(Rancho Cucamonga, California) The Rancho Cucamonga Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors is proud to announce the new hire of Karen Gaffney, IOM as Executive Director.

Gaffney has over 15 years of Chamber of Commerce management experience, which includes running the Highland Area Chamber of Commerce for 10 years and just recently over 5 years at the San Dimas Chamber of Commerce.  In addition to running two successful Custom Car Stereo Stores with her husband for over 12 years, she also has sales management and sales training experience from her years with Circuit City and she has marketing experience from working at Arrowhead Credit Union as their marketing and ecommerce coordinator.

Gaffney will be officially welcomed by the business community at the Rancho Cucamonga Chamber of Commerce New Business Connection Network Luncheon on  March 3 .  She has already rolled up her sleeves and started working in the office to become familiar with the current staff, board of directors, and city officials.`

Gaffney is a graduate of the four-year Institute for Organization Management program where she received the recognition of IOM from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation.  Institute is the premier nonprofit professional development program for chamber professionals and graduates are recognized across the country as leaders in their industries. Through courses in areas such as leadership, advocacy, marketing, finance, and membership, Institute participants are able to enhance their own skills, share real value to their members, and add new fuel to their organizations, making them run more efficiently and effectively.  “The Rancho Cucamonga Chamber of Commerce is ready to reap the rewards of Karen’s extensive experience” said Mariel Brown, Chairman of the Board.  “We are looking forward to bringing Karen up to date with our successful events and feel she will benefit our business community tremendously.”

In addition to her IOM recognition, she has her Bachelors’ of Science Degree from the University of Phoenix in Business Management and is a graduate of the Western Association of Chamber Executives Academy three-year program.  Gaffney stays current on Chamber issues and trends such as member services, workforce development, legislative issues, and economic development by regularly participating in Chamber industry conferences and seminars.

Over the course of her career, Gaffney has been honored with numerous awards including the Woman of Distinction Award for the 63rd Assembly District, the San Dimas Business Woman of the Year and the Sam Walton Business Leader award just to name a few.

Gaffney is a California native: She was born in Orange, grew up in Rialto, and has lived in Highland with her husband John, a sergeant with the San Bernardino Sheriff’s Department, for more than 26 years.  Their oldest of three sons, John, just returned home from the Army after serving in Georgia, Germany and Afghanistan.  Their middle son, Joe, works for Golden State Water Company and their youngest son, Michael, is in the Army and has served in Iraq, Kuwait and is now stationed in Kansas.

Join us in welcoming Karen to the Rancho Cucamonga Chamber of Commerce and feel free to give her a call at 909-987-1012 to learn more about her and the valuable Chamber Experience she is able to offer our members and the business community.