The growth path will continue in 2009 and it is being spearheaded by the ever energetic President Leo Maranan. The core group of leaders gathered at the Caldwell Banker Prime Properties office in Northridge, CA (courtesy of power couple Vic and Lulu Mercado) to put their heads together and blaze the trail for the chamber in the Leadership Retreat. At the retreat the chamber was re-organized to allow it to be more project oriented. Instead of the old committee based systems, project teams were created headed by volunteer Project Managers:
Quarterly Networking Breakfast - Amelia Peters
Business Mixer and Expo - Chat Torres
Educational and Workshop Trainings - Eva Barry
APAIT - Mary Ann Omega
Business Directory/ Magazine - Matt Fernandez
Membership - Maita Miyake
General Assembly - Leo Maranan
Web Initiative - Berwyn Salazar
Govermental Affairs - Vic Mercado
The members of each team were also among the directors, active members, and advisors of the Chamber. The President has his Executive team made up of Mary Ann Omega - Secretary, Vangie Taberah - Treasurer and Maridy Salle-Masicat - Public Relations.
At the leadership retreat it has been agreed that the Chamber will continue to reach out to other organizations of similar intent to uplift the Fil-Am businesses especially during this challenging phase in the economy. The mood was upbeat and everyone was looking forward to a the exponnetial growth that the Chamber will go through in 2009.
