New site comes up with answers

Special for the Republic

May 31, 2006

If the business boom in the Southwest Valley came with sound effects, we'd all be wearing earplugs. It is exciting to be a part of the phenomenal growth and to see the variety of businesses that are growing their companies in the Southwest Valley.

Sandy Robinson opened doors for many people, especiall parents, when she started SWValleyParent.com.

"After I spent many hours on the phone probing my friends for leads on home daycare, soccer for 3-year-olds and birthday party ideas, I knew there had to be a better way to find this information," Robinson said.

SWValleyParent.com is the result of a lot of research and the help of a similar site in California. The free site provides local business information by category, coupons, monthly contests with prizes, local events calendars and free classifieds for parents.

Information: www.swvalleyparent.com or (623) 925-9388.

Gala Gatherings LLC is another service-oriented business that recently opened locally. Rhonda Parker has worked in the food-service industry for 16 years, supplying packaging and catering supplies to restaurants, hotels and caterers. Over the years, she has seen a need for someone who could step in and coordinate party needs for the general public. By putting her expertise to work for her clients, she knew that she could eliminate their having to run from place to place to find that certain centerpiece or special paper plates.

Information: (602) 469-1961 or www.galagatheringsllc.com.

One of the best-kept secrets in the Valley is the West Valley Youth Orchestra. The orchestra is a vehicle for talented young West Valley musicians, third grade through high school, to hone their skills by playing with their peers under the direction of a professional director. Each year the students are given the opportunity to perform in concert at several venues.

Past concerts have been held at the Challenger Space Center, the Renaissance Theater at Pebble Creek and the annual year-end concert at Westview High School.

Information: www.aztecfreenet.org/wvyo.

The Southwest Valley Chamber would like to congratulate Holsum Bakery on its 125th anniversary. Holsum opened its Tolleson facility in 1999. We are proud to have Holsum as a part of our Southwest Valley business community.



Sharolyn Hohman is president and CEO of the Southwest Valley Chamber of Commerce. Reach her at shohman@ southwestvalleychamber.org or (623) 932-2260.