Territory   -   Officers   -   Committees   -   Chapter Info

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JOIN ERA-SoCal

Join Here. . .
Print a Southern California Chapter Membership Application
Dues information is at the bottom of this page.             
              Fax it to 949-551-1162

              Or mail it to
              Southern California ERA
              15186 Normandie Ave.
              Irvine, CA 92604-2933

 

Territory

Southern California, bounded on the north by the Counties of San Luis Obispo, Kings, Tulare and Inyo, inclusive (postal ZIP codes 900-935), Southern Nevada, bounded on the north by the Counties of Esmeralda, Nye and Lincoln, inclusive (postal ZIP codes 889-893), and the State of Baja California Norte, Mexico. Here is the EIA UTP Territory Description: www.erascal.org/Territory_Definition_UTP002.pdf
 

Officers

         2012 Chapter Board Members

            President - Steve Tennessen, Astron Electronics, 949-379-7266

            Chairman of the Board - Tim Wolfe, PMC Technical Sales, 714-579-1400
           
            Vice President - Doug Johnson, O'Donnell South, 310-781-2255
            
            Treasurer - David Berryman, Signal Enterprises, 714-402-6221
         
            National Delegate - Bill Herold, Conquest Technical Sales, 805-241-5118 
 
            Government Affairs Committee Chair - Logan Enright, The Enright Company, 714-838-1900

            Membership Committee Chair - TBD

            Distributor Committee Chair - Dave Mertel, TTI, 818-407-8000

            Shows Committee Chair - TBD

            Executive Director - Dennis McGillis, 949-551-5200

            Office Manager - Frances McGillis, 949-551-5200
 

Past Presidents

Committees

2012 Chapter Committees
Committees are the heart of ERA, and involved in every aspect of chapter operations. 
Business is conducted by the Chapter Board, Chapter Committees and the Chapter
Office. Committees and their recommendations make things happen.     

BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Dan Parks, Chairman
Bob O'Brien, Vice Chairman
Bob Baxter, Secretary
Bill Greenfield, Treasurer
George Gibbons, Trustee-elect

BYLAWS COMMITTEE
Tom Felts
Ed Reese

FINANCE COMMITTEE
David Berryman, Treasurer - Chairman
Steve Tennessen
Bill Herold

PROGRAM PLANNING COMMITTEE
Doug Johnson, O'Donnell Associates, Chairman
Steve Tennessen, Astron Electronics
Dave Mertel, T.T.I.
Bill Herold, Conquest Technical Sales
Nicole Canterbury, Luscombe Engineering
Scott Larson, S.A. Larson & Associates
Brian Halligan, Packaging & Component Specialists
Wayne Saxton, Innovation Sales Southern California
Jack Chalmers, Conquest Technical Sales
Loren Kaiser, Kaiser & Associates
Peter Cop, C & N and Associates

MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE
TBD

SHOWS COMMITTEE
Dave Snyder
Bill Herold

GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
Logan Enright, The Enright Company, Chairman

BOARD ADVISORS
Jay Walters, Signal Enterprises Inc.
Ed Reese, Motion Components
Gary Smith, G. L. Smith Associates
Tom Felts, Techrep Components

WEBSITE COMMITTEE 
Tim Wolfe, Chairman
Steve Tennessen, President
Doug Johnson, VP
Dennis McGillis, Editor
Bill Perry, Webmaster

 

The Best ERA Chapter

THE BEST ERA CHAPTER

Congratulations on being the best chapter in ERA.

Some think our chapter is pretty good, and it’s true. In seven
of the last eight years we have won ERA Chapter Of The Year
awards, seeming to confirm that we are doing something right.

Many chapters have declining membership. Ours has been flat
for eight years and while some have financial problems, we
have been in the black for seven of the last eight years.

Some of our events are terrific, others are pretty tame but
serve to educate us about important topics.

Our chapter is different.
Members continuously work to keep it inventive, active and
looking forward.

Distributor members
Since 2004 distributor members have helped us by adding another
perspective and contributing to the dialog.

Owner’s Forums
Our chapter created Owner’s Forums in 1995. Harrison Frank has
moderated most of them and occasional guest hosts help to keep
it interesting.

Social events
Spring and summer we have evening social events 100 miles apart
at opposite ends of our region to encourage mixing of customers,
distributors and reps in a casual setting. Two hundred attendees
over the two venues is an indication of their popularity.

Friday breakfast
Every Friday morning for fifteen years members have enjoyed
conversation over breakfast in Tustin and for ten years the same
happens monthly in Chatsworth. This is a great opportunity to
meet and talk with other reps on a regular basis.

Shows
Since the 1960s we have produced tabletop shows that bring out
customers to see our people and products. They are as popular
now as ever. We are planning four in 2011.

Our Industry
The past two decades have seen maturation, consolidation and
exportation of the electronics industry unlike anything in our
history. Many manufacturing companies in Southern California
during the 1980s are no longer here, or their manufacturing
has moved away. But we keep on selling.

All of the innovations above were done by chapter members. Their
contributions continue to benefit us, themselves and our industry.
The way to get something out of an association is to participate.

Let’s continue to work at advancing the rep profession,

Best regards,

Dennis McGillis
ERA Southern California
January 3, 2011
 

Association and Chapter Information

About ERA

In 1935 The Representatives of Radio Parts Manufacturers was founded in New York City.  By 1936 membership had grown to 78 and plans were initiated to establish "chapters" or "sections" in leading cities throughout the country. During these early days the association established its bylaws and initial objective -- "To create a spirit of mutual respect, esteem and cooperation among its members and the radio and allied industries" -- paving the way for the future.

During the latter half of the 1940s the office operation of the association was moved from New York to Chicago. Staff members were hired to help the Industry Relations Committee publish directories and send mailings to industry members. In 1948 the first Representor newsletter was published.

In the 1950s the first, full-time executive director was hired to manage the affairs of the national operation. In 1958, the association changed its name to the Electronics Representatives Association. 

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About Southern California ERA

In 1945 the Los Angeles chapter of “The Representatives” evolved from the Radio Boosters Club organized in 1933.

In 1951 we incorporated as a non-profit: The Los Angeles Chapter of Representatives, Inc.

In 1961 our name was amended to: Southern California Chapter Of The Electronic Representatives Association.

We remain the Southern California Chapter of the Electronics Representatives Association.  Our separate, member owned, 501(c)(6) California Corporation formed in 1945 predates our affiliation with ERA in 1961.  ERA National is part owner of EDS, we are not.  ERA National has manufacturer members, we do not.  ERA National does not have distributor members, we do. 

Our Chapter

Associations have the power to transform society for the better.

Southern California ERA produces dozens of educational, trade show and social experiences each year, publishes ERA Today Newsletter and a weekly email newsletter, provide hundreds of web-based tools and resources, and helps members connect via meetings, forums, breakfasts and other activities.

ERA members are independent businesses selling electronic products for more than one manufacturer to customers in a given geographic territory.

Southern California ERA helps members be knowledgeable, professional sales and business people via education, training, publications, trade shows and opportunities to meet with other reps, distributors and manufacturers for mutual benefit.

We are the largest chapter in the ERA. Our territory stretches from Central California through Orange County and the desert counties into Southern Nevada. Many members have significant business in San Diego and Mexico.

Members provide high value services to manufacturers and their customers. They are experts who know the territory and are skilled in identifying new opportunities. They develop new customers, serve existing customers and manage strategic accounts ranging from tiny to the largest names in the industry.

ERA rep firms sell products in virtually all market groups:

For more information, call 949-551-5200 or e-mail the Chapter office.