Mountain Communities Chamber of Commerce

OUR MISSION STATEMENT

The Mountain Communities Chamber of Commerce is committed to continuously promoting and fostering business alliances and being an advocate for all businesses to provide a positive business climate as an integral part of a healthy community; we are dedicated to serving as a primary resource for local businesses in the Mountain Communities; the Chamber's goal is to provide opportunities for the economic success of our members and provide benefit the Mountain Communities.

OUR VISION STATEMENT

The Mountain Communities Chamber of Commerce seeks to promote the tourism of the Mountain Communities as an economic advantage for all our residents, to promote support for those visitors who make this area their destination of choice, to encourage outdoor activities in the natural beauty of the forest resources around us, to actively protect and preserve the natural habitat for ourselves and future generations and to develop the arts for the benefit of all.

CHAMBER MEETING SCHEDULE

The Mountain Communities Chamber of Commerce holds public meetings the last Thursday of each month at 7:00 pm at Cuddy Hall, 335 Lakewood Place in Lake of the Woods.

Participation is key! Come Join Us!

CHAMBER BOARD

Stacey Havener, President

Stacey has been a resident of the mountain communities for 11 years now. After moving here she sort of “fell” into the real estate industry, eventually getting her broker’s license and starting her own company with, her husband, Milton Hudson. This past spring they added to their real estate services by purchasing All Seasons Realty and Property Management. Like many other volunteers, she has met “along the way”, she appears to be heading down the path of “career volunteer”. She got involved with the Frazier Mountain Junior Falcons a few years back when her son played football and, even though, he is now in high school, she still dedicates time to helping that organization. She most recently became involved with the Mountain Shakespeare Festival in 2007 when she auditioned for “As You Like It” and has since performed in their annual plays each July. As the chamber president, she sees it as the perfect marriage of her business life and creative life. She looks forward to helping our mountain town grow through her efforts in the business community, arts community and through her volunteer work. Her first step in doing so, is to meet every member (and potential member) of the chamber in person. So, please feel free to contact her if she hasn’t already stopped by to meet you!

Peter Carroll, 1st Vice President

Peter Carroll is a native of New Hampshire who relocated to California after graduating from college in 1979. "I enjoyed life as a professional motorcycle road racer for a period of approximately 10 years while residing in Costa Mesa California. I worked part-time as a service advisor for Champion Motorcycles, a multi-lined franchise dealer in Costa Mesa during my racing career and worked full time as service manager when I was not racing. I met the woman of my dreams in 1992, asked her to be my partner in 1993 and relocated to Lebec, the gateway of the mountain community. I went to work for Hang Time Motorcycles as general manager in 1993 and purchased the business two years later."

"Hang Time Motorcycles has been in business for over 10 years, and I have witnessed many businesses fail here on the hill. Trying to succeed in a small community while trying to stay competitive with business off the hill is not an easy task. It takes a cooperative effort between businesses, governmental agencies and requires a loyal customer base that is willing to help mountain businesses succeed."

"It is my vision to put a collaborative effort toward events and tourism involving mountain businesses who wish to help each other succeed in their dreams to live and work in the mountains."

Kim Volkmar, Secretary & Web Mistress

Kim has been a California resident for almost 20 years and has lived in Frazier Park since 2004. Prior to moving to Kern County, Kim earned an Associate in Arts degree with a concentration in Computer Programming and Business Information Systems. For the next 6 years, she taught Computer & Business Skills at Cypress College in Cypress, CA and was also an educational aide to troubled teenagers in the Anaheim School District. Kim and her husband, Mike, have been independent business owners of an oilfield consulting business since 2002. "Although our work is concentrated in the Los Angeles area, the opportunity to be involved in and support (both physically and monetarily) local issues puts us in a unique position in our new hometown!" In February 2007, Kim obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Health & Human Services Management. Among her other volunteer endeavors, Kim is Vice-President of the Frazier Mountain Boys & Girls Club and Secretary of the Pinon Pines Estates Mutual Water Company.

Kim is very interested in seeing businesses become (and remain) successful here on the hill by supporting our local merchants. She says, “Eco-tourism is a natural for our area…in order to preserve the beauty and help attract tourists to see what the Mountain Communities have to offer!”

Sue Nichols, Treasurer

Sue, a native Californian, moved from the Inland Empire to Frazier Park in November 2003 to start a new career as the owner of Sue's Tavern, located on Mount Pinos Way in Frazier Park.

Sue worked for the California State University System for 16 years prior to taking a chance on owning a business of her own. As Director of Grants and Contracts, Sue and her staff provided the accounting services and compliance requirements necessary for the numerous federal, state, and local fundings awarded to the college.

One important factor in Sue's decision to move to Frazier is that her son and his family reside in Frazier Park. She has two grandsons that like to keep her busy. She was Team Mom for her oldest grandson's Junior Falcon football team in 2005 and volunteers as treasurer for the Junior Falcon football.

When asked to join the Chamber and be a board member, Sue knew that there was no other answer than "Yes, of course." The thought of being a part of building the community into a stronger and better place for all was (and still is) a very appealing thought to Sue.

Brittany Applen, Director

Brittany, co-owner of Tidbits of Santa Clarita Valley and the Mountain Communities, was born and raised in Southern California. After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Deaf Studies/Interpreting, she began providing educational interpreting services to deaf students and professors at various colleges in Southern California. At the same time, Brittany enrolled in graduate school and went on to earn her Master of Arts Degree in Communication Studies. She began teaching at CSU Northridge in 2002, where she taught Public Speaking until 2003. Brittany currently holds a part-time faculty position in the Department of Leisure Studies and Recreation, and she has also been providing Interpreting Services for Deaf students at College of the Canyons since 2001. In 2003 she was hired as part-time faculty in the Sign Language Department where she continues to teach American Sign Language.

While teaching has clearly become a passion for Brittany, she has always been self-employed, owning several businesses over the past 10 years. In July 2005, she launched the Tidbits Paper in the Santa Clarita Valley and the Mountain Communities. She is a member of the SCV Chamber of Commerce, and a member of the Leadership Team for Women Entrepreneurs of SCV. She is very excited to have the chance to positively and effectively participate in the community by being a part of the Mountain Communities Chamber Team.

Robert Rodriguez, Director

Robert, a New York City native, moved to the mountain communities in 2006 after living in California for six years. Robert spent eight years in the United States Marine Corps as a bomb disposal technician. Robert has lived all over this country and has lived in Japan. Robert has also done two combat tours in Iraq.

Robert has been an avid off-roader ever since putting a lift kit on his first Jeep one week after purchasing it brand new. Robert volunteers his time all across the state doing trail maintenance and clean-ups to help keep the great trails in this state and here in the mountain communities open. Robert is an active member of The California Association of 4 Wheel Drive Clubs, Inc., The California Off-Road Vehicle Association and the Frazier Park Four-Wheel Drive Club.

Robert is the Owner Pirate Jeep Adventures in Frazier Park offering Jeep rentals and off-road tours here in the mountain communities. Robert decided that this area was a great location for a business of this type the first time he visited the area.

Robert is committed to making the mountain communities an eco-tourism based area that will help all of the businesses here grow. Robert is very excited to be on this board with other like-minded individuals and is ready to make some positive changes in our community.

CONTACT

Mountain Communities Chamber of Commerce
PO Box 552
Frazier Park, CA 93225
661- 245-1212
Email:  Contact the Chamber