W.A.C.E. Welcomes New Board Members

As a result of job or other changes in their professional lives, the W.A.C.E. Board recently accepted the resignation of three members, namely Whitney Diver-McEvoy, Scott Ashton, and Rana Ghadban.    These leaders have been important contributors to the direction of the association for many years and W.A.C.E. looks forward to continuing to collaborate with each of them in new ways.

As a result of these changes, W.A.C.E. is excited to welcome three new members to the organization's Board of Directors. "W.A.C.E. is fortunate to have a deep bench of committed leaders who are willing to serve," said Glenn Morris, President & CEO for W.A.C.E.. "We are grateful to Bob, Mark, and Kristen for stepping up to fill open seats on the Board of Directors, and look forward to working with them as part of our leadership team."

Mark Creffield, President/CEO, Greater High Desert (CA) Chamber of Commerce

Mark Creffield has been in the chamber of commerce industry for over 17 years. Mark’s chamber career began in 2006 as the Vice President with the Fairfield-Suisun Chamber. Five years later Mark became the President/CEO of the Vacaville Chamber, a position he held for four years.
In 2016, after a break from the industry, Mark became the Executive Director of the Citrus Heights Chamber. Mark held this position until May 2017 when he was hired to run the Victor Valley Chamber in Victorville, CA.
One of Mark’s biggest accomplishments in his chamber career was in January 2021 the Victor Valley Chamber and three other chambers merged and formed the Greater High Desert Chamber. Mark was selected to lead as their President/CEO.
Mark has been married to his wife Veronica for 24 years and they have two boys: Mark Jr. (23) and Ethan (19). Mark has a bachelor’s degree in business management from the University of Phoenix.

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Bob Linscheid, President & CEO, Walnut Creek (CA) Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau

Bob Linscheid serves as President and CEO of the Walnut Creek Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau, a position he assumed in May 2021. A seasoned leader with deep roots in chamber operations, Linscheid previously led the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce (2013-2016) and, notably, had a stint leading the Chico Chamber of Commerce for seven years.
His diverse career includes founding Linscheid Enterprises, Inc., a government relations and strategic planning firm, serving as Interim CEO at the San Jose Chamber of Commerce, and seven years as special advisor to Cal Poly President Jeff Armstrong.
An accomplished academic, Linscheid holds a BA and Master of Public Administration from California State University, Chico, and received an Honorary Doctor of Liberal Arts from San Francisco State University.
Beyond his professional achievements, he demonstrates commitment to community service through involvement with the Alzheimer's Association, Rotary International, and East Bay Leadership Council.

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Kristen Miller, President/CEO, Santa Barbara South Coast (CA) Chamber

I first served on the WACE Board nearly 20 years ago, and I’m honored to be returning at such a pivotal time for our industry. The Santa Barbara South Coast Chamber of Commerce—formed through a 2020 merger of the Goleta, Carpinteria, and Santa Barbara Chambers—has evolved significantly over the years. We transitioned to a virtual Chamber model during the 2009 economic downturn, and today, we continue to build on that foundation to serve nearly 1,000 member businesses. Our mission remains clear: to advocate for business, promote economic vitality, and foster a vibrant South Coast region. I look forward to contributing to the continued success of WACE and supporting the important work Chambers are doing across the West.

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 In addition to approving these new leaders, the Board also approved the appointment of Patrick Ellis, ACE, President & CEO of the Murrieta/Wildomar Chamber to serve as a Vice Chair and member of the executive committee.

​W.A.C.E. is thankful for leadership and insight the Board of Directors brings to the organization. A full list of board members is available here.