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Not sure who on staff to contact? View this helpful directory page to help you find the right person for your member needs.
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Ermina Karim
President/CEO
786-2761
| As President/CEO, Ermina Karim oversees the Chamber staff, works closely with the 21-member Board of Directors in setting the organization's priorities, carrying out goals and ensuring the organization's fiscal responsibility.
Karim started out at the Chamber in November 2007 as its director of governmental affairs and quickly rose up in the ranks to become vice president of governmental affairs and economic development. In that role, she served as the liaison for the local business community to the city, state and federal governments, and led the Chamber and the community in its economic development efforts.
She previously spent two years as a reporter with The Tribune covering the county’s business community. Prior to moving to the Central Coast in 2005, Karim worked in New York City as a vice president in Equity Capital Markets at Credit Suisse, a leading global financial services firm. She also spent several years as a financial journalist for print and online publications. She earned her bachelor's degree from Northwestern University. |
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Kristin Mehiel
Director of Membership Services
786-2766
E-mail Kristin |
As Director of Membership Services, Kristin recruits new chamber members and develops relationships with new and existing members.
Kristin grew up in California and graduated from UC-Santa Barbara with a degree in biology. She went into nutracuetical sales while living in Boulder, Colo., and then worked in marketing for a leading financial web site developer.
In 2004 while living in Orange County, Kristin launched DiningOut, an authoritative guide to fine dining in the county and Long Beach. She and her husband moved to San Luis Obispo when he was hired as a professor at Cal Poly. She commuted to Orange County for a while, but recently sold the successful publication to build a career here and have more time for her two young children. |
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Grace Allen
Director of Visitor Services
786-2767
E-mail Grace
| As the Director of Visitors Services, Grace is responsible for making sure everyone who comes in contact with the visitors center staff -- whether by phone, e-mail, or in person -- is provided helpful and friendly assistance from San Luis Obispo's finest hospitality staff.
Born and raised in the Philippines on the island of Cebu, Grace speaks two Filipino dialects and Spanish. Her family moved to the Central Valley, where she attended Kings River Community College and she met her husband, Bobby James. They moved to SLO to attend Cal Poly University. Of course, they fell in love with SLO and the community and decided to stay.
During her spare time, she loves to garden and spend time with family and friends. |
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Lindsey Miller Director of Marketing
786-2763
| Lindsey Miller is the Director of Marketing. In her job, Lindsey handles communications for the Chamber and participates in the tourism marketing efforts for the City of San Luis Obispo. She was an intern for the SLO Chamber before taking on her full time role, and loves working at the Chamber because she gets a chance to promote the city she loves so much. She also organizes many Chamber events, including Good Morning San Luis Obispo.
She attended Cal Poly, receiving a degree in tourism marketing and special event planning. Her job at the Chamber enables her to use both elements of her degree, and in 2004 she returned to Cal Poly to complete her Masters in the field.
Lindsey loves to spending time in SLO. You'll usually find her shopping downtown, dining with friends or walking her dog, Wally. |
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Lori Silva
Member Accounts Manager
786-2772
E-mail Lori
| As the Chamber's Member Accounts Manager, Lori handles the registration for most of the Chamber's monthly events, such as Good Morning SLO and the Legislative Lunches, as well as coordinating the annual Central Coast Economic Forecast Project.
She also manages and updates the membership database, creating new member profiles, keeping information current for our Membership Directory, Visitors Guide and online listings.
A San Luis Obispo native, Lori loves to spend time outdoors enjoying our great weather and beautiful area.
Family is something that she highly values and she's ecstatic about having a wonderful husband and two of the best kids a mom could ask for. (They each gave up a year's allowance each so she'd include that in her bio.) |
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Cyndi Silva
Accounting Manager
786-2762
| Cyndi is on her second tour of duty as Accounting Manager with the Chamber. First hired in 1986, she left after 11 years to start her own bookkeeping business. She returned in 2007.
As Accounting Manager, Cyndi is responsible for all bookkeeping activities -- from accounts payable and payroll, to financial statements reviewed by the Board of Directors, to preparing for the Chamber's annual audit.
A native Californian, Cyndi moved to San Luis Obispo in 1971 to attend Cal Poly, where she earned an Animal Science degree. A varied career included administrative/marketing stints with the San Francisco Giants and California Cooperage Hot Tubs.
Cyndi's sons, Manuel and Frank, keep her life outside of work fun and event-filled and her bookkeeping business remains busy. Her limited spare time is devoted to reading and metaphysical interests. |
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Sandi Sigurdson
Executive Director of
Leadership San Luis Obispo
786-2765
E-mail Sandi
| Sandi Sigurdson began her tenure as Director of Leadership SLO in January 2010. From 1994 to 2009 she was Executive Director of the San Luis Obispo Symphony and managed its growth from a small community orchestra with a budget of $300,000 to the respected, successful and internationally known organization it is today with a budget of over one million dollars.
A graduate of Leadership Class I, Sandi has twice served on the Board of Directors for the San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce, is a former SLO City Planning Commissioner and worked for the Environmental Center of San Luis Obispo (ECOSLO) from 1991-1994, later serving on their Board of Directors. Sandi is past president of the Central Coast Planned Giving Council and was honored as a Cuesta College Woman of Distinction in 2004. In 2009, Sandi served as president of the Association of California Symphony Orchestras.
Sandi is married to Steve McGrath, harbor manager at Port San Luis Harbor District. They have three children and two grandchildren. Turns out grandchildren are waaaay more fun. Before entering nonprofit work, Sandi spent 15 years in hotel and restaurant management, starting that career as a maid and dishwasher.
Sandi prays regularly for relief from the burden of self-righteousness and is grateful for Central Coast oak trees. |
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As Director of Governmental Affairs, Courtney Kienow (pronounced: key-no) works closely with the President/CEO to assist in the development and oversight of the Chamber’s policy positions on political issues relevant to the business community. Kienow serves as the liaison at the city, county and state levels. She joined the Chamber in September of 2011.
Before joining the Chamber, Kienow worked as District Director for Senator Sam Blakeslee where her responsibilities included overseeing district policies, planning, staff and media relations. Kienow has been involved in this community for nearly a decade. As a Cal Poly graduate with a degree in Broadcast Journalism she started out her Central Coast career as a News Producer at KCOY CBS 12 where she established a network of key contacts across the Central Coast. She started out working on the weekend shows but was responsible for the 5 pm and most-watched program before leaving the station. She was also the “Real Deals” Spokesperson for the station where she had the privilege of interacting with numerous Central Coast business owners.
Courtney and her husband Ken, a wedding photographer, live in San Luis Obispo and have 2 young kids. | |
