Business Luncheon Meetings are held the first Wednesday of each month from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Cascades Restaurant in Palmdale. Luncheon cost is $20 per person.
2012 |
Date |
Speaker |
Bio Information |
April 4, 2012
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Raimone Roberts
Business Advisor
College of the Canyons, SBDC
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Raimone Roberts
Business Advisor, College of the Canyons SBDC
 A Business Advisor since 2010, Raimone Roberts assists SBDC clients with business plans, business startups, general business issues, government contracts, management, sales and marketing, strategy and leadership.
Raimone recently retired from the Air Force having achieved the rank of Major. During his Air Force career, Raimone held leadership and project management roles at various Air Force bases throughout the country.
Raimone’s wide experience encompasses operations management, strategic planning, staff development, performance and quality standards, leading and developing teams, engineering and technical implementation, product development, environmental analysis, negotiating and change management.
“Helping people achieve their dreams, reach their goals and create opportunities for themselves and others” is Raimone’s favorite aspect of advising SBDC clients.
Raimone’s numerous military honors and awards include Officer of the Year, an Air Force Commendation Medal, an Air Force Achievement Medal, a Humanitarian Service Medal and a National Defense Service Medal. A youth minister and mentor, he has worked with youth in India, the Philippines and El Salvador.
Raimone has a B.S. in General Engineering from the U.S. Air Force Academy, is a graduate of Defense Air University’s Squadron Officer School, and has an MBA from Pepperdine University.
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March 7, 2012
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Judy Cooperberg, M.S., C.P.R.P.
Mental Health America
of Los Angeles |
Judy A. Cooperberg
Mental Health America of Los Angeles
Judy A. Cooperberg is the Executive Director of Antelope Valley Services for Mental Health America of Los Angeles (MHA). She has been responsible for the development of psychosocial rehabilitation programs for adults and transitioning young adults in the Antelope Valley since 1988 and was a leading force in the establishment of, and four years of administration for, the Homeless Solutions Access Center, serving all homeless populations in this community. Her latest project is the development of MHA’s Military Resource Center, with recent funding awarded from the VA to serve homeless veteran families. This pilot project is one of only 85 granted throughout the country. She has been appointed by Supervisor Michael Antonovich to serve on the Los Angeles County Mental Health Commission.
Ms. Cooperberg has worked for MHA since 1981 and is also a private consultant, national lecturer, and a published writer and poet. She is the author of Beyond Twilight, A Poetic Odyssey, which chronicles her personal battle with mental illness. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, a Master of Science in Educational Psychology and is a Certified Psychiatric Rehabilitation Practitioner (CPRP).
Ms. Cooperberg’s other achievements include induction into the 1990 Governor’s Hall of Fame for People With Disabilities; the 1996 National Mental Health America’s Clifford W. Beers Award and recipient of the Antelope Valley’s Athena Award for 2003.
Ms. Cooperberg will be speaking on the different programs available to veterans and non-veterans in the Antelope Valley.
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February 1, 2012
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Dr. Maureen Clemmons
President, Transformations |
Dr. Maureen Clemmons
She has a PhD in Organization Change
 Discoveries: Ancient civilizations could have harnessed the wind to build monuments; ancient Egyptians could have used beer as a soil stabilizer, and perhaps many ancient Egyptian symbols had their origins as tools.
Expeditions: Quartz Hill, California: In 2004, erected a 3.5-ton and 16-ton obelisk using wind as the motive force. In 2006, in Rosamond, California: Built a 200-ton pyramid with 100 architecture students using wind.
Dr. Clemmons lives in Reseda, California with her husband John, daughter Elizabeth and son Sean. Maureen holds both a Doctorate and an MBA from Pepperdine University. She is President of Transformations, a consulting practice located in Winnetka, California whose associates specialize in SAP installations, Change Management, Innovation, and Search Conferences. Her clients include Aurora Galleries, University de Monterrey, Mexico, MGM, Monsanto, Bausch & Lomb Surgical, Goodwill Industries, The Hazelton Foundation, and Xerox.
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January 4, 2012
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Bob Machuca
Regional Manager of Business Assistance
Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation |
Bob Machuca
Regional Manager of Business Assistance
Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation
 Bob has been with the LAEDC since 1997, serving first as the business development manager, and now as regional manager of business assistance and business development for the San Gabriel Valley.
During his tenure at the LAEDC, Bob has provided numerous levels of business assistance to help attract, retain, and expand businesses and the jobs they provide in Los Angeles County.
As the Regional Manager of Business Assistance, Bob has a passion for assisting businesses and seeing them succeed in Los Angeles County and in the San Gabriel Valley, especially the businesses that will provide the quality jobs for our current and future workforce.
Prior to the LAEDC, Bob worked for IBM in Sales & Marketing, as well as Newport Corporation in Irvine. Bob brings over 25 years in marketing support and business development expertise to the LAEDC. Bob earned his B.A. degree in Business and Economics from Whittier College and currently resides in Monterey Park.
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2011 |
Date |
Speaker |
Bio Information |
December 10, 2011 |
QHCC Tree Lighting and Holiday Dinner |
QHCC Tree Lighting and Holiday Dinner
Saturday, December 10, 2011
Admission: a $5+ valued, unwrapped, new toy
5:30 pm: Tree Lighting at Quartz Hill Chamber Office,
42043 50th Street West.
Quartz Hill High Choir participating.
6:00 pm: Quartz Hill Chamber Holiday Dinner at Almond Blossom Room,
50th Street West and Avenue M.
Pot Luck meal (need salads, rolls, casseroles and desserts).
Quartz Hill High Choir to provide holiday music.
Admission is an unwrapped new toy worth at least $5 or more per attendee.
Toys will go USMC Toys For Tots program.
We expect Santa to attend.
Parking will be behind the Church (west of 50th on Avenue M) |
November 2, 2011
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Lew Stults & Jack Seefus |
Information will be forthcoming. |
October 5, 2011
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James C. Ledford. Jr.
Mayor, Palmdale
Mayor Ledford will be speaking about the changes to the Palmdale Airport and the new highway connecting Palmdale to the 15 fwy near Adelanto/Apple Valley |
James C. Ledford, Jr.
Mayor, Palmdale
 James C. Ledford Jr. was elected to his tenth term as mayor of the City of Palmdale on November 3, 2009. Ledford also served four years as a City of Palmdale planning commissioner and two years as a councilmember prior to his first election as mayor in 1992.
A graduate of Palmdale High School, Ledford attended Antelope Valley College and received management training at Lockheed Development Corporation. Ledford, a resident of the City of Palmdale since 1968, served as a supervisor at Lockheed for six years. He also designed, built, owned and operated a small business in Palmdale for 10 years. In addition to his extensive Mayoral duties, Ledford currently works as a leadership and business development consultant.
He is the 2010 recipient of the William J. "Pete" Knight Leadership award presented by the Boy Scouts of America, and received the NASA Exceptional Public Service Medal in 2010. Ledford was elected to both the Palmdale High School and Antelope Valley College Halls of Fame.
Ledford and his wife Rachelle live in Palmdale and enjoy spending time with their granddaughter Kyla McKenzie.
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August 3, 2011
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Natalie Orta
Chief of the Economic Development Division, L.A. District Office of US Small Business Administration |
Natalie Orta
Chief of the Economic Development Division, L.A. District Office of US Small Business Administration
 Natalie Orta is the Chief of the Economic Development Division at the Los Angeles District Office of the U.S. Small Business Administration where she has been employed for the last thirteen years. She is actively involved in outreach efforts targeting the small business population in Los Angeles, Ventura and Santa Barbara counties. She has organized and participated in business seminars sponsored by numerous civic and private organizations.
Many of the above events were conducted in their entirety in Spanish, which Ms. Orta learned during fifteen years of residence in Mexico, where she taught English as a second language to executives, factory workers, resort employees, engineers, and children. Her ability to communicate with ease in Spanish resides in the fact that after her long stay in Mexico she considers herself Mexican by assimilation.
A graduate of the University of California at Irvine, Ms. Orta has had significant experience in both working with and consulting for small business in both the United States and Mexico. She also studied in France where she was exposed to European small business practices and traveled the Continent extensively.
She is the mother of Daniel, 23 and Teresa 21, who are both learning the ins and outs of small business. |
July 6, 2011
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Pat Okawa
Quartz Hill CERT Team Captain
Join us for information on emergency preparedness and your summer home and travel plans! |
Pat Okawa
 Pat Okawa sas born in Honlulu, Hawaii and was educated at the University of Hawaii, Manoa Campus. She and her husband lived in Buena Park and Fullerton, CA where they raised their daughter and spent the next 34 years. In 2001, Pat retired as an office manager and moved to Pearblossom in eastern Antelope Valley. She moved to Mayflower Gardens in the Fall of 2010.
Pat is a Lt. Col. in the Civil Air Patrol~ the Auxilliary of the US Air Force. She has been a volunteer for 24 years serving at the Squadron, Group and Sate levels. Currently assigned to the southem State HeadQuarters. she isan Aerospace Educator and a Professional Development instructor at schools given by the Pacific Coast Region, CAP.
She is a Life member of the Friends of Lancaster Library and Littlerock Friends of the Library.
As a member of Antelope Valley CERT, Pat was a Squad Leader in Pearblossom. Following her relocation, she was appointed Team Captain for Quartz Hill CERT. Since 2010, she has also served on the Steeruig Committee or AV CERT.
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June 9, 2011
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Jim Greenleaf
CEO ilivetoday |
Jim Greenleaf
 Jim Greenleaf is the Co-Founder at AV Media 1, the CEO at ilivetoday, and the CEO at GoldoftheMotherlode.
Jim's Specialties
- Aggregating third part platforms to optimize todays Industries branding on the Internet.
- To sustain and strengthen your band online in the midst of a highly volatile and globally competitive marketplace requires you to create authentic transformative experiences your clients will relate to.
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May 4, 2011
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Robert Trautman, CEO |
Robert Trautman, CEO
 Robert Trautman was appointed Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Lancaster Community Hospital, in Lancaster, CA on July 1, 2002. He is responsible for operations at the 117-licensed bed hospital providing comprehensive acute care services for the rapidly growing community of Lancaster, Palmdale and the greater Antelope Valley.
In 2005, the groundbreaking ceremony was held for the spectacular new Palmdale Regional Medical Center slated to open in 2010. Mr. Trautman’s continued leadership as CEO and Managing Director to this 239-licensed bed acute care facility will provide the Antelope Valley community with advanced skilled and professional healthcare services.
With more than 30 years of healthcare experience, Mr. Trautman joined Universal Health Services (UHS) from Kindred Hospital Ontario, Ontario, Calif. where he served as Chief Executive Officer. During his leadership there, he was awarded West Region CEO of the Year 2001. He previously served as Administrator of Tustin Hospital and Medical Center, Tustin, Calif.; Director of Marketing/Managed Care at University of Tennessee Bowld Hospital, Memphis, Tenn.; CEO of Byrd Regional Hospital, Leesville, La.; CEO of Buena Park Doctors Hospital, Buena Park, Calif.; and CEO of Doctors Hospital of Santa Ana, Santa Ana, Calif.
Mr. Trautman holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Health Education from the University of Central Arkansas and a Masters in Hospital Administration from California State University, Northridge.
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April 6, 2011
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Colleen Toussaint |
Colleen Toussaint
Antelope Valley MS Walk Coordinator
Colleen Toussaint was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis 5 years ago. She felt like her world had come tumbling down. It was hard to think the symptoms she had been having for the last few years were caused by a disease that had no cure, a disease that could cripple her or take her sight away.
As soon as she w as diagnosed, she went to the MS Society and received a lot of information to read, and she read it all! She learned right away that there were no quick fixes for a person with MS.
So, her first plan was to decide what she could do to help herself. She decided to work to keep a positive attitude because a positive attitude is a powerful, unstoppable force. Her next plan was to join the MS Society in a fundraiser and raise money for a cure.
She and her friend formed a walk team and called themselves "Colleen’s Crusaders." Her team has been working for the last 6 years to raise money, and last year they raised $11,000 in a bad economy! In 5 years, my team alone has raised over $55,000.
Just think if one person like Colleen and Colleen’s Crusaders can make a difference, what a large community like the Antelope Valley could do!
Her motto:
Teamwork is the fuel that allows common people to attain uncommon results! Together we can make a difference!
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March 2, 2011
printable flyer
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Angi Ma Wong |
Angi Ma Wong
Author, Business Woman, Entrepreneur, Rotarian, Feng Shui & Corporate Consultant, and a Friend to the Antelope Valley
 ANGI MA WONG was named after the City of Los Angeles, has climbed Mt. Whitney, the highest peak in the continental United States, woken up in a burning bed, survived a sinking boat, and is a 21-year multiple cancer survivor. Angi's newest book A Survivor’s Secrets to Health and Happiness was just released in January, 2011.
Angi was born in China and spent her childhood in New Zealand, Taiwan and Washington, D.C. She attended Virginia Tech, transferred to USC where she graduated with a B.A. in English, and earned her life California Teaching Credential from California State University, Long Beach. Angi then served for 33 years with the Los Angeles Unified School District asa teacher, counselor and advisor in public relations and community outreach.
Known as the Feng Shui Lady®, Angi is an internationally-recognized intercultural corporate trainer and feng shui authority, was named Los Angeles Businesswoman of the Year by the National Association of Women Business Owners, is an award-winning children’s writer and best-selling author of 27 books, 15 titles on feng shui, including her best-selling Feng Shui Dos and Taboos series.
Since 1989, Angi’s extensive clientele has included over 100 major residential and commercial real estate developers worldwide as well as the Four Seasons Hotel, Universal Studios, Bank of America, COTY, the Limited and American President Lines.
In addition, Angi is a founding member and past president of the Chinese Historical Society of Southern California and past president of the Palos Verdes Sunset Rotary Club and active Rotarian on club, District and International levels for 17 years.
Angi has appeared on OPRAH, Live Regis and Kelly, CBS Sunday Morning, CNN Headline News, TIME, PEOPLE & Redbook magazines, and over 600 print, broadcast and Internet features including the L.A. Times and N.Y Times.
Her newest book A Survivor’s Secrets to Health and Happiness was just released last month.
Purchase your tickets now
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February 2, 2011
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Chris Spicher
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Chris Spicher,
Well-known Owner of the Antelope Valley Florist
 how did he get into the flower business? how did he find himself living in the high desert? what does he know that could possibly help me in my business? will he tell a funny story?, come and see.
David Christopher Spicher (pronounced “spiker”) is a business owner and a long-time resident of the Antelope Valley. He owns Antelope Valley Florist and has been involved in the floral industry since 1953.
Chris is a graduate of AV Highschool, Class ’68, AV College and received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Vanguard University.
Through community service and promotional ventures, Chris is visible and well known through the Valley. He has held leadership positions in organizations such as, president of the Lancaster Rotary Club, chairman of the Salvation Army Advisory Board, president of the AV Board of Trade, Chamber of Commerce member of all the surrounding cities in the Valley, Honorary Colonel of Edwards AFB through the Civ-Mil Association and volunteer in several civic programs and events.
Chris is married to Dr. Lors Pimentel Spicher, a general dentist in Lancaster. They have two children, Eva Marie and Alexander. His favorite activities at home are playing with their dog, Buddy and two parrots and working in the yard.
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January 2011 |
Miriam Arreola |
Miriam Arreola
General Manager Hilton Garden Inn
I am Miriam Arreola, General Manager of Hilton garden Inn Palmdale. I joined the team in 2008 as AGM with over 15 years experience, starting my career in Los Angeles Manor  Care Company working for Quality Inn, as a line member After a few years of experience, I moved to work for the Hilton Hotels Corporation; in Particular for Hilton Garden Inn. It was there where I truly understood the meaning of Hospitality. I worked my way up under the direction of the General Manager Barbara Bejan. My family and I have been living in the Antelope Valley since 2006.
Opened Hilton Garden Inn- Palmdale in August of 2008, leading our team into a successful year where we were selected “Antelope Valley’s Best Hotel for 2010”. Hilton Garden Inn has grown to be a very important part of the community, hosting a number of events, social as well as political.
As General Manager, having knowledge of all departments gives you ability to overcome any challenge that may arise. I can say though that the biggest satisfaction I get is when I see guests come in and say,
” I have left my home, but I have come to my home away from Home”.
That is when you know that your team is happy to be working with you and truly understand that it’s not a number but a person. Being hospitable is having a great team and the ability to customize to our guests needs successful.
The Founder of Hilton Hotels, Conrad Hilton International travel was a key to creating world peace - the more people travel, the more they share how much they have in common. So “as hotel men and women, it was our responsibility to fill the earth with the light and warmth of Hospitality” |
2010
Scott Cummings has been in the shopping center industry for over 20 years. He has been the General Manager of Antelope Valley Mall since July 2008. Prior to that he was the Assistant General Manager at Promenade in Bolingbrook (Illinois) for 18 months. He was at Antelope Valley Mall for seven years as an Asst Gen Mgr/Specialty Leasing Manager before the grand opening of Bolingbrook. He is married with 3 children and 2 grandchildren. In his spare time, he enjoys riding his dirt bikes, camping and spending time with his family.
Drew Mercy - Campaign Manager for Senator George Runner / Assemblywoman Sharon Runner
Saturday, July 24, 2010