Board
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Paul Hutcheson
President Paul Hutcheson has been in the newspaper business for 28 years, most recently spending 14 years with the San Francisco Chronicle where he held a number of advertising and circulation management positions. He served as Director of New Business Development at the Chronicle before becoming Publisher of the Advance in 2005. Prior to his years at the Chronicle, Hutcheson worked for The Contra Costa Times in Contra Costa County and the Marin Independent Journal.
Under his direction, the Advance received California Newspaper Publishers Association awards for General Excellence in 2005 and 2006 in competition against newspapers of similar circulation. In addition, the Novato Advance was selected as the Novato Chamber of Commerce's Small Business of the Year for 2005.
Hutcheson and his family reside in Terra Linda.
Novato Advance 1068 Machin Avenue, Novato CA 94948 T (415) 892-1516 ext 12 F (415) 897-0940 |
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Kim Kaselionis
Treasurer & President Elect Kim Kaselionis is the President and Chief Executive Officer for Circle Bank, formerly Novato Community Bank, in Novato. Kaselionis took the reins in 1995 when the Bank's assets were only $11M and has successfully increased assets to today's $100M. Circle Bank and its 18 employees believe in the strength of building relationships and contributing to the community. Kaselionis is a board member for Novato Chamber of Commerce, Novato Rotary Endowment, Marin Community Health Foundation, Building Better Citizen's for America and Rock'n Blues by the Lake. She is the mother of three children and resides in Novato. |
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Vance Ashe
Vice President Vance Ashe is a Senior Technical Consultant with the Ashe Management Group. He and his brother, Mark, are co-owners. Ashe Management Group brings affordable computer systems, software and network support to small business owners. Ashe acknowledges that being actively involved with the Chamber has helped his business grow. He hopes that one day Novato's entire downtown will be a wireless 'hot spot’ for computer users modeling after other cities that already offer wireless technology. Vance has been active in Chamber activities since the summer of 2003. He graduated from the Chamber's Leadership Novato Program in 2006 and serves as a Chamber Ambassador. In his personal life, Ashe is engaged to be married later this year.
Ashe Management Group P.O. Box 1967, Novato CA 94948 T (707) 328-3568 F (707) 237-9559 |
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Jayne Belote
Immediate Past President Jayne is the Associate Executive Director of the Novato YMCA at Hamilton. Before opening the "Y", she was the Membership Director of the San Rafael YMCA and has worked for the "Y" for the past 18 years. Jayne is a graduate of the Novato Leadership program, Class of 2005 and has served on the Novato Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors for the past two years. She is currently Chair of the Membership Committee, a member of the Business Education Committee and is the Alumni representative on the Novato Leadership Advisory Committee. Additionally, she is active with the Rotary Club of Novato. Jayne and her husband have lived in Novato for the past 17 years and have four children. |
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Joel Brand
Director Joel has been in the Insurance Business for over 15 years, with a primary focus on Real Estate Related Accounts and Workers Compensation Joel began his career with Kelter-Thorner Inc. of California, and has been with HRH since 1998. Joel began his career with Kelter-Thorner Inc. of California in 1992, where his first job was to perform property inspections for their Hospitality book of Business. A year later, he began working as a Commercial Producer with Kelter-Thorner, until he departed in the spring of 1998. He then became a producer with HRH, and has been with the firm since. Joel’s education encompasses a strict discipline in the financial arena, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from San Jose State University; and a Degree in Risk and Insurance from the College of Insurance (now St. John’s University) in New York.
The knowledge achieved from his education and experience has allowed him to advise clients ranging from Start-up Companies to High Rise Hotels. Coverage written for these clients include: Workers Compensation, Employment Practices Liability, Umbrella and Property & Liability. The education, knowledge and dedication has allowed Joel the ability to assess his client’s needs, while simultaneously earning the reputation of presenting opportunities to the Insurance Underwriter’s, yielding favorable results to all parties involved
HRH of Northern California
7250 Redwood Boulevard Suite 300, Novato CA 94948
T (415) 493-5255 F (415) 895-9131 |
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Phyllis Cope
Director
Phyllis has been actively involved in the Chamber in various aspects over the last 18 years. She is a Leadership Novato alumnus, Class of 1996 and was one of the original founders of the Women in Business group. She co-chaired that committee for two years. She has also served for nine years on the Membership Committee. Phyllis combines her job at Bank of Marin with her love of the community. Representing the Bank of Marin in Novato, she attends every Chamber function and her office has hosted more than one mixer. She and her husband, former Novato Mayor Bill Cope, have lived in this City for 24 years. |
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Rocky Cosgrove
Vice President Rocky works with innovative organizations, ranging from start-ups to Fortune 500 companies that want to rapidly solve people and productivity challenges. Bovo-Tighe's clients include well-known companies such as Shell Oil, British Petroleum, PG&E, and Clear Channel Communications. Before joining Bovo-Tighe, Rocky worked extensively in the media and marketing industries, including 15 years in sales management and business development with CBS. He currently Chairs the Chamber's Business Education Committee, is a proud member of the Rotary Club of Ignacio, and belongs to the Bay Area Society of Television and Radio. Rocky lives in Novato with his wife and has 5 children and a step-daughter |
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Mike DiGiorgio
Director Originally from New York, Mike has been a resident of Novato for 20 years. Mike has quite a variety of careers under his belt including foreign trade, worked on Bart with Kaiser Sand & Gravel, stockbroker, worked for Di Giorgio Corp, ran a commuter airline, worked for aircraft speculators, and owned a video store. His political career took off in 1993 when he became a member of Novatos homeless commission. He has since become a member of the Hamilton Advisory Committee, been elected to City Council from 1995-2003, been Mayor twice, been President of Marin County Council of Mayors and Councilpersons, Board member of Downtown Business Association from 2005-2007, represented Novato on the Congestion Management Agency (now TAM) for eight years, Member of the Board of Novato Sanitary District, Member of the Labor Negotiation Committee and Solid Waste Committee, original SMART Board Member, Board Member of the Marin Association of Realtors, and Chair and Treasurer of Government Relations Committee. Mike is a 1996 Graduate of the Novato Leadership Program and was a Leadership Program Chair in 2004. He is presently a Real Estate agent and manager of Avatar Novato, has one son, and lives in Novato with his wife Donna of 31 years.
Has one son Anthony, a neuro monitor who is entering Medical school this year.
Born NYC, Moved to Calif. When 2 yrs old. Grew up in Burlingame, attended Menlo High School, attended University Of Arizona, Had 3 yr. U.S. Army stint, came back, graduated San Francisco State with Major in International Trade, Minor in Transportation, MBA from Pepperdine University.
Avalar Real Estate Alliance 415 Karla Court, Novato CA 94949 T (415) 246-5599 F (415) 893-1507 |
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Skip Fenner
Director Fenner is the family’s 2nd generation of insurance brokers and former owner of Worth Fenner Insurance, Inc. which has merged with SST Insurance Brokers of Novato, Sonoma and Los Altos. He is currently an insurance consultant in the Novato office of SST/Fenner Insurance Brokers. He has served on the Board for over a decade and has held the office of President twice, in 1975 and 2000. As a 53-year resident of Novato, he finds his involvement on the Board and Chamber membership a great way to continue being involved and contribute to the business community.
SST/Fenner Insurance Brokers 853 Richert Avenue Suite 1, Novato CA 94945 T (415) 897-5111 F (415) 897-7668 |
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Ralph Greenwood
Director Ralph Greenwood is Chief Financial Officer at W. Bradley Electric, Inc. in Novato. WBE provides a wide variety of electrical and low voltage construction services, including traditional commercial and industrial electrical construction, telecom voice and data installations and cabling, security control systems, audio visual and network installations, and traffic signal and lighting infrastructures. Prior to WBE, Ralph has worked in the consumer products and retail industries. Ralph has been a Marin County resident for the past 46 years.
W. Bradley Electric, Inc.
90 Hill Road, Novato CA 94945
T (415) 898-1400 F (415) 898-5991
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Eileen Joyce
Director Eileen Joyce found that her experience as a homemaker, her volunteer work in the community and as a former Novato Chamber employee, prepared her well for what she calls her final career in Real Estate. She is a seasoned professional with five years of experience in the residential real estate industry. She joined the Novato Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors four years ago and in 2004 was named Ambassador of the Year. A graduate of the Novato Leadership program, Class of 2004, Joyce expanded her leadership capabilities further by joining the Board of Directors of the Novato Youth Center in July, 2005. Eileen thinks that Novato is the best-kept secret in the Bay Area and believes that anybody who's in business should belong to the Chamber. Coldwell Banker 711 Grand Avenue, San Rafael CA 94901 T (415) 256-2312 |
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Gary Joseph
Vice President
Gary Joseph was born in San Francisco and raised in Kentfield, but as a newly wed in 1970, he (and his wife Judi) chose to purchase their first home in Novato. As enthusiastic youth and community volunteers ever since, they've happily raised their two children here. Gary is the Development Manager for the Novato Youth Center, where he also manages the tutoring programs. Prior to joining NYC 5 years ago, Gary spent 35 years in the Trust Department and Wholesale Banking Department of Wells Fargo Bank in San Francisco. Gary is a member of the Novato Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors and a graduate of the Novato Leadership Class 2005. He serves on the Chamber's Art, Wine and Music Festival Committee, Business Showcase Committee, Golf Committee and the Leadership Novato Alumni Committee. He also is a volunteer for the Novato Police Departments DARN group. Gary's always been proud to call Novato his home, and he feels privileged to be able to live - and now work - in the community he loves and honored to have the opportunity to contribute, in a small way, to Novato's special spirit.
Novato Youth Center
680 Wilson Ave, Novato CA 94947
T 415.892.1643 ext 225 F 415.892.5098
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Skip Tozzi
Director A native of California, born in San Francisco, Skip has been in the field of aesthetics for 35 years in Novato. He is co-owner of Spa de Novato with his wife Patricia. Skip has been married 26 years with four children and eight grandchildren. Skip is an active member of the Novato Downtown Business Association (D.N.B.A.) and currently sits on the Board of Directors. Skip chairs marketing and promotion in the downtown for the past four years. He also hosts the Novato TV show, "Grant Avenue" with Denise Athas, Past President of the Chamber. As a new Chamber Board member, Skip looks forward to continue to work to help keep the Downtown Business Association and the Chamber a close family. |
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Claudine Whitney
Director Claudine Whitney is the marketing and business development representative for California Land Title in Novato. She has been a Chamber member for 8 years and has served on numerous committees. Claudine was an Ambassador for 5 years and chaired the committee for 2 years. She also served on the Novato Art & Wine committee and was instrumental in acquiring all of the wine in donations, and is looking forward to being involved again this year. Claudine is excited about being a Director so she can be more involved in community affairs. The Chamber has provided Claudine and California Land Title many business contacts through various events and the opportunity to give back to the community in Novato. California Land Title of Marin--Novato Office
7250 Redwood Boulevard Suite 208, Novato CA 94945
T (415) 892-5800 F (415) 892-7221 |
The Novato Chamber of Commerce is a dynamic organization due to a dedicated, focused staff and enthusiastic, committed membership. Working collaboratively with the City of Novato, the Downtown Novato Business Association and many others, they continue to foster goodwill and bring vitality and new businesses, tourists and memorable events to our town.