Economic Development & Advocacy Advisory Council

The Economic Development & Advocacy Advisory Council works with elected officials, community leaders, Chamber Members, topic experts, and other organizations to shape policies that help promote business creation, sustainability, and growth.

Areas of focus include

  • Employment
  • Business and Industry Retention
  • Housing and Living Costs
  • Environmental Regulations, and
  • Workforce Development

Advisory Council Members are responsible for discussing and deciding, by vote, the official position adopted by the Chamber regarding the different public issues that affect businesses and workers in San Diego.

For more information about getting involved with Economic Development & Advocacy, contact Sophia Hernandez.

Please click a meeting date on the right to register. Registration is required. 

All Chamber Members and their employees are invited to join the meetings and participate in the discussion.

Meeting Dates


Advisory Council Co-Chairs

Joe Britton
Senior Public Affairs Manager
San Diego Gas & Electric

Eileen Gaffen
President
Steres Gaffen Media

Advisory Council Members

Kristen Amicone
Director of Intergenerational Programs
San Diego Oasis

Laura Bashore
Career Coach/Founder
Anew Resume and Career Services

DeAndrea Brazel
Employee Benefits Advisor
Benefit Pro Insurance Services

Dolores Canizales
Career Education Specialist
Poway Unified School District

Sali Coleman
IT Consultant

Wendy DeCesare
California Area Manager
Hire Heroes USA

Chip Dykes
Director of Community Development
Frontwave Credit Union

Chuck Gourley
Owner
Market Smart Media

Samara Hakim
President
CulturGrit, LLC

Natahlie Halcrow
Cofounder, Client Manager
Gearbox Websites

Widney Hawthorne
Business Consultant
CoAdvantage

Joni Iglinski
Director of Academic Affairs
University of Phoenix

Patricia Lamparella
Financial Advisor
Prudential Financial

Amy Lanci
Communication Consultant
Untold Stories Enterprises

Antonia Luna
Senior Vice President, Support Services and Branch Network
California Coast Credit Union

Neil McCarthy
Senior Tax Manager
LB Advisors

Leila Naderi
Director of Partnership Development
Alliant International University

Mike Nagy
Public Affairs Manager
Southern California Rental Housing Association

Fred Nasseri
Owner/President/CEO
Unicorn Jewelry & Watch Boutique

John O'Reilly
Owner & Founder
O'Reilly Wealth Advisors

Christian Plotegher
President
Inter Capital Network

Sanjiv Prabhakaran
President & CEO
Bytes, Inc.

Edward Schwarz
Senior Vice President
Merrill Lynch

Shawn Stout Jough
CEO and Principal HR Consultant
Strategic HR Advisory

Tony Teravainen
CEO & Co-Founder
Support the Enlisted Project

Evan Wahl
Director, Project Management & Site Strategy
Catalent Pharma Solutions - San Diego

Brad Weber
Publisher & CEO
Local Umbrella Media

Disclaimer: Portions of this program may be filmed and/or photographed. By attending, you consent to its unrestricted use, as deemed appropriate by North San Diego Business Chamber. Click here to see our complete Notice of Filming and Photography.