Business Thrives at Tri-City Mega Mixer

Businesses from the tri-city area were the main focus of the annual Tri City Mega Mixer event hosted in conjunction by the Colton, Grand Terrace and Loma Linda chambers of commerce with the goal of promoting and supporting local business and offering a larger networking opportunity for business owners and other community leaders during the event held Thursday evening, March 19 at the Ashley Furniture Homestore in Colton. The support for area businesses was evident in the dozens of vendor booths spread out across the main floor, with participating vendors displaying their products, giving out informative pamphlets and free promotional items and mingling with attendees. Guests enjoyed hors d'oeuvres and several gifts were raffled to lucky winners through the evening. The annual event has become a tradition for the leaders and members of the three chambers of commerce, bringing with it the opportunity to network, refer and sell products. "It seems to grow every year," said Roni Bailey of the Loma Linda Chamber of Commerce. A new vendor this year was Thomasene Knox, a Mary Kay Cosmetics beauty consultant who had cosmetics and loose leaf tea on display. A member of the Loma Linda Chamber, Knox said she was a regular at the Chamber's weekly Farmer's Market event, and thought Thursday's mixer would be a good opportunity for her to share her products. "It's a very fun event," she said, between welcoming people to her booth. "So far I'm having a great time." Grand Terrace Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Sally McGuire said the mixer was one of her favorite events of the year. "I love this event. It's a good opportunity for everyone to get together, there's a good mix of people and lots of participation," McGuire said. "A big thank you to Ashley Furniture for letting us have it here." The event also saw several city leaders from the three communities including city councilmembers, Colton Joint Unified School District board members, representatives from San Bernardino County Supervisor Josie Gonzales's office and from Sen. Mike Morrell's office, Grand Terrace Mayor Darcy McNaboe, Colton Mayor Richard De La Rosa and San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors Chairman James Ramos, who announced raffle winners. "This event brings us all together," said Ramos. "We share the common cause of moving the economy forward and supporting small business." Loma Linda Chamber of Commerce Operations Manager Stephanie Mahe agreed with that. "We're able to promote our (community) business and meet new businesses, and in that connection we're able to offer our own services," Mahe said. "It's a great way to stay connected in the city and promote each other, and we all work well as a team." Monique Guerrero, a division leader with Park Lane Jewelry, a home-based business, and a member of the Colton Chamber of Commerce, said she was enjoying Thursday's event and felt supported by her chamber. "We love being with (the Chamber)," Guerrero said. "They are always very supporting of home-based businesses, as well as brick and mortar businesses." Mahe gave credit to Colton Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Chetay Catalano for largely orchestrating the event. Said Catalano, "I'm really honored and blessed to work with both Stephanie and Sally. We all have great chemistry and we all want to see businesses succeed, in the area, in the Inland Empire and in the county, and really bring growth."