May 28, 2009
Cynthia Schneider Receives the Prestigious Small Business Advocate of the Year Award

Each year, the California Chamber of Commerce recognizes small business leaders who have done an exceptional job with their local, state and national advocacy efforts. Last week in Sacramento, at the California Chamber of Commerce Business Summit, Cynthia Schneider, former Corona Chamber Board Chairman and current Chairman of the Corona Chamber’s Legislative Action Committee (LAC) was honored with the prestigious Small Business Advocate of the Year Award.

Cynthia Schneider is the Senior Vice President of American Security Bank and a long-time active member and volunteer leader of the Corona Chamber of Commerce. American Security Bank has 7 full service branches (2 in Apple Valley; 1 in the following: Corona; Laguna Niguel; Lancaster; Newport Beach and Victorville ;) and one loan production office in Palmdale.
 

Cynthia was recognized last week by Allan Zaremberg, President and Chief

Executive Officer of Cal Chamber as a visionary business leader who successfully secured the support of the Corona Chamber Board of Directors in 2006 to make an unprecedented investment in representing the interest of our business community at all levels of government. Since then, the Corona Chamber has built one of the most active and results driven business advocacy efforts.
 

Joining Schneider was her husband David and a host of others: Corona Chamber Chairman of the Board Linda Pearson (Corona Regional Medical Center); Corona Mayor Steve Nolan; Corona Mayor Pro-Tem Karen Spiegel; Former Corona Mayor, Darrell Talbert; Officer and Board Member for Corona Chamber Chris Miller (Thomas Miller Mortuary); Denea Breitenbucher (Corona Chamber Staff) and Corona Chamber CEO / President Bobby Spiegel
 

“Since 2006, our Chamber has activated our local business community on hundreds of legislative proposals impacting Corona,” stated Bobby Spiegel, President and CEO of the Corona Chamber of Commerce.
 

“Cynthia was able to secure hundreds of letters from our business community on each issue, educate them through numerous email ‘Call to Action’ campaigns, and issue annual vote records to hold our Legislators accountable to our positions. In 2007 and 2008, each of our State Legislators voted with the Corona Chamber 100% of the time,” continued Spiegel.
 

Under Cynthia’s leadership, the Corona Chamber has developed a more concise advocacy plan by involving people in our process of developing positions on behalf of our members. Cynthia created subcommittees of the LAC where Chamber members review specific data detail by detail and then report on their discussion at the monthly LAC meeting. This process streamlined the entire decision making process enabling the Corona Chamber to be more productive on behalf of its business community.
 

Cynthia also successfully rallied our business community to support the implementation of the Sunrise Powerlink Project. This Project will help protect the supply of reliable and affordable electricity for Corona and our State. Cynthia built a grassroots network of over 200 local business leaders to actively support the project through letter writing campaigns. She also traveled to San Francisco to be the lead business advocate testifying in support of the California Public Utility Commission’s approval of the project. After hours of testimony and at the urging of many businesses in Corona, the Commission approved the Project.
 

Cynthia is also active in campaigns for elected officials. She works diligently on local campaigns, citing her father’s guidance as a child was to always use her talents to better others. Cynthia brings her creativity, visionary plans and action to local elections.
 

Corona Chamber of Commerce funds the Legislative Action process through its Signature Event, the Annual Magic of Monte Carlo (being held on Friday, June 12 at Eagle Glen in Corona). Funds derived from this event also go towards member benefits including Legislative outreach. None of the dues collected through membership fees are spent on Legislative matters. The Corona Chamber has a membership just shy of 1,000.