2024-2025
Executive Board of Directors
John Neiuber, Trinity Youth Services
(Chair)
John Neiuber is the Chief Executive Officer of Trinity Youth Services. He leads an agency of 350 employees that serves over 500 children and families daily through residential treatment services, mental health programs, a foster care agency and adoption services. John earned his BA and MA degrees from CSUSB. He is a veteran and received the Army Commendation Medal. John was a teacher, assistant principal, principal, and district office administrator in the public schools, and a management and leadership consultant to public agencies and private industry. He is the former CEO of Advanced Education Services, establishing and operating nonpublic and charter schools. He became the COO of Trinity in 2002 and CEO in 2005. John was recognized by the Center for Entrepreneurship as the winner of the Social Entrepreneur of the Year in 2016. He is an active volunteer in his community, serving on city and county commissions, and currently focuses his efforts on historic preservation and the arts.
trinityys.org
Joshua Merry, California Bank & Trust
(Chair of the Board-Elect)
Creative and business savvy sales and management professional with over 12 years of progressive experience across a broad range of financial industry functions and varied industry segments.
Commercial Banking Center Branch Manager at Claremont's California Bank & Trust since September 2017.
Bruno Windegger, Saca’s Mediterranean Cuisine (Treasurer)
A resident of Claremont for 21 years, Bruno and Nathalie acquired Saca’s Mediterranean Cuisine in 2014 with the ambition to develop and grow the Saca’s brand. Prior to working in the food industry, Bruno worked for 25 years for a large Corporation in Consumer Goods, where he headed the International Division. In that role, he built and run a global network of professional distributors, set up and managed sales, marketing and logistics centers on all 5 continents. As Head of the Corporate Marketing Division, Bruno was also responsible for protecting and growing the brand globally through advertising, social media and public relations.
gotosacas.com
Andrew Behnke, DoubleTree by Hilton Claremont (Member-At-Large)
Andrew Behnke is General Manager of the DoubleTree By Hilton Claremont and also Vice President of their property management company since 2006. He has been a hospitality executive for over 24 years.
Andrew was born and raised in Minneapolis, Minnesota and has lived in Georgia, Washington D.C. and Fairbanks, Alaska. He is a decorated veteran having served 9 years in the Army during the Gulf War Era and received his education from the University of Minnesota, Georgetown University and Wayland Baptist University. While in the Army he had the notable distinction of serving in the Presidential Honor Guard and Assistant to the President Escort Officer for the inauguration of President George HW Bush.
Andrew is a community and business advocate in the region and belongs to 4 different chambers of commerce. He has served two terms as Board Chair for the Claremont Chamber. Andrew is very active business advocate and has a firm belief that business has an obligation to make the community a better one for all.
His hobbies include Ice Hockey and fishing. He is married to his beautiful wife Sonja. Andrew currently resides in Upland.
doubletreeclaremont.com
Board of Directors
Brett Strauss, Southland Data Processing
Brett R. Strauss, Esq. is the Director of Compliance at Southland Data Processing (“SDP”) in Upland, CA. He has been with SDP since 2010 and specializes in consulting with employers to find cost effective solutions to comply with California and Federal employment regulations.
Mr. Strauss is a graduate of the Eller College of Management at the University of Arizona and earned his J.D. from the University of La Verne College of Law. He is also a proud member of the Labor & Employment Section of the State Bar of California.
Mr. Strauss also serves on the Board of the West Inland Empire Employer Advisory Council and as the Assistant Regional Commissioner for Claremont AYSO. He and his wife Julie reside in Claremont, CA with their two children; Scarlett and Jameson.
sdppayroll.com
Colin Tudor, The Claremont Colleges
Colin Tudor serves The Claremont Colleges (TCC) as Secretary to the TCC Board and Assistant Vice President of Community Relations. Colin provides executive management support and research assistance to the TCC Board of directors and Council of The Claremont Colleges. Through is community relations efforts Colin works to strengthen relationships and build partnerships within the city of Claremont, the broader Claremont community, and the local region.
Prior to joining TCCS, Colin held various roles with the City of Claremont including serving as the assistant city manager from 2012 through February of 2019. In this capacity, he was responsible for city-wide day to day operations, policy development and analysis for the city council, committees, and the city manager. Colin was directly responsible for the city’s administrative services department including personnel, city clerk, information technology, risk management, and public information. He has worked collaboratively with other regional organizations to collaborate on critical initiatives, including the Foothill Gold Line Extension, the Los Angeles County Emergency Medical Services Commission, and the Amgen Tour of California 2011 Stage 7 Start. Colin has also worked extensively with local community groups on a variety of initiatives. Colin grew up in Claremont and graduated from Claremont McKenna College with a B.A. in philosophy and psychology. He also holds a master’s degree in public administration from the University of La Verne.
claremont.edu
Sal Medina, Mayor, City of Claremont
Silviano “Sal” Medina is serving his first term on the Claremont City Council (November 2020- November 2024). A naturalized citizen, Sal was born in Jalisco, Mexico and raised in Azusa, California. After transferring with an Associate’s degree from Citrus College, Sal earned a Bachelor’s in Political Science and Master’s degrees in Education from the University of La Verne.
Post college, Mayor Pro Tem Medina worked with Martin Gallegos in the 57th Assembly District. He was later called to educate and coach for 7 years at Monrovia High School. His next adventure was in wine and hospitality. Sal, along with his wife EV, have owned and operated Packing House Wines since 2007, a restaurant and wine shop in the Claremont Packing House. As a lifelong educator and learner, he continues to study wine and mentors his staff to grow and develop their wine knowledge, expanding their professional opportunities.
With great pride, Packing House Wines was named the Claremont Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year in 2007, and in 2014, was a finalist for the 41st Assembly District Business of the Year by Assemblyman Chris Holden’s office. In 2017, Congresswoman Judy Chu presented Sal with a Congressional Recognition as the Business Person of the Year (East) for the 27th District. Most recently, Sal was recognized as a Distinguished Alumni by Citrus College in 2019.
Mayor Medina is deeply rooted in the community and involved in numerous organizations, serving as a Claremont Chamber of Commerce Board Member from 2010-2017 and Chairman from 2015-2016. Sal has been active with the University of La Verne Alumni Association, Assemblyman Chris Holden’s Small Business Advisory Committee (SBA), and the California SBA Advisory Committee.
When he is not working or studying, Mayor Medina and EV enjoy traveling and spending time with family and friends.
ci.claremont.ca.us
Emily Moultrie, Claremont Craft Ales
Claremont Craft Ales was started in 2012 by husband and wife team Simon Brown and Emily Moultrie, along with the help of their cousins and business partners, Brian and Natalie Seffer.
Gabriela Portugal, Portugal Insurance Agency
Gabriela has been a part of our Chamber since 2017 & is an active Chamber Ambassador. She is a bilingual (English & Spanish), local Farmers® insurance agent with over 10 years of expericence. Gabriela specializes in auto, home, renters, business insurance, and more. She helps her community members identify the insurance coverage that best fits their needs. CA License #: 0D85073
Pat Herrero CEO/Co- Founder of Financially EPIC Education | Property | Income | Community
Every morning, for over a decade, Pat especially loves starting the day by hiking Claremont Hills Wilderness Park with friends, and basking in the natural beauty.
Pat has had the privilege of living in Claremont for over 30 years, and believes it’s been the best place to raise her two daughters. She has served as a volunteer school nurse at the now closed Children’s School at Claremont McKenna College, innumerous school fund-raising committees, and as the parent liaison of The Raymond M. Alf Museum of Paleontology at The Webb Schools.
Pat and her business partners/daughters successfully invest in real estate utilizing the Creative Acquisition, Notes, Buy & Hold and New Build strategies. Together, they've established long lasting value in neighborhoods ranging from her Claremont home, around SoCal, over the Pacific Ocean to Hawaii, and across the U.S.A. to the East Coast, all while enjoying an adventurous journey.
After serving 30 years in nursing— specializing in Hospice, Pat strongly believes that her most critical work is connecting individuals to life-enhancing, innovative financial literacy education, invaluable resources and step-by-step support, continuing her lifelong passion of serving others.
Pat is honored and grateful to serve on the Claremont Chamber of Commerce Board so that we may solve challenges and empower our community of entrepreneurs and residents alike for the benefit of all concerned.
Dr. Jim Elsasser, Superintendent of Schools and Secretary to the Board of Education of the Claremont Unified School District (CUSD)
After a successful eight and one-half years at CUSD, Dr. Elsasser joined the Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District as their superintendent on January 1, 2021. In July 2022, Dr. Elsasser returned to Claremont Unified School District – a District that under his leadership pioneered a multitude of strategic initiatives, community partnerships, and professional development activities that positively impacted student learning and earned unprecedented recognition for the District. In 2017, Dr. Elsasser was named Region 15 Superintendent of the Year by the Association of California School Administrators for his visionary leadership and student-centered work.
Dr. Elsasser is an active member of several professional organizations including the Education Research Development Institute (ERDI); National Center for Education Research and Technology (NCERT); Suburban School Superintendents (SSS); Association of California School Administrators (ACSA); the Dean’s Superintendents’ Advisory Group for the Rossier School of Education at the University of Southern California, and a member of the Southern California Superintendents organization.
Dr. Elsasser lives in Anaheim with his wife, Lori. In their free time, they enjoy traveling and spending time with their adult children: Corey and his wife Emma, Brooke, and Nicholas.
Shirley Garrison, Maison Garrison
Graduated with a major in business and languages in Leuven, Belgium. First generation immigrant and proud business owner in Claremont, CA.
Fashion has always been a passion since childhood, traveling throughout Europe going to all the fashion shows from major fashion houses. Now bringing the best European styles to our own village here in Claremont, CA.
Matt Zertuche, Paymintz Processing & Payroll
Matt Zertuche joined our Chamber in early 2022 & quickly joined as one of our our Ambassadors. Full bio to come...
Stephanie King, Ontario International Airport
In 2015, received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of California, Riverside. Received their Master of Public Administration from California State University, San Bernardino in the fall of 2021.
After 6 years of working in county government, she transitioned to a position as the Community Engagement Manager at the Ontario International Airport.
Tasha Bell, Fit Rituals Studio
Co-owner of Fit Rituals Studio a boutique fitness studio that offers an eclectic collection of small group classes, Tasha has a passion for helping people and giving back to the community. With a successful 30-year career in Property and Investment Management, for the last 20+ years Tasha has directed and overseen the operation of Pacific Diversified Management, spearheading acquisitions, and overseeing the team that handles the daily operations of the $450 million asset portfolio. Her partnership at the studio along with being the early morning coach is a perfect outlet and allows her to couple her love of fitness with her love of giving back and helping people.
Ambassadors
Ambassador Committee Chair
Matt Zertuche - Paymintz
Chamber Office
Randy Lopez, CEO
Randy Lopez, CEO was the recent chair of the Chamber Board before taking over his current role as CEO. Prior to that he was the Founder and "Chief Instigator" of The Jake Agency, an innovative full-service brand agency. Known as a creative thinker and brand visionary, he has held marketing executive leadership roles in brands such as TGI Friday’s, Arnold Palmer Golf Management, VP of Marketing for both Buca di Beppo and Del Taco. Additionally, he has developed brand strategies and led the advertising account teams for such clients as Toshiba Medical, Tommy Bahama, Robbins Bros., Coco's, Acapulco Restaurants, and Wolfgang Puck. As a brand and marketing strategist, Randy still speaks to national and local group audiences on brand building and best practices. A 20+ year Stage 4 Cancer survivor, he is also a board member of the Colon Cancer Coalition based in Minneapolis and has appeared as a national spokesperson for cancer awareness. Randy is a founding board member of Ophelia’s Jump as well a current member of the CTEC Hospitality/Culinary Advisory Committee.
Shannon Soran, Executive Director of Events & Marketing
Shannon graduated from University of Redlands in Redlands, CA where they received a BA degree in Graphic Design and minor in Marketing. Shannon is a creative and driven professional with over seven years of experience in design, marketing, and event coordinating. They have consulted with many country clubs, medical professionals, and small businesses of Southern California to promote their organization and events in the digital marketing landscape.
They taught comedy improv to neurodiverse children for four years and did comedy in LA for a couple of years. Shannon has designed board games and is passionate about board games giving neurodiverse children and adults an opportunity to socialize in a safe space while having wholesome fun and aiding in critical thinking and social skills. During Shannon's free time, they like to study astronomy, illustrate, write scifi, and program and write code for video games.
Natalia Estrada, Office Manager
Natalia is a dynamic, forward-thinking business professional with over 7 years of experience in the hospitality industry. Natalia on an ongoing basis helps fundraise & garner donations for several non-profits, i.e., Starts With One Today, The Precious Dreams Foundations, Lotus House Women’s Shelter, and organizations who aim to assist women, men, teens and children experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles and Miami counties. She brings a passion for building relationships to the Chamber and her love for Southern California outdoors. Natalia attended Barry University in Miami Shores, where she received formal training in Business Management and Marketing.
Headshots provided by Sonja Stump Photography