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New exec recruits members outside of Saratoga's borders
By Kara Chalmers
When Abby Krimotat became the executive director of Saratoga's Chamber of Commerce five months ago, she said she wanted to get some "new blood" into the membership base, and to bring the Chamber to the next level.
True to her word, she has modernized the Chamber, communicating to members through email and offering free webpages to members on the Chamber's revamped website. Krimotat now produces the Chamber newsletter herself, which cuts costs in half, according to board member Kristin Davis.
"She has some fresh new ideas and ways of handling different situations," Davis said. "A breath of fresh air is what she is."
On top of that, Krimotat has focused on seeking out different types of businesspeople to join the Chamber as members and directors. Young and successful, whether or not their business is located within the city proper, is what she is after.
"We can't really separate ourselves from Silicon Valley," Krimotat said. "The people who work in Silicon Valley are also the ones who live here. Why wouldn't they want to give back to the community?"
At present, she is talking to corporate heads at major Silicon Valley high-tech corporations, whose names she will not disclose.
Businesses outside Saratoga that still serve the city's residents, or wish to market to them, have always been a part of the Chamber. But Krimotat has gone one step further, said Davis, by seeking out "anyone that maybe we haven't touched in the past" to be members.
"As with all businesses, you have to stay up with things," Davis said. "We're not like Cupertino, with Apple. Most of our members are small businesses. We're such a small city that we need the support of our greater membership."
Pearl Medeiros, president of the Chamber, said Krimotat has been instrumental in bringing in new members.
"New blood, young blood, she's willing to get out there and meet everybody, and they love her," Medeiros said.
Directors such as Medeiros, who owns Brannons Party Rentals in Willow Glen, also are not required to work in Saratoga to be part of the board of directors. According to Davis, the 25-member board nominated seven new directors on Oct. 18, over half of whom do not own businesses in the city proper. If the Chamber, 350 members in all, approves the nominees, and if the nominees accept, they will begin their terms on Jan. 1, 2000.
The nominees include Saratoga businesspeople like Nancy Bussani, new CEO of the Mountain Winery; Michelle Beck, owner of the Golden Mirror; and Nomita Shahani of Coldwell Banker.
Of the nominees who do not work in Saratoga, some grew up in the city and are still concerned with its development, according to Krimotat. Others relocated to a neighboring town. Either way, they all have the best interests of Saratoga at heart, she said.
The board nominated Dave Hernandez, owner of Los Gatos Auto Service in Campbell; Jenny Meehan, CEO and president of J.Z. Meehan & Associates Consulting in San Jose; and Greg Ochinero of Cal Driver insurance on the border of Saratoga and San Jose.
Krimotat recruited, and the board nominated James Smythe, previously with Smythe European Mercedes Benz in San Jose. Smythe is now the president of Legendary Productions, a group that puts on concerts and is based in Aptos.
Expanding the boundaries of a chamber of commerce to include neighboring towns is not uncommon, according to Linda Asbury, executive director of the Cupertino Chamber of Commerce. She previously worked for the San Jose, Napa, Santa Cruz and Los Gatos chambers.
"I encourage people to try chambers of commerce wherever they want to market their businesses," she said.
Jean Funari, who works at Luxury Travel in San Jose, has been a Saratoga Chamber director for two years and a Chamber member for six.
"Even though my business has moved, I am still tied to Saratoga through the Chamber. It's the greatest volunteer experience I have ever had," she said. "It's wonderful because a lot of people live in Saratoga but have businesses outside."
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Saratoga, California Since 1955
