Yuma Sun

South County Partnershi­p holds its first event

- BY MARA KNAUB @YSMARAKNAU­B

Restaurant owner Martin Porchas attended the first South County Partnershi­p event put on by the Yuma County Chamber of Commerce so he could take back to his staff tips on customer service and team building. But he also wanted to mingle with other business owners and get to know more of the business community.

The “Lunch and Learn” event held June 7 at Cocopah Casino in Somerton was the first of several events that the chamber will hold as part of its renewed focus on Somerton, Gadsden and San Luis.

“We are serious about being a footprint in South County,” John Courtis, executive director of the chamber, told those in the packed River Room.

The chamber will schedule more networking events and training sessions in those areas because, Courtis pointed out, “This is the Yuma County Chamber of Commerce.” The next event in South County is scheduled for October.

Recognizin­g that South County is home to many Spanish-speaking business owners and managers, the chamber gave a slide presentati­on on team building and customer service both in English and Spanish.

Porchas, a member of the Somerton Chamber of Commerce, is co-owner with Monty Sanders of 85350 Sports Bar and Pizzaria, which opened in April at 346 W. Main St. He thought it was important to attend the event to connect with the business community and “get to know other business owners and what’s working for them.”

“I’m happy that chamber started looking this way. It’s great for the

The first event organized by the Yuma County Chamber of Commerce focused on team building and customer service. John Courtis, executive director of the chamber, led the presentati­on.

He pointed out the importance of working as a team, noting that the most powerful force on the planet is cooperatio­n, quoting Jonathan Haidt, who said that human cooperatio­n is a force for constructi­on and destructio­n.

“Unless everyone comes together for one common goal, it won’t work,” Courtis said, adding that team members must respect each other’s “normal” and celebrate their difference­s.

 ??  ?? ABRAHAM ANDRADE (RIGHT), owner of Rolls and Bowls, located at 1627 Juan Sanchez Blvd. in San Luis, Ariz., attends the first South County Partnershi­p event put on by the Yuma County Chamber of Commerce on June 7. Andrade joined the South County...
ABRAHAM ANDRADE (RIGHT), owner of Rolls and Bowls, located at 1627 Juan Sanchez Blvd. in San Luis, Ariz., attends the first South County Partnershi­p event put on by the Yuma County Chamber of Commerce on June 7. Andrade joined the South County...

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