Using her coach’s voice to command the room’s attention, Rose Cholewinski outlined three major goals for the coming year as she was installed last weekend as chairwoman of the Davis Chamber of Commerce’s board of directors. The gala dinner took place Friday, Jan. 20, in the ARC Ballroom at UC Davis.

Cholewinski, who owns and operates SwimAmerica in Davis, ticked off her Chamber agenda for 2012:

* Strengthen the bridge between the university and the business community.

“I want to shout from the rooftops how proud we are of UCD,” she told more than 250 business, community and UC Davis leaders who dressed for the red carpet at the Academy Awards-themed event. “There can be so much energy when businesses get behind the university.”

She encouraged Davis business owners to declare Fridays “Aggie Fridays” and ask their employees to wear UCD apparel as a visible reminder of a strong town-gown connection.

* Find out from business owners what they want from their Chamber of Commerce.

“Yes, that means a survey,” Cholewinski said. “It’ll come by email and will take just three or four minutes, but it will let us know how to meet your needs.”

* Ensure that the business community’s voice is heard loud and clear with city government.

“City Council members and city staff can expect to hear us and see us,” she said. “We’re going to flex our muscles on economic development.”

Cholewinski pointed with pride to the 172 volunteer hours she logged in Chamber meetings last year, “and that doesn’t count the time spent reading and sending emails, and the discussions at Nugget or over drinks at Our House (restaurant),” she said.

“Those are 21 full work days,” Cholewinski added. “I’m willing to work hard on your behalf, but help me make that time count.”

She thanked her SwimAmerica staff and family for their support, along with that of the Chamber board and staff.

Cholewinski succeeds Cary Arnold, who publishes the online Davis Life Magazine and is the marketing director for Doug Arnold-Coldwell Banker Real Estate. Arnold looked back with pride on a busy year at the Chamber’s helm in which she “amped up the fun factor” and saw attendance records break at all Chamber functions.

Arnold recognized two retiring board members — Christina Blackman of the Yolo Federal Credit Union and Charlie Swanson of The Davis Graduate and Our House. She presented the Board Member of the Year award to Don Palm, dean of the Sacramento City College Davis Center, and the Chamber Member of the Year award to Woodland Healthcare, represented by chief operating officer Bill Alger.

Duff Devine of Devine Insurance Solutions was honored as the Chamber’s Ambassador of the Year.

Continuing board members also were recognized: Gregg Herrington, vice chairman, The Yackzan Group; Kristen Hill, treasurer, Ink Monkey; Diane Archer, Tandem Properties; Rebecca L. Brandt, PG&E; Jeremy Brooks, Brooks Painting Inc.; Doby Fleeman, Davis Ace Hardware; Nancy Hannell, The Davis Enterprise; Anthony Johnson, Premier West Bank; Jennifer LaPlante, Carbahal & Co.; Cara Mengali, The Mortgage Resource Team at Comstock Mortgage; Mabel Salon, UC Davis; Palm; Arnold; and Alger.

The evening also provided the opportunity for public recognition of Davis’ top citizen award winners. Janice and Adam Bridge received the C.A. Covell Award as Citizens of the Year for their longtime volunteer support for myriad causes.

“Volunteering has been the way in which we bonded with this community,” Janice said. “Go out and volunteer,” she exhorted those present. “And if you don’t have anything to do, give Adam and me a call …”

Joe DeUlloa received the A.G. Brinley Plaque for his leadership during a tough time at the Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Center of Yolo County, when the financially strapped agency teetered on the brink of closure.

“There is no question in my mind that I needed to serve,” DeUlloa said about stepping up when asked. “It was an easy decision to help out once I learned what was at stake.”

Dennis Lindsay, chief financial officer at Nugget Markets and himself a former Chamber board chairman, served as the evening’s master of ceremonies. UC Davis Chancellor Linda Katehi welcomed the crowd to campus and reiterated the university’s support for the local business community.

— Reach Debbie Davis at [email protected] or (530) 747-8054. Follow her on Twitter at @debbiedavis15

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