Los Gatos Weekly-Times

Chairing Chamber: Kent Cooper

Town Chamber plans future with a base of 150 members

By Dale Bryant

Kent Cooper, chairman of Cooper & Co. Inc., will serve a second term as chairman of the Town of Los Gatos Chamber of Commerce. He was installed during the organization's January breakfast meeting, which also served as the forum for Mayor Linda Lubeck's state of the town address.

The Town Chamber traces its roots to the fall of 1995, when a group of business owners and community leaders, together with representatives from the San Jose Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce, met to discuss the need for an organization that would represent business interests in town. The previous Chamber of Commerce, unable to meet its financial obligations, had gone out of business prior to that.

"This is a very exciting time for the Chamber," Cooper told the Los Gatos Weekly-Times. "Our 22-member board has just gone through a strategic planning session to formulate our plan of action for the next several years."

Cooper said this plan includes "becoming a strong and unified voice and advocate for the unique business community of Los Gatos; becoming the focal point in the community for information and referrals; offering programs, services and resources to businesses to help them to be successful; and continuing our commitment to preserving the quality of our town."

After two years of financial and administrative support from the San Jose Chamber, the Town Chamber in 1997 achieved a level of financial independence when it was able to generate enough revenue to cover operational costs and 30 hours of staffing time. The Town Chamber now boasts some 150 paid memberships.

Others installed include board members on the executive committee: Don Callahan, community volunteer, at-large; Margo Culcasi, San Jose National Bank, at-large; Diane McNutt, McNutt & Co. Inc., communications; Josh Miller, American Express Financial Advisors, membership; Tom Rapheld, Bank of America, finance; Bill Seligmann, attorney, at-large; Ervie Smith, Ervie L. Smith & Associates, board development; Marie Tallman, Toll House Hotel, economic development; and Dennis Varni, Green Valley Disposal, project review.

Additional board members are Randy Bertao, Los Gatos Brewing Co.; Rosemary Edwards, Cafe Trio; Truman Gates, Community Hospital of Los Gatos; John Hannegan, C.B. Hannegan's; Kurt Lemons, Upstream Flyfishing; Sheri Lewis, 1-800-ProColor Inc.; Harlan McHugh, McHugh Lincoln Mercury; Ron Nelson, Los Gatos Lodge; Keith Plottel, Keith D. Plottel CPA Inc.; Don Rector, Toner Products Ltd.; Ginger Rowe, Time Out Clothing; and David Walker, Comerica Bank.

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