Chamber of Commerce 'Soars to New Heights'

Moreno Valley Chamber of Commerce kicked off the new year by celebrating their local businesses, leaders, citizens and overall community with their annual Installation and Awards Banquet titled “Ready for Take Off, Soaring to New Heights” at the March Field Air Museum on Friday, Jan. 23. Master of Ceremonies, Sandy Ramirez of Moreno Valley Flower Box, started the night off as well as, 452nd AMW Commander’s Colonel Russell A. Muncy with the Pledge of Allegiance, and the 2014 Citizen of the Year Award recipient, Dr. Judy White, with the invocation. Before presenting the various awards of the night, outgoing chair Rod Ballance of 15 years and incoming chair Dr. Sandra Mayo took the stage to make it official by passing the gavel. As Dr. Mayo took the gavel from Ballance, she jokingly slammed it down on the podium as the crowd laughed and applauded. As she thanked Ballance for his leadership and guidance, she started explaining how excited she is to work with the Chamber of Commerce this coming year. “I look forward to our strategic planning meeting and developing a data-driven plan for decision-making as we move forward,” she said. Kona Ice, the cold treats of Moreno Valley, was the winners of the 2015 Small Business of the Year Award, while Brunswick Moreno Valley Bowl was honored with the 2015 Medium Business of the Year Award. The Large 2015 Business of the Year Award, another place with sweet treats, went to Polly’s Pies located on Frederick Street. CEO of Moreno Valley Chamber of Commerce presented the 2015 Ambassador of the Year Award to Rexanne Mummert. This will be her 20th year of being an Ambassador for the chamber, making her the longest-standing Ambassador in the Inland Empire. As she added that this is her 25th year with the Moreno Valley Unified School District, she said, "I am not only really proud to work for the Moreno Valley Unified School District but also to be a part of this Chamber." Patricia Korzec, ten-year resident of Moreno Valley and currently Executive Director of March Field Air Museum, proudly received the award of the 2015 Citizen of the Year Award. Senator Richard Roth, as he took the stage to present Korzec with her award, took the microphone to share a few remarks he had about her. “She has literally, by force of will and by talent driven this museum into the 21st century in a way that’s taken it from a nice Air Museum to one of the leading Aviation museums in the United States,” he said. “Its obvious to me that her efforts didn’t stop here in the museum,” as he explained that it is because of people like her that makes Moreno Valley a great place to live. As she took the microphone and accepted her award, she humbly mentioned that all nominees deserved this award as much as she did. Since her entire family lives in Massachusetts they were unable to attend, she mentioned that she was recording her acceptance to send to her mom. Everyone waved to the camera to say “Hi mom!” “Oh that’ll make her day,” she chuckled. As she thanked many people that have helped and supported her throughout her life, she added, “I want to challenge us to continue to go forth in our communities and do good.” She proudly ended her speech with a quote from the historic Hap Arnold, “’Success is a result of spontaneous combustion, you set yourself on fire’.. and I want us all to try to light the light of our spirits on fire and help Moreno Valley become the great city it deserves to be.” The 2015 Moreno Valley Chamber of Commerce Executive Board is: Dr. Sandra Mayo, Chair - Moreno Valley College; Janet DuHaime, Vice Chair - Visterra Credit Union; Rod Ballance, Immediate Past Chair - Bud's Tire Pros; and Howard Saner, Treasurer - Riverside Physician Network. The 2015 Chamber directors are: Donna Bennett - Riverside County Regional Medical Center; Jamil Dada - Provident Bank; Greg Donahue - Moss Bros. Auto Group; Janet Epstein, CPM; Rexanne Mummert - Moreno Valley Unified School District; Shanna Palau - City of Moreno Valley; Corey Seale - Kaiser Permanente; Dave Slawson - Eastern Municipal Water District; Jason Ward - Ayres Hotel & Spa; and Karyn Young-Lowe - Lighthouse Social Service Center, who were all sworn in by California State Senator Richard D. Roth.