What a year it has been for the Brentwood Chamber of Commerce!

 

Twelve monthly mixers with 12+ gracious hosts, 12 months of Brentwood Power Networks (Held roughly twice a month, so it's more like 22!), 11 Ribbon Cuttings, and the Chamber hosted five outstanding events that served our mission 'Building Business. Building Community.' Three Lunch & Learns, and get this? 

One-Hundred Twelve New Members!  

The Chamber has its highest membership since before our CRM began tracking in 2011. 

 

The Chamber has achieved success through its exceptional leaders. Denise Cosgrove stepped up to facilitate our Brentwood Power Network; she brings ingenuity and connection to each meeting.  

 

John Lawrence organized and facilitated the 4th Annual Brentwood Expo & Job Fair in May, which generated new business and job opportunities. John also spearheaded our Lunch & Learns, which were informative and delicious!

 

Tanya Aviles created a glamorous gala to Celebrating Brentwood, which was an unmitigated success in recognizing and awarding Brentwood's dedicated pillars of service. And she's getting the Gala back on track with the February 17, 2024 date - Nominations open today!

 

The 2nd Annual La Gran Fiesta was born from the heart and mind of Tony Aguilar, who saw an opportunity to embrace the Latin community as a whole and provide a platform to honor the rich cultures and traditions treasured by so many. And then?(drum roll, please)

 

Hometown Halloween and the Holiday Parade are two equally anticipated events that have become part of the fabric of Brentwood. Adam Martinez has been chairing this event for years, which may be why Costco has to have so much candy! This event brings thousands to Brentwood to enjoy trick or treating in Downtown Brentwood. The 41st Annual Parade featuring a Ho! Ho! Ho! Hometown Holiday was the best yet. Jamie Duran and his team elevated the event by live-streaming it so that folks could watch it on their screens around the world! That didn't stop the thousands of residents who came out to experience the floats live and catch their first glimpse of Santa Claus from his horse-drawn sleigh!

 

All of these events had multiple hands helping. Chamber Directors Katie Brandt, Greg Robinson, Jayne Oertwig, Karri Reiser, Colleen Knight, Gerald Johnson, and many of the event chairs dedicated their most precious asset of time to be of service.  

Another team of leaders the Chamber is grateful for is our Ambassadors. 

 

Ambassadors are the heart of the Chamber, is a definition you'll hear Past President Gerald say about the Ambassadors. Engagement, connections, and warmth are values the Ambassadors deliver to our community. Each ambassador is committed and devoted to being of service and has the opportunity to go out into the community to meet, greet, educate, and invite folks to be their guests at upcoming events.  

 

Ambassadors and Directors are all volunteers who often do double duty to serve the Chamber while running a business or working. I recognized very quickly that this esteemed group deserved to have the best support I could offer, and it is because of them this Chamber has had the impact, success, and growth experienced in 2023. I could not be more proud, honored, humbled, and inspired by this team.   

 

In reflecting on what this year has taught me, I met fascinating people, gained insight and understanding about the process of city management, and have stretched and developed new leadership muscles, and quite honestly, tore a few fast-twitch muscles in the process. I also have a more profound appreciation for those who serve this city. This refers to every embroidery thread that creates the tapestry that makes up our beautiful, diverse, and extraordinary community. 

 

Business owners, city staff, elected officials, service organizations, the myriad of volunteers, our educators, and the farming and agricultural families who continue to care for our land and provide resources that are exported nationally and even internationally!  

 

The page is turning, and our incoming President, Karri Reiser, will skillfully, thoughtfully, and graciously take the helm. She will bring meaningful leadership to this role while enhancing the Chamber's Diversity, Inclusion, Equity, and Belonging culture. Our business community will significantly value her interest in advocacy to ensure their voices are heard and expressed to those who can initiate change. I am eager to serve and support her vision.

 

My word for the year was inclusion, and while I thought I'd accomplish that by inviting the community to join us, the duality of creating an inclusive culture began with me joining you. From the bottom of my heart, I'm grateful for all we achieved together this year.  

 

Enjoy this season for all the reasons you hold dear. Eat the yummy food because birthdays and holidays are calorie and carb-free. Go for a walk or two with family, friends, and neighbors. Be invigorated by fresh air and lovely winter scenery. Shop local and support local. Do everything that brings you joy and peace to body, mind, and spirit. And then take a deep breath when J-1-24 arrives because, at the Chamber, we're going to soar in 2024!

 

To your continued success in 2024 and beyond!

Denise

December 19th from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m.
The Brentwood Chamber of Commerce is continuing the parade of good cheer and reasons for our community to connect with our End-of-Year Holiday Mixer and celebrate the work, growth, pivots, and launches we’ve experienced throughout 2023!  

Please contact us at admin@brentwoodchamber.com with questions about registering.

How To Pay Bills Online

The Brentwood Chamber of Commerce is counting on your timely payment of your membership to support our business community. With your support, we can continue to provide businesses with the resources and services they need to continue being successful in the local economy. If you have any questions about the status of your membership, please click the link provided or call the chamber office (925) 634 - 3344 to get your account current. We greatly appreciate your ongoing support and thank you for being a valued member of the Brentwood Chamber of Commerce.

 

Members can pay their open invoices online from within the MIC. Watch the video and download the handout.

The Brentwood Chamber of Commerce Hot Deals page is the perfect platform for businesses to market their hot deals and take advantage of the many benefits that come with being a member of the chamber. Through the Member Information Center (MIC), businesses can create their events and make them visible to the chamber's website visitors, included in their monthly newsletter, and posted on their social media channels. This is an efficient way to spread the message about the business' Hot Deal and gain more exposure and awareness, ultimately reaching a larger audience.

Want to learn more about how to maximize your Chamber Directory?  Join the Brentwood Power Network being via Zoom on November 8th.  We’ll be sharing some easy tools to up-level that first impression when prospective customers are looking for your product or service!

The Member Information Center (MIC) has a great feature for members to add news releases! You can find it in the "Marketing" tab of the MIC. Adding a news release is easy - you can attach images, add tags, and submit it to the chamber staff for review. Once approved, the release will be published on the chamber's website and social media outlets!

Submit a News Release

Learn how members can add News Releases in the MIC. Watch the video and download the handout. 

• Brentwood Chamber Members Only Receive a 10% Discount on Personal Protection Training Courses!

Submit a Hot Deal

 

Learn how members can access, create, and manage their Hot Deals from within the MIC or MemberPlus App. Watch the video and download the handout. 

WHAT'S HAPPENING IN BRENTWOOD

RELIVE THE FUN! REMEMBER THIS?

 Director Spotlight - Jayne Oertwig 

BCOC Chief Financial Officer

Jayne has been with Allstate Insurance for 26 years, both in management and as an agent.  She currently has her office in Brentwood where she has lived for the past 25 years.  Along with being a Director with the Chamber of Commerce, she is slated to be on the Board of Directors for Brentwood Rotary and is a member of Soroptimists International.  Besides enjoying time with her family (especially her new Grandson, Jack), Jayne enjoys her Peloton, camping and boating and quilting along with other crafts and cooking. 

Ambassador Spotlight -
Lynn Gursky, Gursky Ranch

Lynn is a long time Brentwood resident who has been an avid supporter of the community. She is the proud mother of two sons, Nathan and Stephen and five grandchildren. She is retired from 35 years as an educator and is now managing the family business, Gursky Ranch Country Store founded in 1980. Believing that it is important to give back to the hometown that they love, the Gursky family have been active participants in community organizations, including: Brentwood Lions Club, Brentwood Rotary, Relay for Life, Soroptimist International, Brentwood Chamber of Commerce, Harvest Time, and several others.

Business of the Year 1013

Assembly District 11 Woman of the Year 2018

Contra Costa Women’s Commission Hall of Fame 2020