November 9, 2023

Out & About with Donna

Jennifer Barrera, President and CEO, (back row middle) convened chamber CEO’s from Southern California to discuss grassroots small business advocacy. Donna Duperron attended.

Donna Visits with California Chamber of Commerce

This past Monday, I had the opportunity to travel to the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce for a meeting with Jennifer Barrera, President and CEO, of the California Chamber of Commerce. Barrera has been part of the CalChamber team since 2010 and stepped into the top position after serving as CalChamber executive vice president, overseeing the development and implementation of policy and strategy for the organization, as well as representing the CalChamber on legal reform issues.

It was important for the Torrance chamber to attend this meeting surrounded by other invited CEOs to listen, to learn, and to share. It had been announced earlier that the CalChamber has created a Small Business Policy Center, a new effort focused on mobilizing the power of small businesses in grassroots advocacy at the State Capitol. With Torrance chamber membership more than 60% small businesses, advocating on behalf of small businesses is critical for the chamber. Read More...

News

Vice Chair of Government Affairs for Torrance Area Chamber of Commerce, Larry Halvorsen (fourth from left) attended a meeting with The City of Torrance and Friendship Cities representatives from the Economic Development Bureau of Tainan, Taiwan.

Halvorsen participates in meeting with Friendship City representatives

Larry Halvorsen, Vice Chair of Government Affairs for The Torrance Area Chamber of Commerce, attended a meeting hosted by the City of Torrance to welcome a delegation traveling from Tainan, Taiwan. The City of Torrance established a Friendship City designation with the City of Tainan earlier this year when Mayor Chen visited Taiwan. Five members of Tainan's Economic Development Bureau visited with Mayor Chen and others to discuss potential business investments, partnerships, exchange, education and tourism opportunities.

"As a participant in this meeting, as a representative of the Torrance Chamber, I had the opportunity to showcase how the Torrance Area Chamber of Commerce supports the business community and that we have an excellent relationship with the City of Torrance. Additionally, I learned about the City of Tainan, home to 1.8 million people and a thriving center for high tech manufacturing looking for opportunities to partner in the United States," stated Larry Halvorsen, Express Employment Professionals.

The Torrance Area Chamber of Commerce & Japan Business Association Grand Mixer in 2022 at the Miyako Hybrid Hotel.

Celebrating 23 Years of JBA Partnership

Join us for an evening of networking as we commemorate 23 years of professional

partnership with the Japan Business Association (JBA), a non-profit organization

dedicated to developing and improving the business environment for Japanese

companies in the Southern California region. Meet the Consul-General of Japan, Kenko

Sone and City of Torrance Council Member, Jon Kaji.

“This annual event with the JBA has further expanded and enriched the local community through their support with events, fundraising, and better relationships with our state and local representatives. Of course, I would be remiss if I did not mention the long-standing tradition of the Sake Barrel Breaking Ceremony Cask which is always one of the highlights of the evening and gives attendees a glimpse of the wonderful Japanese culture whereby the lid is broken to celebrate and toast to harmony and good fortune! The best business blessing of all,” said Sherry Kramer, Chairwoman of the Board. Read More...

Photos courtesy of Suren Sagadevan

Small Business Week Q&A: A Conversation with DivergeIT

As the holiday season approaches and the Torrance Area Chamber of Commerce gears up for Small Business Week from November 25 to December 2, we had the privilege of sitting down with Suren Sagadevan, Business Development Manager at DivergeIT to gain insights into their experience as a small business during this festive period.

Q1: What is it like being a small business during the holiday season? Do you see an uptick in your services, or would you like to see more of an uptick in your business?

"Like any business, DivergeIT always welcomes an uptick in our business whether it’s the holiday season or not! The uptick in our business is typically driven by those that value IT and security and are proactive in planning and budgeting for the year ahead. But most small and midsized businesses are still reactive with their approach to IT and security, so we also see an uptick in business with those responding after an incident occurs." Read More...

Small Business Week Kickoff Celebration

The Torrance Area Chamber of Commerce is gearing up for an exciting Small Business Week Kickoff Celebration on November 16th. This exclusive event is a heartfelt thank-you to business owners who actively participated in "Small Business Week" by offering discounts for their businesses during the week of November 25th to December 2nd.

Starting at 8:30 AM, the event will kick off with a warm welcome from our co-chairs, Brenda Hidalgo, Aaron Aalcides, and Satori Croxford, who will introduce the Small Business Week Kickoff Celebration.

This event promises valuable insights into conducting business with LA County, led by Jessica Kim, Chief Deputy Director of the LA County Department of Opportunity. If you're looking to expand your horizons and collaborate with the county, this session is a must-attend.

But that's not all! Attendees will have the opportunity to benefit from a dynamic panel discussion featuring five remarkable women-owned businesses. Get ready to gain inspiration and practical advice from these entrepreneurs as they share their experiences, challenges, and strategies for success.

Meet the Inspirational Panelists; Denise Torres, Owner of 3-1 Development, Inc., Tania Rios, Franchise owner of Fantastic Sams, Brenda Hidalgo, Franchise owner of Brenda Hidalgo State Farm, Renee Ware, Owner of Southbay Woman Gym and Spa, Vivian Millet, Owner of Board and Brush Creative Studios.

We're thrilled to celebrate your dedication and success and look forward to seeing you on November 16th!

*This event has very limited seating. We are only accepting the first 30 people who RSVP.

Click Here to RSVP!

Torrance Area Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors vote on the top 6 Small Business Week Art Contestant submissions.

Creativity, Community and Commerce

In celebration of creativity and community spirit, the Torrance Area Chamber of Commerce is thrilled to announce the successful conclusion of the Small Business Week Art Contest. Small Business Week, an annual event promoting local shopping, provides a significant boost to small businesses during the bustling holiday shopping season.

This competition was specifically designed to connect local students with the business community and acquaint them with the Chamber's vital role. Open to all TUSD High Schools, Ambassador High School, and South Bay Christian School, the contest attracted talented students from our community. Read More...

2022 Torrance Area Chamber of Commerce Holiday Mixer at Scott Robinsons Honda.

A Festive Gathering for All Chamber Members

Get ready for a joyful time at the Torrance Area Chamber of Commerce’s Holiday

Mixer at Scott Robinson Honda on Thursday, December 14th, 2023 from 4:30 to 6:30

pm. Guests are encouraged to get into the holiday spirit and wear an ugly

Christmas sweater.

Holiday activities will be abundant, including the Salvation Army Red Kettle, the S'cool Daze Band, recognition of the 'Hidden Hero' from the Los Angeles Air Force Base, and a collection of items for seniors. Read More...

RSVP here!