Ambassador Program

Santa Cruz County Chamber Ambassador Program

Basics
The Chamber Ambassadors are a team of Chamber members who volunteer to engage with new members, Chamber event participants, and the Santa Cruz Community on behalf of the Chamber. Ambassadors guide new members through the first year of membership and connect new members to the Chamber, its benefits and activities.

Ambassadors also connect with current members, encouraging their active participation and robust use of opportunities the Chamber provides. And, the Ambassadors promote the business community and the Chamber throughout the community.

When
Ambassadors meet as a team once a month and make a commitment to attend 50% of all Chamber events including Business after Hours, Ribbon Cuttings, Leadership Forum series, Chamber Luncheons, Membership luncheons, Breakfast Briefings and the Chamber's four annual major events.

Rewards
The greatest return for being an Ambassador is the development of a rich network of business friends and acquaintances that will pay returns for years to come. In addition, Ambassadors earn public recognition as well as the credits against the cost of Chamber events. Top performing Ambassadors are featured on a rotating basis on the Chamber’s website and in the Chamber’s weekly eNews mailings to members. Ambassadors earn credits for each scheduled communication with a member, each event they attend, and other services. Credits earned can be used towards not only events but also Chamber member marketing services, sponsorship, and products.

2022 Ambassadors:

Duf Fischer, Ambassador Chair
Santa Cruz County Chamber Board of Directors, Chamber Consultant and Past President

Graduate of UC Santa Barbara with degree in economics and accounting. Served in the U.S. Army 8 years. Co-Founded F & M Engineering Construction, Inc. Owner, Partner, President, Executive V.P. of many travel organizations. Community Service: President Santa Cruz Jaycees, President Santa Cruz Area Chamber of Commerce, President Miss California Scholarship Pageant, Chairman Santa Cruz City Planning Commision, Chairman Animal Protection Institute, Chairman Advisory Board, Coast Commercial Bank, Chairman Board of Directors, Family Service Association, Board Director, Rotary Club of Santa Cruz, Served as political advanceman for Ronald Reagan. Delegate to the White House Conference on Small Business and Delegate to the first ever White House Conference on Travel and Tourism. Served as Congress Chairman for ASTA 61st World Travel Congress in Taipei,Taiwan. Duf just finished a two year term on the Santa Cruz County Sherrif's Advisory Team and most recently, has been invited to join Cabrillo College's Presidents Circle Committee which he began in September of 2018.

Lora Allanson
John C. Allanson Insurance Agency

Lora hails from the southland and is a native Californian. She grew up, the youngest of 6 kids, near the coastal community of Seal Beach. She arrived in Santa Cruz in 1979 to attend UC. While she was at the University, she met John in Solar Technology. They both graduated in 1981, which feels like yesterday, they got married the month after graduation and started in the insurance business shortly thereafter. They have been blessed to live and work in this beautiful area and raise their three awesome kids here.

Before Lora started dating John, she had been involved in a "head on" auto accident and spent many months recovering from her multiple injuries. The man that hit her was uninsured. She and John have since dedicated their life's work to making sure their client's have the right coverage for their needs. They love people and are always happy when they are able to help them protect their assets and their family's well being.

Michele Bassi
1st Capital Bank

Michele Bassi has been in the banking industry for almost 30 years. She spent the first 22 years in various positions within Wells Fargo Bank. Holding positions including sales, service, project management and leadership, she brought a great amount of knowledge and experience to Lighthouse Bank. Joining Lighthouse bank in 2014, Michele focused on business development and growing the bank in both deposits and loans. In 2018, she was promoted to SVP Productions Group Manager. Michele managed the Relationship Management team as well as third party vendors who offered products and services to Lighthouse Bank clients. Since the merger between Lighthouse Bank and Santa Cruz County Bank, Michele has focused her attention on business development and assisting customers through the PPP process. Michele has recently made the move to 1st Capital Bank as Senior Vice President/Managing Director of the Santa Cruz Market.

Michele is also extremely involved in her community. Her current board of director positions include incoming Board Chair of Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Cruz County, incoming Board Chair of Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds Foundation, Board Member of Cabrillo College Foundation, Past President and Board Member of Capitola Aptos Rotary, Founding Friend of Meals on Wheels, and Founding Friend of Walnut Avenue Family and Women’s Center. Past Board experience includes being a Founding Board Member of Digital NEST and Board Member of Family Services Agency of the Central Coast. These, and many other volunteer activities, earned Michele the Woman of the Year award for the Aptos Chamber of Commerce in 2018 and a Be The Difference Award from the Volunteer Center in 2019.

Michele graduated from California State University, Fresno with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting. She recently graduated from Pacific Coast Banker School in 2020.

Michele lives in Watsonville with her husband of 22 years and their 2 children. Colton is a Freshman at Cabrillo College and Cooper is a Junior at Aptos High School. Her hobbies include most water sports and walking her new puppy at the beach. She also enjoys any event that includes wine. :)

Rod Caborn
First Class Fundraising

Rod grew up on the east coast of England, and received a BA with honors in Business Studies from Sheffield University. He was recruited from Sheffield to play professional rugby in Spain. Under his captaincy F.C. Barcelona won two national championships. Rod met his wife, Kelly, in Barcelona and returned with her to her native California. While completing his masters in linguistics at San Jose State, California, Rod experienced first-hand the dire financial straits of many Californian schools and resolved to dedicate his marketing and production skills to a career in fundraising.

In 1993 Rod founded First Class Fundraising, which from its inception specialized in producing large, motivational community-building events.
From Pebble Beach to The San Francisco Giants’ AT&T Park, and from Tahema to Tesla Motors, he has been inspiring and delighting audiences ever since.

In addition, Rod has been the Master of Ceremonies for hundreds of foundations and corporations, and, as a professional auctioneer, has raised over $25million for local and international non-profits. He also serves as a fundraising consultant for many organizations, representing every one of his cherished clients with integrity and expertise.

Rod lives with his wife and their two daughters in Santa Cruz, California, where he is the Foundation Chair and Past-President of The Santa Cruz Sunrise Rotary Club.

Joshua Chirinos
Dream Inn

Joshua grew up in Santa Cruz and moved away to study Business Administration at the University of Montana in Missoula. He moved back to his hometown and began to work at the Seascape Beach Resort. He fell in love with the hospitality industry and stayed with the hotel for nine years before moving to a Forbes 4-star property, the Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa. His passion for great service and leadership skills led to him being the Director of Rooms. He served on the Board of Directors for the Cannery Row Business Associate and helped advocate for the business community and overall experience of residents and visitors alike in the district. After five years he wanted to work where he lived and joined the Dream Inn as their Director of Housekeeping and looks forward to making improvements and reinventing the ways guest experience the iconic hotel. Being a part of the Chamber Ambassadors allows Joshua to represent and be a part of the community his daughter will grow up in.

While carving out a career in hospitality, Joshua joined a childhood friend Trevor Williams and his father Joe Williams as a part owner of Santa Cruz DJ Company. You may have heard his music at weddings, private events, hang out spots in downtown Santa Cruz. The theme of his career choices is focused on service and memorable experiences. Whether spinning for someone’s most special day or hosting someone at his hotel for a getaway, going all out and making sure everything is impeccable are things he craves. As a mentor once told him, be consistently good or consistently bad, but be consistent, people will know what to expect.

Kathryn Hohl
Santa Cruz County Bank

Kathryn began her commercial banking career in 2003 while working as a commercial senior credit analyst in the middle market sector of commercial lending, in the greater Bay Area. She has also worked as a senior commercial lending underwriter, portfolio manager, and relationship manager. Her career includes Santa Cruz County Bank (current employer), Umpqua Bank, Mechanics Bank, Tri-Valley Bank (now Heritage Bank), and Comerica where her banking career began in 2003.

Kathryn moved to Santa Cruz in the summer of 2020 and looks forward to becoming an Ambassador of the Santa Cruz County Chamber of Commerce. Kathryn has enjoyed a multitude of volunteering opportunities over her career, primarily through her work as a Rotarian in the Bay Area.

Kathryn earned a Bachelor’s of Science Degree as well as a Master’s of Forensic Accounting Degree. Prior to working in commercial lending, Kathryn worked in the commercial workers’ compensation industry.

Sara Horsley
Biohaven Pharmaceuticals

After over a decade in media sales I was looking for a change and an opportunity for growth. I transitioned to the Pharmaceutical Industry in late 2015 and have never been happier. I've lived in Santa Cruz County since 1989, after an adventurous decision to relocate from the East Coast. Graduated from UCSC with a BA in Economics in 2000 and have been a proud member of the Santa Cruz Area Chamber of Commerce Ambassador Committee since 2012.

Shortly after moving to Santa Cruz I quickly fell in love with the beaches, the redwoods and everything this county has to offer. When I am not working you can usually find me either swimming, cycling or running and loving every second of it.

Matthew James
Hopkins & Carley

Matthew James is an attorney at Hopkins & Carley. Matt is an experienced civil litigator focusing on construction, real estate and general business matters. In addition, Matt counsels clients on transactional matters ranging from small residential and commercial projects to large scale public works claims. Matt has also been a licensed real estate broker since 2006.

Matt grew up in Santa Cruz, graduating from Soquel High School, University of California, Berkeley and Santa Clara University School of Law. Matt is grateful to continue to call Santa Cruz home. In his free time, Matt enjoys spending time with his family and taking part in the wide range of outdoor activities Santa Cruz has to offer.

Annika Kelsey
Santa Cruz Warriors

Annika Kelsey grew up and has spent the majority of her life on the East Coast. From Upstate New York to Maryland, she eventually landed in South Carolina where she earned her bachelor’s degree in Sport and Entertainment Management and Political Science from the University of South Carolina. Upon graduation, Annika was eager to challenge herself and explore new opportunities as a young professional. She took the leap with little hesitation and moved across the country from Charlotte to Santa Cruz.

Annika joined the Santa Cruz Warriors organization as an Account Executive in the Ticket Sales Department just two days after walking across the stage at her commencement ceremony. As a lifelong basketball fan and athlete, the opportunity to create meaningful and memorable experiences for fans alike has been a dream come true. Having never been to California prior to her relocation, when she is not in the Warriors team store or arena, you will likely find Annika hiking and exploring each and every café and bookstore Santa Cruz offers.

Aurora Lowe
Wonder Realty Group - Keller Williams

Aurora was born and raised in Santa Cruz and considers herself very lucky to be a native Santa Cruzian. Her career in real estate started almost 10 years ago in appraisal management and moved into sales. After growing her individual business as a realtor, she knew she would be able to better serve her clients by expanding into Wonder Realty Group.

Her love for travel started at 18, to this day she has visited over 20 states. Over the course of her travels she realized her love and great interest for real estate. She has seen how the architecture and industry differs from state to state and city to city and she can tell you that Santa Cruz definitely is one of a kind. She holds a designation in divorce real estate. She is a specialist in real estate collaboration - Divorce. She knows how to communicate with attorney’s on real estate holdings and can help navigate all parts of real estate in a Divorce situation. She is greatly interested in this designation as feels she can truly help people through tough circumstances.

She not only helps her clients buy and sell real estate but she also invests in real estate herself, owning 2 properties in Santa Cruz County by the age of 32. She knows the process and can help navigate any situation that may arise. She brings her spunk for life, her confidence in negotiating, skillful communication, her passion for the industry and her affinity for human interaction into her practice on a daily basis. All of these things allow her to surpass expectations when entering into and completing a transaction. She prides herself in how she conducts her business and how she remains an honest, committed and loyal individual.

Chris Maffia
Santa Cruz County Bank

Chris Maffia is Vice President, Relationship Manager for Santa Cruz County Bank where she is responsible for business and community development for the Santa Cruz market. In her background of over 33 years of banking, she has held a variety of positions starting as a teller with Bank of America and working her way through lending, and personalized banking positions with Premier Banking. In 2005, Chris retired from Bank of America as Senior Vice President, Market Manager for the Central Coast Premier Banking Team. Chris joined Santa Cruz County Bank in 2005 and has enjoyed working at the bank’s office in downtown Santa Cruz.

Chris is currently the Board Chair for the American Red Cross of Santa Cruz County. She previously served as the Board of Trustees Chair for the United Way of Santa Cruz County for two years as well as the campaign chair. She is also a 15-year active member and past chair for Dominican Hospital Foundation Guild. Chris currently serves as the chair of the luncheon committee for the Santa Cruz Area Chamber of Commerce Women in Business.

Past recognitions include Affiliate of the year for the Santa Cruz Board of Realtors, Ambassador of the Year for the Santa Cruz Chamber of Commerce, and the Betty Elward award presented for outstanding participation in the Dominican Hospital Foundation Guild.

Marlena Munoz
Acupuncturist & Herbalist

Marlena Munoz is a licensed Acupuncturist and Herbalist. She earned her Master’s Degree in Traditional Chinese Medicine from Five Branches University in 2001.
She did her post graduate work in pain management, facial rejuvenation acupuncture, women’s disorders and five element theory. She also maintains specialties in digestive disorders, nutritional therapy, insomnia, anxiety and depression.

She is a second generation healer. She has a deep passion for not only helping patients overcome existing conditions but assisting individuals in maintaining a healthy and thriving lifestyle. She would love to share her passion for the healing powers of acupuncture with you.

Beth Powanda
Powanda Insurance Agency

Beth Powanda is an independent health insurance broker specializing in Medicare health plans. She works with several carriers directly so there is no cost to you for her services. The benefit of working with Beth is that she can offer you a “menu” of options to choose from based on your specific needs that include your budget, where you reside, your doctors and prescribed medications.

Whether you simply have a question, or are wondering what the first steps are to enroll in Medicare, Beth can personally hand hold you through the process to reduce the stress and worry that accompanies so many during this time of transition.

Beth grew up near Philadelphia where she spent her summers at the Jersey Shore. She has resided on the Central Coast for the past 30 years and now makes her home in Capitola. She is the proud mother of two adult daughters. She spends her free time golfing, paddle boarding, cooking up new recipes and dancing to live music.

Beverly Ritchey
David Lyng Real Estate

Beverly Ritchey is Director of Operations at David Lyng Real Estate where she oversees the office facilities at the company’s 8 office locations. She also manages several of the company's accounting operations including year-end reporting.

Beverly previously owned and operated Santa Cruz Marine Company in Santa Cruz which included yacht sales, lessons and rentals, and owned the Yacht Harbor Café Restaurant. She has traveled internationally including spending several winters in the Sea of Cortez operating yacht charters. Beverly also worked for the President of Five Currents, a company producing Olympic ceremonies from London to Sochi and the continental games ceremonies from Toronto to Baku. Beverly is a long time resident of Santa Cruz County. In her spare time, she volunteers as an Ambassador for the Santa Cruz Area Chamber of Commerce and is an active member of the Santa Cruz United Way.

David Stearns
Allterra Solar

David is a 25-year resident of Santa Cruz and a graduate of Santa Cruz High School. He attended UCLA earning degrees in Political Science and Urban and Regional Planning. He is a proud member of Think Local First, cherishes Santa Cruz's entrepreneurial spirit, and is an ardent champion of central coast business. He enjoys sports, outdoor recreation, and from Thanksgiving to New Years you can find him at Companion Bakery sipping egg nog lattes. David is a guest host on Community TV's Voices From The Village and is frequently quoted in local media offering insights on pressing civic issues. David currently serves as the Director of Marketing and Public Relations at Allterra Solar, Santa Cruz County's most frequently hired solar PV contractor. He encourages any homeowner paying more than $100 per month for electricity to call him immediately.

Tom Stelling
Stelling Commercial

Tom Stelling has been a licensed realtor and a trusted name in commercial and multi-family real estate sales, leasing, and management since 1984. In 2009, following a successful commercial real estate career at the largest commercial real estate brokerage company in North America, and 7 years with a local Santa Cruz brokerage, Tom joined KW Commercial, the most respected and fastest growing commercial real estate sales and leasing team in the United States. Tom is recognized as an expert in local real estate issues, and is quoted regularly in the Santa Cruz Sentinel newspaper and is seen on the Real Estate Weekly television program. He was recently interviewed for the NBC Nightly News Program as an expert on local commercial real estate trends. Tom is an active board member of the Santa Cruz Sunrise Rotary, the Santa Cruz Area Chamber of Commerce, is on the board of the Santa Cruz Area Chamber of Commerce, an active participant in leadership Santa Cruz, and an active Member of the Bay Area Apartment Brokers Forum. In his free time, Tom likes to surf, sail, jog and spend time with his two teenage children Tommy and Lizzy.

Adele Talmadge
Talmadge Construction

Born at Sister's Hospital on West Cliff Drive, Adele Talmadge has been a Santa Cruzan all her life. Her parents owned Port O' Call Grocery in Pleasure Point. After attending Cabrillo College, Adele went on to gain over 30 years of bookkeeping and customer service experience in residential, commercial construction and property management. In 1984, she co-founded Talmadge Construction. Adele remains an active part in the community, volunteering for the Amgen Tour in 2010, directing the Lifestyle Festival for the Tour in Seaside and the Awards Ceremony for Tour of CA in 2012. Adele loves Tae Kwon Do, earning her First Degree black belt at the age of 50.

Alexander Pedersen
Santa Cruz Small Business Development Center

Alexander is a business advisor with the Small Business Development Center, CEO and founder of the non-profit, Fair Wage USA, owner/operator of his business, Pedersen Home Enhancement and a student of mechanical engineering at Cabrillo College. His experience serving educational and community organizations includes his current roles as board member for the Second Harvest Food Bank and president and founder of the Cabrillo College Entrepreneurs Club as well as previously held positions of student senator at Cabrillo College, Founder and president of the Sacramento City College Robotics Club and board member of the non-profit Davis Makerspace.

Alexander is passionate about utilizing his interests in engineering, technology and business to promote wellness and alleviate the burdens of disadvantaged communities. In his spare time, he enjoys reading, writing and outdoor activities such as running, surfing, mountaineering and backpacking.

More Information
To learn more about the Chamber’s Ambassador program, please contact Elana Solon, our Director of Memberships, Marketing & Events at 831-457-3713.

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Congratulations to the 2021 Top Three Ambassadors for
going above & beyond!

Chris Maffia, 1st Place

Beverly Ritchey, 2nd Place

Rod Caborn, 3rd Place

Looking for a fun way to interact with other Santa Cruz County Chamber members? Become a Chamber Ambassador today! See photos of our previous events above.