San Luis Obispo Business
September, 1999

New director sets tone for new century

Leadership San Luis Obispo has a new leader at the helm. The Chamber has hired Patti Rowe to head up the successful community-wide program, now in its eighth year.

Rowe will also serve as coordinator of the Chamber's Annual Dinner and annual Board of Directors retreat, as well as help plan the UCSB Economic Forecast Project and Public Safety Service Luncheon.

"Patti brings a unique blend of management, sales, customer relations and marketing experience to the Chamber," commented Chamber President/CEO Dave Garth. "Her background, personality and leadership ability make her the perfect person to head up this successful program that we're all so proud of."

Leadership San Luis Obispo has gained a reputation as one of the finest of its kind in the state. The program is known for turning out graduates who are primed to assume leadership roles in their jobs, service clubs, extracurricular activities and communities. To date, Leadership San Luis Obispo has close to 300 graduates.

Rowe will be responsible for helping to select class participants, planning the two-day retreat and each of the ten full-day sessions, choosing high-profile speakers who are leaders in their own right and obtaining sponsorships to help those who cannot afford to pay to go through the program on their own.

Prior to coming to the Central Coast to work for the Chamber, Rowe worked for Circuit City in Virginia as a sales trainer. Past work experience also includes stints in the Medical Social Services field and a long career in the travel industry, working for America West Airlines, Princess Cruises and McDonnell-Douglas Travel Company in Phoenix. Her eleven years in the travel and tourism industry will be invaluable to the Chamber's tourism marketing efforts.

"As a California native, I'm thrilled to be back on the Central Coast," said Rowe. "This community is so fortunate to have an innovative, future-oriented program like Leadership SLO. I'm looking forward to having a hand in developing San Luis Obispo County's future leaders."

Leadership San Luis Obispo's Class IX will get underway in January. Rowe will begin accepting applications for next year's class at the beginning of September.

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