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.

Dina Rosales, MBA CPA - Treasurer
DMR Accounting & Tax Solutions
510-910-2804      
www.dmras.com

Dina Maria Rosales is a native San Franciscan.  She graduated from high school at the age of 16 and spent the next 9 years working full-time in business administration while attending San Francisco State University part-time until she earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with an emphasis in Accounting.  Later, she attended the University of San Francisco where she earned a Master of Business Administration with an emphasis in Finance.  She also holds an active CPA license in the State of California.

Dina has been in the Accounting profession for 25 years working with small to medium sized companies.  Areas of expertise include retail and manufacturing firms in multi-state with multi-locations.  She has provided management in all areas of accounting and finance including developing complete accounting systems and teams, budget management, cash forecasting, year-end audits, payroll and payroll tax, sales and use tax, and benefits administration.  Her strength is working with small companies experiencing rapid growth that have not developed accounting systems or teams to support the growth of the company.  Other areas of experience include non-profit, franchise, and consulting.

Two years ago, she started her own firm, DMR Accounting Solutions, because she wanted to work with business owners to provide back office and tax solutions at an affordable rate, while still providing the level of guidance and expertise that a CPA provides.  DMR also provides tax services for individuals. While she currently operates a home based business in Richmond, she hopes to open a store front in Old Town Pinole within the next year.

Deanna Million - Executive Director

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.  She has also worked and volunteered for WCCUSD.  She holds a degree in Medical Assisting and is a Certified Orthopedic Fitter.  She's taken many classes on the administration of small business, economics, and management.
Deanna has many years of volunteer experience including PTA, Site Council, Xmas in April, Community Theaters in Pinole and El Cerrito, Pinole Arts Education Foundation and Friends of Pinole Community Playhouse.   

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

Carol White - Director - Chair Events Committee
Carol White Insurance
2200 San Pablo Ave., Ste. 201
510-724-0997          
www.farmersagent.com/cwhite1

Tom Welsh - Vice President
Crocketts Premier Auto Body
510-741-9001         
900 San Pablo Ave.
Pinole, Ca. 94564
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. 

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.

Alex Gomez - Director
West Contra Costa Business Development Center
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.

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.

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

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

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

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