Winter 2013 - Camarillo Chamber of Commerce

Business Advocacy
Chamber hires dedicated staff member for
business advocacy and big business outreach
The Western Association of Chamber Executives points out in their Chamber Toolkit that “Democracy is not a spectator
sport. Businesses must play to make sure they are in the game and influencing the outcome.” As a member of the Camarillo
Chamber, your business is definitely in the game.
The Camarillo Chamber is dedicated to representing business with government in the most effective and strongest manner
possible, so to that end we are welcoming a new staff member to lead our advocacy efforts. Sean Paroski, former Field Representative
for Senator Tony Strickland, is joining the Chamber staff in a newly created position, Government Relations Director.
“We have created this position to bring our advocacy efforts up a notch and better represent our members,” said Chamber
CEO Jennifer Wells. “When we found out Sean was available we jumped at the chance of having such an experienced and well
connected young man in this position.”
Read below to learn a little more about Sean Paroski and his ambitions for this new position.
Q: Where did you go to school?
A: - I went to elementary and middle
school in Camarillo, at El Descanso and
Monte Vista respectively, before moving
to the Santa Paula area where I attended
high school at Nordhoff High. After high
school, I went to Moorpark College before
transferring to a four year university, a path
I highly recommend to everyone thinking
about college, especially with tuition costing
the equivalent of a new car every year.
At CSU Northridge, where I ended up, I got
my Bachelors in mathematics.
Q: What were you doing before joining
the Camarillo Chamber team.
A: Most recently I worked for State Senator
Tony Strickland as a field representative
for the Ventura County portion of the then
19th Senate District. I represented the senator
at official functions when he was away
in Sacramento, including many with the Camarillo
Chamber. I also kept him informed
of various issues at the city and county level
and how state legislation was impacting our
local community.
Before that, I worked for the United Water
Conservation District in Santa Paula, where
I worked with them on environmental regulatory
issues involving endangered species.
Q: What are your aspirations for this
job – what would you like to accomplish
while working at the Chamber?
A: I want to help grow the Chamber, both
in terms of its total membership as well as
its ability to continue to be an effective advocate
for business, at the local, state and
federal level. With a new set of legislators
elected here in Ventura County, it will
be important for us to build close working
relationships with them to make sure the
business community in Camarillo has an
advocate in the legislature when decisions
impacting us are being made.
Q: What special skills do you bring to
the Chamber – what do you like to do in
your job?
A: During my time with the State Senate,
I had the opportunity to work closely with
all the Chambers of Commerce in Ventura
County as well as the business community
at large. I’m familiar both with the needs
of business in our area and how what happens
in Sacramento and Washington affects
them. Despite the rancor in the Legislature,
I was able to develop good relationships
with the staff of all our area legislators, both
Democrat and Republican. I simply like
working with people and I can get along
with practically anyone in order to get the
job done.
Q: What is your personal philosophy,
either in business or life in general?
A: - I’m very much a community
man, by which I mean that I love where
I was born and raised and I want to make
sure that I leave with some kind of lasting
improvement. I think the only way you can
make a real difference in life is by putting
down roots and investing in your city and
neighborhood. Unless we are very extraordinary
people (which by definition most of
us aren’t), our reach will not often exceed
our families, our work and our immediate
circle of friends and coworkers. We can do
great things by loving and trying to improve
the lives of those closest to us, without worrying
about how to reshape the world.
Paroski has already been active in
teh Chamber serving as co-chair of
hte Education Committee. Here is
is as the MC of the November 2012
Educator of hte Month award.
Q: What do you like to do in your spare
time?
A: - I am a voracious reader, and I try
to get my hands on as many books as possible.
I also love to hike and get outdoors
when I can. I enjoy working with my hands
as well, and while fixing plumbing or electrical
can in no way be described as fun,
there is a certain satisfaction in solving a
problem.
Q: Do you have any parting words of
wisdom you would like to impart to our
readership?
A: I’m afraid I don’t have much wisdom
to give. Philosophizing was never
my strong suit. George Orwell said that
“to see what is in front of one’s nose needs
a constant struggle,” so I try to concentrate
on what’s in front of me. Plus, I’m a very
clumsy person, so this makes excellent practical
advice as well.
The Journal Winter 2013
29