Our Team

Kristen Miller will be leading the merged organization as President & CEO. Miller has led the Goleta Chamber team since 2002, coming from the Corning, New York Chamber of Commerce. Under her leadership, the Goleta Chamber has been a catalyst for business, running robust public policy and economic development programs. She has continued her professional education with extensive training in visitor services, destination marketing, economic development, and community relations, since her degree from New York University. She recently served on the Santa Barbara County Workforce Development Board, Kristen is Secretary of the Housing Trust Fund of Santa Barbara County, and is on the board of Visit Santa Barbara.

Joyce Donaldson has 17 years of professional chamber leadership experience and will now serve as the Santa Barbara South Coast Chamber COO and Carpinteria Liaison. She has served as President and CEO for the Carpinteria Valley Chamber since June 2015. Previously she has served as President and CEO of the Indio Chamber for 5 years and as Executive Director of the Romeo-Washington Chamber for 7 years. She is a graduate of the U.S. Chamber Institute for Organization Management (IOM) in addition to the Western Association of Chamber Executives Management Program. Joyce is also a graduate of 2 Executive Leadership programs since earning her degree at Macomb Community College. Currently, Joyce serves on the Santa Barbara Workforce Development Board and the Chambers of Commerce Alliance of Ventura and Santa Barbara County Board of Directors.

Stephanie Armstrong has been with the Santa Barbara Chamber since 2011 in various roles, most recently as the Interim Executive Director for the past 18 months. A Santa Barbara native, she is deeply rooted in the community. She is also the Administrator for Hospitality Santa Barbara. She serves on the MOXI@NIGHT Committee, the City of Santa Barbara’s COVID-19 Business Advisory Task Force, the Santa Barbara Water Vision Stakeholder Group, and is the recipient of the 2019 Hospitality Star of the Year Award. Armstrong will oversee the joint Chamber’s marketing, communications, visitor centers, and Public Policy efforts.

Cortney Hebert-Rintoul has been with the Goleta Chamber of Commerce since 2010. In her role overseeing communications and events, she grew the beloved Lemon Festival to new heights in attendance and income. She graduated from UC Santa Barbara with a degree in Communication and Sports Management. Prior to coming to the Chamber, she worked for the City of Goleta under the Public Information Officer. She is a graduate of the Western Association of Chamber Executives Management Program. Rintoul will oversee the Chamber’s economic development initiatives, membership team, events, and visitor services including GoGoleta.

Michele Schneider will be responsible for bringing in new members and sponsors to the Chamber. As Director of Business Development, Michele uses her 25 years of experience in sales and marketing to develop and implement strategies to market potential new members, to encourage member attendance at Chamber events, and promote businesses. Her 15 years of professional development includes training in international markets, IT support, and sales and marketing before working at Cox Media in Goleta handling advertising sales. Michele’s vast volunteer work led her to the Chamber Ambassador role in 2011 and won Goleta’s Finest ‘Volunteer of the Year’ award in 2014. In 2016 she officially joined the Chamber staff. Michele was born and raised in Santa Barbara and is an avid promoter of local businesses and events.

Laurie Barene will assist with welcoming new members and sponsors to the Chamber. As Membership Coordinator, Laurie will utilize her background in business development, marketing, and non-profit experience to help Chamber members promote their businesses. Her 25 years of experience includes working in the financial industry, advertising, and most recently fundraising. Laurie has served in volunteer roles with numerous organizations including the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Police Activities League, Cox Cares Foundation, and the Goleta Lemon Festival. Laurie is a native of Santa Barbara, attended UC Santa Barbara, and is a proud supporter of her community.

Cheyanne is a fourth-generation Santa Barbarian. After graduating from UCSB in 2014, Cheyanne took a position at the Chamber of the Santa Barbara Region as the Marketing and Events Coordinator. She recently joined the Santa Barbara South Coast Chamber of Commerce after working as the Santa Barbara Zoo’s Event Manager for the past four years.

Berlin Garcia has been with the Carpinteria Chamber for nearly 2 years, assisting with membership, communications, web management, events, fundraisers, and served as the Carpinteria Chamber Ambassador Liaison. Berlin attended Paul Mitchell Cosmetology School and has 15 years of customer service experience in a corporate setting. She was born and raised in Carpinteria and currently resides there with her family.

Ruairi leads a team of enthusiastic staff and friendly volunteers at our two visitor centers, welcoming people from around the world to our beautiful Santa Barbara South Coast. Ruairi is a native Irishman, but for the last 14 years, he has been a local resident of Carpinteria. He has been managing retail stores in the non-profit and for-profit fields for over 20 years.