The Catalina Island Chamber of Commerce held their annual Installation of Officers Dinner on Thursday, July 11, at the M Restaurant. Past chairman of the Board Rock Gosselin, of the Catalina Laundry and The Avalon Hotel, handed over the gavel to Kevin Strege, of Catalina Island Vacation Rentals and Real Estate.
As Gosselin stepped down, he thanked his fellow Board members and Chamber staff for a great year and wished the new Chair well in the upcoming year.
The Catalina Island Chamber of Commerce held their annual Installation of Officers Dinner on Thursday, July 11, at the M Restaurant. Past chairman of the Board Rock Gosselin, of the Catalina Laundry and The Avalon Hotel, handed over the gavel to Kevin Strege, of Catalina Island Vacation Rentals and Real Estate.
As Gosselin stepped down, he thanked his fellow Board members and Chamber staff for a great year and wished the new Chair well in the upcoming year.
During the meeting portion of the dinner, the Catalina Island Chamber of Commerce awarded a Catalina organization the Harvey Cowell Business of the Year.
This award was established in honor of Harvey Cowell, one of the original founders of the Catalina Chamber and recognizes an extraordinary contribution by a business to the furtherance of tourism to Avalon and Catalina Island.
Last year’s recipient, Catalina Express, represented by Elaine Vaughan, presented this year’s Cowell award to Catalina Island Vacation Rentals for continually donating to, advertising for, and sponsoring events on the Island. Accepting the award on behalf of the company was Kevin Strege.
That same night, Steve Snyder of the California Chamber of Commerce gave the Catalina Island Chamber of Commerce a President’s Circle award to Wayne Griffin for “Outstanding Achievement as an Advocacy Partner and in Helping Businesses Comply with California Labor Laws.” Griffin is president and CEO of the Catalina Chamber.
The President’s Circle award was presented to 27 chambers statewide this year, making the Catalina Island Chamber in the top 10 percent of Chambers.
As the new Catalina Island Chamber chairman of the Board for 2013-14, Stege said he was looking forward to his year as Chair.
“It’s an exciting time for the Island and I’m looking forward to a leadership role in the community,” said Stege.
Stege’s new Executive Committee consists of: Bill Paige, Leo’s Catalina Drug Store, chair-elect; Juliet Walters, Catalina By Design, vice chair-marketing; Cinde Casside, Catalina Business Services, chief financial officer; Rock Gosselin, The Avalon Hotel, immediate past chair; and Wayne Griffin, Catalina Island Chamber, secretary. Other board members for 2013-14 include Leslie Boutillier, Two Harbors Enterprises; Steve Bray, Steve’s Steakhouse; Brittani Brisacher, Santa Catalina Island Company; Mark Costello, Abe’s Liquor Store; Michael de Marsche, Catalina Island Museum; David Howell, Island Navigation; John King, Afishinados; Pat Maxwell, Catalina Island Conservancy; Ray McKewon, Xceptional Music Company; Gregg Miller, Hotel Metropole; Denise Radde, city of Avalon; Elaine Vaughan, Catalina Express and Conrado Vega, Catalina Auto & Bike Rentals.
Incorporated in 1949, the Chamber has been promoting Avalon and Catalina Island for over 60 years.
A membership of over 240 businesses and individuals involved in the hospitality industry serve the needs of the island’s visitors.
The mission of the Catalina Island Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau is to contribute to the economic development of Avalon and all of Catalina Island by selling and marketing Avalon and Catalina Island as a year-round destination, and to advocate the interests of business members on Catalina Island.
While performing the functions of both a Chamber and a Visitors Bureau, the organization’s primary role is that of the community’s only private, non-profit destination marketing organization.
