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Friday, Mar 29, 2024

THE CHAMBER REPORT

By IVY WEISS Contributing Reporter Samantha Kulchar has recently joined the Woodland Hills-Tarzana Chamber of Commerce as its new executive director. She has over 15 years experience as a right hand to CEOs in New York and Los Angeles. Samantha worked for large companies such as Zurich, Credit Suisse, Symantec and Cushman & Wakefield, as well as several startups and private high net worth individuals. Her expertise was in implementing and improving corporate infrastructure and policies and procedures in areas such as HR, operations, sales and marketing. Kulchar credits the CEOs she has supported, ” as well as from my late father, who owned a successful Wall Street technical recruiting firm for 30 years.” She plans to apply all her experience and knowledge to assisting chambers in the growth and success of their businesses. Her vision for the Chamber is to continue to expand and enhance the successful state it is already in. She is working on improving procedures and getting the Chamber office into top organizational shape so that the members will be better served. She is also planning on implementing new and innovative advertising and marketing strategies to help members maximize their business exposure and fully realize the value of their Chamber membership. She said she is working to achieve tremendous growth for the Chamber and “put us on the map as the largest, most innovative Chamber in the Valley.” Kulchar acknowledges that her transition into the Chamber world has been made easier due to the people she works with on a daily basis. She credits a supportive and hard-working board of directors and chairperson, Deborah Sable, whose active participation and hard work make everyone’s jobs so much easier. Kulchar also recognizes the Chamber team of Jen Svedja, Director of Business Development and Diana Williams, Director of Member Support. “These ladies are two of the most dynamic and inspirational people I’ve ever had the pleasure of working with and I couldn’t do any of this without them,” she said. Kulchar, who moved to California from New York City seven years ago, lives in Agoura Hills with her 12-year-old daughter. VALLEY BRIEFS Canoga Park/West Hills: The November Network Breakfast will be sponsored by Mooney Industries. The breakfast will be Nov. 20 at Hometown Buffet in West Hills. Call (818) 884-4222 for a reservation. Also on on Nov. 20 will be the Multi-Chamber Speed Networking Mixer hosted by the Canoga Park/West Hills; Chatsworth/Porter Ranch; Encino; Woodland Hills-Tarzana Chambers. The event starts at 6 p.m., at the Canoga Park Lutheran & Trinity School. Call (818) 884-4222 for a reservation. Encino: The Encino Chamber is conducting a CPR clinic on Nov. 22 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Chamber office. The class is appropriate for health professionals and lay personnel. The cost for the class is $45 per person. Call (818) 789-4711 to reserve a spot. On Oct. 16 at Councilman Greig Smith’s Annual Police Officers, Firefighters and Paramedics Luncheon, Rickey Gelb, on behalf of the Gelb Family Foundation, presented $1,000 scholarships to Natasha Ikejiri and David Chaloukian, members of the Devonshire LAPD Explorers. The Chamber wishes to thank all who participated, including the sponsors, vendors and volunteers. of the 21st Annual “A Taste of Encino” Street Festival Oct. 12. The Taste Directors in particular were called out: Melissa Loeffler (Pinnacle Bancorp), S. Keven Steinberg (Steinberg Law Offices), and Melody LeBlanc (Orthodontic Office of Stephen Y. Yu, D.D.S., Inc.). Mid Valley: The Greater San Fernando Valley Chamber is partnering with BEN-E-LECT with a new Affinity insurance program designed to save Chamber members up to 30 percent in employee health care costs while providing the same benefits. BEN-E-LECT is one of the country’s leading third party administrators (TPAs) and innovator of Employer Driven Health Plans & #153;. “We are pleased to take the lead in introducing our members to a cost-saving model that has proven to be successful and is already being used by more than 2,000 businesses throughout California,” said Nancy Hoffman Vanyek, CEO of the Chamber. Northridge: The North Valley Regional Chamber is starting a Green networking cluster. This is an opportunity to explore ways to be sustainable and find out how you can benefit by Going Green. A cluster is a group of Chamber members who meet weekly to talk about their businesses, what kind of referrals they are looking for, and simply get to know one another well enough on a personal and professional level to be able to refer business to each other. To avoid competition, only one person per profession is allowed to join each cluster. Visitors can try out a cluster group twice before joining the Chamber. Studio City: The 14th Annual Studio City Holiday Parade and Open House will be presented on Dec. 7. Approximately 50 parade entries include marching bands, celebrities, community groups, public officials and fire/police vehicles. Caroling groups will serenade prior to the parade, and Santa Claus will be available for photos. Festivities begin around 5:30pm starting at Whitsett Ave. to Laurel Canyon Blvd. (west to east) along Ventura Blvd. (NOTE: Street closure of Ventura Blvd. will occur around 4 p.m. the day of the parade.) Ivy Weiss

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