January 15, 2025 – Under a rainy January nighttime sky, Fresno County Women’s Chamber of Commerce (FCWCC) gathered into the warm, inviting atmosphere of Fairwinds at Woodward Park for community members to connect with Chamber member Sabrina Samora, a several-year member of the organization.
Walking through the doors of the venue, individuals were greeted by buzzing conversation flowing throughout the room and a sense of excitement and energy. The venue was decked out with colorful banners and décor, pinatas, and a variety of Mexican cuisine to enjoy.
As women grabbed food from the tables, piling delicious street tacos, conchas, and other appetizers on their plates, Samora engaged with potential and current members of the chamber, prominently connecting with women-led business organizations from all around Clovis and Fresno.
The music coming from different parts of the room was drowned out by the engaging conversation of these women, sharing about updates in their businesses, discussion about the chamber and what’s in store for 2025, and other topics.
“It’s just a diverse group of women – of professional women, that work together who support each other,” Samora stated. “All of the events that we have with the chamber are always successful because of that – it’s a group that supports each other.”
That camaraderie between the women was evident as people from all walks of life sat at the tables of the venue, creating long-lasting friendships and cherished memories while expressing their support for the community.
The women’s conversations and the glassware clinking on their plates reached all the way down the halls of the retirement center, causing senior citizens to stop by and inquire about what was happening.
This location was strategically chosen by Samora to be the venue for the event due to her heart and compassion for senior citizens, a population she has sought to provide for throughout her time in the chamber.
At one of the vividly decorated tables with Mexican candy, a rainbow horse pinata, and other features, Tara Kaitfors and her friend Jill Reynen excitedly conversed about the prospect of joining the chamber in 2025.
Kaitfors spoke about her passion for adult readiness for high school students, discussing her role as Senior Program Manager for Junior Achievement of Northern California.
The nonprofit organization provides resources to these students to get ready for the transition to adult life, offering school curriculum for financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and career readiness. They are currently preparing for an event in April that will simulate real-life scenarios, requiring students to budget their income to cover expenses such as rent, car payments, college fees, and other adult responsibilities.
As an entrepreneur, Kaitfors understands the importance of networking at events like these and the significant impact it can have on the community.
“People think Fresno and Clovis are small, but it’s actually pretty vast,” she stated. “And there are so many industries that you can come in contact with at events like this, and kind of figure out a way to connect and maybe support a different aspect of the community.”
Reynen chimed in agreement, remarking, “It’s definitely a good opportunity for women specifically.”
Reynen enthusiastically shared about her business as well, a 24-hour gym called “HotWorx” which offers high-intensity workout sessions in a space that promotes detoxification and muscle strengthening.
“The workouts are inside of a sauna, an infrared sauna. There are twelve different workouts to choose from that are all virtually instructed,” Reynen explained. “The infrared energy inside the sauna has a ton of benefits. One of my favorite benefits is that it helps regulate my sleep.”
Reynen’s enthusiasm for HotWorx mirrored the passion felt throughout the evening. Other women participating in the gathering also shared updates regarding their businesses as well.
Their laughter and passionate, heartwarming conversations reflected the spirit of unity and friendship that can be found in the FCWCC.
This 2025, the FCWCC looks forward to more events like these that foster camaraderie and collaboration between women-led businesses in the area and are excited for what comes next. Be sure to stay updated on their events by following them on Facebook under Fresno County Women’s Chamber of Commerce or on Instagram @fcwcc_559.