Ron Banasik,
Chairman of the Board
Eagle Vine Realty

Dan Donahue,
Chair-Elect
Vallejo Insurance Associates

Brian Farmer,
Chief Financial Officer
Farmers Insurance

Larry Kudrna,
Immediate Past-Chairman
Larry's Custom Truck Toppers

2009 Division Vice-Chairs

Beth Marcus,
Community Development Division
West America Bank

Dan Donahue,
Vice Chair Government Relations
Vallejo Insurance Associates

Vincent “Buzz” Butler,
Economic Development Division
Lake Street Ventures LLC

2009 Directors

Mark Joseph,
Personal Membership

Pat Caldwell,
Umpqua Bank

Rex Stults,
Napa Valley Vintners

Kay Eardley,
Holiday Inn Express

Elisabeth Frater,
Gravett & Frater

Don Callison,
Sir Speedy of Napa Valley

Brenda Knight,
Brenda Knight & Associates

Mike Sellick,
Wal*Mart, American Canyon

Sharon Somogyi,
Boys & Girls Clubs of Napa Valley

David R. York,
D.R.Y. CPA

Chamber Staff

Pam Wilkinson, President / CEO

Loretta Aitchison, Chamber Staff

Ray Marcus, Staff Photographer

About the Chamber

Unlike the other Chambers in the County, the American Canyon Chamber is only 12 years old. The chamber was run in its early years by a dedicated group of volunteers. The first Executive Director came on board in 1998 with a total of 60 members. The chamber grew larger and stronger. The chamber changed leadership in April of 2007. Today we boast a solid membership of 340. Our Chamber office has relocated and doubled its size adding meeting space and a brighter future. It seems our Chamber is keeping up with the growth of our city!

The mission of the American Canyon Chamber of Commerce is to promote, preserve and strengthen the prosperity of our membership and the community.

The American Canyon Chamber subscribes to the following core competencies as defined by the western states professional association:

• Creating a strong local economy
• Promoting the community
• Providing networking opportunities
• Representing the interests of business with government through political action

In February 2008, in order to help create a stronger local economy, the chamber formed a “Member 2 Member” program that when used, grants a stated discount for services to fellow chamber members. Our program also emphasizes a “shop local whenever possible” mantra. The Napa Junction Project brought us our first big box retail, a Wal*Mart Superstore. As a result of that project, it’s much easier for the people of our community to stay in American Canyon for goods and services.

As recently as September 27, 2008 the Chamber, along with eight other American Canyon Non-Profits joined forces to orchestrate the “First Annual Music Festival” as a collaborative community outreach program. The purpose of the festival was to provide a safe place for families to enjoy themselves, enjoy great food, drinks and the arts with neighbors, and to educate our community as to the purpose of each of the participating organizations involved. The festival was host to five local bands featuring everything from a 40 piece Big Band to Western style music, our American Canyon Middle School Band, the “First Ladies Hula Dancers”, an eight year old rapper and so much more.

Our membership makes the most of networking opportunities! Member businesses volunteer their office space and, with the help of a strong Ambassador Program, the chamber provides 12 monthly networking mixers a year. These mixers continue to attract more attendees each month; just when you think the last one was a show-stopper, the next month rolls around and everyone is amazed once again!

As of November of 2007, our chamber is building a Governmental Affairs Committee (GAC). The ultimate focus of our GAC is to influence governmental policies, programs and regulations to enhance the business climate in our community. Our strategy is to analyze proposed local, state and federal legislation, regulations and ordinances. We will research and advocate for new or revised programs or legislation to improve, not burden, local business. Although new, we have studied and taken positions on measures, sent questionnaires to candidates and posted the results, hosted forums and interviews and through various mediums advised the public of the outcome.

With the help and support of the business community and our community at large, the American Canyon Chamber of Commerce is becoming a quality resource that can be counted on. We measure our success by our growing membership and community support.

On Our Horizon…

Incorporated in 1992, the City of American Canyon is already the 2nd largest City in Napa County. In April 2008, Fortune Small Business Magazine listed American Canyon 11th in the Nation for the “Best Places to Live and Launch a Business”.

After 18 months of negotiations the City and the County of Napa decided on a new Urban Limit Line for American Canyon. Now that we have defined boundaries, we are able to create a new vision for our community; we are finally able to look ahead.

Renderings of the Town Center Project

It’s been a long range goal for American Canyon to have a Town Center, a distinct area that would represent a true sense of community. Thanks to a dedicated group of citizens and McGrath Properties, our dreams are about to become a reality. The project envisions a vibrant mixed use community that will include a mixture of various types of densities of residential development, along with civic, commercial and retail as well as visitor-serving and hospitality uses.

It’s been a long range goal for American Canyon to have a Town Center, a distinct area that would represent a true sense of community. Thanks to a dedicated group of citizens and McGrath Properties, our dreams are about to become a reality. The project envisions a vibrant mixed use community that will include a mixture of various types of densities of residential development, along with civic, commercial and retail as well as visitor-serving and hospitality uses.

Rendering of the new American Canyon High School

American Canyon, high school students will no longer have to go outside of their own community to attend high school. As of 2010, that will change. The Napa Valley School District hired the architectural firm of Quattrocchi and Kwok to create a state of the art high school. The ground was broken for the American Canyon High School earlier this year. The school will be organized around the concept of small learning communities to ensure that students have a sense of belonging and are known by teachers and administrators who are capable of offering personalized academic and emotional support. This high school will also be a satellite for Napa College, house a mini theater with full media equipment for presentations, swimming pool, tennis courts, ball fields, locker rooms, etc.