The Yucaipa Valley Chamber of Commerce hosted its monthly breakfast meeting, “Good Morning, Yucaipa!,” on Thursday, October 2, at the Yucaipa Woman’s Club. The event brought together a vibrant group of local business owners, civic leaders, and representatives from key government offices for a morning of networking and information-sharing.
The meeting began with the Pledge of Allegiance, led by Yucaipa Police Captain Brandon Wiebeld. Attendees included Heather Gourlay and William Boyd, officials from the offices of Congressman Jay Obernolte and Senator Ochoa-Bogh, as well as City Council member Judy Woolsey and Community Services Coordinator Elise Campbell. Their presence underscored the strong ties between local government and Yucaipa’s business community.
Guests enjoyed a continental breakfast, complete with coffee and tea, providing a welcoming backdrop for networking and conversation. The relaxed atmosphere encouraged attendees to engage with one another and build community relationships.
Chamber President Anthony Hernandez, owner of Emmerson Bartlett Memorial Chapel, led the meeting, inviting first-time guests to introduce themselves and share insights about their businesses. This opportunity allowed newcomers to connect with established members, fostering collaboration and mutual support within the Chamber.
The meeting transitioned to the featured speaker, Mark Orr, Director of Teamster Advantage for Teamster Local 1932. Orr’s presentation highlighted the Teamster Advantage program, a program for aimed at providing discount for teamster members at small businesses and strengthening the local business community through free advertising opportunities on “The Worker Power Hour,” a weekly radio show and podcast dedicated to labor, politics, and business topics. The Worker Power Hour airs every Wednesday from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM on KCAA Radio 1050 AM and 106.5 FM.
During his presentation, Orr emphasized the benefits of the program for Yucaipa businesses. “Our goal is to boost local commerce by giving businesses a voice on the airwaves,” Orr said. He detailed how businesses partnering with Teamster Advantage can have their promotions, events, and services featured on the broadcast, helping them connect with new customers and build community awareness. Teamster Advantage encourages teamster members to “shop small” and shop local by providing a price discount at participating businesses.
Several businesses represented at the meeting have participated in the program for at least a year and provided testimonials about Teamster Advantage. Stefani Schreurs-Jacoby owner of Uptown’s Roundabout Sweets was enthusiastic about the program. “I’ve participated in Teamster Advantage for a while now. It has brought new customers into my shop and I have been interviewed on The Worker Power Hour twice. Free radio and podcast advertising for Roundabout Sweets! I don’t know why every business doesn’t join Teamster Advantage.”
Other chamber members expressed enthusiasm for the program’s potential to support small and medium-sized enterprises, aligning with the Chamber’s ongoing mission to foster local business growth. Robert Hudec, CFO of Yucaipa-based HCC Technology said, “I enjoyed Mark’s presentation and I look forward to the opportunities that joining Teamster Advantage will bring to my business.”
In addition to the advertising on the radio show and podcast, Teamster Advantage benefits include a free booth at the Teamsters Local 1932 car show in San Bernardino every spring. “The event brings thousands of potential customers to participating businesses,” stated Orr. Local businesses interested in learning more about Teamster Advantage and the free advertising opportunity on The Worker Power Hour are encouraged to contact the Yucaipa Valley Chamber of Commerce at YucaipaChamberofCommerce@gmail.com or 909-790-1841.
The meeting concluded with a reminder of next month’s breakfast on November 6, promising a presentation from business consultant Paul Nolta, of the Orange County Inland Empire Small Business Development Center and further opportunities for networking and collaboration.
Photo Caption: Mark Orr of Teamster Local 1932 presented opportunities for Yucaipa’s business owners