Untitled - Gilroy Chamber of Commerce

Gilroy Chamber of Commerce
OFFICERS
MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR OF THE BOARD
Strolls and trials, it’s all about wine
CHAIR OF THE BOARD
DEBBI SANCHEZ • Fortino Winery
I DON’T ALWAYS write about wine.
But when I do, I write about the
PAST CHAIR
wines of South County. Our region
ERIC GEBHARDT • Hilton Garden Inn
continues to garner more awards
and recognition every year. We
CHAIR OF THE BOARD-ELECT
have arrived!
LISA T. FARIA • Coldwell Banker
Growing up in Gilroy, I spent a fair
SECRETARY/TREASURER
amount of time lamenting the lack of
DAVID MATUSZAK, Ed.D.
fun things to do. Ah, youth. “Youth is
wasted on the young.” – Anonymous.
VC OPERATIONS & DEVELOPMENT
Now that I’m…older, I wish I had
JAN PEAT • McDonald’s of Gilroy
more time to enjoy all the fun our
VC PUBLIC AFFAIRS
area has to offer.
ERIC GEBHARDT • Hilton Garden Inn
Our local wines are no secret.
Eleven wineries recently brought home
VC BUSINESS PROGRAMS & SERVICES
67 awards at the San Francisco
JAY MENCHACA • Menchaca Law Offices
Chronicle Wine Competition. Read
VC MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS
more about them in the spring
LISA T. FARIA • Coldwell Banker
edition of Gilroy Today available at
gilroytoday.com or pick-up a print
copy at local establishments. Don’t see
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
local wines at your favorite restaurant?
BRIGITTE NICHOLLS • Union Bank Ask them to add it to their list and
CHERYL ELLEMBERG • ABD Promotions
everyone wins.
It’s not just about the wine. It’s
LLOYD LOWREY •
the experience. Our wineries are
Noland, Hamerly, Etienne & Hoss
beautiful. And each winery has its
TERRY FEINBERG • Moxxy Marketing
PAM GARCIA • Affordable Solar Roofs
GINA LOPEZ • State Farm Insurance
Sharino from 7 to 10 p.m. For all the
latest, visit the Chamber website and
search “wineries.”
The Santa Clara County Board
of Supervisors recently designated
Watsonville Road the “Santa Clara
Valley Wine Trail.” Look for more
news, promotions and new signage
along Watsonville Road and Hecker
Pass Highway. Watch out Napa… it’s
not just about garlic in Gilroy anymore.
Now I get what “Anonymous” was
talking about. I only wish I knew who
to thank for that old saying. Our local
wineries are one of the many ways
you can have a great time right in your
own back yard. In all things life and
business, here’s to your success.
And, cheers!
DEBBI SANCHEZ
2014 Chair of the Board
Gilroy Chamber of
Commerce
MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT/CEO
California’s elected officials in need of a wake-up call
CHAMBER STAFF
Mark Turner • President/CEO
Michelle Garcia • Administrative Assistant
Chris Bevilacqua • Administrative Assistant
Rosie Vogel • Administrative Assistant
Sue Thurman • Business Relationship Manager
WELCOME CENTER STAFF
Jane Howard • Executive Director
own flair. Bring your picnic and enjoy
open spaces. Play bocce ball, soccer,
checkers or chess. Stroll among fields
of blossoming vines, or enjoy a private
barrel tasting. Into archery? We have
that too. Winemakers are often onsite,
sharing their passion and stories.
Enjoy impromptu live music, scheduled
events such as food pairings, cooking
classes, special releases and more.
Non-drinkers will find other beverages
including soft drinks at most wineries.
This month, Fortino Winery partners
with Tesla Motors to host Wine and
Drive on May 10 from 1:00 to 5:00
p.m. Solis Winery’s Syrah and Sausage
Grill on May 24-26 provides an
opportunity to enjoy the fabulous views
from their remodeled tasting room. On
May 31, the 2014 Gilroy Downtown
Art & Wine Stroll happens from 2:00
to 6:00 p.m. Taste local wines, shop
stores and take in local arts and crafts
on display while listening to great
music. Later that evening, Guglielmo
Winery hosts Sharino & Chardonnay,
featuring local music legend Joe
Pam Gimenez • Office Manager
EDC STAFF
Tammy Brownlow • President/CEO
Candace Van Sambeek, Administrative Assistant
FOCUS PRODUCTION STAFF
EDITOR • Mark Turner, President/CEO
Gilroy Chamber of Commerce
PRODUCTION & DESIGN • J. Chris Mickartz
InfoPOWER Communications
PHOTOGRAPHY • Larry Mickartz
InfoPOWER Communication
ACCORDING TO THE Tax
Foundation, a non-profit organization
which compiles detailed tax statistics,
it took 111 days this year for
American workers to collectively pay
their tax bills. Tax Freedom Day, the
day in which the money you earn
begins going into your pocket instead
of the government’s pocket, was April
21. It’s no wonder April 15 is the
second most stressful day of the year.
Unless you’re planning the Gilroy
Garlic Festival, the most stressful day
of the year is approximately 235 days
ahead of us.
California, unfortunately, is
considered one of the most unfriendly
states to do business. Our sales tax is
the highest in the nation. Our gasoline
tax is around 67 cents per gallon,
placing us at the second highest in the
nation, slightly behind New York. Our
corporate income tax is the highest in
the west while our personal income
tax is the highest in the nation.
Failing to take note of the burdensome taxes, fees and regulations
placed on California businesses, our
elected officials seem to take pride in
keeping California number one. Sadly,
in this ranking system, number one is
not where we want to be.
Our elected officials need to use
their power and influence to ease
the burden and create a better
environment for businesses to flourish.
Instead, officials in Sacramento
create a greater burden on small
businesses. They look for more ways
to tax businesses by introducing a
split roll tax (SB 1021) and increase
the corporate tax rate (SB 1372).
They put forward an oil and gas
severance tax (SB 1017). They find
it more important to place warning
labels on sugary drinks (SB 1000)
and on food items (SB 1381) than to
understand the needs of the business
community, who by the way, provide
jobs, benefits and a support structure
for local services. If Sacramento has
it their way, employees will be able
to file liens against their employers
(AB 2416).
The list of Bills goes on and on.
A silent electorate only communicates
acceptance and approval of such
legislation. Your voice can and
should be heard by those crafting the
laws that affect our daily lives and
businesses. Contact information for
State Assemblyman Luis Alejo and State
Senator Bill Monning are available on
the Chamber website under the Public
Policy tab at gilroy.org. Elected officials
understand the significance of hearing
from their constituents. If you are tired
of Sacramento’s insatiable desire for
your hard earned money, be sure to
participate in the process. Register to
vote, vote in upcoming elections and
contact your elected officials. Let your
voice be heard.
MARK TURNER
President/CEO
Gilroy Chamber of
Commerce
7471 Monterey Street • Gilroy, CA 95020
web: www.gilroy.org
e-mail: chamber@gilroy.org
phone: (408) 842-6437
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Gilroy Business Focus I May 2014