​(June 22, 2012) The California Chamber of Commerce has named business owners from Oxnard and San Jose as recipients of the 2012 Small Business Advocate of the Year Award, recognizing them for their advocacy efforts on behalf of small businesses.

The 2012 Small Business Advocate of the Year Award recipients are:

• Suzanne Scar, owner, Central Coast Imaging Solutions, Oxnard; and
• Janis Schneider, owner, R&J Jewelry and Loan, San Jose.

Suzanne Scar

Suzanne Scar

Scar’s advocacy on behalf of small businesses in 2011 included opposing increases in minimum wage, paid sick days and paid bereavement leave. She also was involved in the redistricting of Ventura County’s supervisorial seats and relayed the opposition local farmers had against card check legislation.

In recommending Scar for the Small Business Advocate award, Steven Buenger, chairman of the board of the Oxnard Chamber of Commerce, said he was “impressed” by Scar’s advocacy efforts—both in the local community and at the State Capitol.

Scar served as chairman of the board of the Oxnard Chamber and chairman of the board of the Chambers of Commerce Alliance of Ventura & Santa Barbara Counties.

Janis Schneider

Janis Schneider

Last year, Schneider worked on pension reform, fiscal accountability and legislation affecting pawn shop record keeping. She served on the San Jose Silicon Valley Chamber Political Action Committee’s Candidate Cultivation Committee, interviewing candidates and supporting her peers through an extensive candidate vetting process. Schneider also worked to financially support business candidates endorsed by the chamber for local and state office.

In nominating Schneider for the award, Matthew Mahood, president and CEO of the San Jose Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce, said, “Janis Schneider epitomizes the verb ‘engage.’… It is always a pleasure to work with Jan.  She is a committed woman who doesn’t just ‘talk the talk,’ but follows up by ‘walking the walk.’”

Criteria

Honorees are nominated by local chamber of commerce executives. 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.

Staff Contact: Dave Kilby