The Greater Lakewood Chamber of Commerce
24 Lakewood Center Mall
Lakewood, CA 90712
562-531-9733
info@lakewoodchamber.com www.lakewoodchamber.com www.lakewoodnews.org
Listed below are the various member benefits, functions, events, and high lights of the Lakewood Chamber of Commerce at a glance. If you have any questions please give us a call at 562-531-9733. See You at the Chamber !
· Free Member Listing: in the annual Lakewood Chamber of Commerce Business Directory. This full color directory talking about Lakewood in general and showing visitors what Lakewood is about, is distributed to over 7,500 businesses, residents, and visitors in the Lakewood area.
· Internet Listing: When you need to find a Chamber Member Business, the Chamber website, www.lakewoodchamber.com, contains a current business directory of all of our members, by business category and name, with a free hyper-link to their web site. Find a What’s Hot Events calendar, Legislators listings, About the City, clubs, organizations, important phone numbers, public utilities, parks, Community News, facts about the area, and much more...
· A Group Voice in the Community: – Government Affairs Council (GAC): GAC monitors legislation, initiatives, propositions, legislators, and candidates running for election. Chamber membership allows you the privilege to have a direct impact on business policies and legislation at the local, county, state, and federal levels. You do have a voice through the Chamber.
Los Angeles County Business Federation (LA BizFed) – Every active member of the Greater Lakewood Chamber of Commerce is automatically, without any additional cost, a member of the LA BizFed. An organization of LA County Businesses, now numbering over 150,000 businesses and over 1.6 million employees, that adds a large voice for the needs of business with State Legislators. The Greater Lakewood Chamber of Commerce is proud to be a founding Board Member of the LA BizFed. For more information go to www.bizfed.org.
· Member to Member Discounts: If you don’t already have it, ask for your membership card that lists the exclusive Member-to-Member Discounts. Contact the listed companies for their specific discount programs. Look for the Chamber Membership Certificate at the businesses you frequent and ask if they are participating in the Member-to-Member Discount Program. See Member to Member Discounts under "Membership Directory" in the main menu.
· Mixers: Mixers are complimentary for Chamber members. These events offer an excellent networking opportunity to meet other businesses, civic leaders, and make new friends.
· Blast Emails: A Blast Email is available to Chamber members for $35.00 per page. This goes out to all the Chamber email addresses and the list is growing.
· Business @ Breakfast: The second Tuesday of every month at 7:30 am to about 9:00 am the Chamber holds a breakfast with a guest speaker on a current business topic and occassionally we have a mini-expo without a speaker. This is an excellent networking opportunity both before and after the breakfast. Also everyone gets an opportunity to tell the group who they are and a little about their business. Tables are available for ”Share Your Wares” to display material about your business. Door prizes and raffle prizes are awarded. Come meet a new business and make a new friend.
· Women in Business Council: Among the top 50 Metropolitan Service Areas, Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana, CA ranks 2nd in the nation in the number of privately-held, majority women–owned firms in 2006, 1st in employment, and 1st in sales. Since Women are the fastest growing sector of the free enterprise system, it is incumbent upon the Greater Lakewood Chamber of Commerce to provide an opportunity for a Women in Business Council. The WiBC will promote and expand economic opportunities for Women in Business to thrive, through shared knowledge, leadership, education, and mutual support.
· Grand Openings and Ribbon Cuttings increase community visibility of host businesses and are another excellent networking opportunity provided by the Chamber. The Chamber provides Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting coverage in the Lakewood Community News with an article and a photo, flyers promoting the event, and announcements about the event at Chamber Functions. A superb opportunity to highlight your business.
· Welcome to Lakewood Packets: Every other month starting in January members can place a full page flyer in the “Welcome to Lakewood” Packet distributed exclusively by the Chamber to approximately 350 new businesses and individuals for a minimal insertion charge of $100. Placing a flyer in the “Welcome to Lakewood” Packet allows you to obtain the two months mailing list for an additional $35.
· The Lakewood Community News: The Lakewood Community News (LCN) is the only publication dedicated solely to Lakewood and is published by the Greater Lakewood Chamber of Commerce with a residential and business distribution of 30,000 copies. The Lakewood Community News is delivered to all the homes in Lakewood, 3000 are delivered to business locations through the area, and 350 are mailed to the membership and community leaders. The LCN is a great way to market your business to the Lakewood Community and stay on top of the “Happenings Around Town”. Chamber Members enjoy a 20% discount on all advertising in the LCN. Another value added benefit of Chamber Membership. The Lakewood Community News telephone number is 562-531-9733. The LCN is now online at www.lakewoodnews.org
· Business Forecast Luncheon: The Business Forecast Luncheon is held in February each year. The purpose is to bring the latest national, state, county, and local economic forecast information to Chamber Members. We invite experts on the current state of our economy as speakers. This is also an excellent opportunity for you to meet one on one with our city, county, and state officials to learn the latest business trends and to discuss the future needs of the community.
· Annual Business Expo: This rare high visibility event is held in May at the Lakewood Center Mall in Center Court. The one-day Business Expo affords Chamber Members an opportunity for high-exposure and a promotional spotlight. By securing a Booth you will be afforded exposure to all of the weekend traffic in the largest mall in LA County, and the 15th largest mall in the US. In total the Lakewood Center contains approximately 2.1 million square feet of retail space with over 270 stores and more than 30 restaurants. There are over 16 million visitors to the Lakewood Center Mall ever year.
· Annual Chamber Golf Tournament & Dinner: We will be celebrating the Chamber's 61st Anniversary with our Annual Golf Tournament in June. Participants enjoy an afternoon of golf & friendly competition, culminating with a delicious banquet. Prizes and Trophies are awarded and each golfer receives a commemorative picture of his/her foursome. A great day to enjoy the outdoors and meet new friends.
· Installation & Awards Banquet: This June event is held at the end of the Chamber’s fiscal year to honor the outgoing Chairman of the Board and to introduce the Chairman Elect. Awards include: the coveted Woodrow W. Smith Business Award for Excellence, an Award of Excellence for Outstanding Small Businesses, an Award of Excellence for Large Businesses, an Outstanding Community Service Award, and the Ambassador of the Year Award along with Milestone Awards for years of Chamber Membership as far out as 54 years.
· Car Show: The "Summer Stampede Car Show" is sponsored by Lakewood Center, The City of Lakewood, and the Greater Lakewood Chamber of Commerce. This well known annual event is held in August and presents numerous awards to pre-1975 Custom Cars, Street Rods, and Restored Classics entries. The event offers Music, Entertainment, Endless Raffle Prizes, and is held at Mayfair Park (corner of South and Clark) in Lakewood from 9 am – 2 pm. Over 8000 people attend this annual extravaganza of classic cars, vendors, and fun.
Small Business Development Center and Federal Technology Center: This is a Free service available to anyone in the community to assist with their business needs such as accounting, marketing, sales, operations, legal, etc. Free one-on-one counseling is offered on an appointment basis. Conveniently scheduled classes in many business subjects are also available ranging in cost from Free to as low as $20 per 3 hour class. For SBDC counseling and classes call 562-938-5100, or go to www.smallbizla.org. For FTC information visit their website www.theftc.org or check our Class Schedule above in "Information", "More Information", "Class Schedule"
· Certificate of Origin: If you do business internationally and you need a Certificate of Origin for your shipments, the Chamber can sign off on them for you. There is no fee for Chamber Members. $35.00 for non-members.
Chamber FACTS
· The Lakewood Chamber of Commerce started in 1938 as a Business Association.
· The Greater Lakewood Chamber of Commerce was incorporated April 11, 1949.
· The City of Lakewood voted to incorporate March 9, 1954
· The Chamber operates on a fiscal year of July 1 – June 30.
· We have approximately 270 members with over 37,400 employees represented.
· The Chamber is presided over by an 15 member Board of Directors.
· The 2010-2011 Board Chair is Cathy Gies
· The Past Board Chair is Mike Hedges
· The Secretary Treasurer is Joy Janes
· The Vice Chair of Membership is Marla Burillo
· The Vice Chair for Community Development is Leigh Clausen
· The Vice Chair for Economic Development is Mike Hedges
· The Chamber President & CEO is John Kelsall
· Lakewood Community News Production Manager is Jodee Kilroy
· Lakewood Community News, News Editor is Robin Vanderwerff
· Lakewood Community News has a 30,000 Monthly Circulation
The Chamber as a General Community Resource:
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