I have an insurance agency. We insure cars, homes, businesses, and lives. Over the past few months, I’ve heard more and more people bringing up the fact that their insurance is being raised. I’ve also met several potential client / applicants who have been denied or refused insurance due to “potential fire hazard”. We can bring down the cost of homeowners insurance in our community by setting up a FireWise USA neighborhood.
I thought of this 3 years ago but now I’m putting together a board of directors and looking for volunteers. We already have several interested board members including a city council person and a fire board member (maybe two of them). We need citizen members and volunteers. If you are interested in learning more about it or helping us, we are having a informational / exploratory zoom call this Saturday Nov 15, 2025 at 11:00 AM PST. Write to me at ja (at) alagna.com and I’ll send you an invite and the password to participate.
The interesting thing is that many of these applicants have homes that don’t seem like a fire hazard at all to me. But I’ve come to learn that part of these fire hazard decisions are based on the existing risk that some of these insurance companies already have in a particular area or region. It’s a way for them to limit risk by spreading it out. After all that’s what makes insurance work, shared risk.
Well guess what, I just got my homeowners insurance bill and it went up too. I decided to look into it a little more. What I discovered is interesting and might be of interest to people in the community. It’s called creating a Firewise USA Community. And living in one has the potential to save us a few dollars on our insurance bills (I don’t know if it’s significant but I see no reason not to do this regardless).
I’m going to start it. If you are interested in serving on the board that we’ll need to create, please contact me. My plan is to do it in Butterfield and to invite other parts of Chino Hills to do it for their communities as well. A Firewise USA Community can consist of no more than 2500 homes. I’ve counted about 1800 in ours.
As the year winds down, it’s the perfect time to make some smart moves before the calendar flips to 2026. Think of it as a financial tune-up that could help with saving money and setting you up for success in the months ahead. Here are some things to consider.
· Don’t forget about required withdrawals. If you’re 73 or older, you’ll need to take your required minimum distribution from traditional retirement accounts to avoid a 25% penalty on any amount you should have withdrawn but didn’t. This rule also applies to some people who inherited retirement accounts, including certain Roth accounts.
· Use your flexible spending money. Got money sitting in a flexible spending account at work? Remember, these accounts follow a “use it or lose it” rule. Check with your HR department about your plan’s specific deadlines for spending the money and submitting receipts. Whether it’s that dental work you’ve been putting off or new prescription glasses you need, now’s the time to use those funds before they disappear.
· Boost your retirement savings. Consider ramping up your pretax retirement contributions before year-end. Not only will this help your future self, but it might also reduce your current tax bill. If your workplace plan allows it, you can even set up automatic increases for next year so you won’t have to remember to do it later.
· Share the wealth through gifting. In 2025, the current tax rules let you give family or friends up to $19,000 per person without affecting your lifetime gift tax exemption. Married couples can combine their allowances to give up to $38,000 per person. Plus, you can pay someone’s tuition or medical bills directly without these payments counting against your gift limits at all.
· Navigate new tax changes. The recently passed One Big Beautiful Bill Act has made several tax provisions permanent, including lower individual tax rates and higher standard deductions. However, it also introduces new changes that might affect your situation. It’s worth sitting down with a financial advisor or tax professional to understand how these updates impact your specific circumstances.
· Examine your investments. Take some time to review your investment portfolio. Ask yourself: Did your investments perform as expected this year? Do they still match your goals and comfort level with risk? You might need to rebalance things to get back on track.
· Build up your emergency fund. It’s ideal to have enough cash saved to cover three to six months of living expenses in an easily accessible account. This safety net can prevent you from having to raid your retirement savings when unexpected expenses pop up.
· Review your estate planning documents. This is especially important if you’ve had major life changes like marriage, divorce or a new baby. Don’t forget to check the beneficiary designations on all your bank and brokerage accounts as well as life insurance policies – these often override what’s written in your will.
Taking care of these financial housekeeping tasks now can help you start the new year on solid ground.
I’m the founding Broker for CauseWell Insurance Services. Being an exhibitor at the 2024 Chino Valley Chamber of Commerce Business Expo was an experience I won’t soon forget! Held at City Center Drive at the Shoppes, the event was a fantastic opportunity to connect with our vibrant business community and showcase what we do best. The energy was infectious, and as an exhibitor, I felt privileged to be part of such a dynamic gathering.
This year’s theme, “Western Flair,” was a fun twist that allowed us to get creative with our booth. We decorated with cowboy hats, wagon wheels, and a few other Western touches, hoping to catch the eyes of attendees and maybe even snag the prize for the best booth! The excitement of seeing everyone’s unique setups and engaging with visitors who stopped by was a highlight for us. It was all about standing out and connecting with the community, and I think everyone brought their A-game.
The event kicked off with a mixer on Thursday, October 17th, at Gozo Kitchen & Lounge on Riverside Drive. I joined other Chamber members, exhibitors, and guests for a night of great conversations and networking. It was a perfect way to warm up for the expo, giving us the chance to make connections in a relaxed setting. If you were there, you know how valuable that time was for building relationships that could turn into future business opportunities!
As an exhibitor, I saw first-hand the benefits of being part of the expo. We had the chance to put our brand in front of potential clients, partners, and industry professionals who were genuinely interested in what we offered. The exposure through the Chamber’s marketing efforts—social media, event materials, and more—really gave us a boost and helped us reach a wider audience than we would have otherwise. The day was filled with valuable conversations, new leads, and opportunities to engage with other local businesses.
The range of exhibitors was incredible, reflecting the diversity and strength of our local business community. From legal experts like Kizuwanda Walton, Attorney At Law, to health and wellness providers such as Enhanced Chiropractic, and even popular food spots like Yogurtland and 7 Leaves Cafe, the variety was impressive. Here’s a glimpse of some of the other exhibitors:
Exhibitors
Exhibitors
Tri-Counties Association
Prudent Psychiatry
Vortex Plumbing
Mila’s Kitchen Hawaii
The Financial Architects
Good Enough Travel
Servpro Team Brogdon
Chino Police Department
El Prado Golf Courses
Chino Valley Fire District
Affordable Turf USA
Fourth District Supervisor Curt Hagman
Visionworks
Luchador Brewing Company
Armour Medics
As You Like It Events
Aqua Ridge of Montclair Senior Living
Sandy Graham and Associates – Event Representative
Forest Lawn Mortuary
Wendy Beauty Bomb Spa
CarePatrol of the Foothills
Cali Luxe Lounge
Costco Wholesale
Infinite Photo Creations
Ikea Covina
Rockstars of Tomorrow
FedEx Ground
Infuzion Zone
Hacienda Properties
Sycamore Academy
NFI Industries
Kids Dental Specialists
Orangetheory Fitness Chino Hills
Ancestral Raw Nutrition
Halls Water
Luxe Pups
Enhanced Chiropractic
Vertical Computers
Restore Hyper Wellness
CAACH
List of Some of the Business Participants at the Chino Valley Chamber Business Expo
Sandy Graham & Associates Professional Event Representative Earlier this Month at Cyn’s Sip N Shop
It was an honor to be among such a talented and diverse group of businesses. The event felt more like a celebration of our shared community spirit than just another business opportunity. I’m grateful for the chance to have been a part of it and for the connections made throughout the day. The Chamber truly pulled off a fantastic event that not only promoted business growth but also strengthened our sense of community. This is just one of may great events often held in the Chino Valley.
Looking back, I’m excited about what’s ahead for all of us. This year’s Business Expo was a success, and I can’t wait to see what next year has in store. If you didn’t get a chance to participate this time, I highly recommend making it a priority in the future—it’s a day full of opportunity and inspiration!
1 thought on “Our Experience at the 2024 Chino Valley Business Expo”
This week, Pamela Deans of Microenterprise Collaborative of Inland Southern California, provided tips & tricks for grant writing to boost your business!
Date and Time
Wednesday, Oct 18, 2023 7:45 AM – 9:00 AM PDT
Location
Chino Hills Community Center (14250 Peyton Dr, Chino Hills, CA 91709)
Pamela owns a travel agency and is the Executive Director for the Micro Enterprise Collaborative in the Inland Empire.
About Microenterprise Collaborative
MicroEnterprise Collaborative of Inland Southern California consists of a diverse coalition of community leaders dedicated to improving small business development in Riverside and San Bernardino counties and eastern Los Angeles County.
Over 700 banks, Chambers of Commerce, business associations, and nonprofits as well as universities and community college business departments, business programs, services, microlenders, and city and county agencies, understand the importance of successful small businesses for the economy of the region and have signed on to become partners of MicroEnterprise Collaborative.
Micro-businesses with fewer than five employees comprise 90 percent of all businesses and provide 23 percent of all jobs. These smallest businesses create income for business owners and their families and well-paying jobs within the region. However, micro-business owners need the information, expertise, and capital to grow and succeed.
To assist them, small business service providers and microlenders provide training, counseling, and microloans and rely on our partners to refer small business owners who need their help. The MicroEnterprise Collaborative of Inland Southern California aims to create and sustain businesses and jobs through micro-business development.
Their Mission Statement
The Microenterprise Collaborative of Inland Southern California aims to create and grow sustainable small businesses and job development by supporting micro-business development agencies.
Waste Management sent out a mailer with information regarding all waste in Chino Hills. They suggested celebrating Earth Day by making sure you recycle properly.
Empty all bottles, cans, and paper products before recycling.
Keep food and liquids out of your recycling.
Place items loosely in your recycle cart.
New rules in 2023 allow residents to recycle more organic items. To learn more about backyard composting, visit:
If getting rid of junk is on your spring cleaning to-do list, WM can help! Residents with curbside cart service may request the free pick up of household bulky items three (3) times in a calendar year. To schedule this service, please get in touch with WM Customer Care Center at (800) 423-9986 at least 24 hours in advance of your regular collection day. You can place up to 10 ten (10) bulky items or ten (10) bags of yard waste per bulky waste collection request.
Disabled Customer Assistance
Waste Management provides qualified disabled cart customers with backyard service at no additional charge. Drivers will assist by taking carts out to the curbside for service and return the carts to the designated location. To learn more and find out if you are eligible to subscribe, contact Waste Management Customer Care Center (800) 423-9986.
Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Waste Management will not collect solid or liquid Household Hazardous Waste. HHW is any product labeled: toxic, poison, combustible, corrosive, flammable, or irritant that is disposed of. HHW examples include paint (latex and oil-based), pesticides, pool chemicals, batteries, solvents, and explosive items.
Chino Hills residents can drop off their HHW on the 2nd and 4th Saturday of each month from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p. m. at the City of Chino Public Works Service Center, located at 5050 Schaefer Avenue, Chino, CA 91710.
The Chino Valley Chamber conducted a panel at their weekly Business @ Breakfast meeting. The topic was Employee Recruitment and Retention. The panel shared their best practices on employee recruitment and retention!
Speakers were:
Renay S. Mehta – CVCC Workforce Development Director
D’andre Lampkin – CEO, Care Staffing Professionals
Panelists suggested using all the recruiting tools available.
Renay Mehta, Rhonda Brogdon, D’Andre Lampkin, and Manuel Zavala Discuss Staffing at the Chino Valley Chamber of Commerce.
Manuel Zavala asked if attendees were familiar with Handshake. Handshake is a tool that connects college students with employers. He also pointed out that it is essential to capture your applicant data through your website.
His company, Student Hires, emphasizes the company culture and training. It’s also fully automated.
They also hold regular growth meetings for all employees on an individual basis. They try to keep work and personal life in balance.
D’Andre Lampkin, the CEO of Care Staffing Professionals, suggested paying close attention to the resumes to ensure they match your job descriptions. You may have to adjust your job description to ensure it is accurate and corresponds to your needs. He also suggested employers use their websites to tune their sites to appeal to job respondents.
One of his key points was to remember that your employee’s problems are yours. If you want to retain employees, you have to have clear policies and make sure communications are open. They have an employee assistance program available to employees’ families.
Their goal is to help employees perform at their highest level through training and remediation. They even help with employee tuition costs.
Rhonda Brogdon, the owner of Servpro, asks employees what their career paths or goals include. They measure aptitude and offer an online training program called Servpro University to help employees achieve those goals. They even allow employees to change roles if they feel better suited to a different position.
She also addresses burnout by recognizing employees during difficult work times. They also help them to be noticed when they get good reviews. She said that people need some time to decompress and spend time with their families.
Renay Mehta, the Chino Valley Chamber Workforce Development Director, explained how the chamber helps newer employers recruit and even pay for the initial costs of hiring.
She highlighted actual chamber members’ examples who have utilized and benefitted from the program.
Below is some staffing advice:
Breaking through from zero employees to ten employees in recruitment can be a challenging task, but it is certainly achievable with careful planning and execution.
Determine your business needs: Before you begin hiring, it’s essential to identify the roles and positions that need to be filled to achieve your business goals. Determine the skills and qualifications required for each role and prioritize them based on their importance.
Build a strong employer brand: Create a compelling employer brand that attracts top talent. This includes developing a solid company culture, offering competitive salaries and benefits, and providing opportunities for growth and development.
Leverage your network: Reach out to your personal and professional networks and let them know you are looking for candidates. Ask for referrals and recommendations, which can be an effective way to find qualified candidates.
Post job listings: Post job listings on relevant job boards and social media platforms to attract a wider pool of candidates. Be sure to include a clear job description, responsibilities, and qualifications.
Use recruiting tools: Consider recruiting tools such as applicant tracking systems (ATS) and video interviewing platforms to help streamline the hiring process and evaluate candidates more effectively.
Conduct thorough interviews: Conduct thorough interviews to assess candidates’ skills, experience, and fit with your company culture. Consider using behavioral interview questions focusing on past experiences to predict future behavior better.
Make competitive offers: Make competitive offers that reflect the market rates for each position. Be prepared to negotiate with candidates to ensure that you can secure the best talent for your team.
By following these steps, you can increase your chances of breaking through from zero to ten employees and building a successful recruitment team.
The chamber does Business @ Breakfast each Wednesday morning at 7:45 and offers business advice and networking. The events are held at the Chino Hills Community Center (14250 Peyton Dr, Chino Hills, CA 91709).
Dino Fulton spoke on Setting Goals a the Chino Valley Chamber of Commerce. Dino is the CEO of Annual Profit Strategies and coaches small Dino Fulton spoke on Setting Goals a the Chino Valley Chamber of Commerce. Dino is the CEO of Annual Profit Strategies and coaches businesses on how to grow. He pointed out that 70% of companies fail or close within ten years. The odds are against small businesses for many reasons, but it is up to us to consider and plan for all contingencies. The most common cause is because of the need for more clarity. Being clear on our goals is the key to success. Forbes said that, beyond anything else, this is why most businesses fail immediately. Therefore, our products need to be specific, clear, and direct.
The famous Italian economist Pareto first defined the Pareto Principle, which states that 80% of our efforts produce 20% of our results. It’s up to us to decide on our goals, activities, and vision. It has been said that without hope, we perish. A clear vision helps us retain our hope.
One of his business principles is to focus on the highest income-producing products or services you offer. So if you spend your time on those, your ROI will be better.
Think of these categories of goals:
Performance Goals – Personal Standards – Set your goals every quarter – smaller goals are easier to reach.
Process Goals – Steps, process, procedures – There must be systems. There need to be things you are clear about doing. Set 90-day goals.
Outcome Goals – Overarching, Long-term goals. New Year, New Questions
What will you do differently this year?
What are the things you will do more?
What are the things you will do less?
What are the things you will stop doing?
Faith
Fitness
Family
Fellowship
Finance
Fun
When we lose sight of our vision, as in flying a plane, we get spacial disorientation. It causes crashes. Six areas to set up goals:
This open house is happening in Chino on Saturday and Sunday, 11/19 and 11/20, from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM both days. The address is: 12946 Falcon Place in Chino
It is listed at $774,600 and has leased solar panels. Contact: [email protected]
This home has an open-concept layout with a private backyard and a bedroom downstairs with one bathroom. On the second level, you will find two bedrooms and the master bedroom, which includes a great shower, sinks, and a large walk-in closet. This home is located in Chino and close to the 60 freeway. There is a spa, a three-car garage, and even room for the man cave. There is a shopping center nearby. This home is sold in “as-is condition.” There are tenant’s living there who are moving out
Facts & Features
Listed On 09/26/2022
Original List Price of $7,746,000
Levels: Two
3 Garage spaces/Attached Garage
3 Total parking spaces
Assessments: None
Laundry: Gas & Electric Dryer Hookup,
Cooling: Central Air Heating:
Fireplace: Den
View: City Lights, Mountain(s), Neighborhood
Interior
Rooms: Bonus Room, Den, Family Room, Kitchen, Living Room
Master Bathroom, Master Bedroom, Multi-Level
Appliances: Dishwasher, Gas Range Room,
Other Interior Features: Cathedral Ceiling{s Bedroom, Office, Walk-In Closet
Exterior
Lot Features: Back Yard, Cul-De-Sac, Garden, Lawn,
Sprinkler System, Sprinklers In Front, Walkstreet, Yard
On Friday, October 7, 2022 at 7:30 AM, Mr. Fulton will offer a free presentation on ways to grow your business. The event will be held at the Kings Realty Group Building at 14726 Ramona Ave. 4th Floor Conference Room, Chino, CA 91709. Free breakfast will be provided. For more information, call 909-451-3671 or see the attached flyer.
There is no cost to attend this invitation-only event. The event is 75-minutes.
The meeting is designed to help you accomplish the following: • Double / triple your current lead flow every month • Double your current sales volume • Implement simple, easy-to-implement, no-cost strategies that will add cash flow to your business • How to effectively market your business on the internet • How to get your website 10X more productive than it is right now • How to harness your database to maximize your back-end sales • How to use joint ventures and affiliates to double your sales this year
According to his website, local coach, Dino Fulton, specializes in sales and marketing for small business owners. Over the years, he has developed a keen understanding of the complex issues facing small business owners in the type of volatile economy we have today. His experience has helped him to develop the skills to quickly and effectively teach business owners how to successfully apply the right strategies in the right order that allows them to grow their business to its maximum capacity. You can get more information on their website.
There’s a very nice home for sale on Sunny Meadow Lane in Chino Hills. Here are some of the details. I understand that there will be an open house at the address this weekend:
6406 Sunny Meadow Lane Chino Hills, CA 91709
Below is a little information about the listing from the realtor:
Spacious, bright, and airy four-bedroom entertainment home in the heart of Chino Hills. This gem features high ceilings throughout including cathedral ceiling in the living room and high ceilings in all bedrooms with more than sufficient light. The formal dining room will fit any full-sized table and has a bar The kitchen has lots of counter space and breakfast bar for eating, sitting, or cooking for large gatherings, and also has a stylish garden window. The family room is bright and has a brick fireplace with a wood mantle too. Upstairs the hallway is very wide with windows above to light the upstairs and downstairs. The Master bedroom is oversized with tall glass closet doors and an ‘“additional” mirrored closet in the bathroom. This wonderful house also features window blinds, curtains, a laundry room, and sprinklers. Back yard has raised planters and a brand new quality Alumawood patio cover. Garage has direct kitchen access, a roll-up door, and a full-size window for natural light A “walk to” Meadows Park Trail.
East View Trail, Butterfield Park (which features a playground, gazebo, volleyball, basketball, tons of shaded picnic spots, restroom, parking, and sidewalks for strolls at any age), and much more. Great schools in Chino Hills, as well as. all the best shops and restaurants to experience.
For more information, please contact Kurt Weber of Realty ONE Group West. His number is 714-273-7073.
