Chambers of commerce: greater San Fernando Valley chambers ranked by 2003 operating budget.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

THE Santa Clarita Valley Chamber of Commerce once again has topped the San Fernando Valley Business Journal's list of the region's largest chambers ranked by 2003 operating budget.

The chamber, established in 1923, had a budget of $1.1 million in 2003, up from $1 million in 2002 with a membership base of 1,570.

Jumping from the No. 3 spot to No. 2 this year is the Burbank Chamber of Commerce with an operating budget in 2003 of $565,000, up from $526,000 in 2002. The chamber, which has 1,050 members, is projecting a 2004 budget of $600,000. It was established in 1920.

Behind Burbank at No. 3 is the Simi Valley Chamber of Commerce with a 2003 operating budget of $509,850, up from $500,000 in 2002 and a membership base of 850. The chamber, established in 1952, has a projected budget for 2004 of $525,900.

At No. 4 on the list is the Antelope Valley Chamber of Commerce with a 2003 operating budget of $495,000, up from $487,105 in 2002. The chamber, established in 1902, is projecting a slightly lower operating budget for 2004 at $460,131. Its membership base is at 900.

THE PACESETTER

SANTA CLARITA VALLEY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

THE Santa Clarita Valley Chamber of Commerce is the No. 1 chamber in the area in terms of annual operating budget, a position it also held last year.

In the last 12 months, the chamber's budget has increased from $1 million to $1.1 million, according to CEO Larry. Mankin, who is beginning his second year at the helm of the organization.

Mankin said it has been a busy year at his chamber which has been putting an emphasis on its membership as well as political outreach.

"We spent a great deal of time this year attempting to retain our existing membership base," Mankin said. He added that this was done through giving as much personal attention to members as possible including one-on-one visits and phone contact.

And the chamber has been successful in doing that with membership growing in 2003 to 1,570 from 1,524 in 2002.

Other things the chamber has done in the past year include forming a political action committee to give money to pro-business candidates and hosting a "candidate academy" where would-be local candidates were coached on what it takes to run for public office.

Mankin said the chamber also created a weekly e-mail newsletter for members to keep them informed on issues affecting business.

Rank   Chamber of              Budget          Description
        Commerce               * 2003      * members in '03-'04
       * name                  * 2002      * minimum fee (annual)
       * address               * 2004          * year founded
                              (proposed)

 1     Santa Clarity Valley   $1,100,000             1,570
       Chamber of Commerce    $1,000,000              $270
       23920 Valencia              n/a                1923
       Blvd., Suite 100
       Santa Clarita

 2     Burbank Chamber of        565,000              1,050
       Commerce                  526,000                250
       200 W. Magnolia           600,000               1920
       Blvd. Burbank
       91502

 3     Simi Valley Chamber       509,850                850
       of Commerce               500,000                275
       40 W. Cochran, Suite      525,900               1952
       100 Simi Valley
       93065

 4     Antelope Valley           495,000                900
       Chamber of Commerce       487,105                190
       554 W. Lancaster          460,131               1902
       Blvd. Lancaster
       93534

 5     Agoura/Oak Park Las       475,000                900
       Virgenes Chamber of       350,000                155
       Commerce                  525,000               1948
       30101 Agoura Rd.,
       115 Suite Agoura
       Hills 91301

 6     Glendale Chamber of       463,000              1,098
       Commerce                  500,000                n/a
       200 S. Louise St.         499,000               1910
       Glendale 91205

 7     Mid-Valley Chamber        462,000                400
       of Commerce               462,000                275
       14540 Victory Blvd.,      462,000               1911
       Suite 100 Van Nuys
       91411

 8     Palmdale Chamber of       315,625                565
       Commerce                  250,700                190
       38260 10th St. E.,        319,237               1941
       Suite A Palmdale
       93550

 9     Encino Chamber of         275,000                475
       Commerce                  290,000                260
       4933 Balboa Blvd.         300,000               1936
       Encino 91316

10     Woodland Hills            250,000                603
       Chamber of Commerce       200,000                265
       22025 Ventura Blvd.,        n/a                 1942
       Suite 202, Woodland
       Hills 91365

11     Chatswortht Porter        213,000                280
       Ranch Chamber of          187,000                235
       Commerce                  236,000               1914
       10038 Old Depot
       Plaza Rd. Chatsworth
       91311

12     Northridge/Porter         140,000                405
       Ranch Chamber of          105,000                225
       Commerce                  160,000               1917
       9017 Reseda Blvd,
       Suite 205 Northridge
       91324

13     Tarzana Chamber of        120,000                229
       Commerce                  120,000                195
       19120 Ventura Blvd.         n/a                 1925
       Tarzana 91356

14     Granada Hills             105,000                204
       Chamber of Commerce       109,785                125
       17723 Chatsworth St.      115,000               1927
       Granada Hills 91344

15     Studio City Chamber        30,000                250
       of Commerce                 n/a              150-200
       4024 Radford Ave.           n/a                 1920
       Studio City 91604

Rank   Chamber of             2003 Events &              Contacts
        Commerce                Projects              * president/ceo
       * name                                           * marketing
       * address                                           * phone

 1     Santa Clarity Valley   Expo, power luncheon,   Larry G. Mankin
       Chamber of Commerce    Oak Tree Golf Classic   T. Stern/J.
       23920 Valencia                                 Raleigh
       Blvd., Suite 100                               [phone]
       Santa Clarita

 2     Burbank Chamber of     State of the City       Susan Bowers
       Commerce               Luncheon, gala dinner   J.J. Connaughton
       200 W. Magnolia        dance, golf             [phone]
       Blvd. Burbank          tournament
       91502

 3     Simi Valley Chamber    Film council, street    Leigh Nixon
       of Commerce            fair (May), Western     same
       40 W. Cochran, Suite   Art Show, legislative   [phone]
       100 Simi Valley        advocacy
       93065

 4     Antelope Valley        Flea markets,           Percy S. Malicott
       Chamber of Commerce    parades, business       same
       554 W. Lancaster       showcase                [phone]
       Blvd. Lancaster
       93534

 5     Agoura/Oak Park Las    Educator of the Year,   Patricia Soteras
       Virgenes Chamber of    Luncheon to Honor the   same
       Commerce               Sheriffs, Casino        [phone]
       30101 Agoura Rd.,      Night Fundraiser for
       115 Suite Agoura       the Wellness
       Hills 91301            Community, The
                              Penland Award, Agoura
                              Beautiful Award

 6     Glendale Chamber of    Inaugural gala, golf    Judith B. Kendall
       Commerce               tournament, awards      same
       200 S. Louise St.      luncheon                [phone]
       Glendale 91205

 7     Mid-Valley Chamber     Latino Consumer Expo,   Nancy Hoffman
       of Commerce            Valley Business Expo,   Vanyek
       14540 Victory Blvd.,   clean-up day, annual    Mindy Meier
       Suite 100 Van Nuys     meeting and inaugural   [phone]
       91411                  ball, business
                              symposium

 8     Palmdale Chamber of    Tee Off for Kids Golf   Isaac D.
       Commerce               Tournament, Taste of    Barcelona
       38260 10th St. E.,     the Valley, Rally in    same
       Suite A Palmdale       the Valley, Holiday     [phone]
       93550                  Light Parade,
                              installation banquet

 9     Encino Chamber of      Taste of Encino,        Sheldon I. Mende
       Commerce               installation and        same
       4933 Balboa Blvd.      dinner dance, Day       [phone]
       Encino 91316           With Business,
                              teacher luncheon,
                              Network Plus
                              Breakfast

10     Woodland Hills         Installation dinner &   Kristi Tristad
       Chamber of Commerce    gala, R.O.L.E.          Lois Julien
       22025 Ventura Blvd.,   Awards, Family          [phone]
       Suite 202, Woodland    Festival, golf
       Hills 91365            tournament

11     Chatswortht Porter     Business expo, State    Ivy Weiss
       Ranch Chamber of       of the Community,       same
       Commerce               casino night to         [phone]
       10038 Old Depot        benefit charity, golf
       Plaza Rd. Chatsworth   tournament,
       91311                  installation

12     Northridge/Porter      Business Workshop       Wayne Adelstein
       Ranch Chamber of       Series, business expo   Stan Thomas
       Commerce                                       [phone]
       9017 Reseda Blvd,
       Suite 205 Northridge
       91324

13     Tarzana Chamber of     Street Faire,           NA
       Commerce               Oktoberfest, farmer's   Paul Lawler
       19120 Ventura Blvd.    market, community       [phone]
       Tarzana 91356          center

14     Granada Hills          Mike Casey Golf         Della Carroll
       Chamber of Commerce    Tournament, Granada     NA
       17723 Chatsworth St.   Hills Street Faire,     [phone]
       Granada Hills 91344    holiday parade

15     Studio City Chamber    Fourth of July          NA
       of Commerce            Festival holiday open   NA
       4024 Radford Ave.      house and parade        [phone]
       Studio City 91604

Rank   Chamber of             Top Elected Official
        Commerce                     * name
       * name                      * business
       * address                     * phone

 1     Santa Clarity Valley   Duane Harte
       Chamber of Commerce    Academy Addressing and Mailing
       23920 Valencia         [phone]
       Blvd., Suite 100
       Santa Clarita

 2     Burbank Chamber of     Gary Olson
       Commerce               Forest Lawn Memorial Park
       200 W. Magnolia        [phone]
       Blvd. Burbank
       91502

 3     Simi Valley Chamber    Thom McLean
       of Commerce            Ventura County Star
       40 W. Cochran, Suite   [phone]
       100 Simi Valley
       93065

 4     Antelope Valley        Phil Kincaid
       Chamber of Commerce    AV Airconditioning & Heating
       554 W. Lancaster       [phone]
       Blvd. Lancaster
       93534

 5     Agoura/Oak Park Las    Alex Soteras
       Virgenes Chamber of    Soteras Mortgage
       Commerce               [phone]
       30101 Agoura Rd.,
       115 Suite Agoura
       Hills 91301

 6     Glendale Chamber of    Mike Hirsch
       Commerce               Hilton Glendale
       200 S. Louise St.      [phone]
       Glendale 91205

 7     Mid-Valley Chamber     Bert Seneca
       of Commerce            Airtel Plaza Hotel
       14540 Victory Blvd.,   [phone]
       Suite 100 Van Nuys
       91411

 8     Palmdale Chamber of    Mark Muchnick
       Commerce               JCT Mechanical
       38260 10th St. E.,     [phone]
       Suite A Palmdale
       93550

 9     Encino Chamber of      Betty J. Morgan
       Commerce               Gilda R. Cohen Law Corp.
       4933 Balboa Blvd.      [phone]
       Encino 91316

10     Woodland Hills         Stephen Holzer
       Chamber of Commerce    Parker, Milken, Clark O'Hara & Samuelian
       22025 Ventura Blvd.,   [phone]
       Suite 202, Woodland
       Hills 91365

11     Chatswortht Porter     Allen Glazer
       Ranch Chamber of       Alpha Lex Systems Integration
       Commerce               (818 407-9200
       10038 Old Depot
       Plaza Rd. Chatsworth
       91311

12     Northridge/Porter      Ike Krieger
       Ranch Chamber of       Krieger Training
       Commerce               [phone]
       9017 Reseda Blvd,
       Suite 205 Northridge
       91324

13     Tarzana Chamber of     Paul Lawler
       Commerce               Farmers Insurance
       19120 Ventura Blvd.    [phone]
       Tarzana 91356

14     Granada Hills          Bonnie Marie Bursk
       Chamber of Commerce    Savin & Bursk Law Office
       17723 Chatsworth St.   [phone]
       Granada Hills 91344

15     Studio City Chamber    Jack McGrath
       of Commerce            GM Communications
       4024 Radford Ave.      [phone]
       Studio City 91604

n/a - Not Available

The information on this list was provided by representatives of the
chambers of commerce themselves. To the best of our knowledge, this
information is accurate as of press time. Chambers of commerce are
ranked by 2003 operating budgets and, secondarily, by 2002 operating
budgets. While every effort is made to ensure the accuracy and
thoroughness of the list, omissions and typographical errors sometimes
occur. Please send corrections or additions on chamber letterhead to
the Editor, San Fernando Valley Business Journal, 21600 Oxnard St.,
Suite 250, Woodland Hills 91367. [c] 2004 San Fernando Valley Business
Journal. This list may not be reprinted in whole or in part without
prior written permission of the editor. Reprints are available from
Reprint Management Services, [phone], ext. 157.

Researched by Jason Schaff and Jacqueline Fox