New chair, directors join Chamber board

Jan. 5, 2010 ---

The San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce has elected long-time local business owner, former City Councilmember and City Planning Commissioner John Ewan as chair of the 2010 Board of Directors. Ewan is owner and president of Pacific Energy Company, a local solar and alternative energy retailer that he founded 1980.

The Chamber recently elected Ewan and nine other local business leaders to join the 11 members currently on the Board of Directors. Ewan brings more than 20 years of business and community leadership experience to his one-year position.

“Typically, chambers are viewed as a group of conservative business people, but the reality is that our membership is so much more than that,” Ewan says. “The SLO Chamber’s membership consists of every facet of the business and non-profit community. While its focus is business oriented, it has always considered quality of life in a larger context. I think my selection of chair strengthens that connection.”

This environmental advocate speculates that the Chamber’s most difficult challenges next year will be reaching out to the new leaders at the city and county levels of government, and figuring out ways to reach members and stay current.

“This has not been the best of times, but I see it as a time when the Chamber can provide stability and a long-term history of reference for businesses as they move forward,” Ewan says. “Now is a good time to look at your business and figure out what you’re going to do differently. Businesses have to change who they are and what they are to change with and fit with their chosen markets, or even choose a new market.”

His team on the Executive Committee will include:

Tom Lebens, Immediate Past Chair of the Board
Michael Gunther, Vice-Chair, Legislative Affairs Division
Ron Yukelson, Vice-Chair, Economic Development Division
Ali Semon, Vice-Chair, Community Affairs Division
Charlene Rosales, Vice-Chair Membership/Operations Division
Clint Pearce, Treasurer
Bob Stets, Board Counsel

Ewan’s business philosophy is to stay local, even though there have been plenty of opportunities for his business, Pacific Energy Company, to branch outside of San Luis Obispo County and northern Santa Barbara County. He says he can use this business philosophy to help guide the Chamber in 2010.

“While it’s important to recognize those businesses that go outside the local arena, it’s just as important to support businesses that are locally based,” he says. “The Chamber can provide the tools that help local business reach out to the rest of the business community and the community as a whole.”

Ewan is president of SLO Green Build, served eight years on the San Luis Obispo City Council, was a SLO City Planning Commissioner, and has served as chair of several organizations and committees including ECOSLO, the Chamber’s former Air Quality and Circulation Task Force, and the Air Pollution Control District. Ewan is also a graduate of Leadership San Luis Obispo’s Class III.

While he was born in Paso Robles, Ewan grew up in the Pasadena area of Southern California. He got his associate’s degree in architecture at Pasadena City College, and then moved back to San Luis Obispo where he graduated from Cal Poly with a degree in political science.

In 1980, Ewan was actively opposed to the Diablo Canyon Power Plant, so he and his partner Troy Spindler opened Pacific Energy Company.

“You can’t just say ‘no’ to nuclear power,” Ewan says. “Somebody needed to provide an alternative, so we opened an alternative energy store.”

Married to Stephanie Ewan since 1982, John is the consummate family man. His 25-year-old daughter Rene lives in Portland, Oregon, has a master’s degree and is “under-employed,” John jokes, and his son Kurt turns 21 this year.

“The most rewarding aspect of my life is my family, and I say that in an encompassing way because I view many of my friends and close relationships as extended family,” Ewan says. “I have an incredibly close relationship with a large number of people.”

The Chamber’s new officers and directors will be installed at the 105th Annual Dinner on Jan. 23, 2010 at Embassy Suites Hotel. Including Ewan, the new directors will include: