Gilroy
Chamber
Continued from page 32
knows everybody in gilroy. We share a real sense of roots
in the communit.”
Administrative Assistant Jude Miranda spent two
years working for the Silicon Valley Leadership Group
before joining the Gilroy Chamber staff. In her words,
“I’ve lived in Gilroy twenty-five years and couldn’t be
happier about landing in my position a year and a half
ago. Members of the Chamber always come in to our
offices to say hello. Mark has an open-door relationship
with the community and always makes time for visitors,
especially new business owners.”
Her administrative colleague, Chris Bevilacqua, feels
the same way. “There’s never a dull moment around here,
and I think we all like it that way.”
The Chairperson
Michele Campbell, owner of an insurance services
company, stepped into the role of Board Chair for the
Gilroy Chamber this year. She’s found the Chamber to
be exceptional in terms of its strong sense of community
and support for a diverse membership from mom and
pop shops to large organizations such as St. Louise
Regional Hospital and Merrill Gardens.
Campbell noted that Gilroy is growing and evolving,
“as it should be.”
“If you remain stagnant as a business, community,
or city, it’s not healthy. We have a really strong,
engaged board whose members represent ag, health-
care, education, nonprofits and downtown merchants.
One member, who sits on the boards of some large
organizations, said this is one of the best operating boards
around. Mark Turner is very organized and a leader and
we get things done. When we need our people to step
up, our board members do. That says it all.”
“We listen to our members' needs. We promote the ‘shop
local’ efforts. And we advocate on their behalf on legisla-
tive issues, sometimes working regionally. This has included
opposing one bill that would have inundated healthcare
organizations with regulatory paperwork, and another bill
proposing tax hikes that would have put many auto shops
out of business. Legislation is constantly being pushed
through and we have to pay attention and make our
voices heard.”
Michele Campbell, Chair
Gilroy Chamber of Commerce
CHAMBER BOARD PHOTO, PAGE 32
Seated (l-r): Mark Jacobsen, Gina Lopez, Terry Newman, Rich Valencia,
Jude Miranda. Standing (l-r): John Hennelly, Diane Atkinson, Eric
Howard, Michele Campbell, Lisa Faria, Mark Turner, David Matuszak,
Carlos Pineda, Eric Gebhardt, Jane Howard, Tammy Brownlow
82
GILROY • MORGAN HILL • SAN MARTIN
APRIL/MAY 2018
gmhtoday.com