Page 4 - via20141108

FROM THE CEO/PRESIDENT

The 2014 VIA BASH celebrates you! Whether you are a longtime member deeply involved in our
history or a relatively new member preparing to help us create our future, please let me extend a sincere
thank you for your support.
Established in 1981, VIA is proud of its long history in the Santa Clarita Valley, and even more
proud of the tremendous group of members we work with each and every day. Tonight, we have the honor
of presenting some very special award to VIA members of distinction. As we honor our Volunteer of the
Year, Rising Star and Business of the Year, we bear in mind the hundreds of other companies that make up
this organization. The VIA BASH honors all of you.
With more than 30 years of supporting business in the Santa Clarita Valley, the Valley Industry
Association has continued to see growth, and the best is yet to come. We are firmly invested in the vitality
of the Santa Clarita Valley and we carry a special philosophy: To move quickly in identifying and satisfying
member needs.
VIA continues to forge partnerships with leading area business organizations and are proud to be on
the forefront of emerging technologies. We are engaged in meaningful discussions and have developed a
collective voice for business.
We are especially proud of our education programs and the 2014 VIA BASH Event showcases the work of the VIA Education
Foundation and our Connecting to Success Program. Each year, 60+ business professionals join us to train more than 2500 high school
students in important workforce readiness skills that will allow them to better enter the world of work.
If you're not a member yet, why not? Ask a member how VIA has helped take them to the next level. I am confident you will find VIA
to be a strategic partner in your business success.
Enjoy the evening and thank you for being part of VIA's significant past, laudable present and promising future.

Kathy Norris

Kathy Norris
CEO/President
Valley Industry Association

The founder of JC Penney once said "Growth is never by mere chance; it is the
result of forces working together. 11

It was with that mantra that I entered the 2014 year as Chairman of the Board. In the last 12 months
I had the opportunity to see that in action by VIA's involvement in a variety of important progrdms that
yielded substantial benefits for our membership.
Through this process I have come to the realization that what James Cash Penney must have also
saw was that this growth occurred both on an individual level as well as an organizational levels This
year was one in which I found myself having to face numerous challenges and yet realizing that both at
American Business Machines, as well as at the Valley Industry Association, I was surrounded with all these
great people who were looking to accomplish the same goals.
So much of what us as members of VIA see happens at the luncheons, B2B, Connecting 2 Success,
and other high publicity events. However, what I saw in the last 12 months was a loyal band of directors,
committee chairs, and staff members who thought daily about the Valley Industry Association and how
they may better serve the organization. I wanted to give a specific thank you to Andrea McAfee for
all your help in preparing our financial reports (and always recruiting!), Jeanne Duarte for being an
incredibly generous new addition (and landlord!!), and Anna Frutos-Sanchez for courageously offering
to take the helm next year. To Kathy, Nancy, Naomi, the rest of the board, the volunteers, Grace Baptist Church, Hart District, COC, the
City, and the many others who contributed great things to us this year - THANK YOU!
And to help continue strong into the new year, I would like to remind you to help us continue our focus on increasing Collaboration
with our local partners, continued Advocacy to help bring sensible solutions to local and regional issues, the increased building of
relationships to help promote business growth, and as always a determined focus on helping support the educational needs of our local
community; businesses and our youth alike.

Chris Chapleau

Chris Chapleau
2014 Chairman of the Board
Solutions Consultant, American Business Machines
cchapleau@abm l .com / 661-912-1398