Chamber 2024 Recap

2024 Year in Review

Januaray/February 2025

Reflecting on 2024: Advancing the Chamber’s Mission

As we step into 2025, the Costa Mesa Chamber of Commerce proudly reflects on the transformative milestones achieved in 2024 while looking forward to an exciting year ahead. In 2024, our efforts were firmly grounded in strengthening internal operations while delivering impactful external initiatives that drive membership value, foster growth, and reinforce the Chamber’s mission of supporting a vibrant business community.

Internal Advances: Strengthening the Foundation

In 2024, we made significant progress in fortifying the Chamber’s internal framework:

Leadership Continuity through Board Succession Planning: We restructured and enhanced board succession planning to ensure seamless leadership transitions, equipping the Chamber with a strong and sustainable governance model.

Transparent Policies and Governance Framework: New compliance policies, procedural guidelines, and governance framework were developed and approved to promote accountability and elevate operational efficiency, ensuring the Chamber remains a trusted and transparent organization.

Strategic Vision through Planning Sessions: Comprehensive strategic planning sessions were held to define a clear and actionable roadmap for the Chamber’s future. These efforts align with our mission of fostering growth and innovation for the members we serve.

External Initiatives: Delivering Enhanced Value

In 2024, we focused on providing tangible value to our members through programs and partnerships designed to enhance engagement, foster connections, and create growth opportunities:

Networking and Education: Rise and Shine Meetings & Power Lunches: We successfully launched bimonthly "Rise and Shine" breakfast meetings and Power Lunches, offering members consistent opportunities to connect, network, and gain insights from local leaders and industry experts. These events provide consistent networking touchpoints throughout the year. driving collaboration and learning throughout the year.

Elevated State of the City Event: Our flagship Mayoral State of the City event was reimagined with the introduction of an expanded panel discussion format and a new business expo. These enhancements created dynamic opportunities for attendees to engage with community leaders, showcase business excellence, and build meaningful connections.

Empowering Business Growth through Strategic Partnerships: To strengthen our support for local businesses, we partnered with key organizations such as the Small Business Administration (SBA) and the Small Business Development Center (SBDC). A highlight of these collaborations was the Small Business Resource Fair, providing members with direct access to tools and resources essential for success.

Professional Development Opportunities: Collaborating with local universities, financial institutions, and industry experts, we created a strong diverse array of professional growth initiatives. These partnerships offered specialized training, educational resources, and expert-led programs, empowering our members to be better positioned in an evolving economic landscape.

In this edition

Reflecting on 2024

Making our Mark 24'

Meetings & Events

Membership Directory

Governance

Newly Elected

Meetings & Events

Recap

Networking

Recap

Get Ready for 2025

New Members Added in 2024

LEADERSHIP

CIRCLE

GOLD

C.J. Segerstrom

Cla-Val

City of Costa Mesa

Rose Equities

OC Supervisor Katrina Foley

SILVER

Financial Partners Credit Union

ICI Development Company

Northgate Market

Southern California Edison

BRONZE

CR&R

Orange Coast College

SoCal Gas

Theodore Robins Ford

Making Our Mark in 2024

What a year! Our Chamber family grew bigger and stronger, welcoming 108 new faces to bring our total membership to 675 businesses. That's more than just a number — it's 675 local stories, dreams, and enterprises working together to build something special.

We didn't just grow in size, our networking opportunities stayed strong too, with 22 gatherings that brought local businesses together. And nothing beats celebrating success as we got to break out the big scissors 21 times for ribbon-cutting ceremonies. Each one marked a new chapter in our community's story — another local business taking flight. marking exciting new chapters for businesses in our community.

Membership Directory

The Membership Directory is provided exclusively to our members. As a trusted resource, the Chamber’s online directory saw a significant increase in activity in 2024 in the volume of search results and visitors to member pages.

In 2024:

886,737 searches featuring Chamber members (a 156% increase from 2023!)

165,817 individual visitors viewing member pages (a 61% increase from 2023 and a 273% increase since 2022).

On January 9th, members received an update on their search impressions and page visits through the "Members Matter" email. If you haven’t seen it yet, please check your inbox or contact the Chamber for assistance.

Governance: Board Restructuring and Newly Elected Leadership

In 2024, the Chamber undertook a comprehensive board restructuring, marking a pivotal step toward strengthening strategic leadership and driving innovation. This milestone underscores our commitment to fostering effective governance, introducing fresh perspectives, and positioning the Chamber for sustained success.

Meet the Newly Elected Board Members

Jill Erps, Chair – Senior VP & Chief Retail Officer, Financial Partners Credit Union

Jill serves as Senior Vice President & Chief Retail Officer at Financial Partners Credit Union ($2.5 billion in assets with over 92k members), where she directs all retail operations including branches, business development, and community initiatives.

Learn More About Jill

Nick Peterson, Chair-Elect – Financial Advisor, Edward Jones

Nick is a 2nd generation financial advisor with Edward Jones. Nick is a native of Costa Mesa and a graduate of Vanguard University. He is also president of the Kiwanis Club of Costa Mesa and currently serves on the Vanguard University Foundation Board of Directors.

Learn More About Nick

Janet Krochman, CPA - Elected Treasurer

Janet is a local CPA with a long history of providing a full range of tax, and management advisory services. Janet has lived in Costa Mesa for most of her life and is a board member of the Costa Mesa Lions Club.

Learn More About Janet

MEETINGS & EVENTS

State of the City

The 2024 event brought together 300 attendees, featuring Mayor John Stephens and a distinguished panel of educators discussing workforce development as an economic driver.

Kicking off the festivities was the inspiring Mayor John Stephens, whose compelling address based around "Take Me Home," set an uplifting tone for the discussions to follow.

The spotlight then shifted to a distinguished panel featuring some of Costa Mesa's most esteemed educators, including Dr. Wesley Smith, Superintendent of the Newport-Mesa Unified School District; Dr. Angelica Suarez, President of Orange Coast College; and Ryan Hartwig, Vice President of Academic Affairs and Provost at Vanguard University. Together, they explored the crucial importance of a well-trained workforce as a key driver of economic growth, emphasizing the essential partnership between education and commerce. Their thought-provoking dialogue not only highlighted the collaborative efforts necessary for a prosperous Costa Mesa but also ignited enthusiasm for the bright future that lies ahead!

Read Daily Pilot Article

The State of the City event was only made possible through the generous donations of our sponsors

History of Les Miller Student Achievement Awards

The 2024 Les Miller Student Achievement Awards: Celebrating Excellence

Celebrating 45 years of recognizing academic and civic excellence among high school and college students in Costa Mesa.

The 2024 Les Miller Student Achievement Awards continued this proud tradition, recognizing exceptional high school seniors and college students who represent the best of Costa Mesa's academic talent and civic spirit.

This year's celebration brought together an impressive array of students from across our educational landscape

From Costa Mesa High School, Estancia High School, Early College High School, Monte Vista Independent Study, to the campuses of Orange Coast College and Vanguard University, each honoree demonstrated not just academic excellence, but a deep commitment to making our community stronger.

Mayor John Stephens was joined with Newport-Mesa Unified School District Superintendent Dr. Wesley Smith and Assistant City Manager Cecelia Gallardo-Daily in delivering heartfelt messages to the award recipients. Their words underscored a simple truth: when we invest in our students, we invest in Costa Mesa's future

The ceremony welcomed distinguished educational leaders from each participating institution, including Dr. Dipali Potnis (Costa Mesa High School), Michael Halt (Estancia High School), Dr. David Martinez (Early College High School), Dr. Kirk Bauermeister (Back Bay High School), Dr. Racquel Stephens (Monte Vista Independent Study), Dr. David Vergara (Orange Coast College), and Amanda Lebrecht (Vanguard University).

Video on the History of Les Miller Student Awards

Taste of the Tees Golf Tournament

This annual tournament serves as a primary fundraiser for the Chamber. Participation increased by 102% from 2023. With 135 golfers, the course featured samplings from over 18 local restaurants and 7 local businesses. Following the tournament, the Chamber's silent auction and reception had 38 donated items.

Thank you for the financial support of our sponsors and to our generous restaurants and local businesses in providing a "Taste of the Tees"

Networking - We are Stronger Together!

Rise & Shine: Building Community Connections

The Rise & Shine meetings are designed to create a welcoming, informal setting for community members to connect, learn, and engage. These "townhall-style" gatherings provide a unique opportunity to hear directly from City leadership and other prominent community figures about key initiatives, updates, and topics impacting Costa Mesa.

Kicking off the year, we were honored to feature Costa Mesa Police Chief Ron Lawrence, who shared valuable insights into public safety, community programs, and the vision for fostering a safe and vibrant city.

Stay tuned for upcoming speakers and join us at the next Rise & Shine to be part of these important conversations shaping our community!

2024 Power Lunches: A Resounding Return

Making their official comeback since the pre-COVID era, the 2024 Power Lunches have reestablished themselves as a premier networking opportunity for businesses. These dynamic gatherings provide a platform for professionals to connect, exchange insights, and gain a deeper understanding of the products and services offered by fellow businesses in our community.

We’re thrilled to see the enthusiastic response to this series and look forward to fostering even more meaningful connections in the months ahead. Stay tuned for upcoming Power Lunch events!

2024 Sundown Socials: Connecting Our Community

Our 2024 Sundown Socials, held on the last Thursday of each month, brought together a total of 790 attendees throughout the year. These evening gatherings offered a welcoming and relaxed atmosphere where community members could connect, exchange ideas, and build meaningful relationships.

Thank you to everyone who joined us and made these events such a success. We look forward to continuing the tradition in 2025, creating even more opportunities for networking and collaboration!

Ribbon Cuttings

Celebrating the entrepreneurial spirit and growth of our business community, the Costa Mesa Chamber proudly hosted 21 ribbon-cutting ceremonies in 2024. Each event marked the beginning of a new chapter for businesses that chose Costa Mesa as their home, showcasing their vision, dedication, and commitment to contributing to our vibrant local economy.

Exciting Things Ahead – Get Ready for 2025!

As we step into 2025, the Costa Mesa Chamber of Commerce is gearing up for an exciting year filled with new initiatives, enhanced programs, and expanded opportunities to support our business community! From bigger networking events to innovative business resources, we’re working behind the scenes to make this year our most impactful yet.

Stay tuned for major announcements on exclusive investor opportunities, fresh membership benefits, and dynamic events designed to connect, empower, and elevate Costa Mesa businesses like never before.

Want a sneak peek? Be sure to check your inbox, follow us on social media, and join us at our first event of the year! 2025 is going to be a game-changer—and you won’t want to miss it!

NEW MEMBERS ADDED in 2024

2121 Tustin LLC

AG-Oils

Ambrosial5 LLC

America On Track

Amity Health Direct Primary Care

ARC Document Solutions/Riot Creative

Argaux

Art Biz

Batteries Plus

Beauty by Siane LLC

Beauty Cult Inc.

Bennett Acupuncture

Breeze Lagree

Burritos La Palma

California Prime Recovery

Campaign Veterans of America

Chatterton & Associates

Chicky Chicky Boutique

City National Bank

Coast Detailing 100% Hand Car Wash

Coast Wellness

Collegiate Arts

Color Me Mine

COSTA MESA INN

Deli Nerds

Dexter's Grooming

E20 Training

Earth Wise Coaching LLC

Fit Learning Inland Empire

Free Spirit Salon

Hailey's Blacktop Service

Harvest to Home

IL Girasole LLC

Illuminated Barber Lounge

Informs, House of Imprints

Insperity

Isabel Diaz - Mobile Notary

JGPA-06 LLC

JM-InfoTechs

KB Hair by Juan Luis

King Living

Kohler Signature Store by Hajoca

Kumon Math and Reading Center of CM

Laura Smith

LeyPop Shoppe

Little Roots Pediatric Dentistry

LIVE

Longevity Nutra, Inc.

Maizano llc

Majestic Cycling

Melllie Bee Events

Mendicino Farms

Mercado Mesa

Metropolis Dermatology

MySocialBiz LLC

Natera, Inc.

New Mom School Newport Mesa

Newport Drip

Newport Peach

Nifty Digital

Noah Hodgin Wellness

OC Lenz 'n Motion

Omega Accounting Solutions

One Team Partners, LLC

Ospi Costa Mesa LLC

Paradiso Charters

Patzkowski Law Corporation

Pixels and Magic

Porshe Newport Beach / Bentley Newport

R S P Holdings INC

Recoup Personal Training

Rogue Creative Development

Sacres Body Sculpting

Sarieh Law Offices

SC Carts, INC

Schneider Electric

Shake Shack

Share Ourselves

Social Kitchen + Craft Bar

Something More

SOUTH COAST PACKAGING

StandUp For Kids

Sunstates Security, INC

Tasty Hawaiian

Tax Wave, Inc

Tea Moon House

The Alamo Livingood Center

The Car Consultants Sales and Leasing

The Dew Water Corporation

The Humboldt Connect LLC

The Straw Modern Milkshakes

Thrive

Tiny Tooth

Travel OCC

Van Weide Travel

Verve Chiropractic

Volner Gallery

Wanderlust Creamery CM LLC

Watermark OC Church

Wellevate Lounge

Wescom Credit Union

Whitney Florin, M.D., Inc.

XPT Newport Studio

Z-Settlements/Ringler

Join the Movement

As we step into 2025, one thing is clear: the Costa Mesa Chamber of Commerce isn't just about business—it's about building a community where success is contagious and opportunities are endless. Whether you're a longtime member or thinking about joining, there's never been a better time to be part of our story.

Stay connected with us throughout the year for more updates, and don't forget to mark your calendars for our upcoming events. Here's to making 2025 our most extraordinary year yet!

At Your Service Chamber Staff