What started as a small coffee shop on the corner of Main Street in downtown Longmont, Colorado in 2004, has since grown to multiple drive-thru and coffeehouse locations across the U.S - including beautiful Mission Viejo! From the beginning, Ziggi's Coffee mission has always been simple: To serve a convenient and superior cup of coffee with service customers can rely on. 

On Monday, October 11th, several members from the MV Chamber, including Directors and the Daybreakers Networking Group Leadership Team, "mobbed" Ziggy's Coffee and loved the delicious coffee and food. Chamber Mobs afford a great opportunity to meet and network with fellow business owners and the community.

Now it's your turn, let's support our local businesses, large and small, as we strive to continue "making business happen" in the great city of Mission Viejo!

Each Tuesday, starting at 7:30 am, an average of nearly sixty (60) Chamber business owners and guests gather at the High Park Tap House for business networking and delicious hot food (Daybreakers Networking Breakfast). Once checked-in at registration, attendees are free to mix n' mingle and get to know their fellow Chamber members and visitors on a more personal basis.

Starting at 8:00 am sharp, the president (currently Jan Miller, owner of 21-13 Impact Graphics) calls the meeting to order with the "pledge of allegiance" and then introduces the leadership group. This leadership group is responsible for registration check-in, greeting new guests, scheduling of presenters, keeping the meeting on-time, and providing regular updates on closed business and the number of 1-to-1 appointments that take place.

After the leadership group is announced, then our guests are introduced, with second-time visitors given one minute to introduce themselves. Next, the winner of the previous week's "best commercial" will enjoy one minute to talk about their business. Then the "winner" now has the esteemed privileged to judge this week's "best commercial" and award the trophy. Now begins the really fun part!

In systematic order, each attendee now has the opportunity to introduce themselves, their business, and what type of referrals they are seeking - all within 30-seconds! (if you hear the "bell", you know your 30-seconds is up and it's time to pass the microphone). After the "commercials" are completed and the winner is awarded, then two presenters will take turns speaking for 10-minutes. This is an opportunity to get an in-depth look at our speakers and their businesses. 

To conclude our networking breakfast, we share brief, positive expressions of closed-business and 1-to-1 visits with our fellow Chamber members. Then various Directors and the CEO will share pertinent information regarding the committees they represent and how this will impact the membership in a positive way. We also celebrate and give recognition to our many volunteers who work so hard on behalf of their fellow members.

In view of the foregoing, it's clear to see that the Mission Viejo Chamber is alive and active and provides their members and guests a weekly forum to gather and cultivate deeper business relationships, leading to referrals and closed business. 

Please enjoy some photos of our "Daybreakers" breakfast below. Also, here are a few quotes from some of our members and visitors who attend:

"I love the energy and enthusiasm in the room! These people really work hard to refer business to each other".

"Every week I meet new business owners in addition to the long-time members. This is a great opportunity to learn more about their company and how I can refer them business".

"You'll be hard-pressed to find another networking group in South County that meets weekly, a group of dedicated men and women in business who truly care about you"!

"I appreciate the tireless volunteer efforts of the Daybreakers Leadership Team, our Ambassadors, and our Directors. Kudos to them for all they do on our behalf".

"I never knew just how many marketing and networking opportunities the Chamber offers to help grow my business. Now it's on me to take advantage of them - and attending the weekly Daybreakers Networking Breakfast is one of the best ways I can do this".

For individuals that have never been associated with a Chamber of Commerce or might have questions regarding the benefits of becoming an active member - the weekly Daybreakers Networking Breakfast is the perfect opportunity to observe first-hand  how we make business happen in our community, yes it's the "front door to the Mission Viejo Chamber of Commerce"!

To learn more about how to join the Mission Viejo Chamber of Commerce, please click here. You may also speak with any of our Chamber Ambassadors (identified by their name badges) at "Daybreakers" or other events.

Please enjoy this brief Chamber Member Monthly Spotlight with Amanda Armstrong of Top Hat Balloon Werks​. 

Name: Amanda Armstrong, CBA
 
Business Name:   Top Hat Balloon Werks, LLC

Brief description of business: Top Hat Balloon Werks is your event décor specialist.  We offer customized event décor and deliveries for all special events and occasions.  

Doing business in Mission Viejo since:  1998

Chamber Member since:  2016

Favorite Chamber Member benefit: Daybreakers Networking Breakfast meetings

Favorite Chamber event and why: "Daybreakers" meetings, because they allow us to get to know our fellow chamber members better.  It’s fast-paced and they keep on schedule, (which is great since we all need to get back to work) 😉, but there’s always time to network before and afterwards and get to know other Chamber members on a more personal level.  Great place to see and be seen!  

I joined the Mission Viejo Chamber of Commerce because: I joined the Chamber because I wanted to expand my business referal network.  That way I can be more of a value to my business, my City and my customers.
 
The Mission Viejo Chamber of Commerce has helped me and my business by: The Chamber has allowed me to expand my business network and has offered me the opportunity to show my fellow members what my business is all about and how I can help them with their event needs.   

Can you believe there are only 14 days left before our 2019 Chamber Holiday Party? The Chamber is happy to host this special year-end event on Monday, December 16th, as we gather at the Union Market at Kaleidoscope, starting at 5:30 pm. 

The food and beverages will be served by Chamber member, Sol Agave. The festivities will also include a variety of games, opportunity drawings, sponsor gifts, live entertainment and much more. All Chamber and non-Chamber members (and their families) welcome!

Please see the flyer below for more information (and sponsorship opportunities) or click here for more information. DON'T MISS IT!

Nearly each month, the Mission Viejo Chamber schedules a Mixer at a member's business location. Crowds of Chamber members, their guests, and the local community came out last night to enjoy the festivities at Custom Comfort Mattress. 

In an instance, the beautiful showroom floor of Custom Comfort Mattress was transformed into a fun-filled experience that brought the business community together with laughter, food, wine samples, opportunity drawings, and networking galore!

It was easy for all to observe that the Chamber and its members are vibrant, alive, and passionate about bringing the business community closer together!

Please enjoy the photos below taken by Ildiko of Takata Photo & Design.

On Tuesday evening, November 19th, eleven (11) attendees were present as Chamber member Kurt Varricchio, Attorney at Law, provided helpful legal education on the topic: "Business Law Basics - Developing a Winning Game Plan".

Various areas of business law were covered with attendee participation. Many questions were asked of Kurt and he answered them using his many years of legal experience. 

We thank our food sponsor, Antonucci's, for providing delicious pizza and salad for all the attendees!

​Stay tuned for more educational classes after the first of the year.

What a celebration! On Tuesday, November 19th, Rescom Financial Services celebrated their move to Mission Viejo via a Ribbon Cutting. Chamber members attended, including Directors and Ambassadors, along with City, State, and Federal governmental offices and many guests.

We are happy to welcome Rescom Financial Services to our great City and truly value  their business as a Chamber member!

Please enjoy several photos taken by Chamber member, Takata Photo & Design, as well as photos by Michelle Fairless.

Can you believe it's the end of 2019 already? It's time to mark our calendars for December 16th as we celebrate the close of another fantastic year of business within the Mission Viejo Chamber.

The venue will be at Union Market at Kaleidoscope at 27741 Crown Valley Parkway (sponsored by Sol Agave), from at 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm. There will be delicious food, specialty cocktails, opportunity drawings galore, and a great time for all to mix n' mingle.

Sponsorship opportunities are available. Please contact our Events Committee Chair, John Salamy (Rescom Financial Services), for more information at events@missionviejochamber.com.

​More information will be forthcoming soon. Mark those calendars now and be ready to come celebrate the end of 2019 and the ushering in of 2020!

Last month, the Chamber launched it’s first educational class on behalf of the general membership. It was entitled: “The Secrets to Business Networking Success”. This “networking 101” class was truly welcomed and enjoyed by all attendees.
 
We are pleased to announce that plans are currently underway to present an “advanced networking” class after the start of the New Year. 
 
Additionally, there will be other classes added as follows: 
 
1) Sales Training: 3-part symposium on “Overcoming Objections”, “Closing Techniques”, and “Listening Skills”. 

2) Digital Marketing & Social Media Training: learn more effective ways to employ “digital tools” in your marketing and how to use social media to enhance your business presence. 

​As you can see, the Board of Directors and many other volunteers, are eagerly seeking more avenues to add greater value to our memberships, such as by offering helpful educational classes. 
 
If you have an interesting and helpful subject matter that you would like to present or have presented, please contact John Rodriguez at jrod@ifminc.com.
 
Stay tuned for more educational classes to be announced and when registration will open!

On Thursday, October 10th, attendees gathered at the YTEL building in Lake Forest for our final Tri-Chamber Mixer. This mixer was hosted by the Lake Forest Chamber of Commerce.

As attendees came through the front doors, they were warmly greeted by all three Chambers (Lake Forest, Mission Viejo, and RSM) and kindly directed to first take a fun photo with Takata Photo & Design and then make their way to the meet n greet areas where the food, beverages, opportunity drawing prizes, and Chamber tables were located.

It was so refreshing observing the three Chambers interacting and sharing contact information to be used at a later time. The City Mayors were also on hand to support this special event, along with Board members and Ambassadors from each Chamber.

To see all the photos, follow this link: www.takatapd.com/p942096802.

We look forward to announcing our 2020 Tri-Chamber Mixers in the very near future!