CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Lake County’s oldest business organization is making changes in leadership and location as it completes its 70th year in existence.
The Clear Lake Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors has hired Joey Luiz as interim executive director. He started his duties with the chamber on Aug. 5.
Besides being a past president and board member of the Clear Lake Chamber of Commerce, Luiz has 10 years of experience in the local wine and industry, most recently as sales and hospitality manager for Shannon Ridge Vineyards and Winery, and sits on the Clearlake City Council.
He also has past involvement with several other local business organizations including serving on the Board of Directors for the Northshore Business Association and Glenhaven-Clearlake Oaks Business Association.
“I look forward to continuing the legacy and commitment the Clear Lake Chamber has to serve businesses and the community,” Luiz said.
Luiz succeeds former Executive Director Tamara Richmond.
“Joey already knows how the chamber works,” Chamber President Carol Webb said. “He is the type that takes charge and we are lucky he has joined us.”
The first order of business with its new management is relocating the chamber office and visitor information center, currently located in the Clearlake Community/Senior Center, 3245 Bowers Ave. in Clearlake.
Luiz said this move is dependent on the completion of the new visitor center, to be located on Lakeshore Drive next to Highlands Park.
“The new visitor’s center project is currently on hold pending the state’s decision on that property as it has to do with the city’s dissolution of the Clearlake Redevelopment Agency,” he said.
That decision, according to Luiz, could take several months and no work can be done on the site without the ruling going in the city’s favor.
The chamber currently has a contract with the city to operate a visitor center there. Until then the chamber office, which has been relocated several times in the past two years, will utilize the space at the Bowers Avenue location that it previously occupied from 2009 to 2011.
The office is currently in that location and the visitor information center will start holding regular hours by Sept. 1.
Another challenge the Clear Lake Chamber has had in the past years is a mutually beneficial relationship with the city government.
Luiz, who is a council member and past mayor, is confident that the chamber and the city will soon be working together with full confidence in each other.
“The chamber's success weighs high in the overall success of the city in many ways, the Chamber Board of Directors and I see the many direction changes in the chamber’s recent history may have been damaging to the confidence in the organization from our members, the city and community,” Luiz said. “We plan on creating stability and consistency in the chamber's operations that will quickly turn these issues around.”
While working for the chamber, Luiz will not be able to vote on any issues regarding the chamber that go before the Clearlake City Council.
The Clear Lake Chamber of Commerce is a membership organization dedicated to developing, promoting, and serving your business and community.
Its goal is to sustain a unique and high quality of life by achieving economic vitality, with sensitivity and respect for the environment as we foster economic opportunity and a favorable business climate within the region.
The Clear Lake Chamber will hold its next monthly dinner meeting at “The Spot” diner in Clearlake on Sept. 3.
For more information on this and other upcoming chamber events visit www.visitclearlakeca.com or call 707-994-3600.
The chamber also can be contacted by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ClearLakeChamber .