meet the chamber < Sonoma Valley Chamber of Commerce

Molly Fedorchak, President

Molly Fedorchak manages the Sonoma National Bank branch located in downtown Sonoma’s Lynch Building. She has had an extensive career in banking and has worked in Sonoma for 13 years. She has served on the Chamber’s board of directors for the past three years, was an Ambassador for four years, and is a 2004 Leadership Sonoma Valley graduate. She is an active member of the Sonoma Valley Kiwanis Club and a strong advocate for the disabled and Becoming Independent. Molly and her husband have lived in Glen Ellen for 18 years, today with two adult children and three grandchildren who reside in Sonoma.

Susan Reber, Vice President

Susan Reber of Mission Hills Mortgage Bankers has lived in Sonoma for 23 years. In addition to her Chamber involvement, she serves on the board of directors of the Sonoma Plaza Kiwanis Club and Congregation Shir Shalom. The mother of three children, she also has served on the High School Site Council and as the Girl Scout Area Coordinator.

Jeff Walter, Treasurer

Jeff Walter and his wife Valerie Pistole are partners in the law firm Walter & Pistole. They have lived in Sonoma Valley since 1977 and have two sons. Jeff currently serves as the city attorney for the Cities of Cotati, Martinez, and Novato and for the town of Corte Madera, and as special council for the Civil Service Commissions of Sonoma, Marin, and Mendocino Counties. He is a past chair and member of the Sonoma County Planning Commission, past president of the Sonoma County Bar Association, past member of the Sonoma County Trails Committee, and a member of the Kiwanis Club of Sonoma Plaza.

Sheana Davis, Director

Sheana Davis has independently owned and operated The Epicurean Connection, a culinary marketing and education company, for 12 years. She has worked as a professional chef throughout Sonoma Valley and as a guest chef throughout the country. In addition to her Chamber involvement, Sheana is an active member in the Sonoma Valley Grange, Sonoma County Winery Association, Springs Task Force Coordinating Committee, Sonoma County Land Trust, Sonoma County Culinary Guild, American Cheese Society, and Women Chefs and Restaurateurs. Each year she co-hosts the Opportunities and Challenges Conference with artisan cheesemaker Ig Vella at the Sonoma Valley Inn. A Sonoma resident and mother of a school-age daughter, Sheana is a graduate of Sonoma Valley High School and attended Santa Rosa Junior College.

Tamara Dunn, Director

Tamara has worked in nonprofit management for over seven years. Before working at Hanna Boys Center she worked for the Volunteer Center of Sonoma County where she was the director of development overseeing the largest Human Race in the nation and all aspects of fundraising & public relations for the center. Before entering the nonprofit sector she was with National Bank of the Redwoods as the Assistant Vice President of Facilities.

In 2005 she participated in a Group Study Exchange hosted by Rotary International.Boards she has been a member of are First Night Santa Rosa, Sonoma County Fourth of July Celebration, Santa Rosa Downtown Market and Schools Plus. Tamara is a Sonoma County native.

Marie Lambert,Director

A fourth-generation resident of Sonoma County, Marie Lambert has lived in Sonoma Valley since she was three years old. She and her late husband have been in business in Sonoma for more than 40 years, starting with Stu Lambert Chevron on West Napa Street. Marie serves on the board of directors of the Sonoma Marin Cattlewomen Association and the California/Nevada Polled Hereford Association. She is also a graduate of the Leadership Sonoma Valley program. She has two sons and six grandchildren.

Rich Lee, Director

Rich Lee and his wife, Dr. Rhonda Stallings, have lived in Sonoma for 13 years and have owned Arroyo Veterinary Hospital since 1997. Rich has worked as the practice manager of the hospital for the last seven years after a 17-year career as a graphic designer and project manager. He oversaw the extensive renovation of the building (formerly occupied by Goodtime Bicycle) to which the business relocated in May 2002. For the past five years, he has been active in the Rotary Club of Sonoma, serving on the board of directors and participating in many of the club’s community service projects. He also is a member of the Sonoma Valley Redevelopment Advisory Committee and serves on the Springs Task Force.

Edward Roe, Director

Edward Roe, Director of Operations for the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa was appointed to the Sonoma Valley Chamber of Commerce board of directors in November, 2005. Edward joined the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa from his most recent position as Director of Rooms at the Fairmont Kea Lani Maui, which he held since November, 2002. A graduate of the Birmingham College of Food and Domestic Arts, BTEC (Birmingham, England) and Southfields College of Further Education (Leicester, England) Mr. Roe manages a staff of over 250 colleagues.

Barry Shone, Director

Barry Shone of Sonoma Market and Glen Ellen Village Market is a third generation grocer in Sonoma Valley, following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather. Barry has lived in Sonoma Valley since 1963 and graduated from high school in 1977. He is a volunteer firefighter at Glen Ellen Fire District for 18 years and very involved in the community. Barry is the father of two children, Amanda and Evan who both live in Northern California. He is proud to work, live and participate in the Sonoma Valley Community and looks forward to serving the Sonoma Valley Business Community.

Bill Vreeland, Director

Bill Vreeland is co-owner of Bonanza Ford Lincoln-Mercury. Vreeland moved to Sonoma in 1993 when his dad bought a Ford franchise carrying on a family tradition in the automotive business. He is a graduate of Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo with a degree in finance. Vreeland coaches soccer, baseball and basketball and is very active in the community. He and his business partner Gus Shubel, believe in building their business through the community first.

Jerry Wheeler, Director

I have worked at Infineon Raceway for the past four years and have learned the unique needs of a larger business; but I also have intricate knowledge of the specific challenges facing smaller businesses, because for many years I have worked with my husband to manage and grow his company. I am a past board member of the Valley of the Moon Boys & Girls Club, Sonoma Community Center and am currently a trustee for Speedway Children’s Charities. SCC has distributed over nearly $1.7 million to Sonoma County youth organizations since 2002.

STAFF

Jennifer Yankovich, Executive Director

jennifer@sonomachamber.com
Jennifer is serving her 6th year as Executive Director working with the Board of Directors to guide the Chamber's work to promote and support the Sonoma Valley business community. Jennifer was born and raised in Sonoma. She is a graduate of Sonoma Valley High School and UC Davis. Prior to the Chamber, Jennifer was the Community Development Manager for the County of Sonoma.

Kathy McKenna Perry, Executive Assistant

kathy@sonomachamber.com
A third-generation Sonoma native, Kathy Perry has been with the Sonoma Valley Chamber of Commerce since 1999 and is responsible for office management, bookkeeping, historical information, and supervision of interns. She also coordinates the Leadership Sonoma Valley program. Kathy holds a bachelor’s degree in computer science and mathematics from California State University, Sacramento.

Laurie Decker, Economic Development Project Manager

Laurie Decker, a Sonoma resident since 1993, guides the Economic Development Partnership Project, a joint program of the Sonoma Valley Chamber of Commerce, the City of Sonoma, and Sonoma County. Prior to taking on this role, Decker worked as a manager with the City of Vacaville for more than 15 years. Her wide range of responsibilities have included city-wide budget development, public information, establishment of leadership development programs, regulatory compliance, operational audits, and special project management. She has also worked for the cities of Lafayette and Sacramento, and for a management consulting firm in Washington D.C.

Yaquelin Alvarez, Community Outreach Coordinator

membership@sonomachamber.com
As the Chamber’s outreach coordinator, Yaquelin Alvarez helps members take full advantage of the many Chamber resources available for promoting their businesses, from attending Business After Hours networking events to submitting articles for Sonoma Valley Business. As a bilingual representative, she can also assist Spanish-speaking members with translating marketing materials, filling out forms, writing business briefs, and other administrative needs. She has worked at the Chamber since 2002.

Markie McNeilly, Student Intern

info@sonomachamber.com

Markie McNeilly joined the Sonoma Valley Chamber of Commerce September, 2006. A Sonoma native, she is a Junior at Sonoma Valley High. Markie is responsible for customer service, administrative functions, mailings, and e-mail inquiries.

Betty Tinsley, Volunteer

Betty Tinsley has been volunteering at the Sonoma Valley Chamber since 2003. She answers the phone in the mornings and helps with various office tasks. She is retired and has lived in Sonoma for the past eight years. A member of the Sonoma Mission Lions Club, she was previously the secretary for a maritime union in San Francisco.