About Us

ERA, the voice of manufacturers representatives, contributes to member success.
ERA creates an atmosphere for business opportunities.
The ERA is a partnership of National and Chapter; the sum is greater than its parts.

The Organization

From ERA’s Chicago headquarters flow the programs, publications and member benefits that respond to members’ multifaceted needs. A dedicated volunteer corps guides and oversees the operation of an outstanding professional staff, to respond to members’ multiple roles as managers, entrepreneurs, salespeople and employers while enhancing the manufacturers’ representative function.

Since 1935, ERA’s assertive leadership role in promoting and protecting the function has led to the identification of manufacturers’ representatives as equal partners in the field sales and marketing process. ERA gives a voice not only to representatives but to the manufacturers and distributors who partner with them. ERA listens and responds to members and to the forces that impact the success of their companies.

About Southern California Chapter

In 1945 the Los Angeles chapter of “The Representatives” evolved from the Radio Boosters Club organized in 1933.

In 1951 we incorporated as a non-profit: The Los Angeles Chapter of Representatives, Inc.

In 1961 our name was amended to: Southern California Chapter Of The Electronic Representatives Association.

The Best ERA Chapter

Congratulations on being the best chapter in ERA.

Some think our chapter is pretty good, and it’s true. In seven of the last eight years we have won ERA Chapter Of The Year awards, seeming to confirm that we are doing something right.

Many chapters have declining membership. Ours has been flat for eight years and while some have financial problems, we have been in the black for seven of the last eight years.

Some of our events are terrific and others are pretty tame but serve to educate us about important topics.

Our chapter is different.
Members continuously work to keep it inventive, active and looking forward.

Distributor members.
Since 2004 distributor members have helped us by adding another perspective and contributing to the dialog.

Owner’s Forums
Our chapter created Owner’s Forums in 1995. Harrison Frank has moderated most of them and occasional guest hosts help to keep it interesting.

Social events
Spring and summer we have evening social events 100 miles apart at opposite ends of our region to encourage mixing of customers, distributors and reps in a casual setting. Two hundred attendees over the two venues is an indication of their popularity.

Friday breakfast
Every Friday morning since 1996 members have enjoyed conversation over breakfast in Tustin and since 2001 the same happens monthly in Calabasas. This is a great opportunity to meet and talk with other reps on a regular basis.

Shows
Since the 1960s we have produced tabletop shows that bring out customers to see our people and products. They are as popular now as ever. We usually plan four per year.

Our Industry
The past two decades have seen maturation, consolidation and exportation of the electronics industry unlike anything in our history. Many manufacturing companies in Southern California during the 1980s are no longer here, or their manufacturing has moved away. But we keep on selling.

All of the innovations above were done by chapter members. Their contributions continue to benefit us, themselves and our industry. The way to get something out of an association is to participate.

Let’s continue to work at advancing the rep profession.

CHAPTER COMMITTEES

Committees are the heart of ERA, and involved in every aspect of chapter operations. Business is conducted by the Chapter Board, Chapter Committees and the Chapter Office. Committees and their recommendations make things happen.

BOARD ADVISORS
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
BYLAWS COMMITTEE
DISTRIBUTOR COMMITTEE
FINANCE COMMITTEE
MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE
PARTY COMMITTEE
PROGRAM PLANNING COMMITTEE
SHOWS PLANNING COMMITTEE

Southern California ERA produces dozens of educational, trade show and social experiences each year, publishes ERA Today Newsletter and a weekly email newsletter, provide hundreds of web-based tools and resources, and helps members connect via meetings, forums, breakfasts and other activities.

ERA members are independent businesses selling electronic products for more than one manufacturer to customers in a given geographic territory.

Southern California ERA helps members be knowledgeable, professional sales and business people via education, training, publications, trade shows and opportunities to meet with other reps, distributors and manufacturers for mutual benefit.

We are the largest chapter in the ERA. Our territory stretches from Central California through Orange County and the desert counties into Southern Nevada. Many members have significant business in San Diego and Mexico.

Members provide high value services to manufacturers and their customers. They are experts who know the territory and are skilled in identifying new opportunities. They develop new customers, serve existing customers and manage strategic accounts ranging from tiny to the largest names in the industry.

ERA rep firms sell products in virtually all market groups:

Communications: mobile communications systems, telecommunications, two-way radio, wireless systems.
Components: active and passive components, interconnect, power sources and other OEM products.
Computer: office/home computer systems, LAN, multi-media, graphics, data communications.
Consumer Electronics: audio/video, personal entertainment and communications, and personal computers.
Instrumentation: test and measurement, data acquisition, control systems, quality control.
Materials, Assembly & Production: printed circuit fabrication, inspection equipment, ESD/EOS materials.
RF/Microwave: RF components, sub-assemblies, transmission lines, specialized instrumentation.
Sound, Audio-Visual, Electronic Security: professional sound, audio/video and security products.