Who we are....

Ivette Ricco - President
Ivette Ricco Services 
Femmefan, Inc.

My introduction to the Pinole Chamber of Commerce came in 2002.

I resigned my position as Vice President of Operations with an accounts receivable finance company in 2001. In 2002 I was offered the position of Executive Director for the Pinole Chamber.

The work I did for over 20 years in the finance and collections industries brought me in contact with small and medium sized businesses in financial distress. Their stories were often very similar. They started with a great idea and with a passion for their business but lacked basic business skills. Things as simple as creating a business plan or an invoice. The product or service often succeeded, the business often did not. Great ideas do not necessarily lead to business success.

Those experiences helped me define goals for the Chamber and establish important resources. It also has made me a very vocal business advocate.

I had no previous experience working for or with a Chamber of Commerce and the Pinole Chamber was virtually dormant when I arrived. With the support of the Board of Directors and the President of the Chamber, I was able to restore the Chamber, increase memberships by 54% and create several new events, such as:

The Annual Bowl A Thon
Ala Carte in Fernandez Park
The Lean Mean Learning Machine, a small business workshop
We also established a Scholarship Fund for Pinole Valley High School

The Chamber website was given a face lift (more recently it has been redone and is terrific) and created an online e-newsletter. We also published a business directory and map.

I resigned my position as Executive Director in September 2007 to explore other opportunities, but I’m back to serve as President.

I’m back to carry on the work past Presidents and Board members started, I’m back to help our business community come together. I’m back to lead the business community to greater success in the future.

Carol White - Vice-President
Carol White Insurance
2200 San Pablo Ave., Ste. 201
510-724-0997        
www.farmersagent.com/cwhite1

Deanna Million - Executive Director
Bronze Buns Tanning Salon
Bronzebuns1@aol.com

Deanna became Executive Director of the Pinole Chamber of Commerce in October 2007. 
Coming from 20 years of experience in a family owned small business in Richmond (Allied Health Care), she branched out and purchased Bronze Buns Tanning Salon in Pinole in June 2006 because she believes in the health benefits of UV exposure.  She is a member of the ITA and SmartTan.  She has also worked and volunteered for WCCUSD.  She holds an AA in Medical Assisting and is a Certified Orthopedic Fitter.  She's taken many classes on the administration of small business.
Deanna has many years of volunteer experience including PTA, Site Council, Xmas in April, Community Theaters in Pinole and El Cerrito, and is currently a Committee Member of the Friends of Pinole Community Playhouse.   

PinoleChamber@yahoo.com
 510-724-4484   
 510-724-4408 - Fax

Jacqui Hunt, Director
Praxair Inc.
1-800-PRAXAIR        
www.praxair.com

Geoff Torretta - Director
Antlers Tavern, Thee Salon
2284 San Pablo Ave.
510-724-9961     

Gisela Hernandez - Director
Doctors Medical Center
2000 Vale Road
510-970-5132        
www.doctorsmedicalcenter.org

Tom Welsh - Director
Crocketts Premier Auto Body
900 San Pablo Ave.
Pinole, Ca. 94564
510-741-9001        
www.crockettautobody.com

Tom Welsh has been in the collision repair industry for over 35 years.  Tom received his automotive management training at the General Motors Training Center in San Leandro , Ca while working for Cortese Enterprises in Richmond , Ca. In 1979 Tom founded Crockett Auto Body in Crockett, Ca. In 2002 he moved the business to its current location in Pinole, Ca. and opened Crocketts Premier Auto Body, Inc. Tom’s Board of Directors experience includes the California Auto Body Association, the National Auto Body Council, the Rotary Club of Pinole, Advisory Committee at Contra Costa College Vocational Department and Associate Director of Salesians Boys and Girls Club.  For many years Tom has been involved with and has supported numerous non profit organizations in West County. 

Crag Parker - Director
Maintenance Plus
730 Crestview Drive
510-724-4500        

Judy O'Bannon - Director
The Mechanics Bank
2690 Pinole Valley Road
510-741-2000        

Judy O'Bannon- Is a Financial Service Manger for The Mechanics Bank in Pinole.  She has worked there for 7 years.  Prior to coming to The Mechanics Bank she was Branch Managers for 23 1/2 years with Pacific Bay Federal Credit Union.  Her hobbies include cooking, bowling and most of all shopping.

Alex Gomez - Director
West Contra Costa Business Development Center
3803 San Pablo Dam Rd.
510-223-9900        
www.wccbdc.org

Alex Gomez has served as Executive Director of the West Contra Costa Business Development Center (BDC) for the past four years. The BDC is an innovative nonprofit corporation whose goal is to help build strong, growth-oriented businesses that create job opportunities and stimulate economic activity in the communities of West Contra Costa. Alex is a graduate of UC Berkeley and is a WestCounty resident. He is an active member of various economic development associations and participates on local community and school district advisory boards.

Josh Genser - Director, Chair Policy Committee
Genser & Watkins, LLP 
510-237-6916        
www.genserandwatkins.com

Joshua Genser is a native of West Contra Costa County.
He was educated at Stanford University , where
he received a Master’s Degree in Economics, and at Boalt Hall School of Law of the University of California at Berkeley.
Josh has been practicing law in West Contra Costa County since 1983.  He has also served on the Board of Directors of many organizations, including the Richmond Chamber of Commerce, the Pinole Chamber of Commerce, Richmond Country Club, Temple Beth Hillel, the Greater Richmond Interfaith Program and RichPAC (the business political action committee). 
Josh has sat on many local commissions, including Richmond’s General Plan Advisory Committee, Chevron’s Richmond Community Fund Advisory Committee, the School District’s Blue Ribbon Committee on High School Reform, Doctor’s Medical Center’s Local Governing Board and Richmond’s Private Industry Council. 
Josh has been honored as a Northern California Super Lawyer, and, in 2007, by The Law Center as Pro Bono Attorney of the Year.

Navneet Kaur - Director
Bank of the West
777 Tennent Ave.
Pinole, Ca. 94564
510-724-0100 

Jeff Jensen - Director, Ambassadors Liaison

Jensen Construction & Painting
510-453-9369
jeff@jensenremodeling.com 

My name is Jeff Jensen, owner of Jensen Construction & Painting. I have been a Pinole resident since 2000 and am actively involved in the community through a variety of forums.  

My remodeling experience is extensive which provides me with a foundation to incorporate both the creativity and patience needed to work through the most challenging projects. Thus, I can carry your project through all phases from concept and design to completion. With over 15 years of construction experience, my team and I have mastered the set up and management of projects to get them done on time. Not only are the projects kept on schedule, they are kept neat and clean from start to finish. We respect the integrity and privacy of your home, treating it with the same care and attention to detail as we would in our own homes.

I hold both a “B” General Contractor and “C-33” Painting & Decorating license as well as being an EPA certified lead safe renovator.

I look forward to serving our local businesses as an ambassador for the Pinole Chamber of Commerce.

For all your home improvement needs both large and small, give Jensen Construction & Painting a call.

Roy Swearingen, City Council Liaison
Pinole City Council
2131 Pear St.
510-724-9000
rswearingen@ci.pinole.ca.us 

Susan Ayalin
Administrative Assistant 

Susan Ayalin is a California native has also lived in Illinois, Wisconsin and New York City.  She graduated from Contra Costa College with an A.A. in Liberal Arts and a B.A. in Theatre Arts from San Francisco State University.  Her background is in bookkeeping, administrative assisting, and retail.  Her interests lie in writing, movie-making, and entertainment.