The Novato Chamber is working to build a sustainable local economy in which the businesses and community thrive.
Mission Statement

ALLY ⋅ BUSINESS SUPPORT ⋅ CHAMBER ⋅ WELCOME ⋅ GUIDE ⋅ ATTRACTION
VOLUNTEERS BUILDING THE NORTH BAY ECONOMY
Working hard to build the North Bay Economy starts with the Novato Chamber Ambassadors. They work to promote our vision of a Strong Sustainable Economically Powerful North Bay centered around Novato.
NOVATO CHAMBER SHAPING TOMORROW.

ALLY ⋅ BUSINESS SUPPORT ⋅ CHAMBER ⋅ WELCOME ⋅ GUIDE ⋅ ATTRACTION
GREETINGS FROM THE AMBASSADORS
You probably know an ambassador or two; they are the soul of the Chamber meeting you at every event including Extended Hours and Ribbon Cuttings.
NOVATO CHAMBER SHAPING TOMORROW.

ALLY ⋅ BUSINESS SUPPORT ⋅ CHAMBER ⋅ WELCOME ⋅ GUIDE ⋅ ATTRACTION
AMBASSADOR COMMITTEE
If you are looking for the veteran and knowledge base of the Chamber, look no further than the Ambassadors. This committee of dedicated individuals helps keep the Chamber strong and the business community connected.
NOVATO CHAMBER SHAPING TOMORROW.
AMBASSADOR OF THE MONTH
AMBASSADOR CALENDAR
The Novato Chamber Ambassadors help connect the Chamber as an organization directly into the heart of the business community. Their involvement in the Chamber's various activities and with recruiting new members is unparallel and they truly understand the mission and value of the organization. In return for their service, the Chamber works to support their businesses and outreach efforts.
Guidelines
ATTENDANCE
Novato Chamber Ambassadors must attend 50% of each of the following types of Membership Events:
- Official Chamber Ribbon Cuttings Anytime Monday thru Friday as needed
- Chamber Extended Hours (formerly mixers) Third Thursday of the Month 5:30 -7:00 PM
- Chamber Ambassador Meetings Second Thursdays 5:30 - 7:00 PM
- New Member Receptions

Shelley Dorssers
Shell's Belles Jewelry

Terry Eberle
CaterMarin

Patsy Fleisch
Mary Kay Cosmetics

Bill Hoopes
Neat Capital

Sherri Jacobs
Valley Memorial Park

Eileen Joyce
Berkshire Hathaway

Sandeep Karkal
Novato Sanitary District

Dale Kline
School Fuel

Jerry Schultz
Schultz Entertainment
Imee Birkett is an ambassador and active member of the Business Events Committee which educates, inspires, and fosters relationships to help business owners grow their business.
Imee is passionate about helping people be their healthiest so that they can live their purpose and enjoy fulfilling lives. Through her proven Isagenix nutritional solutions, she and her amazing team have helped thousands of people achieve their goals. If you are looking to feel and look younger, get to your ideal weight, have more energy & better sleep, increase athletic performance, or earn additional income, she will help you make it happen.
- Website
The Last Samurai
It's your business how old you are, it's mine how old you look
Patsy Fleisch, a Novato resident of 36 years, has experience in the Novato Chamber of Commerce as an active volunteer, involved Chamber professional, including Chamber Ambassador for four years, 2013 graduate of Leadership Novato and community leader.
As a Mary Kay Independent Consultant, she embraces her role of empowering women to be their very best and mentors leaders toward success.
“I mentor and coach women in the area of self-confidence, leadership skills and financial independence,” Patsy says. “As an active Chamber volunteer, I develop personal relationships within the Chamber’s membership and help new and prospective members realize the benefits they can gain by being a member.
“I’m passionate about being involved, helping launch others and being a mentor,” she adds. “Working with the Mary Kay Ashe Foundation, I focus on two main areas locally and nationally – the eradication of domestic violence and the raising of money to research women’s cancers.”
Here at home, Patsy is involved with the Gilead House (a Chamber member), Bowling for Kids’ Sake, and Performing Stars Enrichment Program in Marin County. She has worked in an administrative capacity at Novato schools and for 30 years as a medical assistant before joining Mary Kay as an Independent Consultant.
Born to a family of military service – her father retired as an Army Lt. Colonel – she lived in Georgia, post-war West Germany, and played among the hills of the San Francisco Presidio. Patsy and her husband of 39 years, Ken, enjoy their three grown children and grandchildren.

Bank of America
Bill Hoopes, Senior Mortgage Consultant/ Bank of America Mortgage officer from PNC and before that, Pacific Guarantee Mortgage where he served 21 years with the company as consultant/branch owner. The Marin native was born in Kentfield and raised in Mill Valley and Fairfax. In the real estate and mortgage industry since 1978, Bill has helped a “few thousand” customers achieve home ownership and savings on mortgages over the last 28 years.
“I believe home ownership is a key to building community pride and security for the future. It also keeps our economy robust and self-sustaining,” Bill said. As a Bocce ball team captain for a team use to winning league championships over the years at Marin bocce Federation in San Rafael,Bill also loves to ski, bike, travel and work in ceramics. In the mid-70s and ‘80s, Bill worked in the resort hospitality industry in Maui, Tahoe and Marin. Married to Maritza, they and stepson Andre have been Novato residents since 1995. A long-time volunteer with the Chamber as an ambassador for 16 years (and counting), Bill joined the Board in early-2014.
Bullet
Are you relocating to Novato? Moving your business? Few people probably know the Chamber or Novato better than Eileen Joyce. She has served as our Board President, even as staff. Let her help you with the Chamber's numerous networking groups, and get your name out to the Community. Having served as Chamber President and on our staff has given her some priceless knowledge that served her well as Ambassador CoChair in 2017
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
Sandeep Karkal serves as General Manager-Chief Engineer of the Novato Sanitary District (NSD), where he has worked since 2004. NSD provides wastewater, water recycling, and solid waste services to over 60,000 people in Novato and the surrounding areas.
Sandeep is a registered engineer in multiple jurisdictions, with a background in civil/environmental engineering. Prior to coming to Novato, Sandeep worked for an East Bay agency for over six years, and spent over a decade in the private sector working for some of the most respected environmental engineering consulting firms in the world.
He has a Bachelors’ degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Mumbai (Bombay), India; a Masters’ degree in Civil/Environmental Engineering from California State University, Sacramento; and continuing executive education from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Sandeep has served as adjunct faculty at California State University, Sacramento, on the boards of various environmental industry groups, and is a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers. He has lived in the Bay Area almost continuously since moving here from his native India over 30 years ago. He moved to the Novato area in 2004 where he continues to live with his wife and daughter.
Sound of Music
It's your business how old you are, it's mine how old you look
Patsy Fleisch, a Novato resident of 36 years, has experience in the Novato Chamber of Commerce as an active volunteer, involved Chamber professional, including Chamber Ambassador for four years, 2013 graduate of Leadership Novato and community leader.
As a Mary Kay Independent Consultant, she embraces her role of empowering women to be their very best and mentors leaders toward success.
“I mentor and coach women in the area of self-confidence, leadership skills and financial independence,” Patsy says. “As an active Chamber volunteer, I develop personal relationships within the Chamber’s membership and help new and prospective members realize the benefits they can gain by being a member.
“I’m passionate about being involved, helping launch others and being a mentor,” she adds. “Working with the Mary Kay Ashe Foundation, I focus on two main areas locally and nationally – the eradication of domestic violence and the raising of money to research women’s cancers.”
Here at home, Patsy is involved with the Gilead House (a Chamber member), Bowling for Kids’ Sake, and Performing Stars Enrichment Program in Marin County. She has worked in an administrative capacity at Novato schools and for 30 years as a medical assistant before joining Mary Kay as an Independent Consultant.
Born to a family of military service – her father retired as an Army Lt. Colonel – she lived in Georgia, post-war West Germany, and played among the hills of the San Francisco Presidio. Patsy and her husband of 39 years, Ken, enjoy their three grown children and grandchildren.

Bank of America
Bill Hoopes, Senior Mortgage Consultant/ Bank of America Mortgage officer from PNC and before that, Pacific Guarantee Mortgage where he served 21 years with the company as consultant/branch owner. The Marin native was born in Kentfield and raised in Mill Valley and Fairfax. In the real estate and mortgage industry since 1978, Bill has helped a “few thousand” customers achieve home ownership and savings on mortgages over the last 28 years.
“I believe home ownership is a key to building community pride and security for the future. It also keeps our economy robust and self-sustaining,” Bill said. As a Bocce ball team captain for a team use to winning league championships over the years at Marin bocce Federation in San Rafael,Bill also loves to ski, bike, travel and work in ceramics. In the mid-70s and ‘80s, Bill worked in the resort hospitality industry in Maui, Tahoe and Marin. Married to Maritza, they and stepson Andre have been Novato residents since 1995. A long-time volunteer with the Chamber as an ambassador for 16 years (and counting), Bill joined the Board in early-2014.
Bullet
Marie Rios, Event Producer
MTR Event Design
Your Vision. Your Event. Your Way.
Marie has a real passion for what she does with over 20 years of experience in the event industry.
Serving Marin, Sonoma, Napa and San Francisco, MTR Event Design takes the work out of your event and you will have fun while planning your event. Looking for great resources for your event? Marie has great resources, knowledge of the event industry and will make sure you will have a great experience at your special event.
I love events! Whether you are planning a corporate retreat, a wedding, non-profit fundraiser or a social function I like bringing some fun to the planning process and making it enjoyable for all. I have been planning events for over 20 years and strive to help clients like you create events with ease. If you would like this for your next event, call or text me at 415-717-7145 or email marie@MTREventDesign.com
Clockwork Orange | the Notebook
I often tell people I have the greatest job in the world. I give away money, it's not mine, and most people love me…I value relationships above all, and I enjoy doing loans for varied clients from the first-time homebuyer to the sophisticated investor. I cover most of the United States for residential 1 to 4-unit purchases, refinances and 1031 exchanges. I am experienced in handling all types of mortgage needs from conventional, conforming and non-conforming loans to government FHA and VA loans, bridge loans, private money needs, construction and have now added some light commercial and reverse mortgage financing. Past jobs include VP residential sales for Bank of America and Senior Loan officer for Wells Fargo and PNC Bank.
During the past 18 years as a mortgage consultant, I have earned numerous awards and recognition and have been consistently ranked in the top 10% of the companies I have worked with both nationally and regionally in production and customer service since 2001.
I am a former board member of the Downtown Business Association and NAHREP (National Association of Hispanic Realtors) and sit on the board of the newly formed Novato Evening Rotary Group as membership chair.
Thank you to our President's Circle
GOLD

CCK

marin scope

mary kay

novato advance

valley memorial
SILVER
Bronze

Bank of Marin

Maher

MCE

Redwood

Roto

Recology
Learn how President's Circle and the Novato Chamber's Signature Events can grow your organization
Chamber Committees Affect Change
One way to expand your business' exposure is to volunteer on a Chamber committee. Committees are the boots on the ground, it is where the action happens. Play a role in #ShapingTomorrow in our community, learn about the committees you can participate in!
Membership | Shaping Tomorrow!
Membership in the Novato Chamber is more than succeeding; it is knowing someone is representing your interests and concerns on a local, regional and state level. It's knowing that you have a resource and an ally, and it is knowing that we want to see our community succeed together. We proactively Shape Tomorrow, check us out!

Did you know?
All Chamber committees including the Board have term limits guaranteeing turnover and the renewal of ideas! Check them out, let your passions shine bright!

Do You Have Questions? Contact the Novato Chamber Team!
If you have any questions about this page, joining the Novato Chamber, member benefits, Speaking opportunities or your Chamber benefits feel free to contact Carrie Scrimshire (Click Here to Email Carrie Directly)
