[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 51 (Tuesday, April 20, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E567]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  TRIBUTE TO TERI OOMS, PRESIDENT, INLAND EMPIRE ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. KEN CALVERT

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 20, 2004

  Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and pay tribute to an 
individual whose dedication and contributions to the community of the 
Inland Empire are exceptional. The Inland Empire has been fortunate to 
have dynamic and dedicated community leaders who willingly and 
unselfishly give their time and talent and make their communities a 
better place to live and work. Teri Ooms is one of these individuals.
  In 1997 Teri Ooms was appointed the President/CEO of the Inland 
Empire Economic Partnership (IEEP) and of its sister companies. IEEP is 
responsible for the regional marketing, attraction and recruitment of 
new business to the region, the expansion and retention of existing 
business, film, tourism, high tech regional development, workforce 
collaborative, regional visioning and the Small Business Development 
Center.
  Ms. Ooms joined the Inland Empire Economic Partnership in 1991 as the 
Executive Director of its Inland Empire Small Business Development 
Center. Under the excellent direction of Ms. Ooms, the Center grew to a 
staff of 21 with multiple regional locations, and its program has 
increased funding to $1.1 million, making it the largest California 
program. The Center has created numerous special services and training 
programs, and can demonstrate economic impact of over $300 million in 
its eleven year history.
  As President/CEO, Ms. Ooms completed a reorganization of the company 
resulting in new programs and services, financial stability and 
increased prominence in the community. In the period of 1997-2003 IEEP 
has had 70 successful business attractions and retentions resulting in 
over $730 million in new investment into the region creating over 9,500 
jobs. The region has over 5,000 film shoots, demonstrating a little 
over $425 million in regional impact in the same period. In 1999, she 
was awarded ``Management Leader of the Year,'' by the A. Gary Anderson 
Graduate School of Management, and in 1998, was a recipient of the 
``Women of Distinction'' award given by the Business Press. Since 1997, 
IEEP's membership has grown by 10% and maintains an average membership 
retention ratio of 93%. EIIP has evolved to include a high technology 
development program and coordination of the region's workforce 
collaborative to bring education and business partnerships to benefit 
employers, employees and students and a regional collaborative focused 
on regional visioning, planning, advocacy and implementation.
  Teri's tireless passion for community service has contributed 
immensely to the economy of the Inland Empire in California. I am proud 
to call her a fellow community member, American and friend. I know that 
many community members are grateful for her service and salute her as 
she retires.

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