By Miriam Raftery

An ECM exclusive special report

"I think the organization is finished. It can't run by committee, which is what's being proposed." -- Mike Cully, former Chief Executive Officer

March 5, 2013 (San Diego’s East County) Updated 3:30 p.m. – Last week, ECM reported that the San Diego East County Chamber of Commerce let go its Chief Executive Officer, Scott Alevy, and terminated the position amid dwindling financial resources.

Now Mike Cully,  former CEO of the Chamber who was fired in September 2010,  reveals that he recently won a lawsuit against the Chamber over his termination. “I feel comfortable talking about this now," said Cully, who has not spoken publicly about the issues until now.

Moreover, Cully reveals a troubled financial history at the organization he once ran. “The problems with the Chamber preceded my arrival,” he told ECM in an e-mail response requesting his comments on the Chamber's current issues. “When I was interviewing, I requested, but never got—a full download of their financial status. And for good reason, in retrospect.”

March 1, 2013 (San Diego’s East County) – It wasn’t a Valentine that the San Diego East County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors voted on February 14 to deliver to CEO Scott Alevy.  Facing a budget crunch, the inland region’s largest Chamber voted to eliminate its full-time paid CEO position, relieving Alevy of his duties.

“Both Scott Alevy and the Chamber are on soild ground,” acting President and Chief Executive Officer Becky Burgstiner told Chamber members at a First Friday breakfast this morning in the La Mesa Community Center. 

She announced that Board Chairman Marcel Becker will be taking the leadership helm as soon as he is fully recovered from surgery  in a couple of weeks.  Becker is also Chair of JCI Metals in Lemon Grove.

February 12, 2013 (La Mesa)—The San Diego East County Chamber is offering group tours to locations around the world.  On Wednesday, February 13 from 6-8 p.m., you can learn more at a travel briefing at the Grossmont Healthcare District auditorium, 9001 Wakarusa in La Mesa.

Trips include Tuscany in March,Costa Rica in July, Ireland this October, the French Riviera in November, South Pacific Wonders including Australia, New Zealand and Fiji in October-November, and our December Holiday shopping trip to New York City.

August 2, 2012 (Rancho San Diego) -- The San Diego East County Chamber of Commerce’s  lively annual political event, Politics in Paradise, will be held on Friday, August 10 at the Water Conservation Garden at Cuyamaca College.

This year, the two-part event includes a panel of federal, state and local officials discussing their legislative agendas and how they related to business.  Panelists include Congressman Bob Filner, State Senator Joel Anderson, Assemblyman Brian Jones, and Supervisor Dianne Jacob.

In addition, chairs of the San Diego County Republican and Democratic parties, Tony Krvarik and Jess Durfee, will discuss three key ballot initiatives.

March 13, 2012 (El Cajon) – The East County Chamber is holding its 10th annual Grip It and Rip It golf tournament on May 17 at Sycuan Resort, Pine Glen Executive Course, 3007 Dehesa Road.  The golfing begins at 11:30 a.m. and the dinner follows at 5:00 p.m.

January 15, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) -- The San Diego East County Chamber of commerce celebrates 100 years of service to the business community with an elegant gala on February 4. The soiree of the century for East County business leaders will be held at the opulent U.S. Grant Hotel in San Diego.

Named for President Ulysses S. Grant, the hotel has a strong East County tie: it is owned by the Sycuan tribe of the Kumeyaay Nation. Sycuan invested $56 million restoring the national historic landmark hotel to its former grandeur. Located on land once home to the Kumeyaay, the Grant has hosted presidents and celebrities, ran a speakeasy during Prohibition, and became a hallmark of women’s rights in an event known as the "Grant Grill Invasion."

By Miriam Raftery
 

April 3, 2011 (San Diego’s East County)--Many might find it daunting to head up a major business association during the worst recession in 80 years. But Scott Alevy, new President and Chief Executive Officer of the San Diego East County Chamber of Commerce, has been in far tougher spots. 

Those include combat zones in Southeast Asia and the crash site of PSA flight 182 in San Diego, where Alevy headed up public relations for the airline after the tragedy that claimed the lives of friends and colleagues.

In an exclusive interview with East County Magazine, Alevy shared insights gained from his experiences, as well as his leadership goals and vision for the Chamber’s future.
 

October 4, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) – Cliff Diamond, former El Cajon Police Chief, has been named interim president and chief executive officer of the San Diego East County Chamber of Commerce. He will replace Mike Cully, whose departure was announced in late September.

September 21, 2010 (El Cajon) – The public is invited to attend “Passport to the Future,” the 2010 Business Showcase and Expo in El Cajon. This event is hosted by the San Diego East County Chamber of Commerce, along with the Santee and La Mesa Chambers.

Free to the public, the event features scores of vendors, seminars on social media and business-building from OneCoach, as well as a barbecue by the Elks. The event will be held at the Elks Lodge B.P.O. 1812, 1400 E. Washington Avenue in El Cajon.

August 19, 2010 (San Diego's East County) -- It may be the hottest political show of the season. On Friday, the San Diego East County Chamber of Commerce hosts its annual “Politics in Paradise” event, giving the public an opportunity to hear from top elected officials. This year, confirmed participants include Congressional representatives Duncan D. Hunter (R-El Cajon) and Bob Filner (D-San Diego), as well as State Senator Denise Ducheny (D-San Diego), Assemblyman Marty Block (D-Lemon Grove), and Supervisor Dianne Jacob.

The bipartisan lineup includes some of San Diego’s most influential and powerful legislative leaders. Ducheny chairs the Senate budget committee in Sacramento. Block chairs the Higher Education committee n the Assembly. Filner chairs the House Veterans Affairs Committee. Jacob, with decades of experience, has previously chaired the County Board of Supervisors. Hunter, a first-term Congressman, is a member of the House Armed Services Committee that his father formerly chaired.

July 28, 2010 (Rancho San Diego) – San Diego East County Chamber of Commerce will host its second annual “Politics in Paradise” event on August 20 from 6-9 p.m. at the Water Conservation Garden. The bipartisan program provides voters in East County with the opportunity to hear from legislators representing them in Washington, in Sacramento, and at the County level. 

The evening will allow guests  to pose questions to representatives and hear their opinions on hot button political issues and current events. Legislators confirmed to attend so far include Congressmen Duncan Hunter and Bob Filner, Assemblyman Marty Block, and Supervisor Dianne Jacob. More RSVPs are expected.