No Election Necessary: Chamber Fills Uncontested Board Seats
(Crystal A. Proxmire, 12/02/201)
The Ferndale Area Chamber did not hold elections for the Board of Directors for 2012 because they had exactly the number of applicants as was needed to fill the seven member board. On Nov. 28, The Chamber announced welcoming back incumbent Board Members – Pamela Bellaver, Ryan Meray, Gary Meier, Frank Lanzkron-Tamarazo, Jay McMillan, and Rita Van. John Kozich of Credit Union ONE, who served on the Board from 2002 through 2009, is also back on the Board.
The Ferndale Area Chamber turned 75 years old this year, and has been serving the needs of Ferndale business owners. They give workshops, networking events, and other support and promotional opportunities for member businesses. They often partner with the City or the Downtown Development Authority for events such as the Hilton Fall Festival, The annual Commercial Property Showcase and candidate forums.
Frank Lanzkron-Tamarazo is the owner of Chazzano Coffee Roasters which opened in 2009. In addition he has founded his own synagogue, Congregation Hava Nashira of Oak Park. Lanzkron-Tamarazo is also the Education Coordinator of BNI Greater Royal Oak Royal Oak.
In September 2011, Chazzano Coffee Roasters received a Beautification Award from the City Council. Chazzano Coffee Roasters humbly received two awards at the 2010 Gala: New Business of the Year and Businessperson of the Year.
“I take the notion of Givers Gain – selflessly helping others grow their business through networking – very seriously. Chazzano Coffee Roasters has recently celebrated its 2nd anniversary in October 2011. Chazzano Coffee partners with many local businesses like AJs Music Cafe, MiChigo Pizza, Flip Salon, BNektar Meadery, and many offices throughout Ferndale,” the returning Board member said.
Rita Van Keymuelen has owned and operated Creative Office Designs, Inc. for 24 years and have been in the interior design industry for over 32 years. During that time she has been an employee and manager for design departments in southeast Michigan. Since joining the Ferndale Area Chamber in 2007, she has served on the Commercial Property Showcase Committee and has been active in planning and volunteering at other events. In 2009 she was voted Volunteer of the Year. She’s been on the Board since 2010. “I have served on the Ferndale Area Chamber Board since the beginning of 2010 and because of my active participation in the Chamber, I understand how the chamber works and its goals,” Van Keymuelen said.
Jay McMillan founded Royal Services, a commercial cleaning company, in October 2004. “Working by example in promoting the Chamber of Commerce as we outline services and tools for the membership’s success, I strongly believe in taking the time to know and refer business to the membership of the Ferndale Chamber of Commerce,” McMillan said. “I know we can become the powerful networking and business referral engine that we are meant to be, while supporting the community and watching Ferndale take form as a strong economic model for our neighborhoods and neighbors to appreciate.”
Pamela J. Bellaver has been Supervisor at the Ferndale Career Center since Oct. 2006. Prior to her position with the Ferndale Career Center, Pam has been a Sheriff’s Deputy; a Probation Officer; a Home-based Case Manager with delinquent youth; the Director of Outpatient Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services in a local hospital; owned her own Counseling Practice; and has been an Administrator in the Adoption and Foster Care field. currently serving as Vice President of the OrchSupport Board for Ferndale Schools; Vice-President of the PTSA for the Ferndale Middle School; and serving in the past on the Tri-Community Coalition, the Ferndale Youth Assistance Board, and volunteering with OLHSA, City Mission, and Metro Detroit Girl Scouts to mention a few. Pam is currently serving as the Secretary on the Ferndale Area Chamber Board and has chaired the Ferndale Chamber Golf Outing in the past.
Ryan Meray has been offering small business and consumer IT services through the company he founded, C! Tech Solutions, in 2005. Since joining the Board in January of 2009, he has helped the Chamber by donating dozens of hours of computer support pro-bono, as well as, providing guidance in the Chamber’s online marketing and social media efforts. He oversaw the rebranding and new Ferndale Area Chamber logo, and worked behind the scenes with Chamber Director Roosenberg to help launch a brand new website in 2011. Ryan is an active member of the local community and has participated in many pushes for charity. He received national attention for his part in RoboCharity, which in February of 2011, helped raise thousands of dollars for local food rescue operation Forgotten Harvest. He’s also raised funds for men’s cancer research through the Movember Foundation and collected computer and electronic waste to raise money for a Beaumont Children’s Hospital scholarship fund.
Gary Meier is the Superintendent of Ferndale Public Schools and the owner of Innovative Consulting in Education which provides services for other schools and school districts. He is the past president and current board member of Middle Cities Education Association as well. In his career, spanning over 30 years, Meier has served as a teacher, coach, principal and superintendent in four districts. “My tenure on the Board for two previous terms and my service most recently as Treasurer of the Board has allowed me to gain significant knowledge and experience about the important contributions a Chamber can make to a community,” Meier said. “Along with my staff, I am not only interested in the economic success of the community, but I also want to make sure the Ferndale Schools are an active partner in achieving that success.”
John Kozich is the Executive Director of Community Relations at Credit Union One. He has held many different positions in both the Lending and Branch areas, in over 37 years of service to the membership of Credit Union ONE. Having spent 40 years as a resident of Ferndale, he has stayed involved with many of the programs in Ferndale. He was an active Ferndale Area Chamber Board member from 2002-2009, including serving as Vice-chairman of the Board for three years. Toward the end of 2009, John was temporarily relocated to a Sterling Heights branch of Credit Union ONE and chose to step down from the Board knowing he could not properly devote time to it. In early 2011, John was appointed to his current position and is back serving the Ferndale community.
Find out more about The Ferndale Area Chamber by going to their website http://www.ferndalechamber.com/. NOTE: photo and quotes courtesy Ferndale Area Chamber, featuring many of the Board Members as well as other members.
