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EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Julio Figueroa, Chair
AT&T
Julio Figueroa, Chair
AT&T
Julio Figueroa has spent almost 20 years with AT&T in various roles.  He currently serves as the Director of External Affairs Riverside/San Bernardino Counties where he handles external affairs for all aspects of AT&T, including cellular, cable, internet and satellite services.  Julio is originally from Banning, CA and currently works out of AT&T’s regional office in Riverside.
Andrew McDuffie, Immediate Past Chair
First Bank
Andrew McDuffie, Immediate Past Chair
First Bank
Lindsay Grant, Incoming Chair
Three7Nine Enterprise Management Company
Lindsay Grant, Incoming Chair
Three7Nine Enterprise Management Company
Lindsay Grant has been in sales and marketing for the past twenty years and is currently the chief marketing officer for the Augustine Band of Cahuilla Indians and Augustine Casino. Prior to this role, Lindsay spent fourteen years as a sales executive and sales leader at various local news organizations including as director of sales at the Desert Sun in Palm Springs.
Jay Chesterton, Vice Chair
Fantasy Springs Resort Casino – Cabazon Band of Cahuilla Indians
Jay Chesterton, Vice Chair
Fantasy Springs Resort Casino – Cabazon Band of Cahuilla Indians
Jay Chesterton is the Vice President of Hotel and Food & Beverage at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, where he has worked since 2006. He has 30 years of experience in resort and food & beverage operations, having worked for some of the most recognized luxury brands in the world. Jay has remained active in his business community, serving on multiple local chamber boards.
Toni Merrihew, Treasurer
Chandi Group USA
Toni Merrihew, Treasurer
Chandi Group USA
Toni Merrihew is the Chief Financial Officer of Chandi Group USA headquartered in Indio. Ms. Merrihew was an active supporter of local chambers for many years prior to joining the Board in Indio in 2015. She has enjoyed an extensive career in banking that spans over 20 years, with almost all of her efforts benefiting the Coachella Valley. She attended California State University-San Bernardino – College of Business and Public Administration and is a graduate of Leadership Coachella Valley.
Jason Cabanyog, Secretary
Imperial Western Products
Jason Cabanyog, Secretary
Imperial Western Products
Jason Cabanyog is a General Manager for Imperial Western Products Inc, where he has worked since 2001.  Prior to his transition to the Board of Directors for the GCVCC he served on the board for the Coachella Chamber. He also serves on the Board of Directors for Imperial Western Products and is a board member for his HOA, Castle Harbour.   Jason is a graduate of Leadership Coachella Valley – Class of 2013 and received a B.S. in Business Management from the University of Phoenix. Jason and his family are lifelong residents of the Coachella Valley. He is married with three children and lives in Bermuda Dunes.

DIRECTORS AT LARGE

 

Joyce Szudzik
Acrisure Arena / Coachella Valley Firebirds
Joyce Szudzik
Acrisure Arena / Coachella Valley Firebirds
Bob McCauley
NBC Palm Springs/Univision Palm Springs
Bob McCauley
NBC Palm Springs/Univision Palm Springs
Bob McCauley has a distinguished leadership and sales track record in Southern California within the media, sports and entertainment industries, as well as tremendous expertise in the Hispanic market. His leadership and experience strengthens our already great team in the desert. Bob was most recently the Director of Corporate Partnerships for MLB Los Angeles Angels. Before that, he spent nearly a decade as the Director of Sales at Univision in Los Angeles overseeing Univision’s flagship TV, Radio and Digital assets. Bob was also the President of Adlink and GSM of KCOP and KTTV in Los Angeles.
Alba Cruz – Rosales
Pueblo Viejo Grill
Alba Cruz – Rosales
Pueblo Viejo Grill
Davis Meyer
Visit Greater Palm Springs
Davis Meyer
Visit Greater Palm Springs
Davis Meyer is a California native who moved to the Coachella Valley in 2005. She has worked in hospitality and tourism for over 15 years, including for Marriott Vacations Worldwide and in vacation rental property management, before transitioning to her current role in advocacy and community engagement for Visit Greater Palm Springs in 2017. As the region’s official tourism marketing organization, Visit Greater Palm Springs represents the 9 cities of the Coachella Valley to promote the local tourism economy and improve quality of life for residents, through traditional marketing, travel trade, PR and communications, and group sales, as well through air service development, advocacy, workforce development, increasing accessibility, and cultural tourism. Davis lives in Palm Desert with her husband and son and spends her free time hiking our surrounding trails or cheering on her 11-year old son at his Jr Firebirds hockey games.
Blaine Carian
Growing Coachella Valley
Blaine Carian
Growing Coachella Valley
Doug Motz
Motz-Rusin Insurance Agency
Doug Motz
Motz-Rusin Insurance Agency
Scott Robinson
Boys & Girls Club of Cathedral City
Scott Robinson
Boys & Girls Club of Cathedral City
Victoria Llort
Desert Water Agency
Victoria Llort
Desert Water Agency
Julie Frazier
Frazier Pest Control
Julie Frazier
Frazier Pest Control
Julie Frazier is the proud owner of Frazier Pest Control in Cathedral City and a chamber member since 2007. She previously served on the Cathedral City Chamber of Commerce board before transitioning to the GCVCC. Alongside her husband Joe they have been in the pest control industry since 1987. She enjoys playing an active role in helping the local community through participation in community based nonprofits like the Boys & Girls Club of Cathedral City.
Marlene Navarro-Lupian
Coachella Valley Cemetary District
Marlene Navarro-Lupian
Coachella Valley Cemetary District
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Mike Veto
Burrtec Waste & Recycling Services
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Mike Veto
Burrtec Waste & Recycling Services
Tracy Tremblay
Banc of California
Tracy Tremblay
Banc of California
John Abele
Forest Lawn
John Abele
Forest Lawn
David Robinson
CVEP
David Robinson
CVEP
Erin Griffin
The Desert Sun/LOCALiQ
Erin Griffin
The Desert Sun/LOCALiQ
As a part of the USA Today Network, Erin runs the business side of The Desert Sun, as manages advertising sales through LocaliQ, their Digital Marketing solutions branch. Erin is the head of the Coachella Valley market and oversees all advertising sold into the local publications, The Desert Sun and Desert Magazine. She manages a one-stop-shop for all services, whether it's SEO, Creative Development, Search Engine Marketing (all platforms), Digital Advertising (USA Today's Ad Network), YouTube advertising, Mobile advertising, Social Media Marketing, Mailers by zip code, Email Marketing and Print! Erin has a Bachelor's of Business Administration Degree in Entrepreneurial Management, from Texas Christian University (TCU). She formerly worked at Google. After Google she ran a small business/creative agency called The Human Capacity. Additionally, she is a world travelling documentary filmmaker who specializes in post-conflict war zones and politics (Producer of an Arte France globally broadcasted film The Silicon Valley Project/ Empire du Future), Film/Video Director, was the Head of Post-Production (Masterclass, FedEx, Google), Cinematographer, Editor, Photographer, Stylist (Anthropology, Restoration Hardware), Writer (contributed to the Huffington Post Blog), Non-Profit Impact and Small Business Consultant and Public Speaker (TedxTalk). Let's just say she is a business mind, with a creative at heart. On the weekends you'll find her camping, hiking, painting or organic farming.

LOCAL CHAMBER CHAIRS (GCVCC BOARD ADVISORS)

Steve Garcia
Coachella Chamber Chair
Sixth Street Coffee
Steve Garcia
Coachella Chamber Chair
Sixth Street Coffee
Gary Lopez
Indio Chamber Chair
G-Aries Visions
Gary Lopez
Indio Chamber Chair
G-Aries Visions
Jeffery Hohman
Desert Hot Springs Chamber Chair
Emerge Financial Services
Jeffery Hohman
Desert Hot Springs Chamber Chair
Emerge Financial Services
Stephen Burchard
Cathedral City Chamber Chair
Stephen Burchard Realestate
Stephen Burchard
Cathedral City Chamber Chair
Stephen Burchard Realestate
Jeff Fishbein
La Quinta Chamber Chair
Coldwell Banker
Jeff Fishbein
La Quinta Chamber Chair
Coldwell Banker
Jeff Fishbein is a real estate consultant with an extensive corporate sales and management background with a Forbes Top 25 customer service focused Private Corporation. Currently he specializes in residential real estate and investment opportunities with Coldwell Banker in La Quinta, Rancho Mirage, Palm Desert and the entire Coachella Valley communities.