Murrieta Chamber Installs New Board--60s Style

It wasn’t all business this past weekend when the Murrieta Chamber of Commerce swore in its 2011-2012 Board of Directors.

It was also party time—60s style.

“I’ve never seen so much tie-dye and big hair,” said Rex Oliver, President of the Murrieta Chamber of Commerce.

Some 260 people turned out to Monteleone Meadows, a banquet facility in a rural Murrieta setting. To help welcome the board as well as honor outgoing officers, guests in attendance included the five Murrieta city council members and Riverside County Supervisor Jeff Stone.

An afro wig found its way to Mayor Randon Lane and eventually to Supervisor Stone, who each donned the attire in good spirits, Oliver said about the evening.

The incoming board chair is Kay Harrison of Hillcrest Academy; outgoing is Steve Levin of Sterling Rose Transportation.

Joining the board are Mel Sauder, CEO of Loma Linda University Medical Center-Murrieta; Mike Hayden of Champion Employer Services; Annette Laroque of Murrieta VIP Florist; Nori Matsumoto Shaughn of Azusa Pacific University; Don Murray of Commerce Bank Temecula Valley; Donna Thomas-McNeely of LSL CPAs; and Steve Glynn of Waste Management.

One board member, Joan Sparkman, was termed out after spending six years on the board.

Board members who will continue on in their terms include Garrie Aspengren of Quality Nissan as chair-elect; Greg Bennett of Bennett & Bennett Law Firm as first vice chair; Nicole Albrecht of Financial Accounting Services as treasurer; and Rick Schoenfeld of Domenigoni-Barton Properties as secretary.

Joining them on the board are current members Brian Connors of Southwest Healthcare; Glen Daigle of Oak Grove Equities; Lenore Johnson of LTJ Graphic Studio; Bob Hagel of Eagle's Mark; and Donald Reyes of Community Little Book.

Several awards were also given out during the evening.

The Small Business of the Year award went to Glass Doctor of Murrieta. The Medium-Sized Business of the Year went to RJ’s Sizzlin Steer, and the Large Business of the Year went to Toyota of Temecula Valley.

The Chamber’s Citizen of the Year award went to Pattie Roberts of Signature Farms Dudette Ranch, a horse rescue.

Chairman’s Choice awards went to Rhonda Warner, Donna Partello and Mary Jane Bodnar.

The Ambassador of the Year award went to Laurel Miller of the Glass Doctor.

The Murrieta Valley Unified School District was presented the Partners in Education award. On hand to accept the award were Murrieta Mesa High School Principal Mary Walters, Superintendent Stan Scheer and Assistant Superintendent Guy Romero. The Chamber and the district have a career technical partnership. In 2010, the Chamber officiated that relationship by relocating its offices to the Murrieta Mesa High School campus.

The got its beginnings in 1915 when local merchants would band together to take their wares to a farmer's market in Riverside.

The chamber was later incorporated in 1960 and currently serves as a legislative advocate, a promoter of the community and a place for local business owners and community members to network.