Another Attempt at an Aliso Chamber of Commerce

Correction: Jody Vaughn is district director for Assemblywoman Diane Harkey.

This story comes courtesy of Susannah Hine:

Maybe the second time's the charm.

After the Aliso Viejo Business Council disbanded in 2008, Aliso businesses briefly joined a regional chamber. But when the South Orange County Regional Chamber of Commerce switched its focus to larger regional and political issues, this left several communities without chambers.

Last Thursday, Jan. 24, the Aliso Viejo Chamber of Commerce installed its board of Directors at the Renaissance ClubSport.

The business community and the board directors, led by President Julie Wright, are hopeful for success. Due to the rising economic environment of 2013 and an ambitious group of business people on the board, there are high hopes for a thriving chamber.

After the SOCRCC switched gears, Aliso was left without a chamber and "no one did anything about it," said David Russell Ohrn, who serves on the executive council of the Aliso Niguel Chamber of Commerce.

Why did the city's first chamber disappear? New chamber treasurer Bill Klamfoth says it died from economic hardships and lack of energy and support from the community. This was in 2008 when Aliso Viejo was still a new and rapidly growing city without the drive to keep the chamber afloat, he said.

Here are the new officers:

Jody Vaughn, district director for Assemblywoman Diane Harkey, expects the new chamber to succeed.

The community now has "more establishments, a more diverse mix of large and small businesses and better economic circumstances," than it did in 2008, she said.

The new board will focus on home-based businesses, which are highly popular in Aliso Viejo, along with larger retail businesses that serve the city's residents.