2010 Carmel Valley Board of Directors
Meet your Board
Randi Andrews, Avant Garden and Home – 2010 President
Randi and Jeffrey Andrews opened Avant Garden and Home in 2003. With an interior design back ground and a love for the unusual. www.avantgardenart.com was born. The next logical step was the retail business. So together, they opened the doors and just smile each and every day. Randi has lived in “The Valley” for over 26 years. She and her husband are a part of the Carmel Valley as much as it is a part of them. Randi joined the Carmel Valley Chamber of Commerce Board in 2004 because she feels it is her chance to give back to the business community.
Nick Elliott, Holman Ranch — Vice President
Nick was born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and moved to Monterey County in 2005 with his wife Hunter Lowder. He graduated from Philadelphia’s Creative and Performing Arts School and did a summer program at the CIA in NY. Nick has worked in the hospitality industry for 15 years, including management positions with several entertainment companies both here in Monterey County and on the east coast. In 2006, his family purchased and refurbished the historic Holman Ranch where they plan to continue and preserve the rich history of Carmel Valley. Most recently Nick has been working with Paradise Catering, Carmel Valley’s most established caterer and long time member of the Chamber as their Director of Operations. Since 2005 Nick has held a seat on MCCVB’s membership committee and represented the committee on their board in 2006. Nick also volunteers for MCHA, MCCVB, the Junior League of Monterey County and the SPCA when he is not spending time with his wife and son Max.
Shelley Aliotti, Carmel Valley Art Association @ Valley Girls Gallery— Marketing Director
Shelley was born and raised in Carmel, California and lives with her husband John of 33 years. Together they raised their two sons and daughters who have given them the joy of six grandchildren. Shelley is an artist, designer, illustrator, author, executive producer and business owner. In 2003, she opened Valley Girls Gallery in Carmel Valley Village and created a place where local artists can showcase their art. With Shelley’s passion for the artist community she and other artists began, Carmel Valley Art Association®. Shelley is a published author and illustrator of “MY PEN PAL SCRAPBOOK”, An Educational Journey Through World Cultures ©1996, Shelley is now wearing a new hat asExecutive Producer of Pen Pal Kids, a demo/pilot for a children's video/T.V. series based on her book. She is very excited to complete this dream.
Jeffrey Andrews, Proprietor of Driving Sounds — Co-Membership Director
You don't need to go to a “big box store” for auto stereo, GPS mapping or cellular systems; Driving Sounds conveniently comes to your office or home. What started as a hobby became a career 36 years ago. Jeffrey started in the field when Cassette was battling 8 tracks and a CD was something you invested in, computers took up a whole building. Now, your car unlocks and starts as you approach it, seats move in to adjust to the individual driver and you talk to your car and it talks back. Paper maps are a thing of the past and Superman can't even find a phone booth to change in.
Driving sounds is a one man show. Jeffrey touted the slogan “let the professionals come to you” since 1987. He has guides you through selection, flawless installation and finally a thorough education of your automotive system. GPS, Blue tooth cellular communication and auto stereo systems.
When you can't find Jeffrey wearing his Driving Sounds hat, he is either promoting or defending Carmel Valley or helping at Avant Garden and Home. His wife, Randi sometimes lets him think that he is good at merchandising. After 35 years with his wife, Jeffrey still makes a good recycling Run.
Jeffrey Andrews, Proprietor of Driving Sounds — Membership Director
You don't need to go to a“big box store” for auto stereo, GPS mapping or cellular systems;
Driving Sounds conveniently comes to your office or home. What started as a hobby became a career
36 years ago. I started in the field when Cassette was battling 8 tracks and a CD was something
you invested in, computers took up a whole building. Now, your car unlocks and starts as you approach
it, Seats move in to adjust to the individual driver and you talk to your car and it talks back.
Paper maps are a thing of the past and Superman can't even find a phone booth to change in.
Driving sounds is a one man show. I've touted the slogan “let the professionals come to yo” since 1987. I guide you through selection, flawless installation and finally a thorough education of your automotive system. GPS, Blue tooth cellular communication and auto stereo systems.
When you can't find me wearing my Driving Sounds hat, I'm either promoting or defending Carmel Valley or helping at Avant Garden and Home. Randi sometimes lets me think I'm good at merchandising. After 35 years with her I still make a good recycling Run.
Chris Bahrami, Rio Grill Restaurant — Community Relations Director
Chris Bahrami is General Manager and Partner of the Rio Grill Restaurant, located at the mouth of Carmel Valley. Chris has been a resident of Carmel since 2002 with his wife, Susanna, and their two kids, Anders (4 years) and Mary (3 years). Chris’ background includes a Bachelors degree in Management Information Systems (MIS) from San Jose State University, as well as experience managing complex IT (Information Technologies) systems for a Bay Area telecommunications firm and a Japanese hardware manufacturer. Chris takes a “roll up your sleeves” approach and works hard to instill this philosophy in his employees. Chris believes firmly in promoting the Monterey Bay Area, and he enjoys telling his customers about the many special things this area has to offer. When Chris is not “working the floor” he likes to spend time with his family, enjoying the beautiful parks, beaches and sights of Monterey County.
Steve Henry, Associated Hosts, Inc. — Co-Event Director
Born and raised in Southern California, Steve relocated to the Monterey Peninsula in 1993 after a 19 year career in the telecommunications industry. Steve was immediately drawn to the hospitality industry and began his career working for USA Hosts, a local Destination Management Company (DMC) in Monterey. In 1995 he took a position with another DMC where he managed the sales team and ran the local office. In 2001 Steve founded Steve Henry & Associates and began building a successful business of his own. In 2005 Steve had a homecoming of sorts when he and his business partner Baird Pittman purchased the USA Hosts Monterey office and created Associated Hosts, Inc. Largely viewed as the premiere Destination Management Company in the area, Associated Hosts provides precise transportation arrangements, memorable site-seeing tours, exciting recreational activities, unique theme party design, off property dinners and events, full meeting planning services, unique entertainment needs, and hotel selection for corporate and association groups visiting the Monterey Peninsula.
Steve Henry, Associated Hosts, Inc.— Co-Event Director
Born and raised in Southern California, Steve relocated to the Monterey Peninsula in 1993
after a 19 year career in the telecommunications industry. Steve was immediately drawn to the hospitality
industry and began his career working for USA Hosts, a local Destination Management Company (DMC)
in Monterey. In 1995 he took a position with another DMC where he managed the sales team and ran
the local office. In 2001 Steve founded Steve Henry & Associates and began building a successful
business of his own. In 2005 Steve had a homecoming of sorts when he and his business partner Baird
Pittman purchased the USA Hosts Monterey office and created Associated Hosts, Inc. Largely viewed
as the premiere Destination Management Company in the area, Associated Hosts provides precise transportation
arrangements, memorable site-seeing tours, exciting recreational activities, unique theme party
design, off property dinners and events, full meeting planning services, unique entertainment needs,
and hotel selection for corporate and association groups visiting the Monterey Peninsula.
Linda Jacobs, Casa Del Soul — Co-Event Director
Linda has a rich history in Hospitality. Born and raised in California, she launched her career in Omaha, Nebraska and with the help of partners they built, owned and operated 2 award winning themed restaurants. On return to California, she found herself involved both in the Airline Industry and, later, hotels in the SF Bay Area. 1981 was the year she arrived on the Monterey Peninsula and immediately went to work at The Lodge at Pebble Beach where she was under the tutelage of our beloved Daniel Barduzzi. Retail was a leap of faith in 2005 and she's never
looked back particularly after winning Retail Shop of the Year in 2009 for her store, Casa Del Soul located in Carmel Valley Village . Linda looks forward to assist in promoting Carmel Valley.
Mike Terry, Los Laureles Lodge — Co-Director of Government Affairs
General Manager and partner of Los Laureles Lodge, Mike his wife Leslie and their crazy dog Berlin came to Carmel Valley in June of 2000 after the Terry family partnership purchased Carmel Valley’s Historic Lodge and Restaurant. From the beginning Mike and Les recognized they needed to become part of the community of Carmel Valley for themselves and Los Laureles Lodge. They immediately moved to the village and began meeting people and becoming involved with community events.
Chamber History:
October 2000 Daniel Barduzzi invited Mike to become a director of the Carmel Valley Chamber of Commerce. In January 2002 Mike became Treasure of the Carmel Valley Chamber of Commerce. With the help of the 2002 board of directors, Mike and the board successfully brought the chamber out of financial debt. Mike served as the Chamber board president for the years of 2004 and 2005.
Before the Lodge Career History:
From 1995 – June 2000 Mike was the Financial Manager and Controller of Eagle Eaton Leonard a public manufacturing company located in Carlsbad California. Eagle Eaton Leonard manufactured CNC tube bending machines for Ford, Volvo, GM, Airbus and Boeing. Everybody has some kind of product in their everyday life these machines produced. For example, Eaton Leonard machines produce almost all exhaust systems for Ford, General Motors and Toyota. And for you golfers look at the frames holding the roof on the golf carts, all those tubes were once straight.
Managing Director
Elizabeth Vitarisi Suro
Email: elizabeth@carmelvalleychamber.com
