Sept. 18, 2017 — Tania Garcia, CSU Channel Islands’ (CSUCI) Director of Development, Alumni Relations, is the new chairperson of the Camarillo Chamber of Commerce.
In her new capacity as Chamber chairperson, Garcia plans to search for opportunities that enrich the Camarillo business community.
Garcia sees the Chamber’s role as helping businesses succeed by finding unique ways to support Camarillo’s economic development through partnerships and by supporting local and future entrepreneurs.
Garcia views CSUCI and the Chamber as natural partners in this endeavor as both have resources to offer.
“It’s fantastic for both the Chamber businesses and the students,” Garcia said. “The Chamber is an avenue for students to receive mentorship, internships and permanent hiring. And vice versa, the University is an avenue for local Chamber businesses to find quality employees and interns.”
The University also offers the chamber businesses an opportunity to network, form business partnerships and take advantage of educational resources.
Garcia is unique in that she has experience both with the University and the needs of a small business. Her family owned and operated a Mexican food restaurant in her hometown of Questa, New Mexico, north of Taos.
When each family member was old enough to work, he or she was asked to “choose your devil” Garcia said with a laugh, and work as a cook, dishwasher maid or waitress/waiter.
“I was too scrawny to be a dishwasher, too tall to be a maid and I was terrified of the kitchen, so I chose waitress,” she said. “I saw the struggles of a small business up close.”
Camarillo Chamber of Commerce CEO Gary Cushing believes Garcia is uniquely suited to this position for many reasons.
“I have had the pleasure of working with Tania for the last four years as the President of the (CSUCI) Alumni & Friends Association,” he said. “She is a very dedicated and has a unique talent of seeing the big picture, and that is what you need is to have someone that can think outside the box. She is a pleasure to work with.”