Board of Directors
The Novato Chamber is governed by a Board of Directors. Our board are dedicated individuals who enjoy living/working in the community that they serve. They come from unique backgrounds and bring with them years of industry wisdom as well as dedicated to see this community thrive. Board members are eager to participate and help shape a better tomorrow for region.
Novato Chamber Board members serve 3-year terms and may serve two consecutive terms before they must take a mandatory year-off from service. This term limit helps ensure that new leadership and ideas come to the Board and the Chamber. Chamber Presidents may serve one or two year terms.,
President & Officers
2025
Board President - Dale Kline
Novato Foundation for Public Education
Immediate Past President - Seth Shorett
Vice President - Denise Athas
Athas and Associates Real Estate
Treasurer - Mary Jannisse
CEO - Christina Mendes
Novato Chamber
Directors (In Alphabetical Order)
George Athas
Athas and Associates Real Estate
Richard De Ramon
First Federal Savings & Loan of San Rafael Bank of Marin
Kelly Duenas
Tamara Hull
Homa Rassouli
Betsy Ricketts
Ann Roggenbuck
Kristin Swenson
Tom Young
Seth Shorett is a commercial banker with Umpqua Bank in their Bay Area Corporate Banking division. He specializes in financing stable and growing middle-market companies. In addition to his work with the Novato Chamber, Seth also volunteers with North Marin Community Services and the Marin Builder’s Association. He lives in Novato with his wife, a Special Education Teacher, and his two children. When Seth gets a free moment, you’ll find him camping, hiking, off-roading, or working on his trucks.
Denise Athas served on the Novato City Council for 13years from 2009 to 2022 and was Mayor for 3 times. She retired from politics in December of 2022. Denise has been very active in the Novato community in various leadership capacities. In the past she has served as President of the Novato Chamber of Commerce in 2002, President of Downtown Novato Business and served on the state board of directors for the League of CA Cities for 4 years and served as President of the Northbay Division of League of CA Cities and President of the MCMCC (Marin County Mayors & Council Members.
Denise is a native Californian, raised in the East Bay, and has two grown sons, Matthew and Joe. Denise has been a Residential Real Estate Agent for 35 years, is a Broker, and for the last 14 years has run her own boutique real estate company with her husband George Athas which is Athas & Associates Real Estate Inc. located at 1202 Grant Avenue in the heart of Downtown Novato. Please visit www.DeniseAthas.com for more info.
Denise served on the Board of Directors of the Chamber in the early 2000’s and is excited and honored to be serving on the Board of Directors currently.
Denise can be reached at 415-245-2959 or DAthas@aol.com
A graduate of San Francisco State University in Interdisciplinary Creative Arts-majoring in Educational Administration and minoring in music performance. Continued my education in their masters program and at the same time studied at College of Marin in their music performance and teaching programs. My music endeavors led me to electronics and then electronics sales.
Since 2011 I have enjoyed being a real estate agent and part owner of Athas & Associate Real Estate, a residential real estate brokerage on Grant Ave. in downtown Novato. Prior to joining the company, I (as well as many,) spearheaded the start of Canon USA’s Video Division, and spent more than 20 years with this fantastic company. My territory stretched over eight states and achievements included yearly sales awards with one being the top National Sales Award winner.
I was born in Marin and have spent over 40 years living in Novato. Since 1995 I have been married to my wife Denise and we have two sons, both professionals living in Sacramento.
Over the years I have served as Chair of the Chamber Golf Committee , volunteered on the Sutter Hospital Golf Committee and the Novato City Birthday Party Committee, where for the last five years, I headed up the “Taste of Novato” part of the event.
Some of my passions are photography, music, gardening, food, and travel!
I am honored to now serve on the Board of Directors of the Novato Chamber of Commerce.
Ann Carroll Roggenbuck opened Miann Builder, General Contractor and Landscape Design company with her husband, Michael, more than 20 years ago. Specializing in residential home remodels, additions and landscapes, they continue to work all over the San Francisco Bay Area.
Born and raised in Marin County, Ann graduated from UC Santa Barbara with a degree in Mathematics. She earned her teaching credential from San Francisco State University and taught High School Mathematics for over 10 years. While raising their three children Ann and Michael purchased their first home in Novato and started Miann Builder.
Before working full time for Miann Builder, Ann gained experience in the construction field while working for Valentine Engineering & Prandi Property Management in San Rafael. She furthered her education in digital marketing and corporate scheduling by working for worldwide non-profit B612, assisting Astrophysicists defend the world from asteroid impacts. As the Parish Coordinator for a local church she used her skills in computers, finance, and building maintenance to implement new computer database programs, write a weekly bulletin, spearhead their online giving portal and help restore the 100 year old church.
With the encouragement of Coy Smith, CEO of the Novato Chamber, Ann decided to devote her work entirely to Miann Builder and create the landscape side of the company. Because of that membership Miann Builder has been named Small Business of the Year, and has won numerous Reader’s Choice awards from Marin Independent Journal and Pacific Sun. Ann is a graduate of the Novato Chamber leadership program.
Ann continues to volunteer with St. Vincent de Paul Society as an Auxiliary Board Member and Marin Charitable as Membership Chair Board Member.
With 20+ years brandbuilding experience, Kristin successfully leads Brilliancy (formerly Kreativz) in its mission to build brands and brand-level initiatives. Her ability to bridge creative and technical with design, messaging, and marketing technology has earned her a loyal client following. Her company specializes in brand development and storytelling through graphic design, web design, and video - from small social media story reels and advertising to documentary-style storytelling.
A prior Novato Chamber Ambassador for several years, Mr. De Ramon currently promotes the Novato Chamber and its purpose by serving on the Chamber Board. Expectations include shared fiduciary oversight of the Novato Chamber, enlisting new members, maintaining relationships with current members, and serving as a goodwill representative at local nonprofits, business and community activities. Richard will also develop new business contacts in Novato while increasing community-wide recognition for both the Chamber and First Federal Savings.
Richard was recognized as the Novato Chamber’s Ambassador of the year in 2016. “Serving and improving the community whenever possible is greatly valued at First Federal Savings. Moving our loan and administrative offices to Novato allowed me the opportunity to once again to serve in Novato.”
A graduate of San Francisco State University, Richard has more than 30 years of financial services experience with positions in both California and Florida. Prior to joining First Federal, Mr. De Ramon was employed in retail management positions with Bank of Marin and Redwood Credit Union. Community Service: Past committees and board involvement include: San Rafael Education Committee, Novato Human Needs Center, Marin Y Board, San Rafael Chamber Ambassador Committee, Novato Chamber Ambassador Committee, Novato Sunrise Rotary. Richard is a San Francisco native, now residing in Marin with his life partner, Lisa, a physician for Marin Health. Interests include traveling, art, and music (especially Jazz).
I’m a CPA and co-owner of Jannisse & Hull CPAs in Novato. I became a CPA because I love helping people understand their taxes and accounting. I became a CPA later in life, after spending many years doing accounting and payroll for various companies, and eventually getting my B.S. from UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business. But once I learned how to do tax planning and prepare tax returns, I never looked back. I love a good challenge – like messy books or tax returns not filed for multiple years. I also love helping small nonprofits too. I grew up in Novato (go Hornets!) and live in Larkspur.
Homa Rassouli | Mutual of Omaha
Homa Rassouli is a licensed Reverse Mortgage Specialist at Mutual of Omaha Mortgage with over 38 years of experience in the reverse mortgage field, including 22 years in the financial services and mortgage industries at Wells Fargo Bank and Mutual of Omaha. Homa has been the recipient of the prestigious "President's Club" honor for the past 16 consecutive years and is a trusted name in the industry, know as a reliable resource for retirees.
She has been honored with providing numerous trainings, seminars and panel discussions to deliver matter of fact information and learning knowledge to groups ranging from Novato and San Rafael Chambers of Commerce, Financial Planning Association, the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors and the Marin Bar Association to name a few. Homa is also active engaged with The Marin Realtors, North Bay Realtors, Women Council of Realtors, CAL CPA, and Section on Aging.
She additional serves on the Novato Chamber Board of Directors, Marin Council Estate Planning Council, San Francisco Financial Planning Association, Marin Realtors Government Affairs Committee, San Rafael Women on Industry Committee and Women's Club of Marin.
Homa enjoys educating and working with mature homeowners, their families and their trusted advisors to secure long-term sustainable solutions.
Homa holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Management and Finance from Gannon University, PA. She spends much of her free time with her family, especially her three grandchildren: Sofia (14), Ellie (10), and Sebastian (8)
Betsy Ricketts is the Vice President of Policy, Government Affairs and Public Policy for Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical based in Novato. Betsy manages all federal, state and local government affairs efforts on behalf of the company committed to bringing to patients novel products for the treatment of rare and ultra-rare diseases, with a focus on serious, debilitating genetic diseases.
Over the last 20 years, Betsy has advocated for both small business owners and Fortune 50 corporations in developing and managing policies, programs and political activities in Northern California, in over 25 states and in Washington D.C.
Betsy Ricketts graduated with double majors in Business Marketing and Journalism Public Relations at Colorado State University.
Tom young- co owner of Pini Hardware – serving Novato since 1918- Novato’s oldest retail business. Tom young is third generation owner of Pini Hardware along with his brothers Russ and David. The young family has owned the store since 1968. Pini is celebrating its 105th year in 2023.
Tom lives in Sonoma with his 2 sons Scott and Travis. But actually, feels like he lives in Novato. When not dealing with the day-to-day operations of running a family run store he enjoys other activities. Trying to attend as many events as he can. He is currently a board member on the Novato Chamber of Commerce and when has time a member of the Novato Rotary Club. Tom also is head coach and area director for the Sonoma Valley Special Olympics- and when he can tries to coach soccer with friends and former players he has coached for almost 40 years.
Pini Hardware won the Large Business of the Year in 2018 and received the Spirit of Marin Award in 2019.
Tom is one of the leaders of the fabulous 4th of July parade Pini Plunger Patrol and is a supporter of many events such as schools- scouts both boys and girls- sports groups and teams- holiday tree lighting- 4th of July parade- just to name a few.
Tom is all about the community- loves to give back- as he and his brothers know that without the community there would be no Pini Hardware. We consider Pini as the community store.
Mission & Values of the Novato Chamber
The Novato Chamber believes in shaping tomorrow. As an organization, we are guided by our mission and five all-encompassing values.
Announcing our new Premier Annual Sponsorship full of benefits that offer your business visibility the entire year.
Do You Have Questions? Contact the Novato Chamber Team!
If you have any questions about this page, the Novato Chamber's political position/community project endorsements, or if you are interested in learning more about the Board of Directors and the Novato Chamber's community participation and representation, contact Christina Mendes.
