[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 52 (Wednesday, May 4, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: May 4, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                        IN HONOR OF MEL SOLOMON

                                 ______


                           HON. ANNA G. ESHOO

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Wednesday, May 4, 1994

  Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a dedicated public 
servant and outstanding business person, Mr. Mel Solomon, on the 
occasion of his retirement as executive director of the Sunnyvale 
Chamber of Commerce.
  Mel has provided the chamber with exceptional leadership over the 
past 6 years. Through his remarkable expertise and passion for business 
development, he has brought together both large and small businesses to 
work in partnership throughout the community. The Sunnyvale Chamber of 
Commerce has substantially expanded its role under his guidance and 
increased the services it offers to local businesses. Mel has also been 
instrumental in bringing to the region a wide array of community 
resources to help companies succeed, such as the Silicon Valley/San 
Mateo County Small Business Development Center and the De Anza College 
Small Business Institute. In addition, Mel has been a driving force in 
bringing businesses and dislocated workers together to utilize the 
NOVA/Private Industry Council's invaluable support services and 
retraining programs.
  Mel is credited with not only putting together resources to support 
businesses and the Sunnyvale community, but also serving as a major 
source of business expertise himself. Mel worked fro 23 years as a 
national marketing director and program business manager for GTE/
Sylvania. Starting from scratch in 1970, he and his wife, Maxine, built 
the Sportique fashion-retail business into a successful six-store chain 
and sold the business in 1985. During the past 20 years, he has taught 
entrepreneurship startup and expansion classes at colleges throughout 
the bay area and published a book on this subject. He also hosted a 
nationally televised series entitled ``The Small Business Counselor'' 
for 2 years.
  Mr. Speaker, Mel Solomon has united the Sunnyvale business community 
in a way that has never happened before. He has been the catalyst for 
many innovations, and the partnerships he has created will flourish 
long after he has retired. I ask my colleagues to join me today in 
honoring this remarkable man who has truly made Sunnyvale a great place 
to live and do business.

                          ____________________