Turf War in the Conejo Valley Chamber World

A name change and the awarding of a $25,000 services contract has led to friction between two chambers of commerce serving the Conejo Valley. The newly christened Greater Conejo Valley chamber name could be seen as misleading, said representatives of the competing Agoura-Oak Park-Conejo Valley Chamber that serves the same area. These representatives also took exception with the Greater Conejo Valley chamber receiving a contract with the City of Agoura Hills to provide networking events, Web site development and a quarterly newsletter for all businesses. “The biggest issue is the city is funding $25,000 at a time when schools and police departments are having to cut back,” Agoura-Oak Park-Conejo Valley Chamber of Commerce President Louis Masry said. “We offer the same services that the other chamber offers in the contract but we offer them for free.” The Greater Conejo Valley chamber had for years been called the Thousand Oaks-Westlake Village Chamber of Commerce. The name change was done to better reflect the membership and includes Agoura Hills in the area it serves, said Jill Lederer, Greater Conejo Valley Chamber president and CEO. In April, Masry’s chamber had tacked Calabasas onto its name and then removed it fairly quickly when alerted by the Calabasas Chamber of Commerce that it was an infringement on their trademark. “It was a matter of their not being educated,” said Calabasas Chamber President and CEO Carol Washburn. The spat over the use of Conejo in the name of the other two chambers won’t be settled so quickly. Agoura Chamber First Vice President Alex Soteras finds the name change to be misleading although does not expect to lose any members from his group. Lederer disputed the “misleading” tag. “People are focused on what we can offer them,” Lederer said. “The name change will not be confusing. They know our chamber.” Despite the overlap in names and cities and the Agoura Hills service contract, both Lederer and Soteras said there would not be an overlap of services between their respective chambers. With 1,400 business and professional firms as members, the Greater Conejo Valley chamber is one of the largest in the state. It is served by a paid staff. The Agoura chamber has no full-time staff and dues paid by members support its programs. Agoura Hills deal Having a paid staff gave the Greater Conejo Valley group the edge in receiving the contract from Agoura Hills. The two-year deal will have the chamber organizing networking events, providing Web site development, a quarterly newsletter, a business census, and an economic development brochure. “They can provide services and they have established that they can provide these services. They are well staffed starting with their president and they have an impressive board,” said Agoura Hills City Manager Greg Ramirez. “I’m not sure that people who call the Agoura Hills chamber ever get any response. I’ve heard numerous complaints. Claims that they serve the city of Agoura Hills are not relevant. ” The depth of its programs and networking opportunities also favored the Greater Conejo Chamber receiving the contract, Lederer said. Soteras and others admit there has been tension between the Agoura chamber and the city. Now as the city does get behind a chamber it chooses one with no strong ties to the city However, Masry said they would not want the contract if the city offered one to them. “We don’t want to be beholden to the interests of the city of Agoura Hills when the money could be better spent on city services and programs,” Masry said. – Emily Pauker contributed to this story.