Dixon Chamber of Commerce: Who Are They & What Do They Do?

The Dixon Chamber of Commerce welcomed yet another business into their family of 220 Tuesday morning. The morning's celebration was a ribbon-cutting for 'Save with Sunlight,' a non-profit solar panel technology organization.  

The gathering was broadcast live on Vacaville's 95.3 KUCI during their daily "Coffee Break", with lively host Barbara Hoover. Hoover has hosted over 3,000 business spotlights on the station. Every new business that joins the chamber is honored with this shout out on the radio.

That is just what the Chamber of Commerce aims to do. Chamber Chief Administrator, Carol Pruett, explains, "You've got to work your business to succeed, especially in this economy. The chamber gets business owners together to network within themselves, refer their customers to one another, and the chamber always gives referrals for chamber members first."

She also emphasizes that the chamber is a great, central place for consumers to find lists of local businesses, and she receives many calls daily with referral requests.

Chamber membership is open to all business owners, including home based businesses. Jan Hardy, owner of Ideas Unique glass etching, says, "Being a chamber member has grown our business tremendously. We do not advertise at all; all of our business comes from chamber members and word of mouth after that. We've made all of the wine stroll glasses and the awards for things like the Citizen of the Year."

She says her favorite part of being a member is meeting people and being involved in the community, while her husband and co-owner, Rich Hardy, who is the chamber's photographer, jokes "I'm a party-goer really, I just like the parties."

If members decide they would like to become more involved in chamber activities, they are invited to become Chamber Ambassadors. As an ambassador you are asked to help with planning and executing events and attend ribbon cuttings, mixers and board meetings. Jennie Baumam has been an ambassador from First Northern Bank for a year now, and her favorite part is getting to know business owners and representatives personally, "I like that when someone says, 'I need a logo printed' I can say, 'Call Elly at Roman Printing'." 

"We also have 13 Associate Members," says Pruett, "these are community members who do not own or represent a company, but want to be involved in the business community." The chamber offers assistance to Dixon visitors and residents with business maps, directories, referrals, newcomer packages, town events and Dixon town trivia.

Excited about their new membership and their growing business, Damien Luzzo, Save With Sunlight's VP Public Relations, says "We are glad to be part of the business community in a town I grew up in and hope the chamber can help us grow our customer base as we network with other members."

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You are welcome to visit the Dixon Chamber of Commerce office at 220 North Jefferson Street, call for information (707)678-2650, and visit their website www.dixonchamber.org for business directory and information on becoming a member.