New Chamber President Heads Advertising, Marketing Campaign
By Ruth Lepper

Ralph Mittman and his wife, Raquel, with children, left to right, Sara 5, Sophia, 7 and Andy, 9. Photo by Carol Kinney

Ralph Mittman stepped into the presidency of Ramona Chamber of Commerce at the beginning of 2007 and is moving ahead with plans for an increased advertising and marketing campaign for local businesses.

To kickoff the campaign, the chamber has a billboard on state Route 67 at the south end of town, encouraging residents to shop locally.

"The math is simple," Mittman said. "Doing business locally saves time, gas and money and you're doing business with friends. We're going to do everything we can do to remind everyone about that."

Mittman, 45, has lived in Ramona for 35 years when his family moved here from El Cajon.

"It was great," he said of rural life. "You knew more of the people living in Ramona. I took that as a natural. I didn't know it was different from El Cajon."

Mittman graduated from Ramona High School in 1980 and went on to further his education at San Diego State University where he majored in communications. After earning a bachelor of arts degree, he had an internship in a public relations and advertising firm. He also worked as a photo journalist for a few years in Northridge.

Mittman has been in business here since 1986 when he opened Manzanita Press. He opened a second shop, PrintPost, in El Cajon in 2005. Both shops deal with digital and variable data printing, often relying on each other when the workload is heavier at one location.

Mittman knows first hand that by shopping locally, businesses are able to have success in a small town. That's where membership in the chamber can be an asset to any business. More local customers also enable businesses to contribute to worthwhile organizations, such as sports and school events.

"By being a member of Ramona Chamber of Commerce, the overall campaign gives local businesses a chance to latch on to that market," he said.

Membership in the chamber currently is about 440, possibly an all-time high, Mittman said. He credits "Mac" MacWilliams, executive director, with the noticeable increase in membership during the past year.

Mittman has been on the chamber's board of directors for at least two terms, although not simultaneously.

"When you know so many people in Ramona, you eventually get asked to get involved with something," he said.

For Mittman, that meant getting involved with the chamber, starting with the annual parade that was held during Ramona Country Fair Days.

Mittman and his wife, Raquel, have three children - Andy, 9, Sophia, 7 and Sara, 5.

Joining Mittman on the chamber board are Sharon Davis, vice presidents; Jo Fox, secretary; Patricia Hansen, treasurer; and directors Carol Fowler, Charlotte Jensen, Lee Dickman, Dan Vengler, Jeanne Woods, Patrick Osio, Patrick Meskell, Sean Leahy and Jeff Ruland.

Monthly board meetings, which are open to the public, begin at 7:30 a.m. on the second Tuesday at the chamber office, 960 Main St. For more information about Ramona Chamber of Commerce or any of its events, call the office at 760-789-1311.