Board of Directors

Marie Carayanis, resident of El Sobrante since 1963. She was co- owner for 30 years (1970-2000) of a local business in downtown El Sobrante, Nick & Marie's Delicatessen and Catering, and thus became active in representing the needs of business owners.
Read Full Bio

Jim Cowen joined the Chamber in 1985, and became a director the following year. He has served 3 times as Chamber President, and is the 2005 Citizen of the Year.  Jim grew up in El Sobrante and attended local schools, and graduated from St Marys’ College in Moraga.  His first business was Mail Plus, and since 2000 he has run Jim Cowen Insurance Brokers.   510-222-7890  jimcowen@jimcowen.com

A long-term resident of El Sobrante, Susan McCloskey and husband Dick McCloskey owned and operated McCloskey Painting, Inc. for 30 years.
Read Full Bio

Mark Croda's Town Garage has been a fixture in El Sobrante on San Pablo Dam Road for years and years. He recently sold his business to his foreman, and opened a new shop, Restoration Auto Body, to spend his time strictly on the auto body repair business, rather than all the various mechanical issues that cars suffer. The new shop is in the back, behind the Town Garage. Mark served as President of the Board from September 2020 through January 2022.

Harry Weiner was appointed to the El Sobrante Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors in February, 2022.  He also serves as a Director on the West County Waste Water District Board. He is a twice elected member of the Board of Directors, Ward 4.  He moved from Occidental, CA,  7 years ago, with his wife of 46 years, Anita White.  “This community is unique in the East Bay and wonderful because of it.  I am on the Chamber Board to promote small business and town beautification, to enrich the lives of the people that live here.”

Current and long-time resident of El Sobrante, since 1962. Cathy grew up helping with the Family Business, “Nick & Marie’s Italian Deli and Catering” on San Pablo Dam Road, El Sobrante, owned by Nick and Marie Carayanis. Cathy has worked within the community over the past several years helping with the El Sobrante Stroll, Hometown Holiday Fair and with some of the Boys & Girls Club events. In other communities, she managed a Historic Downtown Project, which included “First Friday Night” and Christmas Tree Lighting events, as well as assisting with a music festival. Cathy has served on professional healthcare Boards at a local, state, and national level. She graduated from Presentation High School in Berkeley and has bachelor’s degree in Human Development, a master’s degree in Public Administration, and a Project Management certificate from CSUEB. She has worked for the past 28 years as a healthcare Quality and Risk Management Specialist. Cathy’s lifetime work in the field of healthcare stems from her interest in advocacy in any form, and the desire to serve vulnerable populations, in an effort to impact positive change. I’m excited and honored for this new opportunity to serve on the El Sobrante Chamber of Commerce, with such a wonderful, dedicated team. I know there is so much more to learn and do and I look forward to giving back to the community I have loved and lived in for so many years.

I grew up in the East Bay for most of my life. I attended and eventually graduated from Sacramento State in 2013. I spent the next 7 years working for the Richmond Boys and Girls club, and the Golden State Warriors, until I came to my current job as the sports manager for the Special Olympics of Northern California. I currently live in El Sobrante and am passionate about helping this city's small business and community.

Scott Tuffnell Scott is a Realtor® with his own office at 3769 San Pablo Dam Road. Scott has been recognized by the National Association of Realtors as a Seller Representative Specialist [SRS] and a Seniors Real Estate Specialist [SRES]. Scott joined the chamber in 2000 as the owner/operator of Biancos Deli & Catering, which was voted Business of the Year in 2004, and has been on the board for all but one year since.  He was elected President of the Board in 2005 serving one year, and re-elected in 2017 serving until January, 2020.  Scott now assists with the  website and marketing for the chamber's events. He is honored to chair  the Lauren Hanley Scholarship Committee, named after past President Lauren Hanley .
Read Full Bio

Martha Booz holds an M.A. in German Language and Literature, as well as a Ph.D. in plant physiology. She worked at Bio-Rad Laboratories for almost 25 years, in tech support, in marketing and most recently on Bio-Rad's web team, retiring in 2008.
Read Full Bio

Thomas (Tom) Lang has lived in El Sobrante for nearly 20 years with his wife Vivi and sons Adam and Alex.  He serves as a member of the El Sobrante Municipal Advisory Council (ESMAC) and as Chairman of the El Sobrante Stroll Committee. 
Read Full Bio