Digital News Report – In recognition of May as national Small Business Month, Senate Republican Leader-elect Bob Dutton (R – Rancho Cucamonga) has presented Business of the Year Awards to five businesses located within the 31st Senate District.
Looking to acknowledge businesses that are not only successful but are invested in California’s economy and committed to providing private sector jobs, Senator Dutton has chosen to honor the following companies: the Joseph Filippi Winery in Rancho Cucamonga; Toyota of San Bernardino; Luminex Software of Riverside; Big Bear Choppers of Big Bear Lake; and, Windermere Real Estate of Yucca Valley.
“Businesses are having a tough time right now,” said Senator Dutton. “These five businesses have been able to succeed under the pressure of California’s regulatory climate and at the same time have chosen to keep operating and providing jobs here in the Inland Empire.”
As a business owner himself, Senator Dutton is keenly aware of the effort it takes to operate a successful business in California, particularly during the current economic recession. He also believes that small businesses are the backbone of California’s economic engine and the foundation of the world’s eighth largest economy.
“California has historically led the country out of tough economic times,” said Senator Dutton. “For that to happen today we need to do what we can to ease the regulatory burden on businesses and at the same time stimulate the economy to help more businesses succeed and create more private sector jobs.”
31st Senate District’s Businesses of the Year
Joseph Filippi Winery, Rancho Cucamonga California:
The history and tradition of the Filippi winegrowing family continues and flourishes today as they build upon over 86 years in historic Cucamonga-Guasti. Joseph Filippi wines are the result of a craftsmanship derived from tradition, passion, skill and artistry. The Filippi family has grown premium wine grapes in the Cucamonga area continuously since 1922. In keeping with the City of Rancho Cucamonga’s commitment to honor its viticulture heritage, the ongoing restoration/preservation and planting serves as a deserving tribute to the early vintner lineage that has made Rancho Cucamonga what it is today. The fifth-generation winery is establishing itself among California’s finest producers, while remaining true to the family’s heritage of excellence in Cucamonga Valley winemaking.
Joseph Filippi is very active in the community, serving with many different organizations including California Farm Bureau, San Antonio Community Hospital, the LeRoy Haynes Family Center, and the Wine Institute. The winery has been involved with the annual Rancho Cucamonga Grape Harvest Festival since 1981.
Since 1994, the Filippis have revitalized old vineyards and undertaken new vine plantings. They continue working to restore the historic Ellena Bros./Regina Winery with the City of Rancho Cucamonga.
Toyota of San Bernardino, San Bernardino, California:
Operating in San Bernardino for over 40 years, Toyota of San Bernardino has a commitment to provide only quality vehicles and exceptional service to the residents of the Inland Empire and beyond, with customers coming from all over Southern California. They are a recipient of the 2009 President’s Award, one of the highest honors for a Toyota dealership. It’s also a symbol of continuing dedication to satisfying customers – from the day they first buy a Toyota for as long as they own it.
Owner Cliff Cummings, his wife Bobbi, and the rest of the Toyota of San Bernardino staff are committed to organized activities for youngsters as well as other community involvement including: Pink at the Rink, a charity auction event held by the Ontario Reign hockey team. The event was held to promote breast cancer research and awareness; Military Appreciation Night at the Citizens Business Bank Arena, presented by the Ontario chapter of the USO, which supports the Ontario Airport USO Facility which is open 365 days a year and supports 25,000 – 30,000 patrons annually; Making a difference with The Boy Scouts Of America, the dealership revs up support with both financial donations and the use of its facility for Scouts to earn the coveted Auto Mechanics Merit Badge.
Luminex Software, Riverside, California:
Luminex was founded in 1994 with a focus on corporate data storage solutions. Since that time, Luminex has achieved award-winning growth while remaining profitable for over a decade. Solving real customer problems with valuable solutions is part of their DNA.
Luminex delivers on their vision by allowing mainframe customers to have seamless access to the broad range of storage networking products and innovations already available for other environments. Luminex’s Channel Gateway product line is the only product line of its kind to truly unite the Mainframe and Open Systems storage networks.
In 2000, Luminex acquired and merged the Data|WARE product line and technical staff into the Luminex family. Then again in 2002, Luminex acquired and merged the Polaris product line and technical staff into the Luminex family. These acquisitions, coupled with intensive investment in R&D, has enabled Luminex to deliver a formidable family of mainframe storage and connectivity solutions, backed by nearly 30 years of continuous mainframe engineering and technical support. Today, their mainframe solutions are OEM’d, certified and/or resold by every major mainframe manufacturer.
Brian Hawley, chairman and financial officer of Luminex Software, understands the importance of publicly advocating for businesses in California. As chairman of the Governmental Affairs Council for the Greater Riverside Chambers Of Commerce, he appeared before the Senate Committee on Labor and Industrial Relations to testify in support of Senate Bill1335 that would allow a simple, voluntary way for establishing flexible work schedules for employees. He emphasized the important message that SB 1335 sends to employers about job creation and to employees about their individual needs.
Big Bear Choppers Motorcycles:
With roots that date back to 1994, and even earlier when owner Kevin Alsop was home in his native Australia, Big Bear Choppers began in earnest in 1998 when Alsop and his wife Mona opened shop in Big Bear Lake, Calif. Today, Big Bear Choppers is a world recognized custom motorcycle manufacturer, with Kevin the brainchild of designs, components and direction, and Mona in charge of day to day operations. Mona believes in a well respected, family oriented business, which means a large family during the week, seamlessly working together.
Kevin Alsop is what you would call an American success story. Hailing originally from Australia, he grew up around motorcycles thanks to his father who was a professional racer. What started as a job building custom bikes at a small chopper shop in Pomona, CA, evolved into a repair shop run out of a small shed in Big Bear Lake where Kevin started a repair business fixing anything from jet skis to Harleys for a humble living. That business eventually grew into one of the most-respected factory-custom motorcycle manufacturers in the country.
Windermere Real Estate:
Cynthia Kraemer, Owner/Broker of Windermere Real Estate Yucca Valley, and Windermere are one of the real estate industry’s most dynamic and successful real estate partnerships. Due to extensive professional training, high ethical standards, mastery of the desert’s expanding real estate market, and tenacious efforts on behalf of their clients, they enjoy a stellar reputation among their clients as well as fellow real estate agents.
Windermere Real Estate Yucca Valley consists of highly qualified, professionally trained real estate agents, associate brokers, and commercial agents. Whether buying or selling a home, condominium, cabin, commercial property, land or lot or looking for a vacation property, their commitment to personal service is unmatched.
Through Windermere, Cynthia has held fundraising events for the Boys and Girls Club of the Hi-Desert, works with the Career Pathways program at Yucca Valley High School, and helped with the Brehm Youth Sports Park.
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