Game On! Sierra Vista will be held at Thun-der Mountain Activity Center, Fort Hua-chuca, on May 17 & 18. While we hope to see many military person-nel during the two days, we also welcome the wider community, whether you are a gamer, historian, collector, fantasy or sci-fi fan, or just curious about this new event. On a local level, there will be booths set up by Orbital Games, Pyramid Comics & Games and Tony’s Cards. Other vendors, who will join us from Tucson, will include Amazing Discoveries, Fantasy Comics, Showtime Cards, Old Pueblo Com-ics, Game Daze, Hat’s Games and Skinny Fingers Gaming. Each of these vendors will be offering games, figures, toys, cards, comics and a lot more. They will have Dungeons & Dragons, Warhammer, Magic and Flames of War, as well as other items.

We are also delighted to be joined by Phoe-nix based author and illustrator James Perry II, the man behind Orange Crows, which is a manga (a Japanese genre of comic books, cartoons and animated films). His books are available on Amazon and Bar-nes & Noble and you can check out his amazing illustrations at www.orangecrows.com. James will be sign-ing copies of his books and they will be

available for sale.

Also joining us will

be the Arizona

Avengers, a cos-

tuming group based

on the Marvel Uni-

verse characters If

you saw the smash

hit movie The Aven-

gers, then you will be familiar with these su-

perheroes. Other cosplay groups at the

event include Cosplay Sorority, Justice

League and 501st Legion. We especially

invite families to come out and take advan-

tage of a great photo opportunity.

Activities throughout the event will include a gaming console tournament by Skinny Fin-gers Gaming, and Pathfinder Society, Dun-geons & Dragons Encounters and Flames of War demos and games by Orbital Games. They will also have a showroom terrain table on display. Hat’s Games will run Legend of the Five Rings card game demos, as well War-machine and Hordes. Each of the vendors has also donated a raf-fle prize worth a minimum of $50 and we will be selling tickets throughout the event.

Continued on page 2…

In previous issues of this newsletter I have men-tioned our efforts to ex-plore the possibilities across the border. And those efforts contin-ued last month when we attended the Interna-tional Trade Summit & Expo in Rio Rico. This was the second such event organized by the Southeast Arizona Governments Organiza-tion (SEAGO) and was aimed at finding solu-tions and action steps to improve economic condi-tions between Southern Arizona and Mexico. While much of the focus was on Nogales, which straddles both sides of the border, I felt it was important for Sierra Vista to be represented at this event.

Mexico is poised for eco-nomic growth and, with much discussion lately sur-rounding the need for di-versity in our own econ-omy, our community should be a player at this table. During the one day session we heard from a series of impressive speakers, all of whom had a passion for enhancing the relationship between the U.S. and our neighbors to the south. They included the Mayors of Nogales (Arizona and Sonora), the U.S. Consul General in Nogales, repre-sentatives of the Arizona Commerce Authority, Ari-zona-Mexico Commission and Santa Cruz Board of Supervisors. We heard about business success stories, collabora-tions and partnerships, and we heard emphatically that not only is Nogales, AZ,

safe for visitors, it is open for business. It was great to see such en-ergy and enthusiasm in the room and it certainly gave much hope for a brighter economic future for our com-munities and the two coun-tries. As a vendor at the event, I welcomed the opportunity also to promote our Cham-ber, our members and our city, and the networking was invaluable. I know that SEAGO will be looking to organize another similar seminar in the future to build on the momentum that has been established. I hope that Sierra Vista can host such an event and con-tinue its own journey toward greater international diversity and economic possibilities.

Chamber Update by Executive Director Amanda Baillie

“Mexico is poised for economic growth and, with much discussion lately surrounding the need for diversity in our own economy, our community should be a player at this table.”

Page 2 The Chamber Vista

Game On! Sierra Vista

Continued from page 1… In addition, Pyrimid Comics and Games will be conducting a live auction of rare and coveted items on the 18th to raise money for the Wounded Warrior Project. With a number of vendors and participants expected from the Tucson area, we have worked with local hotels to offer special rates for anyone looking for overnight accommodation.

It is also hoped those same visi-tors will spend money in our lo-cal economy while they are here.

Game On! Sierra Vista is sponsored by Orbital Games, Wal-Mart, Amaz-ing Discoveries, Pyrimid Comics & Games, Skinny Fingers Gaming and Hat’s Games. It will kick off on the evening of Friday, May 17, from 6 p.m. to

11 p.m., and will continue on Saturday, May 18, from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m. Admission is free and there will be food and beverages on sale. There are still vendor opportuni-ties available. To find out how you can be a part of this exciting new event, call the Chamber at 458-6940 or visit www.sierravistachamber.org

Chamber 101 is a comprehensive membership orientation. In a Chamber 101 session you will learn how to maxi-mize the benefits of your Chamber in-vestment. The meeting is open to new and existing members alike.

Chamber 101

May 31 11:30 am to 12:30 p.m.

COX Resource Room,

Chamber Office

Lunch is provided.

RSVP before May 24th to John Hargraves,

Membership Director Email:

jhargraves@sierravistachamber.org

Page 3 Volume 2013, Issue 5

Maximize Your Chamber Benefits

Midas Auto Service

Experts

May 14, 10 am.

1317 E Fry Blvd

First Things First

June 14, 11 am.

77 Calle Portal,

Suite B140

Ribbon Cuttings

Member Spotlight: The Mall at Sierra Vista

By Amanda Baillie

The Mall at Sierra Vista has more reasons than most to crack open the champagne right now. The retail center's management team was a finalist in the Cham-ber's annual business of the year awards, thanks to its ongo-ing efforts to improve the eco-nomic climate and give back to the community it serves. While the Mall was narrowly beaten in the small business category, general manager Ken Cecil did walk away with the Chamber's inaugural Business Person of the Year title. In addition, the Mall recently an-nounced it was consolidating seven spaces to accommodate JoAnn's Fabrics, due to open its doors later this year and bring occupancy up to a coveted 99%.

Last year, the Mall at Sierra Vista received a national award for a marketing campaign it launched to bring more shop-pers from across the border, and Ken's wish that the Mall be-come the venue of choice for area events has come to frui-tion, with something taking place there virtually every weekend. It's safe to say that this rural shopping center has come a long way since opening its doors in 1999. "Thanks to the support of the merchants, customers and com-munity partners, the Mall at Si-erra Vista is able to grow and thrive during rough economic

times and is committed to being the one-stop retail, dining and entertainment destination for the community," said Ken. In 2011 the Chamber moved its annual Mini Expo to the Mall. The success of this event led to our Health Fair being held there

also in 2012, followed by the Home & Business Expo. While some were skeptical re-garding how the Mall could han-dle such events, they have each proved to be highly successful - the Home & Business Expo saw 95 vendors participating and our members loved the new loca-tion.

Ken Cecil, General

Manager of the

Mall at Sierra Vista

Advertise to 600+ local businesses

for about 20 cents each!

Schedule of Events

May 9 - Business at Twilight in Bisbee, Vans

leaving the Chamber at 5:15 pm. & 5:30 pm. Return

at approx 9 pm.

May 15 - Leadership Sierra Vista, Ft. Huachuca

Day

May 17 - Chamber’s Board of Directors Meeting,

7:30 am, Cox Room, SV Chamber

May 21 – Ambassadors Committee Meeting,

11:30 am, Olive Garden

May 22 – Military Affairs Committee Meet-

ing, 8:00 am, Cox Room, SV Chamber

May 31 – Leadership Boot Camp, Alchesay

Barracks, Ft. Huachuca

May 31 –Chamber 101, 11:30 am, Cox Rm., SV

Chamber

June 1 – Leadership Boot Camp, Alchesay Bar-

racks, Ft. Huachuca

Don’t miss a networking or

promotional opportunity

for your business.

Page 4 Newsletter Title

Reach over 625 businesses in Sierra

Vista and surrounding communities

Take advantage of this member-only

benefit!

We insert and mail for you!

Super low advertising rates! Members

pay only $99. Executive Club Members

pay just $49.

SPECIFICATIONS: Inserts must be on

8.5x11, flat, non-glossy, standard weight

(20lb.– black & white, 24/28lb.— color)

paper.

June NEWSLETTER DEADLINE:

Wednesday, May 29, 2013

NOTE: Insert space is limited and is pro-

vided on a first come, first serve basis.

For information, call the Chamber at

458-6940 or email:

mdillard@sierravistachamber.org

Page 4 The Chamber Vista

Board members start a new term

The 2013-14 Board of Directors was recognized at the Annual Awards Gala. Back row, left to right, is Rick Shel-ley, of Horizon Moving Systems, Frank Gonzalez, of Lawley Auto-motive, Mary Tieman, of Southeast Arizona Workforce Connection, Glen Cobb, of Sierra Suites, Anita Farrow, of National Bank of Ari-zona, and Ken Cecil, of The Mall at Sierra Vista.

Front row, left to right, is Phil Vega, of the Sierra Vista Herald/Bisbee Daily Review, Linda Brown, of Si-erra Vista Regional Health Center, Nancy Nash, of Stuff ‘N Baskets, Mike Benson, of TDY Housing, Kevin Peterson, of CGI Federal, and Elsie MacMillan, of Sierra Toy-ota. Not pictured: Jack Blair, SSVEC, and Nathan Williams, of Nathan Williams Law Office.

Three opportunities to promote your business through SVAC

Our economy is dishing out

new challenges to small busi-

nesses everyday. The good

news is that you are not with-

out resources here at the

Chamber. Let’s take a look at

three benefits available to

our members:

Hot Deals: Your personal

online portal through the

Chamber’s website allows

you to post special sales to

our membership of more than

625 local business people

and thousands of online visi-

tors who are interested in

Sierra Vista. This feature is

one more benefit included in

your Chamber membership.

Business at Twilight: This

monthly member-hosted

event provides an excellent

networking environment, is

well-attended and offers you

the opportunity to get better

acquainted with business

leaders in the community.

Bring your business cards!

Lobby Display: Drop by the

office and make sure your

business cards and bro-

chures are present in our

lobby. Make sure that your

information is accurate and

up-to-date.

There are many other oppor-

tunities and resources that

we offer to our membership.

To find out more, you can call

the Chamber or consider

attending Chamber 101, our

monthly Chamber orientation

class.

By Margaret Dillard

Page 5 Volume 2013, Issue 5

Events at A Glance

For upcoming events please visit us at www.sierravistachamber.org/events

Top Row: Jersey Girl Sunless Tanning ribbon cutting at The Mall at Sierra Vista; Outgoing board chair Dee Dee Hoeft prepares to hand the gavel to incoming chair Mike Benson at the Annual Awards Gala; Maralyce Ferree of Panterra Gallery accepts a Special Recognition Award on behalf of Bisbee After 5

Middle Row: Golden Rule Jewlery, Antiques & More Ribbon Cutting; Rick Weisberg, of Oasis Water Har-vesting, accepts the Home Based Business of the Year Award from the 2012 winners, Tim & Cheryl Cervantes of CerendipiTees; Nancy Nash, of Stuff ‘N Baskets was the 2012 Ambassador of the Year. She was presented with the award by previous winner Randy Sueskind.

Bottom Row: Steve Pedigo (right) accepts the Large Business of the Year Award on behalf of Northrop Grumman from Kevin Peterson, of CGI, the 2012 winner; Chamber Executive Director Amanda Baillie congratulates Ken Cecil, manager of The Mall at Sierra Vista, after he was announced as the Business Person of the Year; Popper Harber, of Sierra Vista Flowers & Gifts accepts the Small Business of the Year award from Glenn & Mary Baxter of Goin’ To Grandma’s, the 2012 winners.

Page 6 The Chamber Vista

Chamber members celebrate the best in the business community at annual gala

Congratulations to all of our members recog-nized at this year's An-nual Awards Gala. We were especially de-lighted to present the inaugural Business Per-son of the Year Award to Ken Cecil, manager of The Mall at Sierra Vista. The recipient of this title was chosen by the Chamber's nomi-nating committee and, as we an-nounced at the gala, we did not get past the first name. Thanks to Ken's out-standing efforts to improve the shopping experience at the Mall, as well as his willingness to serve his community, it was an easy choice to make. Narrowing down the business of the year finalists, however, was a much more difficult task. Once the committee had done this, thank-fully it was taken out of our hands and up to the public to choose the winners. Our 2013 Home Based Business of the Year is Oasis Water Harvest-ing, which has gone above and beyond to help local residents and businesses save water.

Small Business of the Year is Sierra Vista Flowers & Gifts, a long time local business that has helped to brighten the days of many with their beautiful creations. The Large Business of the Year winner was Northrop Grumman, a major local employer

which is working hard to help local youngsters improve in the areas of science, technology, engineering and mathe-matics. The Chamber also pre-sented a Special Rec-ognition award to the Bisbee After 5 group for their ongoing efforts to improve the local busi-ness climate. Congratulations also go to our Ambassador of

the Year, Nancy Nash, of Stuff 'N Baskets. Without our Ambassa-dors, the Chamber would be hard pressed to stage the many suc-cessful events and rib-bon cuttings throughout the year that benefit our members. Nancy has been a true

ambassador for the Chamber and local businesses, and we are proud to have her sup-port. The gala also saw Dee Dee Hoeft, of Wells Fargo Home Mortgage, end her term as board chair. She handed the gavel to Mike Benson, of TDY Housing, who will steer the board for the next 12 months.

We also said farewell to Jean Giuffrida, of Long Realty, who completed two three year terms as a board member. Jean has been a strong supporter of the Cham-ber, and was a leading light in the Leadership Sierra Vista program. Finally, we recognized

our current board members for their ongo-ing support and welcomed new board members Kevin Peter-son, of CGI, Glen Cobb, of Sierra Suites, Linda Brown, of Sierra Vista Regional Health Center, and Mary Tie-man, of AZ Workforce Con-nection. You will find a com-

plete list of board mem-bers on the back page of this newsletter. The Chamber was hon-ored to recognize the best in our business community and we look forward to doing so again in 2014. Pictured are guests enjoying the mini casino during the cocktail reception before dinner

Page 7 Volume 2013, Issue 5

Thanks to these members for renewing their commitment to the business community

A Special Welcome to Our New Members!

Executive Club Members

Allstate Insurance Company - Pat Meldrum

American Southwest Credit Union

American Family Insurance

American Systems

Arizona Water Company

BrightStar

CACI, Inc.

Campstone Transfer, Inc.

Castle & Cooke Arizona, Inc.

Castle & Cooke Mortgage, LLC

CerendipiTees

CGI

Cherry Creek Radio

City of Sierra Vista

Coca-Cola Refreshments USA, Inc.

Cox

Data Systems & Technology, Inc.

Dental Village

Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott

Farmers Insurance-Ginny Francis

Garden Terrace Assisted Living Home

General Dynamics Information Tech.

Horizon Moving Systems of Sierra Vista, Inc.

Huachuca Mountain Insurance Agency

JR's Food and Spirits

KKYZ Radio

Landmark Cafe, The

Las Palomas

Lawley Automotive Center

Lawley's Team Ford

Life Care Center

Long Realty Co.

Longhorn Restaurant

Mall at Sierra Vista - Management Office

ManTech Telecommunications & Info Sys-

tems

Mr. Fix It of Sierra Vista, LLC

Naco Dental

National Bank of Arizona

Navy Federal Credit Union

Netmedix IT Solutions

New Frontier Animal Medical Center

Northrop Grumman Corporation -

*Large Business of the Year 2013*

Patio Pools & Spas

Pioneer Title Agency

Pueblo del Sol Country Club

Rommel Equipment Services

Rosemont Copper Company

Sentrillion

Sierra Vista Ace Hardware

Sierra Vista Herald & Bisbee Daily Review

Sierra Vista Regional Health Center

Southeastern Arizona Contractors Assoc.

Southwest Gas Corporation

Southwestern Eye Center

Specialists in Dermatology

Stachel & Associates, P.C.

Stilwell's Learning Center, LLC

Sulphur Springs Valley Electric Coop.

Sun Canyon Inn

Systems Integration

Tailored Living

The Boeing Company

TownePlace Suites by Marriott

University of Phoenix-Sierra Vista Campus

Waddell & Reed Financial Advisors,

David Burnett

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.

Wayland Baptist University

Wells Fargo Home Mortgage, Inc.

Windemere Hotel & Conference Center

Arirang Korean Restaurant (520) 459-1615

Keller Williams Realty - Katherine Mullen (520) 559-3842

Horse'n Around Rescue Ranch

and Foundation, Inc. (520) 266-0236

Vista Business Machines (520) 458-0909

Southern Arizona Rain Gutters (520) 299-7246

Originals by Annette (760) 238-3700

Innovative Automotive (520) 458-5023

Judy's Jewelry (520) 508-6225

Paradise Ice (520) 249-2807

Rommel Equipment Services (888) 709-3847

Cochise Foot & Ankle Care Center (520) 515-3668

Diversified Mobile Services (520) 450-7258

Lighthouse Concierge Services, LLC (520) 789-6541

Quiznos (520) 784-9667 x 5

Las Palomas (520) 417-9013

Mod Girl Boutique (520) 850-9785

SouthWest Web Services (520) 955-9237

Max Motion Physical Therapy (520) 803-9727

Chrome Pony Rally, LLC (520) 220-5915

Love Letters Photography (520) 226-9567

Steve's Bus Tours (520) 227-8560

Timesavers (520) 234-0864

Turner, Patricia

One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating

American Cancer Society, Relay for Life

Optimo Hatworks

Kiwanis San Pedro Club, Just Kids, Inc.

Southern Arizona Investors

Hummingbird House

Perrill Construction

M & M Auto Paint Supplies

Carmelita Apartments

TDY Housing, LLC

Gilbert Technical Services

Cool Dreams Custom Window Tinting

TonerWest

Bakers Flor

Highland Woods Apartments

G.R.A.S.P Heating & Cooling

Secure Estate Management

CareNet Pregnancy Center of Cochise County

Big O Tires

Stan Greer Millworks

Cox

S A I C

Mall at Sierra Vista - Management Office

21 E. Wilcox Dr.

Sierra Vista, AZ. 85635

The Chamber Vista is a publication of the Sierra Vista Area Chamber 21 E. Wilcox Drive, Sierra Vista, AZ 85635 (520) 458-6940, Fax: (520) 452-0878

www.sierravistachamber.org Mission Statement The Sierra Vista Area Chamber promotes business and provides leadership for the improvement of the community. 2012-13 Board of Directors Executive Officers Chairman - Michael Benson, TDY Housing Past Chairwoman - Dee Dee Hoeft, Wells Fargo Home Mortgage Secretary - Rick Shelley - Horizon Moving Systems Anita Farrow - National Bank of Arizona Jack Blair - Sulphur Springs Valley Electric Cooperative Board Members Frank Gonzalez, Lawley Automotive Elsie MacMillan - Sierra Toyota Ken Cecil - Mall at Sierra Vista Phil Vega - Sierra Vista Herald / Bisbee Daily Review Nancy Nash - Stuff ‘N Baskets Nathan Williams - Nathan Williams, Law Office Glen Cobb—Sierra Suites Kevin Peterson—CGI Linda Brown—Sierra Vista Regional Health Center Mary Tieman—Southeast Arizona Workforce Connection

Sierra Vista Area Chamber PRESORTED

STANDARD

US POSTAGE PAID

HEREFORD, AZ

PERMIT NO. 29

CURRENT RESIDENT OR

Chamber Staff Executive Director - Amanda Baillie, abaillie@sierravistachamber.org Membership & Marketing Director- John Hargraves III, jhargraves@sierravistachamber.org Communications Director - Margaret Dillard, mdillard@sierravistachamber.org Office Manager - Toni Rogers, officem@sierravistachamber.org Events Coordinator - Diane Erwin, derwin@sierravistachamber.org