As we reflect on Fiscal Year 2025–2026, we're proud to celebrate the incredible success of the Gilbert Chamber of Commerce's Chamber Champions Program. What began as an initiative to help new members feel welcomed and connected has quickly become one of the many ways our Chamber strengthens relationships and builds a thriving business community.
This year, the program officially grew to 30 dedicated Chamber Champions; a group of outstanding volunteers who generously shared their time, experience, and passion for the Chamber by helping new members feel at home from day one.
Throughout the fiscal year, our Champions were matched with 122 new Chamber members, offering guidance, making introductions, answering questions, and encouraging participation in Chamber and Foundation programs.
The impact has been remarkable.
Because of the support provided through the Chamber Champions Program, 71% of newly matched members attended a Gilbert Chamber or Gilbert Chamber Foundation event within their first six months of membership. Those early connections often become lasting relationships, helping members discover new opportunities, build their networks, and fully experience the value of Chamber membership.
While those numbers are worth celebrating, they only tell part of the story. Behind every match is a Champion who took the time to reach out, invite someone to coffee, introduce them at an event, answer a question, or simply make a new member feel like they belonged. Those small acts of generosity create a stronger, more connected Chamber community—and that is something truly worth celebrating.
Thank You, Chamber Champions!
To every one of our Chamber Champions, thank you for making this program such an incredible success.
Your willingness to invest in others reflects the very best of what the Gilbert Chamber stands for. You have helped transform first impressions into lasting relationships and new memberships into engaged, active participation. Because of your commitment, hundreds of meaningful conversations took place this year, countless new connections were formed, and dozens of businesses found a stronger sense of community within the Chamber.
We are honored to recognize our Fiscal Year 2025–2026 Chamber Champions:
Alice Woodard, Printwerx
Brian Riley, Built Different Restoration
Christie Boutain, First Western Bank
Constance Lemere, Employee Benefit Exchange Corp
Dallas Sloan, Colair Beauty Lounge and Med Spa
Dominic Longo, Blue Zone Marketing
Dr. Eric Garst, The Well Chiropractic Clinic
Eric Pettitt, PETTITT WEALTH
Jaime Johnson, Leading Edge Preschool
Jän Simon, Foundation Insurance Services
Jane Vela, Landings Credit Union
Jason Diez, NMLS ID 247781, CrossCountry Mortgage
Jerry Woods, Nu Legacy Studios
Jessica Geroux, Travel Big with J2
Jim Paplaczyk, The American Legion Merrell-Mitchell Post 39
Karen Camblin, Karen Camblin - Guild Mortgage Company
Kevin De Rosa, Advance Champion Supply
Kevin Schrandt, KYBREE Marketing
Leticia Barwick, Meritum Credit Card Processing
Mark Bergerson, Ensign Partners
Mark Newman, Newman Realty Team Powered By Realty One Group
Melanie Nemetz, Melanie Nemetz Team - Keller Williams Integrity First
Mindy Jones, Amy Jones Group
Pete Schraufnagel, Edward Jones - Pete Schraufnagel
Randi Townsend, Residence Inn by Marriott Phoenix Gilbert
Rob Elder, Granite Bank - The Elder Team
Stuart Preston, Cingularis
Tiffany Longo, Blue Zone Marketing
Tim Troy, Universal Paper Shredding Services LLC
Tony Imperiale
Your leadership, encouragement, and genuine desire to help others succeed have made a lasting impact on both our newest members and the Chamber as a whole. We are incredibly grateful for everything you've done to make this first full year of the program such a tremendous success.
Looking Ahead
The success of this year's Chamber Champions Program has shown just how powerful a warm welcome can be. As we begin a new fiscal year, we're excited to continue building on this momentum and connecting even more new members with experienced Chamber leaders.
If you've been an active Chamber member for several years, enjoy building relationships, and want to help shape another member's Chamber experience, we'd love to have you join our team of Chamber Champions.
Sometimes all it takes is one introduction, one conversation, or one invitation to help someone discover the full value of their Chamber membership—and you could be the person who makes that happen.
Interested in becoming a Chamber Champion?
Reach out to Amber Stricklin at amber@gilbertchamber.com to learn more about becoming a Chamber Champion and helping us create an even more connected Gilbert business community.
Here's to another year of welcoming new members, building meaningful relationships, and continuing to make the Gilbert Chamber a place where every business belongs.