(February 6, 2009) Juggling your employees’ work schedules comes with the territory of owning a small business. Just ask Sharon Tyrrell, a winner of the 2008 California Chamber of Commerce Small Business Advocate of the Year award.

Tyrrell has four young employees who have obligations outside of their responsibilities for her Riverside company, Capree Escrow Inc. Recently, two employees were nearly forced to leave the company because their schooling created a conflict in scheduling. 

“In a small business you have long-term employees who are almost like a part of the family, so you are trying to keep their dedication as well as further them in their studies,” Tyrrell said. This illustrates, she says, why small businesses should be allowed to provide a flexible workweek for their employees.

Taking this personal connection with her, Tyrrell headed to Sacramento in April 2008 on behalf of the Greater Riverside Chambers of Commerce to testify before the Assembly Labor and Employment Committee in support of the CalChamber-sponsored flexible workweek bill, AB 2127 (Benoit; R-Bermuda Dunes).

Although the bill was voted down, Tyrrell and four others who testified from other chambers, marked it as a victory because there were two votes in favor of AB 2127.

“We made some progress, but each year we are chipping away at it,” she said, adding that she plans to advocate for similar legislation this year.

Political Experience

Working on state and local governmental issues was something Tyrrell never saw herself doing when she began working at her family-owned Capree Escrow in 1994. But after taking over the company for her mother and molding herself into a strong voice for the Riverside business community, Tyrrell said she owes a lot of her success to the chamber for creating an “avenue of interest.”

Tyrrell was chosen to testify on behalf of the Greater Riverside Chambers because of her political involvement and experience in governmental affairs. She sits on a number of boards, including the chamber’s executive committee for the last five years, as well as the governmental affairs council, where she currently serves as the vice-chair.

She also  has been a member of the chamber’s political action committee since its establishment.

“It is individuals such as Ms. Tyrrell who maintain countless hours of services, tireless work ethic and unyielding commitment to our chamber mission and its members which keep our businesses thriving,” said Cindy Roth, president and chief executive officer of the Greater Riverside Chambers.

The Greater Riverside Chambers has more than 1,600 members and is divided into six divisions, each headed by a division president, that take action on issues in their geographic area.

“We have a lot of marchers out there,” Tyrrell said. “We are definitely the go-to business advisor for a lot of the issues that might come up in the city.”

The chamber has gone through a political transformation since Tyrrell became a member more than 12 years ago, at which time she remembers it being a lot about “surface stuff” such as mixers and social networking.

During that time, Tyrell, along with the rest of the governmental affairs committee, began to see more and more fee increases on businesses at a time when development was booming. 

“It was not the most business-friendly community and that’s what the chamber really tried to help with,” she said.

The local business community was paying attention to the chamber’s efforts.

Following the creation of the governmental affairs council, and a switch in focus to local and state political issues, the chamber became the voice for the Riverside business community. 

Respect

As the chamber’s reputation has become more respected, cooperation with the Riverside City Council has also progressed.

Economic development is what spurs the relationship. The chamber, with Tyrrell’s assistance, recently worked with the city council to transform a local shopping center built in the 1950s. Tyrrell and other chamber representatives met with city council members and the developers to help design a blueprint that met the needs of the business community while still maintaining the community’s heritage, something very dear to the community at large. 

After a four-year process of negotiations, the chamber helped refurbish the dilapidated shopping center.

“When we went to the grand opening, it was a great thing to be able to say ‘I was a part of that,’” she said.

Although there are differences of opinion with the city council, there still has been open dialogue with issues affecting the community Tyrrell said.

“Let’s face it, they [city council] have the constituents to answer to,” she said. “Any time that we have had an opinion on business, they have certainly been willing to sit down with us and talk to us.”  

See the Small Business Advocates of the Year page for past winners or to nominate someone for 2009.