85.7 F
San Fernando
Friday, Mar 29, 2024

Familiar Groups Charged With Boosting Valley Business

Familiar Groups Charged With Boosting Valley Business By SLAV KANDYBA Staff Reporter The gold letters on the Van Nuys Boulevard face of the brown, three-story building across from the Van Nuys-Sherman Oaks Park unassumingly spell “The Economic Alliance of the San Fernando Valley.” On the shorter sides of the building are letters and logos spelling out “VEDC,” “VICA,” and several other acronyms. The people and organizations inside the building at 5121 Van Nuys Blvd. are watchdogs, supporters and promoters of the San Fernando Valley’s diverse business community. There are five organizations housed inside the building, each with their mission precisely defined: The Economic Alliance, Valley Industry and Commerce Association, Valley International Trade Association, The United Chambers of Commerce and the Valley Economic and Development Center. While serving different business purposes, from providing micro loan lending to political advocacy and international trade, the agencies form a sum of parts that is the economic central command of the Valley. Without them, the Valley’s business community would be less cohesive. “The same people are to a large degree the visionaries,” said David Goodreau, an executive board member of VEDC and executive director of the Small Manufacturers Association of California, based in Glendale. He was referring to the members of the boards, who, like himself, are involved in numerous other boards. But Goodreau was careful to distinguish between a “clique” and a set of people who care and who are experienced. “The same people do it because they understand the game and the players,” Goodreau said. “It’s a real steep learning curve.” The agencies represent the needs and interests of the Valley business community, because average businesses “just don’t have the stomach for it,” Goodreau said. Not only do Economic Alliance and VEDC officials have the guts for it, they are looking at it as a “labor of love” where “you enjoy the company of the people you keep,” Goodreau said. Jerry Pollak, a Sherman Oaks-based architect, said he was impressed by the Economic Alliance’s presentation featuring controversial developer and L.A.P.D. Commissioner Rick Caruso. “They get the best speakers from the county,” Pollak said. Economic Alliance events and networking have led to business partnerships. “I’m probably the only architect that goes to the meetings,” Pollak said. “The value to me is that it gives a perspective of the programs that are available that affect the lives in the Valley.” “They managed to get speakers every month … it adds to my background of the Valley,” Pollak said. Another organization in the building is United Chambers of Commerce. It is composed of 24 member chambers that represent 8,000 businesses and 250,000 employees. The organizations “roots go back to the turn of the century,” its Web site claims. It’s currently chaired by Joel Simon. Marketing component Marketing is a big component of the Economic Alliance, which is responsible for a number of the banners on light posts promoting the Valley. Tony Ceballos, an international trade specialist with the U.S. Commercial Service, a division of the U.S. Department of Commerce, is a member of the board of the Valley International Trade Association, which works closely with the Economic Alliance. Ceballos’ office is in L.A., but he has a satellite office at Pierce College. Most of the VITA board, in fact, is not based in the Valley. “It’s because the Valley doesn’t have an international trade infrastructure,” Ceballos said. “The board draws from people who are experienced in international trade.” The organization holds breakfast meetings at the Economic Alliance building nine times during the year, with each addressing trade issues. Whereas “there are about 10 to 20 per month in L.A.,” VITA breakfasts are the only trade-related events in the Valley. But Ceballos hopes to do more counseling and hands-on work, and utilize the Economic Alliance, which he calls “the master collaborator.” VITA and the Economic Alliance are joined at the hip, with “cross-promotion” being the tie that binds. When VITA has an event, the Economic Alliance promotes it to its loyal following of chambers and others; when the Economic Alliance has an event, VITA publicizes it to its members. “We try to support each other,” Ceballos said. Ayse Oge, an international trade consultant, enterpreneur and author based in Encino, joined the VITA board last year. She volunteered to be program director and is organizing speaker series that are held every month. “People drive from Bakersfield, Orange County for these meetings,” Oge said. “We have quality speakers.”

Featured Articles

Related Articles