P A R A M O U N T
PULSE BEAT
March 2014
www.paramountchamber.com
Serving the Community Since 1990
Paramount Chamber 2014 State of the City Address
Event sponsor Paramount Petroleum. Seated from left; Annina Brown (Paramount Petroleum), Connie Toscano (Principal - Wirtz Elementary School), Bill Winters – PPC V.P. of Human Resources) Kathy Gleeson (Paramount Petroleum), and Greg Buckner Principal - Paramount High School).
Paramount Chamber President Brenda Olmos The Paramount Chamber of Commerce recently hosted its annual State of the City Address sponsored by Paramount Petroleum. More than 150 business and community leaders attended the event. Chamber President Brenda Olmos was the first speaker reporting on Chamber activities and accomplishments for 2013. Olmos said, “The Chamber like most businesses is still recovering from the economic down turn, but I am pleased to report we managed to accomplish a lot. The Chamber produced and delivered 240,000 copies of the Pulse Beat. With help from Emmanuel Reformed Church 388 new businesses and residents received Welcome to Paramount packets, and more than 270 people received free business counseling. More than 200 people attended quarterly Networking Breakfasts, and more than 170,000 people visited the Chamber website. The
Paramount Chamber of Commerce
Pulse beaT
15357 Paramount Boulevard, Paramount, CA 90723
Paramount Unified School District Superintendent Herman Mendez
City of Paramount Mayor Gene Daniels
Paramount City Manager Linda Benedetti-Leal
Chamber co-hosted 10 Ribbon Cuttings, and started a Facebook page. We put on a Job Fair, partnered with the City to promote “Purchase it in Paramount,” produced a new business directory, and a 2013 collectible poster. “Each and every one of these programs is geared toward promoting business and the local economy, said Olmos” She closed by thanking Chamber members for their support in helping the Chamber accomplish its mission of promoting economic growth and stability in Paramount. The next speaker was Superintendent Herman Mendez. Mendez started by thanking the School Board for his appointment to Superintendent and reported he had learned nine key things when speaking with community leaders, parents, visiting schools, and talking to students. (1) There is a strong sense of pride in Paramount. (2) The Board of Education
works well together. (3) Bond Measure AA – was a great success. (4) Music and Arts are important. (5) Sports keep our youth engaged. (6) College is important, but also recognize the value of the trades. (7) Collaboration, among all stakeholders is strength in the community. (8) Schools are safe. (9) The District is on the right track – it has shown steady academic improvement. The Superintendent went on to say the 2012 – 13 graduating class was the largest to date not only in number of students but also in percentage of students. Mendez said the State set forth an API target of 800 for all schools, currently Paramount has 7 schools meeting or exceeding that goal, with the balance poised to move into the 800 plus club. The district has three Career Technical Education Courses; Medical Academy, Engineering and Architecture, and Design and Media Services.
This year, Jackson, Alondra, and Zamboni middle schools were recognized by the State as Schools to Watch. Superintendent Mendez closed by saying “As an educator I draw my inspiration from our children, and in the words of Paramount High Student Noe Sandoval “Anything is possible if you set your mind to it.” Before turning the program over to City Manager Linda Benedetti-Leal, Mayor Gene Daniels thanked the Chamber for hosting the event and the business community for their support. City Manager Benedetti-Leal - “My theme this year is taken from the game show Wheel of Fortune, which might not be an inappropri-
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What’s inside Ask The Expert..........................10 Business Card Directory.............12 Business Corner.........................11 Cityscape..................................15
Help wanted............................. 9 Mayors Corner.......................... 3 Members Only...........................14 On Patrol...................................... 4
PEP.................................................7 Pregunte al Experto.........................10 Service Clubs..................................13