Board & Staff
2008 Rancho Mirage Chamber Board
Back row from left to right: President/CEO Stuart W. Ackley, Walter Russo, Windermere Real Estate; Kristen Seddon, El Paseo Bank; Chris Jack, Black Angus Steakhouse; Missy Poirier, Red Robin Gourmet Burgers & Spirits; Andres Delgado, Las Casuelas Nuevas; Sheldon Robinson, Robinson Marketing; Bary Freet, Weil Institute of Critical Care Medicine; Colleen Charrette, CPA, CVA; Charles Townsend, Charles Townsend Collection, Treasurer Michael Crandal, Thunderbird Country Club; Vice Chairman Linda Long, Lamar Advertising Company; Chairman Art Gregoire, Windermere Real Estate; and Secretary Pat Manhart, Advanced Hearing Systems. (Not shown: Past Chairman Kathleen Hopp)
Colleen A. Charrette, CPA, CVA
Colleen has been a member of the Rancho Mirage Chamber of Commerce since 1990 when she opened her accounting practice at Bob Hope and Highway 111 where The River is now located. She has been a member of the Board of Directors since 1991 and has held all officer positions including Chairman in 1996 and 2005. Colleen is very dedicated to accomplishing the Board of Directors' goals for the Chamber, as well as setting new goals for the continued growth and success of the Chamber. In her free time, Colleen works as a race official for various organizations, plays pool in a local billiard league and walks her dogs, Cody and Lucky.
Michael Crandal, Thunderbird Country Club
Michael began his career in private club management at The Carriage Club in Kansas City, Missouri in 1973. With just a few stops along the career path, Michael accepted the offer to become Thunderbird's General Manager / Chief Operating Officer in June 2005. Prior to joining Thunderbird he was with Exmoor Country Club in Highland Park, Illinois for over 10 years. Exmoor celebrated its Centennial Year in '96 and achieved "Platinum Club of America" status during his tenure. Michael and his wife Kim were married two years ago in Chicago.
Bary Freet, Weil Institute of Critical Care Medicine
Bary is the Liaison for the Community CPR Program of the Weil Institute of Critical Care Medicine in Rancho Mirage. After 14 years working for the Federal Government in Forestry and Land Management, Bary began a career with the Palm Springs Fire Department in 1986, eventually serving as the Fire Chief for Palm Springs from 1994 until his retirement in 2004. He is a member of the Palm Springs Rotary Club and served on the Board of the Palm Springs Chamber of Commerce. Bary and his wife have been married for 33 years and have a grown son living in Las Vegas.
Art Gregoire, Windermere Real Estate
Art is a real estate agent with Windermere Real Estate. Prior to his career in real estate, he worked for over 35 years in healthcare. He was the Director of Nursing at Rancho Mirage Healthcare from 1995 - 2002. This facility was the recipient of the "E" award for Excellence during his tenure with the company. Originally from Rhode Island, Art and his partner Terry moved to the valley permanently in 1995. Art likes to give back to the community by volunteering to entertain residents at several nursing and retirement homes as "The King," Elvis Presley. Art has been a Board Director for three years, and is currently the Chairman of the Board.
Leanna Hofmann, Agua Caliente Casino
As the Director of Marketing for the Agua Caliente Casino in Rancho Mirage, Leanna oversees the advertising, marketing special events, promotions, player's club and entertainment. She started with the casino when it was first under construction seven years ago. She is very excited for the new resort to open at the casino early this year. In her spare time she enjoys visiting with her parents and watching sports.
Chris Jack, Black Angus Steakhouse
Chris moved to the Greater Palm Springs area three years ago to escape the congestion and smog of L.A. Chris was born in Oklahoma City and attended the University of Oklahoma. Chris has been working for Black Angus for almost 11 years. He rose through the ranks of Black Angus and is now the General Manager of the Rancho Mirage location. He and his wife Michelle are parents to a 2 year old daughter and a 5 year old son. Chris is currently the Secretary of the Board of Directors and has been on the Board for 1 and a half years.
Linda Long, Lamar Outdoor Advertising
Linda moved to the desert seven years ago, after a 23 year career as a stockbroker for Dean Witter/Morgan Stanley in Cleveland Ohio. Linda is married and is the mother of two daughters; her eldest recently finished Medical School and serves in the Navy in San Diego and her younger daughter is a senior at Palm Desert High School. Linda grew up in Uniontown Pennsylvania and graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a degree in Business Administration. She is married and makes her home in La Quinta.
Pat Manhart, Advanced Hearing Systems
Pat and her husband Joe have owned Advanced Hearing Systems at the Rancho Las Palmas Shopping Center for eight years. She has been serving the hearing impaired since 1959. Pat served as President of Los Angeles County's hearing aid dispenser's organization for four years and was the Vice President of the California State Association. Pat taught hearing aid dispensing at Cerritos Community College for three years and she has two children and one grandson following her footsteps in the hearing aid business. She and Joe have belonged to the Chamber of Commerce in every city they have had a business. She believes that the Chamber is the heartbeat of the City. Pat and Joe Manhart live in the Thunderbird area of Rancho Mirage.
Missy Poirier, Red Robin Gourmet Burgers & Spirits
Missy Poirier is the General Manager of the Red Robin Gourmet Burgers and Spirits restaurant in La Quinta. Born and raised in Boston, Massachusetts, Missy attended culinary arts school and took an internship with the Disney Corporation in Orlando, Florida. After her internship, she followed her parents to California and worked for a large hotel corporation in the San Diego area. She leaned management skills and learned many different cuisines while there preparing food for the seven different restaurants at the resort. She moved to the Greater Palm Springs area six years ago and has worked in restaurant management. Missy has been an active member of the Chamber of Commerce and the Restaurant Association since coming to Rancho Mirage.
Sheldon Robinson, Robinson Marketing Enterprises
Sheldon operates Robinson Marketing Enterprises, which markets products and develops property. He was formerly Senior VP for stores and Senior VP for marketing of Home Department for RH Macy Inc., where he merchandised and developed the "cellar" concept at Macy's West in San Francisco. Sheldon is a former member and Board Director of the Sacramento Chamber of Commerce and served as President of the Sacramento Downtown Merchants Association for over three years. He is a member and Past President of the Rotary Club of Rancho Mirage. Sheldon is the author of the recently published book "Wake Up America, your alarm is ringing!" He co-founded and is the CFO of the Nurses Crisis Foundation, a group formed to help solve the nursing shortage in the Coachella Valley.
Walter Russo, Windermere Real Estate
Walter Russo is a Real Estate Broker and Realtor selling real estate in the Palm Springs Valley. Walter first came to the desert in 1972 to help his parents find their retirement home. Once he spent a winter here enjoying the deserts glorious weather he could not bring himself to return to New York's harsh winters. Walter is proud to have established a reputation of specializing in residential properties all over the Coachella Valley. He believes that client satisfaction is the number one reason for being in business. Walter's success is measured by an unwavering dedication to his clients and by offering hi-tech professional and personalized service. Residing in the Coachella Valley for over 30 years, Walter has many very happy clients.
Kristen Seddon, El Paseo Bank
Kristen Seddon began her banking career over ten years ago, initially working for Valley Independent Bank and Union Bank in Palm Desert Ca. She is currently an Assistant Vice President and Branch Manager for El Paseo Bank. Ms. Seddon, who has held marketing and business development positions with the bank during the past five years, is running the banks temporary office in Rancho Mirage and will manage the new facility when it opens in early 2008. In her free time, Ms. Seddon is an experienced horsewoman winning many national championships and top world rankings riding in the American Paint Horse circuit as an amateur. She has served on the Board of Directors for Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Desert, is a member of the Desert Contractors Association and past member of Junior League.
Charles Townsend, Charles Townsend Collection
Charles Townsend has been a resident of Rancho Mirage for the past 11 years. He moved here from Pasadena where he lived and ran The Charles Townsend Collection, a furniture and accessories store for 25 years. Charles and Gordon Moller, his partner of 35 years, opened their business in Rancho Mirage seven years ago when they purchased the property for their store. Charles is a supporter of many local charities and a past Board member of the Desert Rainbow Foundation, an educational scholarship program. Charles has served as a director of the Chamber Board for the past year and a half.
2008 - 2009 Rancho Mirage Chamber Ambassadors
(left to right) Jeanne Parrish, Cheryl Starenchak, Berrylynn Freeby, Dolores Lewis, Barbara Boukather, Loretta Nelson, Terry Nelson, Monique Zinser, Joanne (Jo) Gyr, Rosemary Hartman, Eve Phillips, Marian Michela, Ann Brown, Mary Gail Mibach (not pictured: Marcus Lewis)
Rancho Mirage Chamber of Commerce Staff
Stuart W. Ackley, President/CEO
Stuart came to work as the CEO of the Rancho Mirage Chamber in June 1995 after holding the same position in the Banning Chamber for three years. A native of Green Bay, Wisconsin, he graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Broadcast Journalism. Prior to his Chamber career, Stuart spent eight years opening new restaurants and then attended the MBA program at Cardinal Stritch College in Milwaukee. A life-long musician, Stuart currently plays Euphonium in a community band and in a regional polka band. He was proud to serve on the city's last General Plan Update Commission and is currently a member of the Housing Commission. Stuart is a member and Past President of the Rotary Club of Rancho Mirage and enjoys raising basset hounds, arranging music and reading history. Email: Stuart@RanchoMirage.org
Darren Zetena, Director of Communications and Finance
Darren has been working at the Rancho Mirage Chamber since August 2003, and is the Chamber's "jack-of-all trades." He is also responsible for Special Events Coordination and Membership. Darren moved to California in 1993 after living in the metro Washington DC area for 20 years where he had a successful career in the Banking industry. He continued in Banking when he moved to San Francisco and attended San Francisco City College where he studied architecture and design. Darren moved to Palm Springs in 2000 and operated a design business for several years. He enjoys long distance running, cooking and the great outdoors. Email: Darren@RanchoMirage.org
Eve Phillips - Visitor Information & Services
Eve moved to Southern California from Chicago in 1963 and has lived in both the high and low desert. Always one to keep busy, Eve helped her husband with his insurance business and worked a variety of jobs in the real estate and resort industry for many years. Not content with retirement, she volunteered for several charity organizations and became a Chamber Ambassador 20 years ago. She began working at the Chamber when it was decided to keep the doors open on Saturdays back in 1998. Eve enjoys reading, spending time with her dachshund Pretzel and helping visitors to the Greater Palm Springs area.
