New Chamber Board Bolsters Unincorporated Influence

Alameda County Supervisor Nate Miley presides over the new Castro Valley/Eden Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors installation. The new board includes President Todd Anglin, President-Elect Janella Anguiano, Past President Julie Sumiki, Vice Presidents Lynda Foster and Gary Howard, Treasurer Joel Malakoff, Secretary Susan McCue, and a slate of 16 new Directors. The event was held at the new Cherryland Community Center.  

Last Wednesday, the Castro Valley/Eden Area Chamber of Commerce installed its new Board of Directors, further expanding the group's commitment to improving business in the unincorporated areas of western Alameda County. 

President of the County Board of Supervisors, Nate Miley, conducted the swearing-in ceremony, including 16 directors, six leadership team members, and new Board President Todd Anglin.

"The Chamber means a lot to me," Miley said during the event. "We have seen this Chamber grow and struggle, but we could not do the work we do without the help of the Eden Area Chamber."

Anglin's leadership team includes President-Elect Janella Anguiano, Past President Julie Sumiki, Vice President Lynda Foster, Vice President Gary Howard, Treasurer Joel Malakoff, and Secretary Susan McCue.

"We have a great team in place, and we're looking forward to creating new partnerships with local businesses and all the events and activities we'll be hosting this year," Anglin told the Forum.  

The installation event was specifically held at the new Cherryland Community Center to show how the Chamber is expanding its reach outside of Castro Valley. Established in 1937, the Chamber serves the communities of Ashland, Castro Valley, Cherryland, and San Lorenzo. Earlier this month, the Chamber opened a new main office on East 14th Street near 160th Avenue in Ashland. The site will serve as a meeting place, business incubator, and resource for local businesses. Executive Director Gary Slate says the office is in the process of hiring one or two bilingual staff to help serve the Spanish-speaking community.

The Chamber is also scheduling two major events outside of Castro Valley this year, including a "Family Festival" on May 6 near the REACH Ashland Youth Center on East 14th Street. Like the Castro Valley Fall Festival, the event will close down the street so attendees can enjoy music, crafts, food, and vendor-sponsored booths. Later this year, the Chamber will host "Showtime San Lorenzo," billed as a "community movie" event.

The chamber's outreach outside of Castro Valley is especially reassuring for business owners and community advocates in the western parts of the unincorporated county.

"We're encouraging businesses in Cherryland and Ashland and San Lorenzo to become members to help them get their businesses going, especially coming out of COVID," said Michael Freed, vice president, and treasurer of the Cherryland Community Association. "Financially, this area is still suffering from the effects of the pandemic. It's been difficult to keep businesses alive and well and even keep people in the community. So, the Chamber being here in our area is very important."

The new board itself represents more of the Ashland, Cherryland, and San Lorenzo communities with the addition of Al Rincon, who runs Star Dry Cleaners in San Lorenzo, Hilary Bass, with the Alameda County Deputy Sheriffs' Activities League in Ashland, and Diana Ramirez-Jasso, who is with YoYo Treats - E14th Eatery + Kitchen in Ashland. 

Next month, the Chamber is hosting the Cherryland Community Association meeting on February 14 and a Free Home Buyer Seminar on February 25.