What a First Quarter 2012 it has been. And the Second Quarter is just as promising.

Recently, our Board of Directors attended a retreat where our objective was to revise our Mission Statement. After much discussion and after careful consideration, we came up with a rather lofty, yet totally obtainable goal. Our Mission: “ To Become The Chamber of Choice in the San Fernando Valley by 2017.”   In order to achieve our mission, our newly defined goals and objectives, and activities will be measured. I will discuss our goals and objectives in my next upcoming address.

The Chamber started out in April with one of its Signature events, The Unforgettable Educator Recognition Awards. Quite a memorable and moving night for all involved. The end of April saw the Relay For Life at Chatsworth High School, where we raised over $3400 for the ACS.

Our Leads Breakfasts and Lunches are turning out to be so successful that we barely have time to finish our program. We are getting 5-10 new guests at each event. And it looks like that at least one venue we have run out of space. But if you are looking to introduce yourself to some GREAT business owners, make sure you phone Bonnee or Kari and we’ll make sure there is room for you. Please check the calendar on the column to your left for the available dates, times, and venue.

Here is some GREAT News for Chatsworth, the San Fernando Valley, and the City of Los Angeles. Boulder Electric Vehicle, based in Lafayette, Colorado, has leased a 27,714-square-foot industrial building on Irondale Avenue in Chatsworth, according to real estate brokerage Jones Lang LaSalle Inc. Boulder makes battery-powered, lightweight delivery vans with bodies made from composite material. Boulder Chief Executive Carter Brown said Boulder has already started moving into the new plant and should be producing trucks by the beginning of next year. The plant will start out producing about 1,000 trucks a year with 30 workers, but could ramp up to 3,000 vehicles and 150 workers. More information can be found at this link: http://www.labusinessjournal.com/news/2012/may/04/electric-delivery-van-maker-plans-l-assembly-plant/

And I invite you to begin the month of June by participating in Shepherd of the Hills Imagine Job Fair. More information can be found at this link: http://www.theshepherd.org/events/imagine-job-fair

Thank you for supporting Chatsworth Porter Ranch merchants, services, schools, and businesses and for keeping your dollars in our community.