Yet another meeting of three major area Chambers of Commerce, including Seal Beach, Los Alamitos and Cypress, happened again last week, with leaders and members from each of those Chambers getting together for an after-hours get-together at the Joint Forces Training Base in Los Alamitos.
“Thank you for coming out tonight,” said Richie Barnes, a Farmers & Merchants Bank executive who simultaneously serves as President of the Los Alamitos and the Seal Beach Chambers of Commerce.
The event was promoted as the Chambers’ way to celebrate Independence Day as it was promoted as an America 250 event.
Barnes has uniquely proposed a series of innovative “outreach” projects during his tenure, as he continues to promote greater dialogue among businesspeople in the three Chambers. Leo Medrano, Mayor of Cypress, was among the cadre of elected officials attending the event.
While Thursday’s tri-city Chamber event was successful, there is another one planned for August 3.
Guest speaker Lt. Col. Jubilee Satele, Commander of the Base, did what even military people do when they are around businesspeople; he spoke business.
He gave them a running account of major modernization projects ongoing at the base, including the replacement of buildings lost or damaged in a fire one year ago that Satele said would amount to a renovation project valued at more than $30 million.
“The total cost for all of these projects is $31 million,” Satele said.
Satele said the construction at the base will last at least five years, maybe longer, and will include major enhancements, if not replacements of the Post Exchange (PX), the Army Readiness Center, among other improvements.
If the base can find the funding, Satele said roads there need replacing. Moreover, Lt. Col. Satele said “I’ll come back” to keep the business community informed.
George O’Hara, President of the Cypress Chamber, who was bedazzled with his complete, sparkling, red, white and blue retinue, thanked Barnes and Lt. Col. Satele for the invite, and said it was a pleasure for the members belonging to the three cities’ Chambers get together.
In addition, O’Hara said he was a graduate of the 1976 Bicentennial class of Cypress High School, saying “our senior class was filled with celebration, fireworks and red, white and blue.“
O’Hara, an insurance executive from Cypress, said he was thankful for the baes and “I’m also thankful for being born in the USA and becoming a fortunate beneficiary of our national prosperity, made possible by the bravery and sacrifice of our fathers and forefathers.”
O’Hara thanked Ann Mallari of WeCare Los Alamitos and Teresa Murphy of Precious Life Shelter for providing the evening’s entertainment, singer Katrina Brianna and Toni Hagher, from Los Al Chamber, for making the arrangements.
What a pleasure, he said, “to participate in this beautiful event commemorating this unique time in American history.”
He invited everyone to attend the next tri-city mixer. It will be held at Rainbow Cone Ice Cream shop in Cypress, from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Aug. 3. Free ice cream!