Chamber Leadership

Lafayette Chamber Staff Photo October 2022Photo credit Bluegoo Photography
On October 3, 2022, friends, family, colleagues and staff celebrated the retirement of Jay Lifson at the Lafayette Park Hotel & Spa. Thank you to everyone who joined us for this heart-warming occasion! Jay had been the Executive Director of the Lafayette Chamber of Commerce since 2005.
 
 
The community and especially the Chamber Staff and Board of Directors thank you, Jay, for your ongoing commitment to Lafayette.
 
 
A special thank you to the Lafayette Park Hotel & Spa, “The insiders” Kiki Stack and Paul Cotruvo, Minuteman Press Lafayette, Floral Arts Florist and photographers Craig Isaacs of BlueGoo Photography and Jeff Heyman.
 
 
➡ We are still collecting “stories” of Jay as a retirement gift. Please submit your story here: Jay’s Retirement Send Off – Lafayette Chamber of Commerce.
Chamber Staff

Executive Director

Sara Regan
 925-284-7404, Ext. 110

 

Sara Regan is at home in Lamorinda, although born and raised through high school in the Midwest, her family put down roots in Moraga in the late 80’s. She and her husband moved to Lafayette in 2000 to raise their own family and later relocated to Moraga. They have four active kids, now mostly young adults. She has spent many hours cheering in the bleachers around town, volunteering in classrooms, organizing team events, etc… Sara started at the Lafayette Chamber in 2014 and enjoys working with our membership, neighbors, community partners, friends, and school liaisons to promote local businesses and community events. She loves to travel any chance she gets. Read the December 7, 2022 Lamorinda Weekly article here. 

 

Financial Administrator

Linda Carlson
 925-284-7404, Ext. 113

 

Back in 2001 – handling the Chamber’s bookkeeping on a weekly contract basis – Linda Carlson could never have imagined her almost 20 year Chamber career that was to come. In June 2004 she joined the staff, evolving from Office Manager to her present role as Financial Administrator. Linda has enjoyed watching all the growth and changes to the Chamber over the past two decades. She is a pet parent to a black cat named Shasta.

 

 

Communications Director

Holly Sonne
 925-284-7404, Ext. 115
 

Holly Sonne has been promoting Lafayette and supporting our nonprofit and business community as Communications Director at the Lafayette Chamber of Commerce since 2016. She invites you to visit Lafayette’s downtown and enjoy the many community events including the Lafayette Art & Wine Festival held in September. She is the mother of two students, resides in Lafayette, and hits the slopes as much as possible.

 

Ginny W. Quell with husband John

Ginny W. Quell with husband John

Event and Project Coordinator

Ginny W. Quell
 925-284-7404, Ext. 116
 

 

It has been a privilege to be apart of the Lafayette community for… too many years to count! I started my journey in Lafayette as a Teaching Artist at Town Hall Theatre and later served as the Director of Education. During my time at Town Hall I was very involved with community events, specifically Rotary and Chamber events such as the Lafayette Art & Wine, It’s A Wonderful Life, Concert at the Res. It was always a joy getting our students outside and giving the public a glimpse of what we were doing in our little barn! Shout out to my Town Hall Family, go see some live theatre! I spent several years prior to COVID working as the Program Manager for Performing Academy, working with our school districts, school administration, parents, and students creating opportunities on campuses to “tell a story”. I recently received my credential and currently pursuing my master’s degree from St. Mary’s College. And my very favorite tie to Lafayette is the meeting of my husband, current musician tech at Lamorinda Music! We married in 2019 on the stage at the Lafayette Reservoir! I am thrilled to be joining this hardworking team and look forward to supporting our members and connecting many times over!

AJ Glassman and Ginny W Quell Art & Wine Festival Setup

AJ Glassman and Ginny W. Quell during Art & Wine Festival Setup

Member Engagement Coordinator

AJ Glassman
 925-284-7404, Ext. 117
 

AJ Glassman joins the chamber as the new membership engagement coordinator. He brings with him a background of working in startups in marketing and operations (if his face looks familiar, you may have previously seen him representing Local Kitchens at chamber events!). AJ is excited to join the Chamber of Commerce as a staff member because it combines his strong interests in small business/small enterprise, and his degree from UC Berkeley in City Planning.

2023 Board of Directors

2023 Chamber Board of Directors

Executive Committee

Directors

Directors at Large (Term 2023)

Advisory Board

 

2023 Ambassadors
Committees

To accomplish its many activities the Chamber has the following committees and subcommittees for 2023:​

Art & Wine Committee
Board Chair: Jeremy Steel
Staff Liaison: Sara Regan

  • Meets monthly from March through September to coordinate and produce the annual event.
  • Volunteers and staff work together behind the scenes to ensure that every attendee has a positive festival experience. A lot goes into offering a truly exceptional event, and volunteers are the people who execute much of the hard work.
  • Everyone is encouraged to participate regardless of one’s own specialty or service. It involves a large team effort and requires working the entire weekend of the event.

Budget & Finance Committee
Board Chair: Caesar Perales
Staff Liaison: Sara Regan

  • Consists of the incoming President, Treasurer, and the Executive Director.
  • Prepares the annual budget for the board’s approval.

Business Issues/Governmental Affairs Committee
Board Chair: John McCormick
Staff Liaison: AJ Glassman

  • Meets first Wednesday of the Month.
  • Identifies issues that the Chamber will explore and consider making recommendations to the board for action.
  • Facilitates communications between the Chamber and governmental representatives/agencies.
  • Provides representation at City Council and commission meetings.
  • Develops pro-active, timely position statements on relevant issues on behalf of the Chamber.
  • Implements community forums to promote dialogue on city issues impacting the business community.
  • Works on behalf of membership to encourage a positive, pro-business environment.

Election Committee
Board Chair: Katie Santos
Staff Liaison: Sara Regan

  • Consists of up to five members, including at least one member of the Executive Committee shall be appointed by the President.
  • The Executive Director will serve as secretary with no voting privileges.
  • Meetings start in June of each year.
  • Charged with identifying members to serve as board members and encouraging nominations. Deliver a slate of candidates to the board.
  • Recommend for approval of the board a slate of officers to serve as the Executive Committee.

Executive Committee
Board Chair: Rebecca Troxell
Staff Liaison: Sara Regan

  • Officers of the Chamber Board.
  • Meets on the first Tuesday of each month.
  • Nominated by the in-coming President and the Elections Committee.
  • Made up of the President, Past President, Vice Presidents, Treasurer, Parliamentarian & Executive Director.
  • Makes recommendations to the Board of Directors.
  • Direction level of the organization.

Green Committee
Board Chair: Kathy Merchant
Staff Liaison: AJ Glassman

  • Partners with the City of Lafayette (Environmental Task Force) and Sustainable Lafayette to provide the membership with an understanding of what’s important and guidelines to protect resources and be more socially responsible.
  • Develops new programs to assist local businesses in being more environmentally friendly.

Membership Committee
Staff Liaison: AJ Glassman

  • Meets monthly
  • Committee co-chaired by the Membership Engagement Coordinator.
  • Directs recruitment and retention of Chamber members.
  • Oversees Ambassador program.
  • Coordinates and supports Mixers, Ribbon Cuttings, and Member orientation.
  • Develops and monitors member services and benefits.

Reservoir Run Committee
Board Chair: Dennis Garrison
Staff Liaison: Ginny W. Quell

  • Made up of school representatives and staff that meet from August to October monthly to coordinate, promote and produce the annual Reservoir Run.
  • Coordinate school and community volunteers to facilitate this event.
  • Coordinates and operates Healthy Lifestyle Fair

Taste of Lafayette Committee
Board Chair: Fred Steingraf
Staff Liaison: Ginny W Quell

  • Meets semiweekly in March through May to help staff with outreach and marketing of the tasting stroll.
  • Coordinates with our local restaurants to host the annual restaurant tour.
  • Engages with the Community Foundation of Lafayette as our beneficiary.

Subcommittees
AMBASSADORS
Chairs: Kyle Sumner and Stephanie McNabb
Staff Liaison: AJ Glassman

GPAC
Chair: Matt Pease
Staff Liaison: Sara Regan

Proposed Lamorinda Businesswomen’s Group
Chair: Carine Camara
Staff Liaison: Holly Sonne

YOPROS
Chairs: Matt Boone and Gian Panetta
Staff Liaison: AJ Glassman