November 2016
Volume 2 – Issue 11
Yuma Loves Its Military Community
BY JOYCE LOBECK
Member of the Month,
El Dorado Broadcasters
pg3
congratulations!
New Members
pg4
Ribbon Cuttings
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A R I Z O N A
YUMA VISITORS BUREAU
Yuma Visitor’s Bureau
Nov. Calendar
pg
15
Yuma proudly bears the title “Winter
lettuce capitol of the world” for its production of fresh vegetables during the months
when much of the rest of the nation is shivering in snow.
But the community just as proudly
bears another title as well: “military town.”
At least that’s the way Carlton “Chuck”
LeDrew, newly installed chairman of the
Yuma County Chamber of Commerce’s
Military Affairs Committee, sees it.
It’s what drew the retired Marine to
Yuma. During his 20-year military career
(in addition to seven years in the Canadian
Army), he hadn’t ever been stationed here,
he said, but over the years he was a frequent visitor while serving as the Air Control Group career planner based in El Toro.
He’s proud that Yuma is home to two
military installations that are vital to the
nation’s defense: Marine Corps Air Station
Yuma, a major training facility for Marine aviators, and Yuma Proving Ground,
where new equipment, tanks, helicopters
and tactics are tested before being deployed to battlegrounds around the world.
Furthermore, LeDrew said, an estimated 25 percent of the city’s population
is military, former military or military oriented. That’s a number that swells in the
winter months when thousands of snowbirds descend on the community, many of
them veterans and retired military.
And there’s a brotherhood here, whether at the American Legion Post or Navy
League or any of the many other military
and veteran organizations in Yuma.
But perhaps most of all, he likes how
the community embraces its military
neighbors.
“It’s a military town. I see it at parades,
I see it at Military Appreciation Day, I see
it when American Legion has a spaghetti
dinner as a fundraiser and the place fills up
or the DAV (Disabled American Veterans
has a golf tournament to raise scholarship
money, when people come out for any
kind of event.”
A prime example is the semi-annual
training exercise held in the community
as the culmination of the Weapons and
Tactics Instructor Course that draws Marines from around the country. The latest exercise took place Oct. 14 at Kiwanis
Park, Trinity Christian Center, Crane
Middle School, Centennial Middle School
and Yuma Regional Medical Center with
Marines simulating a humanitarian assistance/disaster relief mission that mirrors
a real life situation they may need to respond to. And Yuma residents turned out
en masse to observe the Marines in action.
Nowhere else does a community open
itself – it’s park, schools, church and hospital - to provide such critical and realistic
training exercise, grateful MCAS officials
have said.
Yuma stands out in another way as well
as it pays tribute to military personnel with
the establishment of the Armed Forces
Park. Walls throughout the park are lined
with plaques that honor or memorialize
those who have served their country.
“There’s not another like it, at least in
the states,” LeDrew said.
As for the annual Veterans’ Day Parade,
people line up six deep along the parade
route cheering, waving and clapping for
Photo by Joyce Lobeck
Yuma shows it’s support for the military
through establishment of unique park
to honor all those who have served. The
Armed Forces Park is managed by the
Military Affairs Committee of the Yuma
County Chamber of Commerce.
those who serve today and those who have
served in the past, LeDrew said.
It certainly wasn’t that way when he
was medivaced on his last trip back from
Vietnam, he recalled. “I was lying on a
stretcher in the bus, looked out the window and saw people flipping the bird.”
Now he and other Vietnam Veterans
are in the front row to honor today’s military. Just last month, the chamber, Crossroads Mission and American Legion put
on a spaghetti dinner for four nights in a
See military continued on page 12
Vote. Pray. Hope.
John Courtis, Executive Director
BY JOHN COURTIS,
Executive Director,
Yuma County Chamber of Commerce
Of course, we are all tired of the campaign ads, the negative talk, the vitriol, and
the talking heads telling us what to think.
Every 4 years we tell each other that this
is the worst negative campaign ever and
if X candidate wins, we hear that some
people will move to Canada (Why don’t
they threaten to move to Mexico?). In the
cyber-world, every minor indiscretion and
minor off-the- cuff comment will be beat-
en to death, with the media feasting on a
single grain of rice for a week. News flash:
This is going to happen again in 2020.
However, respected Chamber members,
there is hope, the Republic will survive; she
always has, and she always will.
The United States of America has a
great checks and balance system, and the
pendulum always swings left and then
right, and then left again. Are the swings
now more violent? Maybe, but the system,
as flawed as it is, still works. We, as a nation are supposed to challenge our leaders without reprisal and should be able to
discuss issues without being ugly. If Clint
Eastwood can make a movie with Tom
Hanks, then I can have a discussion about
the Affordable Care Act with Toni Badone.
And, we are not always going to get our
way, so let’s not be childish and boorish
when we don’t. But, please follow these
steps: Vote, Pray, Hope.
You will notice that the first step is to
vote. In 2014, the Yuma County Recorder
sent out over 55,000 ballots and fewer than
13,000 came back. That’s a 25% return on
REGISTERED voters that REQUESTED
an early ballot. C’mon, people I choose to
believe that we are better than that, and we
refuse to let the active minority make decisions for the silent majority. Frankly, the
turnout numbers are pathetic and shameful. There is a lot to be decided here other
than the Presidency, so please, fill in your
ballots and mail them in, or get to the poll-
ing places on November 8. It is your duty,
your right, and your responsibility! So,
vote, pray, hope.
Speaking of voting, we here at the Yuma
County Chamber of Commerce are looking for some votes. We have 4 positions
open on the Board of Directors, with one
board member, Kathy Ahuactzin running
for re-election. Please check out the ballot
on page 10 and do your part to help shape
the future of your Yuma County Chamber
of Commerce. You will also find the flyer
for the Athena International Award, given
to a businesswoman in Yuma County that
is an industry leader, has high morals and
integrity, empowers other women and is
a mentor and role model for others. We
would appreciate more nominations coming from the general membership for a
bigger pool of nominees. We are also asking for your input in the form of nominations for the Small Business Person of the
Year. Past honorees include Mike Miller
of PHD, Tom Rush of Yuma Investment
Group, Elyse Tera of SW Integrative Wellness, and Bill & Judy Gresser, the former
owners of Papa San Rice Bowl. The good
news with these last requests, all you need
to do is nominate or vote, as we are in pretty good shape here in the pray and hope
department.
As always, I welcome your thoughts,
so feel free to call me on my cell at 928920-7390, or shoot me an email at john@
yuamchamber.org
Kelly Averitt, Office Manager
If you have questions about your
membership, or any of our events,
please call me at 928-782-2567
NOVEMBER
Volume 2 – Issue 11
2016
Published and direct mailed
monthly by the Yuma County
Chamber of Commerce.
For information or to ask about
submitting articles, call the chamber
office at 928-782-2567 or send us an
e-mail at [email protected]
928-782-2567
180 W. 1st St., Ste A
Yuma, AZ 85364
Mission Statement:
“ To Represent Our Membership
By Advocating A Healthy
Economic Climate Through The
Effective Use Of Our Unique
Regional Resources To Enhance
The Quality Of Life In The
Greater Yuma Area.”
95906
2
YUMABIZ
November 2016
Congratulations to our
November Member of
the Month – El Dorado
Broadcasters
El Dorado Broadcasters,
LLC owns and operates
fifteen radio stations in the
western United States, including markets in Victorville, CA, and Yuma, AZ.
El Dorado Broadcasters, LLC specializes in providing entertainment and
information for each of the
local communities we serve,
as well as creating opportunities
for our advertisers via our on-air
and online properties.
The three radio stations in
Yuma are KBLU
560 AM, KTTI 95.1 FM,
and Star 100.9.
KBLU 560 AM is a
news/talk station that
includes nationally syndicated programs like
Rush Limbaugh, Sean
Hannity and Glenn
Beck as well as local
radio shows like “Chamber
Chatter.”
Yuma County Chamber of Commerce
November Dates to Remember
10 - Good Morning Yuma
Time: 6:30 AM
Location: Pivot Point Conference
Center, 200 N Madison Ave
Sponsor: University of Phoenix
Program: University of Phoenix
Cost: $15/person
11 - Veterans’ Day
Office Closed
14 - Legislative Affairs
12:00 PM, rsvp for lunch
Conference Room at
180 W 1st Street
15 - Board of Directors
3:00 PM
Conference Room at 180 W 1st St
KTTI 95.1 FM has been
coined as “Yuma’s Hot
Country.” They primarily play popular country
music from the 1990s to
present day. The station
features local radio personalities including Amy
Cross and Yuma’s Best
winners Jeff and Misty.
Star (KQSR) 100.9 FM
is known for an
adult
contemporary/Hot AC
format. Star has
a great mix of
syndicated shows
like
“Mornings with Bob &
Sherry” and local on air talent like Allen Davis, Jeff
Edwards, and Misty.
16 - Ambassadors (Wednesday)
11:30 AM
Roundtable Pizza (16th St & Ave B)
16 - Monthly Mixer
Time: 5:30-7:00 PM
Sponsor: D & H Electric
Location: 2333 E Palo Verde Street
Cost: compliments of D & H
23-25 - Thanksgiving Holiday
Office Closed
30 - Military Affairs Committee
8:00 AM
American Legion Post 19
2575 S Virginia Drive
30 - Lunch and Learn Series
Time: 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM
Location: Yuma Golf & Country Club
Title Sponsor: Foothills Bank
Program: “The Effects of the
2016 Election” by: Bill Gresser
Tickets: $20/person
www.ycccnovlunchandlearn.eventbrite.com
For more information on any of these meeting or events please contact the
Chamber Office at (928) 782-2567 or [email protected].
Ira Rosenblatt,
General Manager
El Dorado Broadcasters
755 W 28th Street
Yuma, AZ 85364
(928) 344-4980
http://edbroadcasters.
com/yuma.html
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4
congratulations!
congratulations!
Welcome to our newest members
Open for the Season
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November 2016
Hire a Veteran
tion. And if your company requires security clearances, a veteran can save you a
great deal of money on special background
investigations.
One easy step to hire a vet
Patrick Goetz
Looking to hire a veteran? Then you
probably already know the many reasons
that veterans make excellent employees.
Their military experience has provided
them with education, training, values,
leadership skills and teamwork experience.
Veterans come from a previous culture
built for mission accomplishment in mind.
Veterans are team players; all members of
the military are used to working in a team
environment. Some teams are small, others very large, but all members of the team
know that their individual efforts are to
support the team in reaching the larger
objective. A large percent of those in the
military have had extensive background
checks for various levels of security clearances. When you hire a veteran, they are
less likely to become a risk to your opera-
n
Begin by contacting a Veterans Employment Representative at one of the
ARIZONA@WORK Job Centers by calling
928-329-0990 or 928-247-8754. Let them
know you want to hire a veteran; they will
be able to help you identify potential qualified veterans. They will ask for details and
a job description so they can open an account for your business and post the job
announcement in the ARIZONA@WORK
state job bank and the US.JOBS National
Labor link.
Translate military skills
Many veterans have specific skills that
can be put to good use in your workplace.
To learn about military occupations that
may share skills and work experience with
the jobs you’re hiring for, visit the Civilianto-Military Occupation Translator located
at http://www.careeronestop.org/businesscenter/.
What about tax incentives?
You may also be eligible for a tax
incentive for hiring a veteran. Read
about the Work Opportunity Tax Credit
(WOTC) Vow to Hire Heroes provisions.
Need help with hiring a veteran? Contact your Business Services Representative
at 928-329-0990 or visit http://www.careeronestop.org/businesscenter/.
Information obtained from http://
www.careeronestop.org/businesscenter/
Mark Your
Calendars
For These 3
Family Focused
Community Events
26th Annual Colorado River
Crossing Balloon Festival
Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 11 - 13
Sponsored by Chretin’s Restaurant. The Colorado
River Crossing Balloon Festival is one of Yuma’s
Premier Events. Mass ascensions are at sunrise
from The West Wetlands Park on Saturday
and Sunday, Nov, 12 and 13 and at Gila Vista
Junior High on Friday, Nov. 11. Admission to the
morning launch is a canned food donation for the
Crossroads Mission. The highlight of the festival
is the Balloon Glow at Desert Sun Stadium on
Saturday evening, Nov. 12. The admission to
the glow is $2.00 per person and a canned food
donation for Crossroads Mission. Tethered rides
available for $15 per person.
Ken & Betty Borland Holiday
Light Pageant & Tower Lighting
Saturday, November 26
Festivities begin at 6:30pm. It’s a tradition! Each
year on the Saturday following Thanksgiving,
we usher in the holiday season with a pageant
at Desert Sun Stadium that culminates with the
lighting of the Yuma Friendship Tower. Music
and dancing accompany choirs for the free event
starting at dusk. Admission is canned food for the
Yuma Community Food Bank.
The 2016 El Toro Bowl Game
Saturday, December 3
This game will have national
championship implications. Gates open
at 10:30am. Kickoff is at 1pm. Two of the
best NJCAA football teams in the nation
collide for pride in the El Toro Bowl. The
afternoon game takes place at Veterans
Memorial stadium on the campus of Gila
Ridge High School. The bowl is cosponsored by the Caballeros de Yuma,
Matador Athletic Association and Arizona
Western College.
For more information, please go to: www.caballeros.org
Yuma County Chamber of Commerce
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Ribbon Cuttings
The Sanguinetti House
Museum and Gardens
celebrated this season’s
new
featured exhibit,
SECRETS of Victorian
Yuma. The exhibit allows
you to draw back the
curtain for a revealing
glimpse of the later
Victorian years as they
unfolded in Yuma. Hear
stories hushed overtime
to a low whisper. Victorian years in Yuma
were far more than floral decor and polite
conversation. Thus, the “Secrets!” For more
information on this exhibit please call the
6
To celebrate the completion of a $1.6 million
project to renovate and expand the Salvation
Army Boys and Girls Club, a building
dedication ceremony was held Saturday in
the theater of the newly constructed second
building. The Salvation Army Boys and Girls
Club of Yuma provides an after-school and
all-day summer programs. For a fee, children
ages five through 12 can join. For parents
who are experiencing financial hardship, the
club works with them to provide assistance.
Leadership training for teens, recreational
activities, crafts, imagination stations,
homework assistance, health and fitness, a
computer resource center as well as various
clubs and activities are offered by the club.
The Salvation Army Boys and Girls Club of
Yuma is located at 1100 S. 13th Ave. and can
be reached by calling 928-782-2509.
There is a new SportClips located in the
Foothills at 11231 E. Commercial Centre
Loop, Ste. 104, in the new Shops at Mesa del
Sol shopping center building, in between the
Starbucks and McDonald’s on Interstate 8
Frontage Road just east of S. Fortuna Road.
The franchise’s owner, lifelong Yuman and
farmer Tim Dunn and his wife Eileen, opened
up their first location at 1630 S. Pacific Ave.,
Ste. 103, in November 2011. The new location
in the Foothills, he said, is a result of a large
clientele at the Pacific Avenue location.
Sport Clips touts itself as “the nation’s largest
franchise dedicated to men’s and boys’ hair
care.” The new location in the Foothills joins
more than 1,500 total locations across the U.S.
and Canada. For more information pay them
a visit or call them at (928) 342-1213.
Sanguinetti House at (928) 782-1841 or
pay it a visit at 240 S Madison Avenue. It is
open Tuesday-Saturday, 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m
and admission is $6 for adults, $5 for senior
citizens (60+), and free for children 12 and
under with an adult.
YUMABIZ
November 2016
City’s economic development efforts earn praise
Economic development is a topic that
has been on the minds
of many community members consistently since the crash
of 2008. New news
reporters ask about it.
Councilmembers
ask
for special briefings on
it. And whenever new
unemployment figures
are released, the questions always come in to
the City: what is the City
doing to help improve its Kevin Wilkins
economy?
The answer is complex, and the results
aren’t always obvious to the naked eye.
But even though Kevin Wilkins, the City’s
Economic Development Administrator,
recently announced his resignation for
personal reasons, he remains bullish on
Yuma’s future. And his peers agree that the
direction in which this region is traveling
since his arrival will continue to bear fruit
in upcoming months and years.
“Yuma is being held up and an example
of how rural communities can craft policy
that enhances and incentivizes economic
development activity outside of the Sun
Corridor,” he said. “Several Arizona communities are looking at how Yuma is able to
respond quickly and effectively to prospect activity with conservative
incentives that are compliant Arizona statute.
In addition, the community development team
has established a reputation outside of the area
for being both proactive
and innovative in meeting the needs of business
through the use of predevelopment meetings
and preliminary site
brainstorming.”
Wilkins’ contributions to the economic development effort
were noted by those in the community
who worked with him. Richard Neault,
whose development of the innovative Veterans Neurological Research Center in the
former Super Kmart building is one of the
more exciting things on Yuma’s horizon,
said, “Yuma has been very fortunate to
have Kevin’s knowledge and desire to get
things done. Kevin thinks outside the box
and researches potentials for the city. He
brought no negative to projects and just
wanted to make Yuma great.”
“As a relative newcomer to Yuma, I
have been impressed with the Economic
Development efforts of the entire region,”
said Paul Brierley, Executive Director of
the University of Arizona’s Yuma Center
of Excellence for Desert Agriculture, citing the teamwork between UA, the City,
Greater Yuma Economic Development
Corp., Yuma Visitors Bureau, Yuma County, the Yuma County Chamber of Commerce and the other cities and towns within the county. “Kevin Wilkins at the City
of Yuma has been instrumental in bringing
all of this together by cultivating new ideas
and bringing together the various entities
mentioned above in pursuing them.”
Julie Engel, President and CEO of
GYEDC, added “I’m certain everyone who
had the good fortune of working with him
also learned from him. It was a refreshing
perspective to have a new set of eyes viewing our region and embracing our multicultural assets. Several projects culminated
during his time at the City and he played
a very critical role in the success of these.”
As examples of economic development
success during Wilkins’ time in Yuma, Brierley cited facilitating Yossarian Capital
Partners in their efforts to “bootstrap projects to better the Yuma area”; spearheading teams from the area to travel to other
areas with innovative ideas for collaboration; and working to create an ecosystem
of innovation and entrepreneurism here.
“Kevin has always asked the questions that
made you think, and Yuma is better off for
it,” Brierley said.
Another accomplishment is the cocoordination of 4FrontED, a multinational
effort among local municipalities in both
Yuma County and in neighboring Mexico
to bond together as a region for the purpose of creating and promoting economic
development. “The 4FrontED is a testament to the changes that occurred under
his efforts,” Engel said.
Ahead of his departure, Wilkins leaves
the Yuma area on solid footing. “Yuma has
been noted as leading (recently awarded
by the Arizona Planners) in efforts toward
establishing a binational region and working relationships with our neighboring
communities on both sides of the border.
This creates an attitude for solidifying the
reputation of the community globally and
as a location for international commerce.
“An upcoming mission to establish
a working relationship with a Canadian
community on the northern end of the
Canamex Corridor, as well as the theme
of the upcoming Southwest
Arizona Futures
Forum further
demonstrate
that commitment and economic leadership.”
Residents and visitors
looking for a place to
hold a special event
that takes advantages
of Yuma’s fall, winter
and spring weather are invited to consider
the newly improved Sunset Terrace at the
Yuma Civic Center. Built under a Capital
Improvement Project using development fees
that were facing expiration, the City unveiled
the improved Sunset Terrace October 12th.
Highlights of project include the following:
overhead structures for lighting and
decorations, permanent food service areas
with access to electricity
for
food
warmers,
permanent bar area with
a hand washing station,
lighting upgrades to
LED technology A raised ‘head table’ area
with an overhead structure for lighting and
decorations, a raised platform for ceremony
/ speaker / band / DJ, a raised platform
for display of gifts, cake etc., and all new
raised areas are ADA accessible. For more
information on the Sunset Terrace located at
the Yuma Civic Center, 1440 W Desert Hills
Drive or to book an event call (928) 373-5040.
Ribbon Cuttings
Yuma County Chamber of Commerce
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7
Committee Updates
LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS
Next Meeting: November 14th at noon
Old City Hall Conference Room;
Please RSVP for lunch
• Airport, Gladys Wiggins: In early August 2016, Airports throughout our
state were informed of ADOT’s Airport
Development Grant Reimbursement
Payment Deferrals. Presently there are
over 57 Grant Reimbursement Requests
from 27 of the 83 public use airports
in which have been deferred. To date
it is approximately $4.7M. Of the current $4.7M, Yuma International Airport
and Rolle Airfield Grant Awards are
$1.7M of the deferred reimbursements
and I am projecting the close out of one
award within 30 days which will bring
my deferred reimbursement to just under $2M.
• 1/17/17 is Aviation Day at the State
Capital
• City of Yuma, Councilman Gary
Knight: Water & Sewer Capacity fees
should see a 10% reduction if everything in approved in November
• The offsite sign ordinance (electric billboards) was resolved
• Introduction of an ordinance that will
make pro tem judge appointments 3
year terms, currently they are lifetime
• Proposition 407, all funds go to public
safety and roads, $6 million dollars in
For every
“oh no,”
there’s an
“oh yeah.”
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8
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Next meeting:
Tuesday, November 15th at 3:00 PM
Old City Hall Conference Room;
Members Welcome
• The Chamber’s Annual Awards and Installation Dinner will be held on Friday,
January 27th at AWC, John pitched a
few themes to the Board of Directors
• The Chamber continues to advocate
voting no on Prop 205 regarding recreational marijuana because the bill itself
is bad for business, voting no on Prop
206 because increasing the minimum
wage to $12/hour is bad for business,
and voting yes on Prop 407, the 3/10 of
a cent sales tax increase because anyone
who spends money in Yuma will be contributing, not just the property owners
• John spoke about the Annual Arizona
Chamber Executives Conference he attended and the differences between how
chambers were run 10 years ago versus
now
• John also shared that 1st Bank Yuma
will be sponsoring him so he can attend
the November Arizona Town Hall, “Financing Arizona’s Future”
• The Board of Directors had a discussion about the upcoming election to
fill the 4 vacancies there will be, Kathy
Ahuactzin of 24 Karat will be running
for a second term plus a slate of candidates will be compiled for the member’s
to vote from (the ballot can be found in
this edition of YumaBIZ on page 10)
AMBASSADORS
Next meeting:
Wednesday, November 16th, 11:30 AM
Roundtable Pizza, 2544 W 16th Street;
Members Welcome
Cathy Nuetzi, Agent
Insurance Lic#: 0D44215
2896 S Avenue B
Yuma, AZ 85364
Bus: 928-344-9442
1606042
the projection for the first year, if passed
City Administration cannot bring a request to increase
• Chamber, John Courtis: Southwest
United Networks (SUN) will be doing a letter writing campaign, after the
election, to State Legislators regarding
HURF sweeps
State Farm County Mutual Insurance Company of Texas
Dallas, TX
• The Ambassadors had some potential new committee members attend
the October meeting: Kari Tatar of the
Salvation Army, Gel Lemmon & John
Lizarraga of Candlewood Suites, and
YUMABIZ
Christy Sopher from the Holiday Inn
Express
• The Board of Directors has authorized
the purchase of new polo shirts for all of
the Ambassadors sometime before the
end of 2016
• The October Mixer will be held at Yuma
Investment Group and the November
mixer will be hosted by D & H Electric
on November 16th
• November’s Good Morning Yuma is
being sponsored by the University of
Phoenix and they will also put together
a program for that morning
• The Ambassadors have 4 Ribbon Cuttings in November: Nov 1st Re/Max San
Luis, Nov 4th Valentin Guzman Insurance & Real Estate, Nov 10th Alcala Legal Documents, and Nov 17th B1 Elite
Fitness and Laser Gals
MILITARY AFFAIRS (MAC)
Next meeting:
Wed, November 30th at 8:00 AM
American Legion Post 19,
2575 S Virginia Dr
• This was the first meeting under Chuck
LeDrew’s direction
• The committee decided to have a presence in the upcoming Veterans’ Day Parade
• The YCCC MAC’s Military Appreciation Day will be Saturday, February 4th
and the event will take place at AWC,
John Courtis said the he would handle
the marketing/promotion of this event
and selling the major sponsorships, the
remainder of the work needs to be done
by the committee A sub-committee was
then formed that includes Dean Hager
Gabby Herwig, Alan Pruitt, and Teri
Womack, they will need to have planning meetings to make this event a success
• Several committees and organizations
were in attendance to give reports regarding their military affairs efforts,
they include: MCAS-Yuma, YPG, AWC
Veterans’ Services, AMVETS Post #2,
American Legion Post 19, APS, Navy
League-Yuma Council, Marine Corps
League Detachment 635, MOA of
America, Veterans Assisted Living, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1763, Right
Turn for Yuma Vets, Vietnam Vets of
America Chapter 835, US Navy Sea CaNovember 2016
dets Corps, Yuma County Chamber of
Commerce, Yuma Armed Forces Park,
Crossroads Mission, Yuma VA Clinic,
Arizona @ Work DES, Yuma Border
Patrol, Yuma’s Vet Center, Team Red
White and Blue, Goodwill/Employer
Support of Guard and Reserve
Transportation
Committee
Next meeting
Thursday December 15th at 10:30 AM
Chamber Office,
180 W 1st Street, Ste A
• The Yuma Association of Realtors gave
the Yuma Region Bicycle Coalition a
$2,500 grant for road signage
• Yuma will host the “Lettuce Ride” on
Yuma County Chamber of Commerce
February 25th
• American Airlines at the Yuma International Airport is testing having one’s
boarding pass on his/her cell phone
• Starting 11/30/2016 American Airlines
will be flying SRJ700s which have 6 first
class seats and 64 coach
• YPG is making use of vRide’s carpooling vans, they figure that they have taken 1,400 cars off of the roads with the
use of 37 vans
• YMPO is in the process of hiring a new
Executive Director, an offer has been
made to someone that has worked in
the transportation field for a long time
• The City and the County presented
their respective road project reports,
for a copy of these please email Kelly at
[email protected]
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9
The Board of Directors has four (4)
openings for the 2017-2019 term. Below are
the seven (7) candidates approved by the
current Board of Directors. Please select
the four (4) individuals you would most list
to see represent you as a member of the
Yuma County Chamber of Commerce.
 Kathy Ahuactzin*
Owner, 24 Karat
 Dr. Robert
Trenschel
CEO, Yuma
Regional Medical
Center
 Lisa Reilly
Publisher,
Yuma Sun
 Dr. Steve
Cummings
Owner, Cummings
Chiropractic
 Edward Arvizo
Loan Officer,
Academy Mortgage
Town of Wellton Fire
Department Welcomes
New Tender Truck
On October 20, 2016 at approximately
8:45a.m, firefighters from the Wellton Fire
Department welcomed their Custom 2015
Rosenbauer Tender truck. The water tender, which took approximately 10 months
to build, will serve as a mobile fire hydrant
and will respond to any report of a fire
where no fire hydrants are available, such
as remote rural structures, brushfires and
vehicle fires on highways. The new water
tender will carry 4,000 gallons and can deploy water while moving down the road.
This feature will be synced with remote
control nozzles that can be controlled from
inside the cab. These types of features add
versatility to their resources and will be
extremely helpful during operations in the
rural areas.
The specifications and the design of
the water tender were done by Fire ef ’s
Chief Mark Rivera and Battalion Chief
David Rodriguez. Both Chi sat down and
designed the water tender from scratch to
fit the Town of Wellton community needs.
Once the water tender was built, both
Chief ’s flew to the Rosenbauer manufacturing facility, in South Dakota, where
they did a bumper to bumper inspection.
 Argelia Morales
Associate Broker,
Re/Max Territory
 Jeff Byrd
AVP Community Relations Officer,
1st Bank Yuma
*Current Board Member Seeking Re-Election
Please return this ballot to the Chamber Office no later than
Monday, November 13th at 5:00 PM. You can return your ballot in the mail or drop off at
180 W. 1st St., Ste. A, email it to [email protected], or fax it to (928) 247-6509.
10
Firefighters pictured from left to right: Firefighter Randy Reyes, Engineer Jose Gomez,
Firefighter Felix Reyes, Firefighter Edgar Cuevas and Firefighter Omar Flores
YUMABIZ
November 2016
Startup Weekend Helps Promote Local
Entrepreneurship
By Dr. Rakesh Pangasa
Northern Arizona University Yuma
Branch Campus and other local sponsors
held a “Startup Weekend” in Yuma on October 14-16 to help aspiring entrepreneurs
launch their business ideas. The 54-hour
weekend event was designed to assist
startup enthusiasts with the development
of their ideas for new businesses or technologies and preparation of a prototype
or a demonstration by the third and final
day of the event. Startup Weekends are
growing around the United States and are
now held in over 100 countries. The Yuma
event attracted ten smart and passionate
participants from several different organizations who shared and evaluated business their ideas, formed entrepreneurial
teams to design and develop products or
services, developed a business model, and
presented their proposal to launch a new
business venture to a panel of judges. All
activities occurred within 54 hours over
the three-day weekend.
Four guest speakers, two facilitators,
four mentors and three judges supported
participants through the exciting and professionally rewarding event. Ultimately,
three entrepreneurial teams were formed
to work on new business ventures which
included:
• Desert Snow - A new, shaved ice experience for Downtown Yuma and
the AWC campus area.
• SmartHome Solutions - Yuma’s onestop shop to retrofit their home to
smarter technologies.
• CocEff - An app that helps you track
your inventory of groceries and
suggests recipes based on what you
have on hand and/or are craving
The Desert Snow team’s idea placed first
in the judging and won a prize of $1,000.
The SmartHome Solutions placed second
winning $500 in B2B Marketing resources
from the Yuma County Chamber of Commerce and a Profit Mastery Course from
Arizona Western College’s Small Business
Development Center (SBDC). The CocEff food app placed third and was also
awarded a Profit Mastery Course from the
SBDC.
Startup Weekend was sponsored by
Yossarian Capital Partners and NAU Yuma
Business & Administration Department
(Platinum sponsors); the Yuma County
Chamber of Commerce and the Small
Business Development Center of Arizona
Western College (Gold sponsors); and
NEXGEN, Prison Hill Brewing Co., and
North End Coffee House (Silver sponsors).
Startup Weekend is part of the ongoing
efforts of the NAU Yuma Business Innova-
tion Accelerator to promote entrepreneurship and economic development in the
southwestern Arizona region. The Accelerator operates under the direction of Dr.
Pangasa, a business professor at NAU, and
the Business & Administration Department. Another Startup Weekend is being
planned by the B&A Department for the
spring of 2017. All persons interested in
entrepreneurship are welcome to participate regardless of age or business experience.
For additional information, please contact: Dr. Rakesh Pangasa, Director, NAU
Yuma Business Innovation Accelerator,
[email protected] 928-317-7112.
2750 S. Pacific Ave, Ste B • Yuma, AZ 85365
Phone: (928) 246-2327 • Fax: (928) 726-1105
Email: [email protected] • Website: www.freedomlibrary.org
20th Annual Constitution Forum
Featuring
Aybuke Keehn
The Value of the
Constitution and
the Bill of Rights
Thursday, December 1st, 2016 • 6-9pm
at
Prison Hill Brewery
278 S. Main St., Yuma, Arizona
Come have a great time socializing with friends and
making new ones to celebrate liberty and learn from an
individual who truly knows the value of individual freedom.
An opportunity to bid on your favorite beer
with the Bill of Rights label.
Contact The Freedom Library for more information at [email protected] or 928-246-2327
Door Prizes, Books for Sale, and a 50/50 raffle available.
ALL ProCeeDS BeneFit the FreeDom LiBrAry SChoLArShiP FunD to heLP yumA AreA
inDiviDuALS unDerStAnD the “FreeDom PhiLoSoPhy” AnD the u.S. ConStitution
The Freedom Library, inc. is a 501 (C) (3) corporation under internal revenue Service guidelines
Supported Activity United Way of Yuma County
Yuma County Chamber of Commerce
YUMABIZ
11
military continued from page 1
row for members of a deploying squadron
and their families, serving some 120 diners
a night.
“It was a way to say thank you to the
troops,” he said. “For me it’s a way to give
back.”
That’s whether chairing the Military
Affairs Committee, helping with the new
Sea Cadets program for ages 13-17 or
working with Crossroads Mission in support of homeless veterans.
Whatever the occasion, there’s a common thread, LeDrew said, “a sense of belonging … a sense of pride in what Yuma
and its military contribute to the nation’s
defense.”
It’s also a vital part of the community,
the second largest contributor to the local
economy after agriculture. YPG generates $450 million and MCAS-Yuma $817
million in combined revenue for the city
and state’s coffers. The installations also
provide thousands of civilian jobs, many
of them high tech, well-paying year-round
positions. And they attract thousands of
visitors – many from other countries –
each year to the community to observe
operations, take part in testing and train.
YPG traces its history back to World
War II with the Desert Training Center,
where troops trained for combat in North
Africa. It also was a site for testing combat
bridge building.
Today, at 1,300 square miles, YPG is
one of the largest military installations in
the U.S., providing lots of room for testing
nearly everything in the Army’s ground
combat arsenal and for other countries as
well, said Chuck Wullenjohn, YPG public
affairs officer. Because the installation is
shaped like a horseshoe around Imperial
National Wildlife Refuge, YPG also controls 2,000 miles of air space up to high
altitudes – that’s why NASA comes here
to test parachutes used on space capsules,
and YPG increasingly is being used to test
drones.
“We have a heavy workload,” Wullenjohn said. “We conduct a variety of tests
every day … 60 to 90 tests a week. In a
typical year, 500,000 miles are driven in
test vehicles, there are 6,000 to 7,000 aircraft missions and we fire 25,000 or more
artillery shells.”
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More than 2,400 people work at YPG, some 90
percent of them civilian,
with a $150 million payroll, Wullenjohn said. Not
only do those employees
live in Yuma and spend
their paychecks here,
they’re an integral part
of the community, leading Boy Scouts, coaching
baseball teams and teaching at Arizona Western
College – one person in
his office teaches English, another computer design.
In addition, more than 500,000 visitors
come each year to observe or take part in
tests. They, too, spend their money locally
on plane tickets, rental cars, hotel rooms
and restaurants.
The history of MCAS dates back to
1928 when Col. Benjamin F. Fly persuaded
the federal government to lease 640 acres
of desert from Yuma County at $1 a year
for 20 years and Fly Field became the center of attention in Yuma. The field was used
sporadically by private aircraft until 1941;
in 1929, famed aviatrix Amelia Earhart ran
off the runway in Yuma while competing
in the first Women’s Air Derby.
With the entry by the United States
into World War II, an air base was built
and by early 1943 Yuma Army Air Field
began graduating classes of pilots. However, all air flight activity ceased after the
war ended.
In an effort to convince the government to reopen the airfield, the community staged the longest flight in 1949, with
pilots Bob Woodhouse and Woody Jongeward setting an endurance record of 1,124
hours spent in the air.
Two years later, the Air Force reactivated the base. In 1959, it was signed over
to the Navy and today is the busiest air
station in the Marine Corps with access
to more than 1 million acres of bombing
and aviation training ranges and superb
flying weather – as Woodhouse and Jongeward had demonstrated with their historic
flight.
Each year, numerous aviation units
come to MCAS Yuma to train. That included more than 12,000 Marines and foreign forces.
YUMABIZ
Photo by Chuck Wullenjohn
An M1 Abrams Main Battle Tank on one of
the 240 miles of test courses at YPG.
“No where else in the world do you
have the availability of the training ranges
we have here,” said MCAS Yuma Community Relations Officer Robert Misemer,
“such as the Barry M. Goldwater Range
Complex and the Chocolate Mountain
Aerial Gunnery Range.”
The air station also is home to a number of units, including Marine Operational
Test and Evaluation Squadron 22 (VMX1), Marine Aircraft Group 13 (MAG -13),
Marine Air Control Squadron 1 (MACS1), Marine Fighter Training Squadron 401
(VMFT-401), Combat Logistics Company
16 (CLC-16) and more recently Marine
Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron 1
(VMU-1) while Marine Fighter Attack
Squadron 211 (VMFA-211) transitioned
from the AV-8B Harrier to the F-35 in
June.
“MCAS Yuma is going to be the aviation training center of excellence and
that is going to transpire over the coming
years,” Misemer said. “That means that all
the aircraft the Marine Corps flies will be
relocated to Yuma for training purposes.”
When it comes to the air station’s relationship with the Yuma communities and
governmental entities, Misemer called it
“unique and special,” saying there is nothing like it anywhere else in the country.
“The commanding officer, and those
who have preceded him here, have gone on
record many times saying this is the best
military base in the U.S. Marine Corps, if
not the entire Department of Defense, because of its friendship with the residents of
Yuma. It’s great the community appreciates
us and we appreciate the community.”
November 2016
Yuma Regional Medical Center
Dr. Tsai &
Dr. Ravikumar
CARDIOTHORACIC SURGEONS
Because your heart deserves the best,
Yuma Regional Medical Center is
expanding our team of heart surgeons.
Along with years of clinical expertise,
our new surgeons bring advanced
techniques and personalized heart
care to Yuma.
yumaregional.org/heartsurgeons
Yuma County Chamber of Commerce
YUMABIZ
928-336-1675
13
Yuma: a conduit for electricity & customer savings
BY ANNA CHAULK
Yuma is no stranger to travelers. In
fact, for centuries this welcoming place
has been an important resource for visitors
passing through -- dating back to when
early explorers discovered and named
“Yuma Crossing” as an ideal place to cross
the Colorado River.
Today, this city is still a prime spot to
cross the river, for humans and electrons
alike.
Last month, APS entered into the Energy Imbalance Market (EIM). This is an
electricity market system managed by the
California Independent System Operator
(CAISO) with participants from across the
western United States. It is a unique system
because it enables us to buy and sell power
in shorter intervals – every five minutes
vs. every hour – so we can be more flexible and nimble in our response to market
demand.
That flexibility is becoming increasingly important with the rise of renewable energy. Today we have more than one
gigawatt of solar energy on our system. By
its nature, solar and all renewable energy
is unpredictable and intermittent. For example, every passing cloud changes solar
output, and we have to respond quickly
and cost-effectively to close that loss of solar production with other power sources.
But on clear, sunny days, when it shines, it
pours. Let me explain.
Utilities throughout the West can experience times when a surge in renewable energy production puts more power
into the grid than is needed to meet their
demand. In other words, there is an imbalance between how much energy is being generated and when and where it is
needed. When that happens, APS is able
to obtain that excess energy through the
EIM at low prices, saving money for APS
customers. This pricing dynamic, along with lower
production costs and the fast balancing of
supply and demand that the EIM enables,
is estimated to save between $7 million
and $18 million per year. APS passes all of
these cost savings directly on to customers through the Power Supply Adjustor on
your bills.
Our power plants will continue to be
the first and primary source of energy to
meet APS customer demand. When that
demand exceeds what we can supply from
our own assets, the EIM expands APS’s
access to all forms of generation at lower
prices than other markets.
Our decision to participate in the EIM
is another example of how we’re providing
our customers with a cleaner, stronger and
smarter system to meet their changing energy needs. Any proven technology that allows us to be innovative and flexible in the
way we power our customers’ lives - while
cutting costs - is important to Arizona’s energy future.
As a gateway between Arizona and California, Yuma plays a special role in that
future. Last year’s completion of HANG
2, a 110-mile transmission line stretching
from here to Phoenix, is making electricity’s commute from where it is generated
to where it is needed even more efficient.
So we are continuing to serve as a site
of safe passage not just for travelers, but for
electricity and a greater flow of continued
customer savings.
aps.com
14
YUMABIZ
November 2016
Gear Up for Tons of
Fun in Yuma!
Is this not the best time of year for
Yuma, or what? Businesses which closed
during the summer have reopened their
doors and residents are opening the windows to revel in what truly makes Yuma an
exceptional winter getaway: the weather!
In fact, it’s the reason Yuma makes the
Weather.com list of “Best Winter Escapes.”
But, before we get carried away with simply selling sunshine, our community’s
commitment to providing an assortment
of things to do for all ages and interests, for
locals and for travelers, remains one of the
greatest selling points for the Gateway of
the Great Southwest. From ballooning to
brewing, this November has something for
everyone!
Earlier this year, Caballeros de Yuma
published a new website for the Colorado
River Crossing Balloon Festival. Now, anybody planning to attend Yuma County’s
high-flying event can visit CRCBalloons.
com for details. The hot air spectacle takes
place Nov. 11-13.
Then, on Saturday, Nov. 19, Yuma Visitors Bureau presents the Rio de Cerveza
Brew Fest. With upwards of 80 different
craft brews anticipated, live music by Yuma’s own Checker’d Past, delicious food
from local favorites, and awesome lawn
games, Desert Sun Stadium will be the
place to be! Better yet: we’ve lowered presale ticket prices this year and are offering
active duty military and veteran discounts
at RiodeCerveza.com.
Nominate Someone for the
Small Business Person
of the Year 2016
Within our community there are undoubtedly many individuals
who are outstanding and operate a successful business. We
urge you to nominate a member you feel has, “the independent
entrepreneurial spirit that plays such a vital role in building our
community and its economy.” Historically the winner of this
award is an innovator and an industry leader.
Past Winners include: Mike Miller off PHD, Tom Rush of Yuma
Investment Group, Elyse Tera from Southwest Integrative Wellness,
and Bill and Judy Gresser former owners of Papa San.
To nominate someone for this prestigious award or for more information please
contact Kelly at the Chamber office by phone (928) 782-2567
or send an email to [email protected].
November 2016 Events:
Nov. 3 – Thursdays at the Theatre
(Historic Yuma Theatre)
Nov. 3 – View & Brew (Prison Hill
Brewing Co.)
Nov. 3 – Season Reopening and
Health Fair (Arizona Market Place)
Nov. 4 – Un-Wined fundraiser for
The Children’s Museum of Yuma
County (The Patio Restaurant &
Bar at The Hills)
Nov. 5 – City of Somerton Corn
Festival (Main Street & State
Avenue in Somerton)
Nov. 5 – Children’s Festival of the
Arts (Historic Downtown Yuma)
Nov. 9 – Bike Nights (Penny’s Diner)
WHAT HAPPENS
Nov. 11 – Veterans Day Parade (4th
Avenue in Yuma)
IN YUMA
Nov. 12 – Turkey Trot Fun Run and
Walk (Gateway Park)
IS YOUR BUSINESS!
Keep up with what can
affect your business by
reading the Yuma Sun
Nov. 12 – YumaCon (Yuma Civic
Center)
Nov. 15-18 – San Luis Film Festival
(Cesar Chavez Cultural Center in
San Luis)
Nov. 18 – North End Art Walk
(Historic Downtown Yuma)
Nov. 26 – Ken & Betty Borland
Holiday Pageant & Tower
Lighting (Friendship Park)
Your subscription includes
• Office Delivery of the Yuma Sun
• Full Online Access on 5 Devices
• E-Edition Access • Mobile App
For a full event schedule, visit the redesigned
VisitYuma.com AND stop by the Yuma VisA R I Z O N A
itor Information Center at 201 N. 4th Avenue to pick up the 2016-2017 Yuma VisiY U M A V I S I T O R S B U R E A U tors Guide!
Yuma County Chamber of Commerce
YUMABIZ
Call: 928-783-3333
Email: [email protected]
Online: www.yumasun.com/subscribe
15
PRSRT STD
U.S. POSTAGE PAID
YUMA AZ
PERMIT NO 42
Our customers are important to us
as your customers are to you!
Terry Farr
EVP/Chief
Credit Officer
David
Dirlam
VP/Senior
Lending
Officer
Tom
Thompson
VP/Senior
Lending
Officer
Carol Engler, Owner
Liberty Properties - Carol & Company
“I’ve been with 1st Bank Yuma since they opened.
My banker is willing to think outside the box and I
love all the people there! At 1st Bank Yuma a live
person answers the phone, not just a voicemail
receptionist. I make great business decisions with
the help of my personal banker, Tom Thompson.”
Adalberto & Maria Robles, Owners
Papa-San Rice Bowl Restaurant
“The loan officers at 1st Bank Yuma worked diligently
to structure a business loan so that we could purchase
Papa-San Rice Bowl Restaurant.
Frank
Enriquez
VP/
Commercial
Loan Officer
We like banking with them for the convenience, customer
service and fief ciency. We are grateful and appreciate
all of the help that 1st Bank Yuma has given us.”
Travis
Hice
VP/
Commercial
Loan Officer
Join hundreds of other businesses customers today that bank with us!
“Hometown Banking- 1st in Service”
16
2799 S. 4th Ave • 1800 S. 4th Ave
11600 S. Fortuna Rd.
654 N. 1st Ave., San Luis, AZ
Locally owned and operated
www.1stBANKYUMA.com
YUMABIZ
Brian
Geren
VP/
Commercial
Loan Officer
November 2016