Political and Community Leaders, and Senator Richard D. Roth join GRID Alternatives IE to celebrate Earth Day 2013 at Solar Install and Open House!

Written by Admin on May 1, 2013. Posted in GRIDD Alternatives

(Jurupa Valley, CA)  GRID Alternatives Inland Empire held its Earth Day Installation and Open House on Friday, April 19, 2013 attracting a veritable who’s who of distinguished political leaders and representatives from the California Congress, Assembly and Senate.
 
Local elected officials from City of Jurupa Valley City Council, as well as community leaders also joined in this historic day. GRID Alternatives is a non-profit organization that brings the benefits of solar power to low-income communities. The event gave attendees the opportunity to see first-hand how GRID Alternatives makes every day Earth Day by witnessing a solar system being placed on the roof, the impact of job trainees receiving invaluable workforce development at no cost, and the hardworking and deserving family who will save on their electric bill while positively contributing to the environment.
 
To commemorate this landmark event State Senator Richard D. Roth from the Thirty-First Senate District attended and was the special guest speaker! “I am grateful for the opportunity to see the teamwork and commitment of GRID Alternatives during the solar panel installation in Jurupa Valley. It is very impressive to see the work GRID Alternatives is doing throughout Inland Southern California and what solar energy is doing to save working families money through lower energy bills. GRID Alternatives helps create excellent partnerships to build strong families and communities throughout our region and throughout California.”
 
The event provided the opportunity to share the success story of past volunteer and team leader, Carmen Valles, who as a result of the “classroom on the roof” workforce development experience, was able to be hired on full time within the Solar Industry and proudly declared, “they helped me re-invent myself from a ex-bank executive to a fully rounded solar employee. Carmen also shared with the crowd, “Grid Alternatives I. E. is known for reducing one of the most expensive utility bills, electricity, but at the same time they are simultaneously training an army of Solar Installers.”
 
Also in attendance from the Sixtieth District, where the Habitat for Humanity Home is located, was AssemblyMember Eric Linder and Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity Riverside, Karin Roberts. Joining them were representatives from AssemblyMember Cheryl Brown of the Forty-Seventh District, Congressman Mark Takano of the Forty-first district, The California Public Utilities Commission, and the Morongo Band of Mission Indians.
 
The Earth Day Event installed a 3.2 kW solar electric system which will generate more than 170,000 kWh of clean, renewable energy over the system’s lifetime. This equals over $29,800 in total savings for the family. In addition, 101 tons of greenhouse gas emissions will be prevented over the systems’ lifetimes, equivalent to planting 2,365 trees.
 
This solar installation was made possible in part by a grant from the S.L. Gimbel Foundation Advised Fund at the Community Foundation serving the Counties of Riverside and San Bernardino.
 
For more information on GRID Alternatives or to find out if Solar Panels are right for your home call 888-496-4743.
 
About GRID Alternatives
GRID Alternatives is a non-profit organization that brings the benefits of solar technology to low-income communities. Using a barn-raising model, GRID Alternatives leads teams of volunteers and job trainees to install solar power on qualifying homes, providing needed savings for families struggling to make ends meet while preparing workers for jobs in the fast-growing solar industry and cleaning our air.
 
More than 3000 California families have benefitted from the program to date, saving more than $82 million in lifetime electricity costs, and more than 11,500 people have received hands-on solar installation experience. Here in the Inland Empire, more than 430 families have been served to-date, for a combined lifetime savings of over $14 million.
for more information call
Carl Dameron at (909) 534-9500

• Continue Reading

CARL DAMERON NOMINATED FOR SPIRIT OF ENTREPRENUER AWARD

Written by Admin on April 17, 2007. Posted in Dameron Communications

(San Bernardino, CA) – Carl Dameron, president of Dameron Communications, has been nominated for recognition in the Fourth Annual Spirit of the Entrepreneur awards sponsored by California State University, San Bernardino.

The award honors local business people who have overcome challenges and given back to their community.

“I am honored to be considered for this award,” Dameron said. Dameron said he also appreciates how this awards program promotes an awareness of entrepreneurship among the Inland Empire’s youth.

“They need to realize there are successful professionals who live right down the street from them,” he said.

Dameron, 47, established Dameron Communications in 1989 after a marketing campaign for his former employer, AutoSound, increased that company’s profits by 250 percent. Despite his marketing success, Auto Sound was not able to keep Dameron on the payroll, so he parlayed that success into a business that has helped many other companies and non-profit organizations reach new customers.

Dameron has also worked as a journalist before, both on radio and newspaper. That experience still helps him in dealing with media.

“I see things with a journalist’s eye,” he said.

Some of Dameron’s earliest customers were in the automotive business, and while he has had large corporations as clients, today’s clients include non-profit organizations that pay a reduced rate. Dameron doesn’t charge them full price because he believes they are performing important services for the community.

For instance, the African-American Health Initiative promotes that African Americans in San Bernardino County will die, on average, 13 years before those of other races. The average African-American man in this county will not live to see his 56th birthday.

As the father of two young girls, Dameron does not want to be part of that statistic.

“I want to see my daughters graduate from high school,” he said. “I want to walk them to the altar on their wedding days.” Dameron also is an event producer.

The largest event he is involved with is the Inland Empire Diversity Job Fairs, and he assists the Inland Empire African-American Chambers of Commerce in bringing these to various San Bernardino and Riverside County locations. In the 14 years, they have helped thousands of residents find jobs close to home.

“People should be able to work where they live,” Dameron said. “The job fairs help local employers meet face to face with local people.”

Even though Dameron has recently started another business, 909Models.com, his workforce is still small, with just four full-time employees. The employees keep busy all day, and are talented at what they do, freeing them to concentrate on increasing business.

“I hire good people and stay out of their way,” he said. Frank Doughton, an account executive with the Riverside Press-Enterprise, nominated Dameron for this award.

“Carl has done so much, with his agency, the job fairs, starting 909Models.com and his agency,” Doughton said. “He has been out there, taking the risks, and I just think it’s time he got some recognition.”

Michael Stull, director of the Inland Center for Entrepreneurship, started this recognition program soon after coming to CSUSB in 2002. His university began the program with assistance from the Press-Enterprise, which continues to be a co-sponsor. Other sponsors this year include Arrowhead Credit Union, Citizens Business Bank, Citibank, Inland Empire National Bank, Loma Linda University Medical Center, Varner Saleson and Brandt LLP, Soren McAdam Christenson LLP, Family Business Partnership, Greater Riverside Chambers of Commerce, Glencrest Investment Advisors, the Riverside Convention Center, Wilkin Guge Marketing, KVCR, KTIE, and Milestone Media.

Stull said this program not only promotes awareness of the Center for Entrepreneurship but also provides role models to CSUSB students interested in starting their businesses.

“Students need to know about the great things people are doing right here,” he said.

The deadline to nominate an entrepreneur is Aug. 15. To do so, go to www.inlandspiritawards.com

For more information, call Stull at (909)) 537-3708

• Continue Reading
• No Comments