Board of Directors

Title: VP, Business Development

Professional Experience:

Alan is a business leader in commercial banking with 20 years of large and community bank experience. He has worked in Hi-Tech Silicon Valley as an Environmental Engineer, owned his own computer business and worked at the San Rafael and Novato Chambers. He is passionate about the concerns that small businesses have, both from his experience and nature of his current position, where he gets to help them succeed. He gets excited about sharing and implementing new ideas to keep our community vibrant related to local politics, transportation, economy and the arts.

Accomplishments/Community Service: Alan is a graduate of Leadership programs with the City of Palo Alto, San Rafael and Novato. He currently belongs to the Marin Builder’s Exchange, North Bay Leadership Council and Italian Street Painting Festival. He was involved with the City of San Rafael’s Vision 20-20.

Chamber of Commerce Role (Director, Committee work, etc.): Board of Directors; Economic Vitality Committee, East San Rafael Working Group

Personal Information:He lives and works in San Rafael. His son, graduated from St. Raphael’s and is now at Marin Catholic. He enjoys playing golf, gardening and cooking.

Title: President

Education and Professional Experience: C-15 licensed contractor

Accomplishments/Community Service: 2019 Small Business of the Year & Spirit of Marin recipient 

Other Volunteer Activities: ESL aide Canal Community Alliance

Chamber of Commerce Role: Director, Women of Industry committee member, East San Rafael Working Group member, Business Showcase committee member (past)

Personal Information: Marin native, attended Tam High, BA in Business Mgmt. Dominican University, pursuing MBA. Lives in Mill Valley with husband Hossein, has 5 kids and one granddaughter.

Title: CEO

Professional Duties: 

• Guide the organization and provide a vision for where it will be in the immediate future and the long term.
• Secure funding and build strong partnerships to support organizational strategies.
• Ensure that staff is engaged, satisfied, and able to maintain a healthy work/life balance.

Professional Experience:  High performing, strategic thinking professional with more than nineteen years' experience in business operation management in the non-profit and for-profit sector. Extensive expertise in building and optimizing organizational processes and performance measurement systems to maximize impact.

Other Volunteer Activities:

• Steering Committee San Rafael General Plan 2040, Vice Chair
• Marin Promise, Board Member
• Marin COED Soccer League, President

Title: General Manager

Professional Duties: Oversee all aspects of the Mercedes-Benz of Marin dealership

Professional Experience: General Manager/Dealer Principle of Automotive Dealerships for the past 18 years

Accomplishments/Community Service: President of TL Athletic Boosters, SRCS DAAFT committee, SR Chamber Board for 6 years, Schools Rule donor, Dedication to Special Education volunteer/donor, Can Do & OneTL Donor

Title: Superintendent/President

Professional Duties: Advocate for the best interest of the College through an active and visible community presence. Communicate openly with students, faculty, staff, and the community; bringing people together to build consensus. Work cooperatively to strengthen relationships within the College and the community to continually maintain and develop a cross-culture of trust. Recognize and support the values of diversity. Work with elected board members in their roles as policymakers, spokespersons, and representatives of the community. Understand and respect collective bargaining agreements and the participatory governance process.

Professional Experience: David Wain Coon became College of Marin’s 10th superintendent/president in December 2010.  Throughout his 28-year career in higher education, Dr. Coon has been recognized for his leadership locally, regionally, and nationally. He came to Marin following five years as president of Evergreen Valley College in San Jose where he championed a richly diverse student body and was recognized for being an inclusive and collaborative leader.

Accomplishments/Community Service:
Led College of Marin to a successful restoration of accredited status with commendations, Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC)/Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)
San Rafael Chamber of Commerce, Excellence in Education Award (2015-16)
Hosted town hall event with then House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and Congressman Jared Huffman (2014)
The National Hispanic University Award of Appreciation (2010)
Children’s Home Society of Washington, Board of Directors

Other Volunteer Activities:
US Silicon Valley China Sister Cities Delegation
Somos Mayfair Community Initiative, Board of Directors
Asian Americans for Community Involvement, Board of Directors
Central Washington University Foundation, Board of Directors
Children’s Home Society of Washington, Board of Directors
Central Washington University Alumni Association, Board of Directors
Emerald City Arts/Seattle Men’s Chorus
Greater Seattle Business Association

Chamber of Commerce Role (Director, Committee work, etc.): Board of Directors

Personal Information: Dr. Coon earned a bachelor of arts degree in communications and public relations from Central Washington University, a master of education degree in student personnel administration from Western Washington University and a doctor of education degree in educational leadership with an emphasis in organization development from Seattle University.

Title: President and Publisher

Professional Experience: Rob was appointed president and publisher of the Marin Independent Journal in 2015. He has worked in media for 24 years, most recently as editor and publisher of a Silicon Valley media group under the same Bay Area News Group brand affiliated with the Marin IJ. He has led digital and legacy media operations in roles such as publisher, editor and advertising director. 

Accomplishments/Community Service: He is a former Business Person of the Year winner and Citizen of the Year finalist in Silicon Valley.

Other Volunteer Activities: Rob is a graduate of Santa Clara University, earning a degree in communication with an emphasis in journalism. He is a member of the Rotary Club of San Rafael, and serves on the boards for Center for Volunteer and Nonprofit Leadership, San Rafael Chamber of Commerce and the Marin County Office of Education School to Career organization. He is also a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.

Chamber of Commerce Role (Director, Committee work, etc.): Board of Directors; Divisional Vice Chair- Community Promotions, 2019 Business Showcase Committee

Personal Information: Rob is a lifelong Bay Area resident. He is married with two sons. 

Title: CFO

Professional Duties: Currently the Chief Financial Officer for EO Products, an all-natural consumer products manufacturer based in San Rafael

Professional Experience: 25 years of experience helping companies operate more efficiently. Prior to EO, Steve was the Chief Financial Officer of Zocalo, an international furniture designer and wholesaler. He was the President of Start to Finish, a wholly owned subsidiary of Trek Bicycle Manufacturer where he successfully implemented a corporate turn-around. Steve also spent four years in international operations; two years with Premark International and two years with Fortune Brands. He began his career at Ernst and Young in Chicago.

Accomplishments/Community Service: Member of the Rotary club of San Rafael and Member of Marin Forum

Other Volunteer Activities: Past Board Treasurer for Nepal Youth Foundation; Current Board Member – Center for Volunteer and Nonprofit Leadership; Global volunteer experience: disaster relief work in the Philippines, development work in Kenya and teaching in Thailand.

Chamber of Commerce Role (Director, Committee work, etc.): Board of Directors Treasurer, Economic Vitality Committee 

Personal Information: Fox received his bachelor's degree in accounting from Northern Illinois University and has taken Executive Management classes at Harvard Business School. He holds a CPA license. On weekends, Fox can be found on the squash courts, the yoga mat, his vintage 1996 Trek carbon fiber or exploring the world with his two amazing sons Aidan and Carter.

Title: Business Development Manager

Professional Duties: We support companies of all sizes with temporary staffing and recruiting.

Professional Experience: Debi has many years of experience working in staffing, account management, fundraising, teaching, writing, and community organizing. Debi graduated from San Francisco State with a BA in French Studies.

Accomplishments/Community Service: Debi has served on many different boards and committees including: SR Chamber Ambassadors, SR Chamber Women of Industry, Corte Madera Chamber Board of Directors, JCHS Parent Association co-president, various projects at Congregation Rodef Sholom, BNI Leadership Team, Marin HR Forum Membership Chair, and more.

Other Volunteer Activities: Debi has been a school volunteer wherever her children have attended school. She was involved in Girl Scouts and other community building events in Marin. Debi often speaks for associations and other groups.

Chamber of Commerce Role (Director, Committee work, etc.): Director, 2019 Business Showcase Committee Chair

Personal Information: Debi lives in her hometown of San Rafael, where she was lucky enough to be able to raise her 2 daughters, who are 17 and 21. Debi loves the outdoors; hiking and walking her dog are favorite activities, as are cooking and being with friends.

Title: Commercial Recycling Coordinator

Professional Duties: Marin Sanitary Service (MSS) has been the resource hauler for central Marin for the last 70 years.

Professional Experience: I’ve enjoyed working for MSS for 8 years, and at this time I assist our commercial customers in becoming compliant with CA laws that require them to recycle and compost. Within MSS I've worked on the Household Hazardous Waste program, schools, and multi-family recycling too.

Accomplishments/Community Service: I earned a Sustainable Practices Certificate from Dominican University.  I have been a San Anselmo Chamber of Commerce Board Director for the last 2 years.  When my children were in school, I was the Safe Routes to School liaison for Hidden Valley Elementary School.

Chamber of Commerce Role (Director, Committee work, etc.): Director.  I served as the SRCC Green Business Committee chair person 2016-17, and have been on the Business Showcase Committee for the last 5 years. I’ll be the liaison to the Green Business Committee as BOD.  Lastly, I'm a graduate of the 2013 San Rafael Leadership Institute.

Personal Information: I grew up in Mill Valley, graduated from Tam High, and married not MY high school sweetheart (since Erik was dating my best friend back then). We now have two daughters in college..

Title: Partner

Professional Duties:  Assisting our clients in reaching their financial goals through compliance and advisory services and strategic partnerships with professional in other areas of expertise.

Professional Experience: 35 years of public accounting experience.

Accomplishments/Community Service: Westamerica Bank Board Member

Chamber of Commerce Role (Director, Committee work, etc.): Director

Personal Information: Outside of work, Michele enjoys entertaining friends and family, cooking, gardening and volunteering at various not-for-profit organizations.

Title: Owner

Professional Experience: Diane has spent four decades as a land use planner, holding numerous municipal positions before creating her own business, DMH Land Use Planning, in 1990.  She is a respected professional who has guided development throughout the Bay Area and Monterey County, while also representing respected San Rafael-area businesses and organizations including Amy’s Organics, BioMarin and Dominican University. Diane is a member of the American Planning Association and the American Institute of Certified Planners.

Accomplishments/Community Service: Diane is a graduate of UC Davis and an honored alumnus of St. Vincent de Paul High School, where she still actively mentors high school students and donates her time to educational fundraising.  She was named San Rafael Citizen of the Year in 2015 and St. Vincent de Paul High School Centennial Distinguished Alumna in 2018.  Diane is a graduate of San Rafael Leadership Institute and a former public member of the Marin IJ Editorial Board.

Other Volunteer Activities:  Diane’s additional community activities run the gamut from Rotary Club of San Rafael, where she is a past president, and a dedicated volunteer who has led high school groups on humanitarian trips to Mexico, distributed polio vaccines in Africa, participated in kidney transplant missions in the Philippines, cleft palette surgeries in India and South America, and clean water projects in Cuba and Nepal. She is a former board member of the Marin Builders Association, Marin Advocates for Children, Whistlestop, Sonoma State University Curriculum Advisors and Trustees of St. Vincent de Paul High School; a marathoner who ran to raise funds for leukemia treatment and an international volunteer with Habitat for Humanity.  She currently serves on San Rafael Rotary Manor Board of Directors, Conservation Corps North Bay Advisory Council and Bay Area Planning Directors Steering Committee.

Chamber of Commerce Role (Director, Committee work, etc.): Board of Directors; Governmental Affairs Committee.

Personal Information: Diane is a lifelong Bay Area resident who married John Glischinski in 2018.  She has three adult stepchildren.  Diane and John eagerly await the arrival of their first grandchild, due summer 2020.

Title: Executive Coach

Professional Duties: Jones helps anticipate and solves employee-related problems by using and combining the following:

* Train the Internal Coaching Programs
* Assessments
* Executive Coaching
* Supervisory, management, and leadership training programs
* Sales Training programs
* Group facilitation
* Employee accountability training
* 240 and 360 Surveys
* President and Human Resource Round Tables

Professional Experience: Lorenzo Jones is a professional certified life and business coach, speaker, facilitator, consultant, trainer and executive with more than 20 years experience that is solidly grounded in creating a positive learning environment by building a high degree of connection and trust with his clients. The companies that have benefited from Lorenzo’s management and coaching includes; County of Marin, T-Mobile, AAA, Nike, Levi’s Strauss, Wells Fargo, BRE Properties Management, Hilton Hotels, Verizon Wireless...and more!

Accomplishments/Community Service: Graduate of San Rafael Leadership Institute. Past Board Member of Marin Womens Hall of Fame

Other Volunteer Activities: Serves on the Board of Director for The Boys and Girls Club of Marin and Southern Sonoma Counties. Serves on the committee at Working Solutions providing Micro Business Financing for entrepreneurs.

Chamber of Commerce Role (Director, Committee work, etc.): Jones is the current Board Chair (2019) and has been supporting the Chamber on the Business Showcase committee for the past 4 years.  He also sits on the Governmental Affairs Committee.

Personal Information: Avid road cyclist participating in the ACLS Ride from San Francisco to LA. Have had the pleasure of sharing my coaching work in West Africa on several occasions.

Title: Director of Finance & Operations, St. Vincent de Paul Society of Marin County

Professional Duties: Vicki began her career in non-profit in early 2015 when she joined SVDP, an independent non-profit organization based in San Rafael serving the less fortunate in our community.  Her responsibilities include finance, HR and operations (including the free dining room and property management). Prior to SVDP, Vicki spent 20+ years in Executive Management roles in healthcare media (CEO, Divisional President), worked hand-in-hand with private equity and served as an M&A consultant in the science/healthcare markets.

Education & Professional Experience: Vicki holds a BS in Education from Ohio University with majors in history and psychology.  She is also a graduate of Executive Management Programs at both Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management and Cornell University’s Johnson Graduate School of Management.

Chamber of Commerce Role: Board Director commencing 1/1/18, Governmental Affairs Committee

Community Service: Graduate of the San Rafael Chamber’s Leadership Institute. Vicki has also been a member of UNICO, the nation’s largest Italian-American service organization, since 2009.  She currently serves as the Marin County Chapter’s Treasurer and Secretary.

Personal: A 28-year resident of San Rafael, Vicki enjoys the outdoors, especially hiking the hills of Marin County and an occasional round of golf. She is also an enthusiastic Warriors fan.  She and her husband, Joe O’Hehir, have two sons.

Title: Director

Professional Duties: Operations and Marketing Manager for two North Bay Alegre Home Care offices.  Alegre Home Care is a locally owned, California State Licensed Home Care Organization.  

Professional Experience:  A business operations management and marketing professional with over 30 years of professional experience.  Fourteen years of experience in the home care field in Marin County with the same company. Has a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with a major in Marketing from the University of Arizona.

Accomplishments/Community Service: Marin Home Care Association/Board of Directors/Treasurer

Other Volunteer Activities: Treasurer, Executive Board of the Marin Home Care Association. Represents Alegre Home Care as a member of the Marin County Section on Aging.  Creighton University Admissions Partner/6 years:  A welcoming voice that contacts and congratulates admitted students from the San Francisco Bay Area and answers any questions they may have about Creighton University.

Chamber of Commerce Role : Board of Directors Member; Health and Wellness Resource Group Chair, 2019 Business Showcase Committee

Personal Information: Married to Roger and has two daughters, Emma and Olivia.

Title: President

Business Name: CPi Development

Professional Duties: Stephanie is President and Managing Partner of Cal-Pox, GSG Partners and Sonoma Bell Associates, all based in San Rafael, California.  Major tenants include Target, Home Depot, Pier 1 Imports, Sonnen BMW and Marin Honda. Stephanie has been principal in the development of these businesses from the ground up.  Most recently, she secured all entitlements in a contentious, seven-year battle to build a Target at the Shoreline Center, owned by Cal-Pox, in San Rafael.  The Center is a 39-acre former landfill.  Stephanie manages not only the real estate development at the Center but also the environmental and regulatory requirements at both the County and State level.

Professional Experience: Stephanie has a Bachelor’s degree from UC Berkeley and a Master’s degree from San Francisco State University, both in Communications. Prior to her real estate career, Stephanie was a television producer and reporter for the NBC affiliate in San Francisco. Stephanie has been in the real estate industry since 1999.

Accomplishments/Community Service: In addition to the Chamber Board and the Marin Forum, Stephanie actively supports San Rafael Pacifics, the Tam Valley and Bahia Vista PTA, and she was formerly on the Board of Artworks Downtown. She helps direct a donor advised fund with the Marin Communtiy Foundation on behalf of her grandfather, Martin Bramante.

Chamber of Commerce Role (Director, Committee work, etc.): Past Chamber Board Chair, Past Economic Vitality Committee Chair, East San Rafael Working Group

Personal Information: Stephanie and her husband Chris live in Mill Valley with their two children, Anna and Amos.

Title: Partner and Group Leader of the Hanson Bridgett Real Estate Transactions Practice Group

Business Name: Hanson Bridgett LLP

Professional Duties: Brad is a business and real estate attorney in the San Rafael office of Hanson Bridgett LLP

Professional Experience: Brad has over 20 years’ experience representing clients in a wide range of real estate and real estate finance transactions.  He is a former Chair of the Standing Committee on Partnerships and Limited Liability Companies for the California State Bar's Business Law Section and is an expert on the use of pass-through entities in connection with real estate investments and project finance transactions.  Brad also serves as Securities Counsel for the California Mortgage Association and has extensive experience representing private lenders and mortgage funds with respect to the securities laws and regulatory requirements affecting the private lending industry.

Accomplishments/Community Service: Brad is a regular speaker and writer on topics related to real estate investment and private lending.  Brad is also active in the Dads Group for Coleman Elementary and enjoys spending time with his daughter in the Marin YMCA's Adventure Guides program. 

Chamber of Commerce Role (Director, Committee work, etc.): Board Member (2019); SRCC Leadership Institute (2018-2019)

Personal Information: Brad received his bachelor's degree in political science from the University Colorado in 1991 and graduated, cum laude, from the University of San Francisco School of Law in 1996.  Brad lives in the Dominican Heights neighborhood of San Rafael with his wife, Megan, their daughter, Sydney, and their dog, Angus.   

Title: Assistant Medical Group Administrator

Professional Duties:Lee Ann is an administrator for The Permanente Medical Group at Kaiser Permanente here in the San Rafael service area. She is also a Director of Clinical Nursing Practice.

Professional Experience: Lee Ann has a Bachelor’s degree from Dominican University and a Master’s degree from the University of San Francisco, both in Nursing.

She received certification from Cornell University in Plant-based Nutrition and is very involved in complementary integrative health and wellness.

Prior to her nursing career, Lee Ann worked in operations and finance in the private business sector. Lee Ann has worked in healthcare since 1992.

Lee Ann's career can be summed up in one word-diverse. She has worked in different clinical and leadership positions in critical care units at leading tertiary care centers.

She is a certified Clinical Nurse Leader via the Commission on Nursing Certification.

Accomplishments/Community Service: In addition to the Chamber Board, Lee Ann travels both locally and internationally for medical volunteer work.

She was an active volunteer in almost every capacity at her children's schools. Currently she is a member of the governmental affairs committee (GAC).

Personal Information: A native of Marin, Lee Ann grew up in Sleepy Hollow and attended Drake High School.

Lee Ann resides in San Rafael with her family.

Title: Owner

Professional Duties: Organizing, move management, downsizing, and math tutoring: algebra through calculus

Professional Experience: Libby started Get Libby Now after retiring from the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco.  She started there as a software developer in 1979, and worked up to Vice President of Information Technology Services.

Accomplishments/Community Service: Active member of the Marin Section on Aging and the Marin Covenant Church.

Chamber of Commerce Role: Director, Ambassador Committee, Referral Network Group, and Health and Wellness Committee

Personal Information: Originally from Mendocino County, Libby grew up in Bakersfield.  She received a degree in Mathematical Sciences from Stanford University in 1978.  Libby married husband Todd Annell in 1980 and together they have three grown children: Eric, Karen, and Kirsten.

Title: President and CEO

Professional Experience: Joanne has been with the Chamber since 2011 and was appointed President and CEO in May 2014. For the past two decades, Joanne has been a strong advocate for local businesses. She has over 20 years experience in small business as the sole proprietor of Double Rainbow Cafe, San Rafael and 10 years experience in downtown business management as the Director of the San Rafael Business Improvement District.

Other Volunteer Activities: Joanne is a member of the Marin Forum, a Board Director with the Marin Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Workforce Alliance of the North Bay, Marin Environmental Housing Collaborative and Schools to Careers Partnership Board. Joanne also serves on many county-wide committees including, the Marin County Housing Crisis Action steering committee, Opening Doors Marin, Keep Marin Working and Healthy Marin Partnerships.

Chamber of Commerce Role: Responsible to Board for implementation and execution of the Chamber's Business Plan. Joanne is the staff liaison to the Governmental Affairs Committee, the Green Business Committee, East San Rafael Working Group, and the Economic Vitality Committee.

Education: Joanne has a degree from Boston College with a focus in Mathematics and Computer Science. She is a San Rafael Leadership Institute graduate and currently pursuing an Accredited Chamber Executive credential from the Western Association of Chamber Executives.

Personal Information: Joanne is the recipient of two Spirit of Marin awards (1998 & 2008) as the owner of Double Rainbow Cafe along with her talented husband of 34 years, Charlie Garfink. Charlie is a history teacher at TAM High in Mill Valley. Together they enjoying learning from their two brilliant and beautiful daughters, Anna (26) and Meghan (21). She likes mountain biking and hiking with family and friends.