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

Sara Regan

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.

 

Holly Sonne

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.

 

Rebekah Dani

Member Engagement Coordinator

Rebekah Dani 
 925-284-7404, Ext. 117
 

Rebekah is a SoCal native where she completed her Bachelors in Music and Masters in Business. She moved to the Bay Area in 2021 and became a member of the Lafayette Chamber in 2022. She was quickly immersed in the business and local community of Lafayette and fell in love. She is the owner of Create & Flow Studio on Mt. Diablo and is a certified Mindset and Success coach + mentor helping creative entrepreneurs heal, reprogram their mind, and create strategy for building the life + business they desire. She is passionate about the arts, business, and emotional + mental health and she’s made it her goal to fill her life with those things serving whomever she can along the way. She is thrilled to continue serving the Lafayette & Lamorinda community through her role within the Lafayette Chamber.

 

 

Luisa Miles

Office Administrator and Project Coordinator

Luisa Miles
 925-284-7404, Ext. 118
 

Luisa Miles is a long time resident of Lafayette and has been an active volunteer in the community for many years. She met her husband in law school and they moved to this community in 2003 to raise their three boys. Luisa is enjoying her new role at the Chamber and appreciates the office’s collaborative environment. Luisa was born in Peru and is a native Spanish speaker. She enjoys running, traveling and playing pickle ball in her free time.

 

 

Ginny W Quell

Event and Project Coordinator

Ginny W. Quell, Currently on maternity leave!
 925-284-7404
 

 
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 part of this hardworking team and look forward to supporting our members and connecting many times over!

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: Dr. Jeremy Steel, Steel Chiropractic
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, Caesar C. Perales, CPA
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, Lamorinda Music
Staff Liaison: Rebekah Dani

  • 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.

Nomination Committee
Board Chair: Katie Santos, Katie Santos Consulting-Fitness HR
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 LeVan, Contra Costa Fitness
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: Holly Sonne

  • 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: Rebekah Dani

  • 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, Oakwood Athletic Club
Staff Liaison: Luisa Miles

  • 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, Edward Jones Financial
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, Primp Salon
Staff Liaison: Rebekah Dani

GPAC
Chair: Matt Pease, Rotary Club of Lafayette
Staff Liaison: Sara Regan

Lamorinda Business Women
Chair: Carine Camara, CARRINNA
Staff Liaison: Holly Sonne

YOPROS
Chairs: Matt Boone and Gian Panetta, Mark Hoogs State Farm
Staff Liaison: Rebekah Dani

Upcoming Events

Why Join the Lafayette Chamber?

Member Events Calendar >>

Connect with us on Social >>

Restaurant and Retail Guide >>

Gift Guide >>

 

“We are very impressed with your Chamber. We have been members of other Chambers over the years and it’s been nothing like the experiences we’re having right out of the gate with your organization. Thank you for your great communication, follow up, and professionalism.”
– Peter Dewey, Bayview Painting

“I couldn’t have asked for a better resource than the Chamber, as I was establishing my medical practice in Lafayette. AJ, Holly, and Sara were so responsive to my questions and gave me many ideas on networking in the community. They host several events that foster community building. I honestly cannot imagine a more robust, active, and friendly chamber as this. I’m a member for life!”
– Cheruba Prabakar, Lamorinda Gynecology & Surgery

“WE LOVE THE CHAMBER! Batch and Brine has been a member of the Lafayette Chamber of Commerce for almost six years. We value and appreciate the incredible amount of work this organization produces for our community through many events and support for each business. The networking and education of information that’s spilled out weekly for the business community is impressive. They are a helping hand in so many ways for our business community and beyond. We couldn’t be part of this community without being part of the chamber. Lafayette Chamber is one of the best organizations we’ve worked with, so don’t think twice about it, join the Chamber!” – Rolla Ghaben, Batch & Brine

“The Chamber was instrumental in helping us open 14 years ago. The staff went out of their way to help us make connections and ensure we were successful. We would not be where we are today without the Chamber!”
– John & Colleen McCormick, Lamorinda Music