Our blog also features articles and information from our members, staff and the business community. We have lots of digital foot traffic and would like to send some of it your way.

We welcome submissions using the specifications and form at http://bit.ly/TCCblog_me

We look forward to hearing from you and helping spread the word about your business!

Harvey Gibson

Tempe Leadership will award its highest honor, the Outstanding Community Leadership Award, to Harvey Gibson at the Tempe Chamber of Commerce’s Breakfast for Chamber Champions event on Feb. 21 at the Embassy Suites Tempe.

Gibson has worked for Tempe Schools Credit Union as the business development officer for nearly 10 years. He represents the credit union at school and community functions and is responsible for building relationships with local business and auto dealerships. He began his involvement with the Tempe Chamber in 1996 and is currently involved in nearly every East Valley chamber of commerce, including Tempe, Ahwatukee, Mesa, Chandler and Gilbert. He currently serves on the Tempe Chamber’s Government Relations and Transportation Committee and is the Chairman of the Ambassadors Committee.

Gibson graduated from Tempe Leadership Class XXII and believes that his participation in the Tempe Leadership program allowed him to make numerous personal and business connections with community leaders. He also learned about all the functions within the city and its supporting organizations.

He is a current board member and member of the Executive Committee for The Centers for Habilitation and current president of the Commitment to Schools board.

Originally from Missouri, Gibson received his BS in education from Missouri State University. His hobbies include sailing, music, reading and woodworking. He enjoys spending time with his wife, Dara, stepson, Jordan, and grandson, Haydan.

The Outstanding Community Leadership Award is an annual distinction, which is awarded to Tempe Leadership graduates that have displayed outstanding leadership in the Tempe community. The annual Breakfast for Chamber Champions event will be held at the Embassy Suites Tempe on Feb. 21, 7:30 to 9 a.m. Tickets to the event can be purchased by visiting www.tempechamber.org or calling (480) 967-7891.

About Tempe Leadership

Tempe Leadership, a private nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, is a program of the Tempe Chamber of Commerce. For nearly three decades, Tempe Leadership has played a key role in bringing active, engaged community members together to effect positive and lasting change in the Tempe community. Since 1985, more than 700 diverse, dedicated individuals have participated in the Tempe Leadership program. Its focus is to bring together like-minded individuals in the community to engage and challenge one another, learn more about the ins and outs of Tempe and, most importantly, make a real difference in our community. Learn more at www.tempeleadership.org.

Vic Linoff

Vic Linoff will be presented with the Tempe Chamber of Commerce’s Spirit of Tempe Award at the 16^th Annual Breakfast for Chamber Champions on Feb. 21 at the Embassy Suites Tempe. The award recognizes lifetime achievements of service, dedication and contribution to the community and honors hard work and strong commitment to improving the quality of life in Tempe.

Linoff has actively participated in supporting Tempe as a volunteer and advocate since 1973 when he and his wife Vicki opened their antiques business on Mill Avenue. Much of his focus has been on public transportation, historic preservation, Tempe history and urban planning.

From helping incorporate the Downtown Tempe Community to chairing the Tempe Chamber, Linoff has been a strong voice for the interests of independent business for more than four decades.

“Take a look at the major initiatives in Tempe over the past few decades – downtown redevelopment, the FLASH, historic preservation, transit – and you’ll see that Vic Linoff played a major role. His involvement in local issues, charities and causes has made a powerful impact on Tempe, and we are proud to honor him,” said Mary Ann Miller, president and CEO of the Tempe Chamber of Commerce.

The Breakfast for Chamber Champions, where Linoff will be recognized, takes place from 7:30 to 9 a.m., Feb. 21, at the Embassy Suites Tempe, 4400 S. Rural Rd. To attend, please call (480) 967-7891 or visit www.tempechamber.org.

Bethany Christian School

As a new benefit to our members, we have added this Business Spotlight feature to our blog. This is a way for you to tell the community your story, who you are and what you do. There’s no cost involved. It’s just another advantage of your membership in the Tempe Chamber. We welcome submissions using the specifications and form at http://bit.ly/TCCblogme.

Business name: Bethany Christian School 

Year started: 1995

Address, hours and phone number:
6304 S. Price Rd., Tempe, AZ 85283
(480) 752-8993
Office hours: 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. (Monday – Friday)
School hours: 8:15 a.m. – 3:15 a.m. (Monday – Thursday); 8:15 a.m. – 1:15 p.m. (Friday)

Website: http://www.bethanychristianschool.org

What does your company do? Bethany Christian School is a private school in Tempe educating children in Kindergarten through 8^th grade.

What makes you special? At Bethany Christian School, our excellent and challenging curriculum prepares students to be successful now, in high school and beyond. We lead each student toward a relationship with Jesus Christ and encourage each one to reach his or her unique potential in Christ – academically, spiritually, socially, physically, and creatively.

What do you like most about doing business in the Valley? Bethany Christian School loves supporting the local community and families in the Valley. Our close-knit school allows us to get to know each family on a deep, personal level and embrace one another.

How do you support the community?  Bethany Christian School supports the local community through outreach projects. Most recently, we have hosted several food drives and toy drives, sent cookies to a parent who was serving overseas, and built relationships with local preschools.

Who are your ideal clients or customers? If you are interested in an affordable Christian education for your child, Bethany Christian School is a great fit for you. We serve students in Kindergarten through 8^th grade.

1.            Learn who will receive the Spirit of Tempe Award

2.            Nominate your pick for the 2013 Business Woman of the Year

3.            Our stance on immigration reform

4.            The Member Spotlight – are you in it?

5.            Meet our new members

6.            Let us take you to Cuba

Printable edition- http://bit.ly/TBAfeb13

E-Book edition – http://www.bit.ly/tccnews

Enjoy!

Business name: Speedpro Imaging of Tempe-Chandler

Year started: 2012

Address, hours and phone number:
5861 S. Kyrene Road #16
Tempe, AZ 85283
M-F 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
480-248-8848

Website: http://www.speedprotempe-chandler.com

What does your company do? Speedpro Imaging is the premier wide format imaging company specializing in producing extreme-resolution graphics. Speedpro utilizes state of the art equipment to produce stunning full color wall murals, banners, trade show and expo displays, vehicle wraps, window graphics, retail branding, and much more.

What makes you special? Speedpro Imaging cares about our customers.  We take that seriously and strive to do everything we can to help them.  That includes producing stunning graphics that help them visually communicate their message.

What do you like most about doing business in the Valley? The valley is full of great people.  It is a friendly place to do business and develop long term relationships.

How do you support the community? Speedpro Imaging believes in supporting local non-profit organizations by providing the help that will communicate their message visually through preferred pricing and support.  We have a special relationship with Children’s Cancer Network, which is a local organization that provides financial, educational and psychosocial support to children and families dealing with childhood cancer.  You can learn more about them at www.ChildrensCancerNetwork.org

Who are your ideal clients or customers? Our ideal clients are organizations that want to use powerful, persuasive graphics that convey their professional image and create brand awareness.

The public and members of the Tempe Chamber are invited to Speedpro Imaging’s grand opening and ribbon cutting on Thursday, January 31^st from 4:30 – 6:30 p.m.  at 5861 S. Kyrene Road #16 in Tempe.

 by Karen Gridley

What are you doing to spark, ignite, and fuel your inner pilot light for success? Your mindset determines whether you’re aligned or misaligned; on course or off course; to sustain you and your business. How do you respond to challenges, to disappointments, to accomplishments, or even to the everyday routine? Your answers are key indicators to your level of mental fitness, which ultimately lead to the actions you decide (consciously or unconsciously) to take or decide to forego. How mentally fit are you?

Do you know actions beneficial for you to take yet find yourself acting another way? Are you persistent . . . in the ways that are valuable or destructive? What about when you don’t feel like it, has that ever prohibited you from moving forward? Excuses block progress and success. Excuses are anything that interferes with being the person you want to be or achieving what you claim to desire. Fear and doubt are excuses. A limiting belief is an excuse.

When you want something bad enough you overcome anything that otherwise would be an obstacle. Maybe you work harder, maybe you decide you can go without something, or maybe you get creative and come up with an “out of the box” solution. Recall what seemed to be a difficult time that you felt as if you had no choice. If you’re like most people, you probably took action you would have been convinced impossible for you with different circumstances. What was the difference? Your mindset telling you that you had no choice and so you simply responded to the best of your ability in the situation instead of generating excuses; in spite of fear, doubt, and limiting beliefs.

What will it take for you to take the necessary action in an area you currently are holding yourself back? Excuses stem from the inability to value yourself and the favorable results over the discomfort of the learning process. Yes, it is a process. Ironically, many of the same emotions are present when we are content to stay stuck as when we choose to lunge forward. The emotions, however, from staying stuck tend to escalate and we mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually deteriorate. The emotions when we choose to lunge forward on the other hand, transform when we take proper action and lessen in intensity as we make progress.

The mindset you establish is a pattern, a habit. The good news is it CAN be changed! Three things are required:

• a decision to commit to the process

• consistent action toward improvement

• persistence until the new outcome is evident

Imagine your results in your day, your life, your business, with a success mindset. What will you do TODAY to move in that direction?

Learn more about Karen at http://www.karengridley.com or on Facebook at  https://www.facebook.com/karengridley

Gridley’s presentation will take place from 8 to 9:30 a.m. at the Homewood Suites by Hilton, 4750 E. Cotton Center Blvd., Phoenix. Cost per session is $20 for members and college students with a valid student ID and $30 for the general public. To RSVP or for full details, call 480-967-7891 or visit www.tempechamber.org.

Thanks to our generous sponsors: Title Sponsor, Tempe Tourism Office; Silver Sponsors, Grand Canyon University and National Bank of Arizona and Southwest Airlines; and Copper Sponsors, Rio Salado College and Tempe Schools Credit Union.

Karen Gridley

Nominees should demonstrate achieved excellence in their chosen field; have demonstrated leadership in the community; serve as a positive role model; and be active in programs and activities in the community and the Tempe Chamber.

Nominations are due by Friday, March 1, and the award will be presented at the Women in Business Conference and Trade Show in May. You may review or download a nomination form here.

E-mail your nominee’s contact information to sachiyo@tempechamber.org. Last year’s recipient was Robin Trick of House of Tricks Restaurant.

Business name: Themers

Year started: 1993

Address, hours and phone number:
We are 24/7 since we are in the event business
441 South Robson by appointment for the 18,000 square foot showroom
480-497-3229

Website: www.Themers.com

What does your company do? We are special event designers-we own all of our props and decor for corporate, resort, DMC’s, weddings, trade shows,schools and the private sector personal events. We have a casino division and carnival games with dunk tanks too.

What makes you special? Themers creates new and unique decor ideas for many clients and the fact that we tailor each event to the specifics of that client and take a personal approach to address their needs means a lot to our devoted customers.

What do you like most about doing business in the Valley? We have enjoyed working in the Valley of the Sun where there is such a broad spectrum of customers and businesses with fun, energetic personalities that are conducive to putting on great events 9 months out of the year…

How do you support the community? We donate to many charitable causes in the Valley from places like the Tempe Chamber, Child Crisis, Ronald McDonald House, Alzheimer’s,Boys and Girls Clubs and others because we can offer things that brighten the day for many to enjoy-Bringing smiles is part of Themers whole plan- If you can Dream it, We can Theme it….

Who are your ideal clients or customers? The corporate, Casino, schools, and resort industry are our primary customers but the private sector with the weddings is a growing market for us.

Cuban Boys & Horse

This eight-day trip starts on May 17, 2013 as you travel from Miami to Havana, Cuba. Upon arrival at Jose Marti International Airport, we’ll meet our Cuban host, an experienced bilingual guide who will give us an orientation of Cuba’s capital city.

Some of the many sights you’ll see in Cuba include the Plaza of the Revolution, Old Havana, Hemingway’s Farm, Museum of the Revolution, Bocoy Rum Factory, San Jose Craft Market and Art Center, Tropicana Show, Vinales Valley, Francisco Donatie Cigar Factory and much more.

Cost is $3,599 per person double with a $450 single supplement. Price includes roundtrip airfare from Miami including transfer fees and taxes; Cuban travel visa and health insurance; seven nights of first class hotel accommodations; 16 meals; transportation and gratuities.

For complete trip details and a full-color brochure of the tour visit http://bit.ly/TCCcuba13

To register, contact Mary Ann Miller at (480) 967-7891 or maryann@tempechamber.org.