(June 7, 2011) The California Chamber of Commerce honored four small business executives last week with its “2011 Small Business Advocate of the Year” award, recognizing recipients for their advocacy efforts on behalf of small businesses.
The CalChamber presented the awards at a luncheon before more than 400 attendees at the CalChamber Business Summit in Sacramento.
2011 Small Business Advocate of the Year Award recipients are:
- Brian Hawley, Co-Founder/Chief Technology Officer, Luminex Software, Inc., Riverside;
- Dr. Les Malo, Founding Partner, Director of Medicine, Garden Grove Dog & Cat Hospital, Garden Grove;
- Jerry Miller, Managing Partner, IMC Municipal Consulting, Long Beach;
- Myron “Sam” Smith, President, Genesis Financial/Creative Employee Benefits Inc., Los Angeles.
(From left to right) Sam Smith, Jerry Miller, Les Malo, and Brian HawleyHonorees are nominated by local chambers and selected by a task force comprised of chamber of commerce executives and small businesses. The criteria used in the selection process include taking leadership roles in or working on federal, state or local ballot measures, testifying before the state Legislature and representing a local chamber of commerce before local government.
(See Following Information on Award Winners)
Brian Hawley, Co-Founder/Chief Technology Officer, Luminex Software, Inc., Riverside
Cindy Roth, president and chief executive officer of the Greater Riverside Chambers of Commerce, nominated Hawley, saying, “He exemplifies the true meaning of an effective chamber member… It is individuals like Mr. Hawley who maintain countless hours of service, tireless work ethic and unyielding commitment to our chamber mission and its members, which keep our businesses thriving. “
As the 2010-11 chair of the government affairs council for the Greater Riverside Chambers of Commerce, Hawley was instrumental in leading the chamber’s efforts to advocate for legislative and political objectives that affect businesses of all sizes. Hawley represented the Riverside region at the local and state levels providing leadership on issues to spur job creation and advocate for greater regulatory reform to create a friendlier business environment. Hawley stepped forward on several major issues having an impact on the business community in California, including testifying in support of legislation that would clarify meal and rest period rules for employers, and highlighting a bill that would allow for a flexible work week program for businesses. For the November 2010 election, Hawley assisted the chamber’s efforts to influence Californians to support the chamber’s positions on 10 of 13 statewide propositions, including the successful passage of Proposition 20 over Proposition 27. He was also a member of a delegation that testified to help secure $10 million in funding from the state to establish the University of California, Riverside School of Medicine.
Dr. Les Malo, Founding Partner, Director of Medicine, Garden Grove Dog & Cat Hospital, Garden Grove
Sandy Thomas, chair of the Garden Grove Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, nominated Dr. Malo, saying, “He is deserving of this award due to his long tenure, out-of-the-box pursuit of advocating and protecting the interest of the Garden Grove business community.”
As a past chairperson of the chamber, and current chairperson of the chamber’s newly formed Government Affairs Committee (GAC), Malo has represented the Garden Grove Chamber throughout the business community. Malo first joined the chamber out of necessity in order to help protect his and other surrounding business properties when the city began looking in his direction as a possible destination for a new home development. During his leadership with GAC, Malo started instituting ways to help inform fellow business members of the policy process in the community and what it means to take action on critical issues and legislation having an impact on the entire Garden Grove business community. In 2010, the chamber reviewed, debated and took positions on no fewer that 55 critical issues. Malo spearheaded the release of the chamber’s first official vote record showing how local state officials sided with businesses. During the 2010 budget negotiations, he lobbied legislators and the Governor to support adult day care funding and educated them on its importance to chamber members. He also led the early efforts of the chamber supporting Proposition 22 by partnering with the League of California Cities to bring awareness to the Garden Grove business community of the importance of protecting vital, dedicated transportation and public transit funds from state borrowing. Last year, Malo was named the 2010 Chamber Director of the Year.
Jerry Miller, Managing Partner, IMC Municipal Consulting, Long Beach
Randy Gordon, president and chief executive officer of the Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce, nominated Miller, saying, “Jerry is one of the most active and passionate advocates for our business community….Jerry is most deserving of this award because of his strong desire to make Long Beach the best place to do business. He is a masterful consensus builder and is dedicated to working with others to improve the economic vitality of our city.”
In 2010, the Long Beach Area Chamber secured a $200,000 grant to fund a layoff aversion program with the regional business community. Miller led the effort to implement a “Red Team” of dedicated local business leaders and three other chambers of commerce: San Pedro, Wilmington and Lomita. As of December 2010, the Red Team had reached out to 539 businesses, offering and providing services to help prevent layoffs. In late 2010, Miller launched an effort with the chamber to educate Long Beach businesses about the benefits of Enterprise Zones (EZ). He also led a successful effort to secure hundreds of letters of support urging Long Beach legislators to oppose cuts in EZ funding. Miller also founded the chamber’s Green Business Council, which works to promote sustainable business practices and advocates business development opportunities for companies that produce green products or provide green services. The council also facilities business-to-business relationships and assists in green technology incubation and accelerations. Finally, Miller was successful in serving as the chamber’s lead negotiator between the iconic Worthington Ford car dealership and the city to secure a loan to upgrade its facilities.
Myron “Sam” Smith, President, Genesis Financial/Creative Employee Benefits Inc., Los Angeles
Leron Gubler, president and chief executive officer of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, nominated Smith, saying, “Sam is the ideal nominee for this award. Sam’s tireless efforts to promote the interests of the Hollywood business community have been unparalleled. While Sam is well respected throughout California for his advocacy efforts, it is his passion and commitment to any cause he champions that is apparent to anyone he meets.”
Smith served as the 2010 chair of the Hollywood Chamber Board of Directors. He worked to secure endorsement of two significant political reforms, redistricting and the open primary, by the Los Angeles and California associations of health underwriters, in addition to educating and spreading the message to Californians and the media. He was instrumental in the creation of the Hollywood Chamber PAC, which hopes to raise $100,000 in 2011 to support business-friendly candidates in Hollywood. As chairman, Smith has been deeply involved in the chamber’s efforts to promote California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) reform, including working with the author on state legislation that will help reform the CEQA process to spur development in Hollywood. Smith is on the board of directors of Young and Healthy, a non-profit organization that provides free health care to children of the working poor and which has enrolled more than 21,000 children in the Los Angeles area in the state’s Healthy Families program. He also serves as the long-time co-chair of the chamber’s health care committee. With his help, the chamber has conducted several health care-related events for its members, including a 2010 “Business Boot Camp,” which focused on how health care reform legislation will affect small businesses in Hollywood. In addition to his work with the chamber, Smith also is very involved with the Los Angeles Association of Health Under Writers and with the California Association of Health Underwriters Political Action Committee.
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