Ambassadors
The Danville Area Chamber Ambassadors are the public relations arm of the Chamber of Commerce. They help members feel welcome, provide introductions for new and existing members at public gatherings and networking meetings, engage with new businesses in the community, advocate to support the Chamber’s goals, and get people involved in Chamber functions. Their role is invaluable in increasing the value of the Danville Area Chamber of Commerce to its members.
We are proud to introduce you to your 2023 Ambassadors!
Lara George
Ambassadors Chair, Lara George Photography, Owner and Photographer
Lara has a gift for telling a story by bringing out the best in people through photos. Her photographs have been on the covers of several local & national magazines and she has traveled across domestic and international waters capturing unique stories for various corporations such as Dell, Comcast and Chevron to name a few. However her true passion and niche is working with small businesses. She provides them with quality and relevant photos that highlight the client’s energy and personality. She is currently the Ambassador Chair.
Liz Hansen
Ambassador Liaison to Board of Directors, Agent at RE/MAX
As a RE/MAX® agent, Liz Hansen is dedicated to helping her clients find the home of their dreams. Whether you are buying or selling a home or just curious about the local market, she would love to offer her support and services. She knows the local community — both as an agent and a neighbor — and can help guide you through the nuances of our local market. With access to top listings, a worldwide network, exceptional marketing strategies and cutting-edge technology, Liz will work hard to make your real estate experience memorable and enjoyable.
Scott Bigelow
Scott’s Wine Taste / Boisset Collection – Executive Director, Founding Wine Ambassador
Scott brings award-winning wines and tasting rooms from historic California and French wineries directly to you and your clients through one-of-a-kind tasting experiences – transforming Living Rooms, Board Rooms or computer screens into Wine Tasting Rooms. His mission is to change the way people taste, experience, enjoy and buy wine. Planning a corporate event or client party? Add some Wine Edutainment to the festivities with Scott as your Sommelier. Boisset Collection also offers employee and client recognition gifts with custom label wines and etched bottles all while sharing an ongoing passion for wine and the wine lifestyle.
Kim Falahati
Family Matters
Kim Falahati founded Family Matters in 2013, on the basis of offering affordable services that rejuvenate you so that you can become your best self and redirect your energy to what matters most: yourself and your family.
What Kim has gone through in her personal life, helps her personally understand being overwhelmed and the depression her clients and loved ones go through when they feel hopeless. She has experienced many deaths in her life, including the unexpected loss of her best friend of 25 years, she is her own caretaker to her senior parents, and her mother has been in and out of the hospital for the past 10 years for Monomania Tremors, Dystonia, her two brain surgery’s and for the pacemaker in her heart. It is these experiences that have helped shape Kim into the kind of caregiver to help her clients during their difficult times. By anticipating their needs and what they will be going through, Kim is able to offer hope, advice, and emotional support to help make them see the light at the end of the tunnel. What she is to her family, is what she is to all of her clients; Family Facilitator.
Valerie Howard
Val Howard Insurance Agency/Farmers
Val Howard operates a Famers Insurance Agency in downtown Danville. She and her team are committed to helping customers understand their coverage options so they can make informed decisions for their family and situation. Her office provides a wide range of insurance products including home, auto, umbrella, business and life insurance.
Val resides in Alamo with her husband Gene and has twins in college
Steve Koel
In March of 2020, Steve and his partners pivoted from their relationship with a national direct mail advertising company and developed what is now Trending Now Tri Valley We focus on 3 different areas of advertising.
This direct mail piece focuses on quality local advertising content for local businesses looking to grow mind/market-share. We mail to over 190,000 homes throughout the tri/diablo valley areas of the SF East Bay.
2a. A birthday/new mover direct mailer program focused on inviting consumers who are either new to the area, or having an upcoming birthday to personally use their business. A personal invitation mailed directly to the consumer by name is the secret sauce.
3. Digital Search based advertising focusing on Google to connect those who are searching for your business with paid for Google Ads.
For more information you can go to https://trivalley.mytrendingnow.com
Bob Landy
RNL Enterprises, Owner
Bob provides organic nutritional supplements to maintain and improve your health. Working with Nutrilite, a company that produces products from in ground seed to finished certified organic products, Bob is an advocate for the vitamins and dietary supplements. He has been an Ambassador with the chamber since 2002 and has truly enjoyed all the benefits of membership by being an active member. As an Ambassador, Bob makes himself available to all businesses for any help regarding the chamber.
Peter Larson
Lawn Doctor
Peter and David Larson are brothers who co-own The Lawn Doctor of Walnut Creek-Concord, a franchise that serves most of Contra Costa County and offers residential lawn care for fertilization, insect, fungus and weed control, aerations and grass seeding. They are committed to provide reliable communication, ensure your 100% complete satisfaction, and wonderful green grass, for your enjoyment.
David Mladinich
Loan Officer, Mason-MacDuffie
David Mladinich has been a loan officer for more than 30 years. He has worked for large banks as well as a small, family-owned mortgage brokerage. He calls Mason-McDuffie Mortgage his home because it’s the best culture that he’s been a part of.
A truly “great” mortgage company means that operations, underwriting, and sales are all aligned and working together towards a common goal. Mason-McDuffie is the only company that David has ever worked with where all three departments are world-class and all three are truly working together.
The team mentality at Mason-McDuffie holds everyone accountable andensures that everyone has a voice. This is what sets the company apart. The company is large enough to compete with the larger players, but small enough to make changes when necessary. At Mason-McDuffie, we are improving the financial lives of our employees, our clients, and our business partners.
Thinking of refinancing or purchasing a home? David will help you understand your financing options so you can make informed decisions. And if you’re a builder or real estate agent, connect with David to help your clients secure financing to build or buy a home.
Contact David by Cell at 925-997-5230, Email at Dmladinich@masonmac.com or www.David4loans.comto get started today.
Melonie Pederson
MP Custom Woodworking, Owner and Chief Craftswoman
Specializing in custom furniture, doors and more. Melonie’s pieces are “Built for your style and space”. Whether it be a special sized table, desk, shelf, or something larger like a barn door, she can build it. MP Custom Woodworking’s clients range from individuals, realtors, interior designers, small businesses, to corporations. People come to Melonie with just an idea or a picture and she brings their vision to fruition. Give her a hammer and a piece of wood, and she can make anything.
Rica Ruiz
Rica Ruiz finds real estate truly utilizes all her gifts in her mission to serve others. Rica’s client-centered approach delivers outstanding service, whether you’re selling your home, buying a home or downsizing. Her knowledge, experience, and thoroughness help clients think strategically and holistically about real estate decisions.
Rica is an expert negotiator. Problems are just roadblocks, and through skill, experience and perseverance, Rica finds routes around to help her clients arrive at their end goal.
With three decades of sales experience, Rica continues to hone her skills for the betterment of her clients. She sought and received her Broker’s License, Seniors Real Estate Specialist Designation (SRES) and the Short Sales and Foreclosure Resource (SFR) certification from the National Association of Realtors (NAR). A firm believer that no one succeeds alone, Rica has retained a business coach for over 10 years in her commitment to sharpen her skills and master her craft to better serve others. She is the go-to resource for all her client’s real estate needs.
Turner Stanton
Turner Stanton provides a refreshing blend of professional experience with a deep passion for community. Turner works with Deloitte Consulting in the Salesforce.com practice focused on strategy development, change management, and digital transformation. He provides his professional experiences coupled with an active feet on the street focus to the Danville Area community aimed at supporting small businesses adapt and thrive. There is no challenge or business obstacle Turner would not be interested in rolling his sleeves up and helping find the best solution shoulder to shoulder with you!
Joe Tagupa
Realtor®, Broker Associate
Realty ONE Group Future
Serving all cities in the East Bay area and beyond, Joe loves helping Buyers get into the home of their dreams and Sellers get top dollar for their properties. He Counsels his clients simply but extensively, always Advocates and Negotiates to their advantage, and Works tirelessly to ease a process that can be intimidating, complicated and stressful. His caring, optimistic and often humorous approach, along with a relentless attention to details and easy communication style, allows Joe to effectively serve his clients and formfriendships and relationships that will last a lifetime.
HE LOVES WHAT HE DOES!
