Kristen Miller leads the Chamber as President & CEO with over 25 years of experience. Prior to the merger of the Santa Barbara, Goleta and Carpinteria Chambers of Commerce, Miller led the Goleta Chamber team since 2002, coming from the Corning, New York Chamber of Commerce. Under her leadership, the Chamber has been a catalyst for business, running robust public policy and economic development programs. She has continued her professional education with extensive training in visitor services, destination marketing, economic development, and community relations, since her degree from New York University. She has served on several local boards including Santa Barbara County Workforce Development Board, Housing Trust Fund of Santa Barbara County, Visit Santa Barbara, Goleta Valley Cottage Hospital Foundation, and UCSB Economic Forecast Project.

Cortney Hebert-Rintoul oversees the Chamber’s economic development initiatives, financials, membership team, events, and visitor services. Prior to the Chambers’ merger, she was with the Goleta Chamber of Commerce since 2010. In her role overseeing communications and events, she grew the beloved Lemon Festival to new heights in attendance and income. She graduated from UC Santa Barbara with a degree in Communication and Sports Management. Prior to coming to the Chamber, she worked for the City of Goleta under the Public Information Officer. She is a graduate of the Western Association of Chamber Executives Management Program. Rintoul lives in Goleta with her husband Joel and her son, Luca.

Mary Lynn’s responsibilities encompass managing and executing comprehensive communication strategies to promote the Chamber’s mission and enhance community engagement. She oversees digital and print media, including email newsletters, website content, social media, public relations, and community relations. Additionally, she is responsible for creating strategic communication plans, managing press releases, coordinating promotional materials, and maintaining the Chamber’s digital presence. Her position on the leadership team involves collaboration with other partners, consultants, and team members to ensure effective dissemination of the Chamber’s messaging.

Michele Schneider is responsible for bringing in new members and sponsors to the Chamber. As Director of Business Development, Michele uses her 25 years of experience in sales and marketing to develop and implement strategies to market potential new members, to encourage member attendance at Chamber events, and promote local businesses. Her 25 years of professional development includes training in international markets, IT support, and sales and marketing.  Michele’s vast volunteer work led her to the Chamber Ambassador role in 2011 and winning Goleta’s Finest ‘Volunteer of the Year’ award in 2014. In 2016 she officially joined the Chamber staff.  Michele also assists in overseeing the Chamber Ambassador team and is an avid promoter of local businesses and events.  Michele was born and raised in Santa Barbara.  She is the mother of an energetic son, fondly known as the “Lemon Prince”, and recently reunited again with her High School sweetheart Keith Ahlstrom.

Laurie Barene welcomes new members and sponsors to the Chamber, and utilizes her background in business development, marketing, and non-profit experience to help members promote their businesses. Her experience includes the financial industry, advertising, and fundraising. Laurie served in volunteer roles for several local organizations including Make-A-Wish, American Heart Association, Police Activities League, Cox Cares Foundation, and Goleta Lemon Festival. Laurie is a Santa Barbara native, attended UC Santa Barbara, and is proud to support her community.

Chelsea manages all the Chamber events, from the time-honored traditions of Goleta’s Finest and Carpinteria Community Awards Gala to State of the City, Business to Business Networking, TechTopia and everything in between. Chelsea is a Sacramento native and a graduate of UCLA with a degree in Sociology. She comes from the staffing industry where she worked in regional operations and recruiting management. With her background of business relations and a passion for event planning, she is excited to promote and celebrate the businesses of the Santa Barbara region, from Goleta to Carpinteria, at Chamber events.

Berlin Garcia is responsible for weekly communication distributions, she ensures effective interaction with chamber members. Berlin actively contributes to event registration and website maintenance, showcasing her dedication to the seamless functioning of the chamber. Her support extends to the membership management team, where her collaborative efforts enhance the overall efficiency and success of the organization.

Ruairi leads a team of enthusiastic staff and friendly volunteers at our two visitor centers, welcoming people from around the world to our beautiful Santa Barbara South Coast. Ruairi is a native Irishman, but for the last 14 years, he has been a local resident of Carpinteria. He has been managing retail stores in the non-profit and for-profit fields for over 20 years.

Dustin is a proud lifelong resident of Santa Barbara County. He is grateful for the opportunity to serve the South Coast community through his work with the Chamber. As the Chamber’s Public Policy Manager, Dustin analyzes a variety of local, state, and federal public policies impacting our region. Dustin manages Chamber efforts around convening businesses and other local partners around advocacy, information sharing, partnership building, and problem solving around the various challenges faced in the community. Topics range from workforce development, downtown vitality, workforce housing, childcare, and energy. Dustin works closely with the Chamber’s various committees to determine the Chamber’s priorities and program of work with the approval of the Board of Directors and the President & CEO.

Ben is a graduate of UCSB in Electrical and Computer Engineering and has served in technical and project management roles in several South Coast tech companies, complemented by experiences of co-leading a startup company and engaging as a citizen activist in local community development initiatives. Ben’s role as Workforce Development Program Lead with the Chamber aligns with his passion for systems change that improves the quality of working life for individuals, and the performance of the organizations they serve. Ben sees the Chamber’s Workforce Development Program as an opportunity for local businesses to connect with local talent and to collaborate with educational institutions to shape the future of regional workforce development.

Danica Stevens, a native of Santa Barbara, serves as our dedicated Administrative Assistant. With 8 years of experience in the hospitality industry, she has honed her abilities in delivering exceptional customer service and providing organizational support. Danica’s role involves managing daily administrative tasks, assisting our CEO & President with scheduling and coordination, and ensuring smooth operations for our team. Her deep-rooted connection to Santa Barbara enhances our chamber’s ability to connect with and serve our community effectively.