The Manteca Chamber of Commerce has been a part of Manteca’s story from the start.
It — as well as the incorporated city itself — is the outgrowth of the Manteca Board of Trade.
A cross between today’s city council and chamber of commerce, the Board of Trade’s main goal was to promote the community and establish standards and programs similar to what a city would do.
It brought business people and community together to build a better Manteca.
The chamber — now almost 500 strong in terms of membership — is celebrating its 103 annual installation and awards banquet Saturday, June 25, at the Chez Shari Event Center on the second floor of the Manteca golf course clubhouse, 305 N. Union Road.
Tickets are $50 each. The deadline to purchase them is today at 5 p.m. by calling 209-823-6121.
The award recipients are:
*Large Business of the Year: Chick-fil-A
*Small Business of the Year: The Peoples Media Relations
*Non-Profit of the Year: Central Valley Association of Realtors
*Gladys Brock Chamber Service Award: Cliff Howlin
*Mabel Brocchini Community Service Award: Robert Wolf
*Leo DeGroot (MacGyver) Award: Leo DeGroot
*Ambassador of the Year: Stephane Zarate
*Board Member of the Year: Shawn Nussbaumer
*President's Choice Award: Debbie Baglietto
*Lifetime Achievement Award: Richard Silverman
Paul Caramona is being installed as the 2026-2027 chamber president.
Shawn Nussbaumer will do double duty as vice president and treasurer. Debbie Baglietto will serve as secretary.
New board members include Doctors Hospital of Manteca CEO Tina Burch, Sutter Health Ambulatory Chief Executive Officer Greater Central Valley Division Amber Campbell, and Manteca Fire Deputy Chief Franco Torrice.
Early impacts of business
leaders in shaping Manteca
Business leaders got the balling to get better streets in place, establish local youth groups like the Boy Scouts, establish the city’s first part, address firefighting needs and more
The group helped orchestrate the city’s incorporation in 1918.
And when business and civic leaders realized Manteca needed an organization to strengthen business to increase prosperity and build a stronger sense of community, many of the merchants and professionals that had established the Board of Trade launched the Manteca Chamber of Commerce in 1923.
It is more than an organization dedicated to improving the economic climate and helping provide resources to small and large businesses alike.
The Manteca Chamber of Commerce plays a pivotal role in bringing government, business and the community together.
And that includes making sure Manteca has a strong sense of community where neighbors interact with those next door as well as across town.
It is evidenced in three long-running traditions launched and made more vibrant with each passing year by the chamber and its members working with community volunteers as well as the City of Manteca.
*The annual twilight downtown Christmas parade will be staged for the 55th time this year. The parade takes place the first Saturday in December.
*This year was the 30th anniversary of the downtown Manteca street fair now known as the Watermelon Festival in a nod to the fact the Manteca area is by far California’s largest watermelon growing region. The event takes place the first Saturday-Sunday in June.
*The 24th anniversary of the launch of the Flags Over Manteca effort. The chamber’s signature patriotic project enlists a small army of dedicated volunteers to place and retrieve 2,400 flags along Manteca streets.
Flags Over Manteca
Flags Over Manteca was created in response to the September 11, 2001 attacks.
Weather permitting, the 2,400 flags fly on Jan. 19 – Martin Luther King Jr. Day , Feb. 16 – Presidents Day, May 16 – Armed Forces Day), May 25 – Memorial Day, June 14 – Flag Day, June 19 – Juneteenth, July 4 – Independence Day, Sept. 7 – Labor Day, Sept. 11 – Patriot Day, November 11 – Veterans Day, and Dec. 7 – Pearl Harbor Day.
In 2002, the Chamber raised $60,000 to drill 2,400 flagpole holes, monogram sponsor flags, and produce the hardware needed to display American flags throughout the community on designated holidays.
If you would like to sponsor a flag or make a donation to help with flag cleaning and replacement, contact the Manteca Chamber of Commerce at 209-823-6121 or email chamber@manteca.org.
If you have a group interested in volunteering to help place or pick up flags on designated holidays, contact the Chamber office for more information.
To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com
