Out & About With Donna
In late June of each year, an individual is elected as Chairman of the Board for the Torrance Area
Chamber of Commerce. They serve a one-year term in this position. Each chairman brings wisdom,
compassion, and courage to this organization.

During his tenure as Chairman of the Board, Dan Armendariz was instrumental in providing community
visioning. He not only encouraged board members to become involved but, he too, was an integral
member of behind-the-scenes committee work.

Armendariz distinguished himself as a steward of the Chamber and never flinched in the face of a
difficult decision. As David Starr Jordan once wrote, Wisdom is knowing what to do next, virtue is doing
it.” Thank you, Dan Armendariz for your dedication and tenacity. Read Online.

News
Donna Duperron, President & CEO, was quoted in the Insider, a publication produced by the Western Association of Chamber Executives. Duperron spoke of the efforts made by the Chamber leadership and staff during the pandemic.  Please see full article here. 
After modifying their business practices in light of the coronavirus "safer at home" decree, many restaurants and breweries are now open for dine-in service, along with take-out and delivery. Restaurant and brewery owners were itching to open their doors back to the public and reconnect with their clientele. “The best part about being open again is being able to talk about my beer and see people enjoy all the different flavors I can produce. You really miss that connection with the to go sales only,” expressed Jason Kolb, owner of Schold Premium Ales, Inc.

Likewise, Shane McColgan, manager at the Crest Sports Bar & Grill is thrilled to be open once again for dine-in. He stated, “It is exciting to be back and getting some of the staff back! We are glad to be open, but can’t wait to get back to 100% operation with no restrictions.” The Chamber encourages you to visit your local eateries and show your support. Click here to see the restaurants, breweries, and caterers opened for business and ready to serve you!
Legislation that will discourage hiring and job growth by imposing an employee “headcount tax” on certain employers has been added to the California Chamber of Commerce job killer list. The bill,  AB 398 (Chu; D-San Jose ) , institutes a tax of $275 per employee for “an entity, including, but not limited to, a limited liability company, corporation, or limited liability partnership, that has more than 500 employees that perform any part of their duties within the state.” Read More Here.
People in California are slowly returning to work in health care, manufacturing, food services and retail trade jobs, but lower-wage workers are often at risk of earning less than they did while receiving unemployment benefits. Read More Here.
TorranceAlerts is the City's mass emergency notification system that enables you to receive early warning notifications concerning emergency events such as an earthquake, fire, public health emergency or similar situation. TorranceAlerts is a free service and should be part of your personal emergency preparedness plan. Sign up Here  and Click Here to visit the TorranceAlerts website.
Most employees currently working from home due to the  COVID-19 pandemic  are realizing the positive impacts on their job over the last few months, and many are working more hours than if they were in the office. But they do have a considerable concern during this time — their ability to build strong relationships with their coworkers, as most employees are socializing less... Read More Here.

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