Dr. Benson Wong Elected President of 2011 Chamber Board of Directors

The San Bruno Chamber of Commerce today installed a new batch of members on its board of directors, with orthodontist Dr. Benson Wong selected to lead the board as president.

With the installation luncheon being held at the newly opened , the chamber welcomed a few new members to its 13-member board and celebrated a new era with a wide cross-section of businesses represented.

“This is by far the largest and most diverse board I’ve seen,” Wong said after Mayor Jim Ruane handed him the symbolic gavel as the new board president. “It’s an indication of the strength of the chamber in recent years. With the unfortunate downtown in the economy, the chamber’s existence has become so important in linking small business owners together so we can help support one another.”

That gratitude for the chamber’s presence in the city was echoed throughout comments made at the luncheon, as the recent economic recession has taken a toll on small businesses here—especially in downtown where the main strip is now lined with vacant storefronts—but has also ushered in several new business developments at the same time, including the completion of apartment complex and the commitment from Walmart.com to move its offices from Brisbane to the old Gap building here.

Michele Enriquez-Da Silva, the outgoing chamber president, said times have been rough for the chamber in recent years because they lack a huge membership, they don’t get large contributions from many major corporations—one of the sponsors of the installation luncheon was Pacific Gas & Electric Co.—and the chamber has just a few full-time staff members.

“But if it wasn’t for the dedication of our board members, we wouldn’t be in the place we are in today,” Enriquez-Da Silva said.

“We do what we can with our board and our staff,” she added. “And we’ve been able to survive the last couple of years.”

Ruane also gave his state of the city address to the chamber members, who took up the entire main dining area of the hip new restaurant.

He spoke about the gradual progress being made in the Crestmoor neighborhood to repair and rebuild homes after the Sept. 9 explosion and fire, new housing development, the city’s plans to improve its sewer and water systems and other developments the city has undertaken over the last year.

He also reiterated his opposition to Gov. Jerry Brown’s proposal to eliminate redevelopment agencies throughout the state, which he called the “greatest threat” to the city at the moment.

Ruane also thanked the other council members, city staff and City Manager Connie Jackie and her administrative team for their efforts in working as a team to maintain the city’s government in the midst of the Crestmoor disaster’s aftermath.

“As I told Gov. Schwarzenegger, we are running the city of San Bruno and now we are running the city of Glenview also. With your budget cuts, it’s difficult enough to run the city of San Bruno,” he said. “And they have all done an exemplary job of defining what management is all about.”

The members of the 2011 chamber board of directors are:

• Dr. Benson Wong, , president;
• Vincent Solano, ;
• Rosalyn Yu, ; 
• Johhny Patterson, ; 
• Jim O'Dowd, ; 
• Joseph Capote, Alain Pinel Realty; 
• Marc Bura, Slip Free Option; 
• Michele Enriquez-Da Silva, San Mateo Credit Union, past president; 
• Teri Martin, Precious Memories; 
• Nicolle Blanco, The Shops at Tanforan; 
• David Ratto, IKON Office Solutions; 
• Kirsten Pinochi, ; and
• Beth O'Connor, .