After a year of restructuring, the Mill Valley Chamber of Commerce started 2013 with two new board members, with plans to continue to revive the organization.
The board welcomed longtime local resident and marketing strategist Linda Rosso, and Mill Valley newcomer and Mathnasium owner Scott Rubin. They’ll each serve a two-year term.
“This 2013 board of directors is really an important group of community and business leaders who have stepped up to this position at the chamber," said Chamber Executive Director Daniel Escalzo, who has been working to breathe new life into the organization since he was hired in June 2012.
The city of Mill Valley in September, establishing clear goals to keep the chamber on track in its revitalization efforts. Since then, there’s been about a 26 percent increase in membership, from 222 to 280 businesses, Escalzo said.
“You can see the community is responding,” he said.
Escalzo said the chamber is in the midst of developing a three-year strategic plan that will set the tone for the organization, and is drastically updating its website, which will go live in February.
“It’s going to be a very inviting platform not only for businesses and members, but for the whole community,” he said.
Outgoing chamber members include former Board Chair Alan Abrams, former Operations VP Suzanne Burrows and board members Judy Gilmore and Monique Ramos. Escalzo said he’s excited to have the new members on board.
“Each brings new energy and expertise to the group and we are looking forward to working with them,” he said.
Rubin and his wife Christime moved to Marin in June 2012 and opened Mathnasium. Formerly a financial analyst at JPMorgan and other small finance companies in New York City, Rubin decided to change careers and now runs the math learning center for kindergarten through 12th graders.
Rosso, a Mill Valley resident since 1987, is a longtime marketing and communications professional, landscape artist, and the community manager of the Mill Valley Food, Drink and Hospitality Facebook page and volunteer administrator of Enjoy Mill Valley. A former Tam High parent who has been instrumental in raising funds for the arts, she’s also served on a number of city boards and committees including as a Parks & Recreation Commissioner and a member of the Finance Strategy committee for the Mill Valley Public Library. She currently serves on the board of directors of the Outdoor Art Club.
The Mill Valley Chamber Board of Directors' other members include new Board Chair Paula Reynolds, Vice-Chair Ann Aversa, Secretary Cliff Waldeck, Treasurer Ron Vidal, Rob Hansen, Paolo Petrone, Doug Canepa, Victoria Cressman and Ken Brooks, as well as City Councilman Garry Lion, who serves as the council liaison to the board.
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