services - Idyllwild Town Crier

By Marshall Smith
Staff Reporter
Idyllwild Town Crier, March 26, 2009 - Page 9
Profiles of Chamber director nominees
Editor’s note: Four nominees for Chamber
director vacancies are profiled in this edition.
The other four will be profiled next week. Each
was asked questions about their reasons for
running.
In July, seven new directors will be sworn
on to the Idyllwild Chamber of Commerce
board. Eight are running for seven elective
unpaid directorships. In the meantime,
Chamber President Bill Triplett appointed
four of the eight to serve as interim directors
until the July swearing in. They are
Rick Aronson of the Purple Scooter, Maritha
“Mimi” Lamp of the Mimi Lamp Gallery,
Carol Klika of Idyllwild Tea Company and
Jan Houghton of For the Birds. Interviewed
in this edition are Aronson; Richmond
“Blake” Blake of Creekside Postal Service;
Guadalupe Garcia of Guaranty Bank; and
Lamp.
Aronson, an Idyllwild resident since September
2008, has an extensive background in
commercial furniture business development
and sales, as well as in commercial stone.
Prior to arriving in Idyllwild, Aronson
volunteered in 2008 as a docent and historical
interpreter at Fort Sumter National
Monument in South Carolina. “I came to
Idyllwild because my sister had a cabin in
Pine Cove,” he recounted. “I’d lived in Los
Angeles, but had never before heard of
Idyllwild. Once I got here, I had no idea the
kind of business I’d go into, but I knew I’d
Richmond Blake
Guadalupe Garcia
never leave.” Aronson did what many other
business start-ups do not. He started a niche
business — consignments with a twist. His
primary business is to assist people with
eBay sales.
Aronson believes the Chamber should
promote Idyllwild as a hiking haven, get
behind the idea of a film festival, and become
a “green” town known for its commitment
to sustainability and environmental stewardship.
He said he has the time and ability
to commit volunteer hours to the business
of the Chamber beyond simply attending
monthly meetings. “I’ll commit as much
time as needed,” said Aronson. Aronson
also believes the Chamber and other groups
that promote the town for events should
network and cooperate more. “Nobody talks
to anyone else,” he said. “One of my goals
would be to increase the cooperation and
conversation among town groups involved
in tourist promotion.”
Blake is a 10-year Idyllwild resident. He
Mimi Lamp
Rick Aronson
and partner Greg Ihnotic moved from San
Diego to “get away from the hustle and
bustle of the city.” Ihnotic and Blake own
two businesses, Arroyo Viejo multicultural
textbooks for children, and Creekside Postal.
Blake retired from 20 years active duty and
10 inactive in the Navy as an E6 First Class
petty officer in 2006. Blake held a top-secret
security clearance.
Blake wants to preserve Idyllwild’s
unique character — no chain stores
and keeping everything locally owned.
Since his business has other employees,
he said he can afford to volunteer
the additional hours necessary
to forward the Chamber’s business.
As to why businesses come and go
quickly in Idyllwild, Blake cited poor
planning, failure to look at the existing
market, competition issues, and
what businesses are needed in the
town. His business is a niche business
that primarily serves locals. “You
definitely need the locals,” said Blake. He said
he believes in discussing issues but doesn’t
just say yes because someone wants him to.
Blake is a member of the local chapter of
the American Legion.
Garcia, resident in Idyllwild since December
2008, is a personal banker at Guaranty
Bank. She has 19 years of experience in the
banking business in Florida and Arizona
prior to coming to Idyllwild. Garcia also believes
in preserving Idyllwild’s locally owned
business character. “Chain businesses don’t
give back to the community,” said Garcia,
who has a history of volunteering outside
of career responsibilities — for the Salvation
Army and the American Red Cross, and as a
school classroom volunteer. Although new to
the community, Garcia is anxious to serve.
“I have a background in customer service
and problem solving,” said Garcia. “I look
at the overall picture and try to find the
See Chamber, page 22
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