About Us

President

Earl Stephens, Forestville Mobile Home Park

I was born and raised in Forestville. I served my country for two terms in the Vietnam War in 1968. Upon my return home, I worked for Fred’s Liquor for 25 years. Ten years ago in 1999 with the help of from my good friend Tom Passalacqua, I was able to plant 10 acres of Pinot Noir Grapes, just south of Forestville in the Russian River Valley and sell them to Clos du Bois Winery. Eventually because of my vineyard’s success, I was hired as part of the management team for Chenoweth Vineyards. I held this position for over seven years and I learned a lot about vineyard management in an ever changing environment .

I have served on the Forestville Park Board of Directors for numerous years. I was also honored with the Citizen of the Year in 2004. The board of directors serves the community with the Easter Egg Hunt , Citizen of the Year Dinner, Tree Lighting just to name a few. This is my second term of being the Forestville Chamber of Commerce President. I look forward to getting more people involved in the beautiful community in which we live, love and dream.

Vice President

Leslie Zumwalt, Frame of Mind

My husband, Chris Hataway, and I came to Forestville in 1997 to open Frame of Mind. Frame of Mind is a full-service, custom picture framing studio and art gallery. Both Chris and I are artists and display our work in the gallery. In 2003, we created our greatest masterpiece to date, his name is Ezekiel Oz, and from time to time, he too, can be seen in the gallery.

My first career began in the fashion industry. Using my skills with color, design and construction, picture framing came naturally to me. I love being a business owner in Forestville. The community has been tremendously supportive and I look forward to giving back some of that support, while serving on the board of directors for the Forestville Chamber of Commerce.

Treasurer

Monica (Mo) Hull

Secretary

Karen Dion, Bank of the West

I have had the privilege of working in Forestville for Bank of the West for the past 13 years, a Customer Service Manager for 3 years. I have worked with the Forestville Chamber of Commerce for the past 10 years serving my community with the Easter Egg Hunt and The Forestville Business Expo 2008.

I lived in Santa Rosa with my family for the past 25 years, and have two wonderful children named Kimberly and Matthew who are now adults in Santa Rosa, so I now have more opportunity to serve my community.

Emergency Assistance Fund Manager

Robert, Bob e Z, Zoglin

I've been a resident of Forestville since 1976 and Sonoma county businessman since 1970. My main businesses include Corporate Image Marketing, Inc., DomainContractors, Inc., and ABCO Communications. These businesses lease nationwide toll-free vanity numbers and Internet domains. They also broker Internet domains. ABCO Communications is one of the few communication companies in the U.S. that is a RespOrg which allows direct access to acquire toll-free numbers from the national database of all US toll-free numbers.

I'm also a partner in Brand 800 and R&R Zoglin Investment, LLC, and owner of Whole Earth Antiques and Gems. I have been on the chamber board of directors for 6 years.

Board Member

Pete Summers

Board Member

Orrin Thiessen

Orrin Thiessen was born and raised in Southern California.  He moved to Sonoma County in1971 to attend Sonoma State University.  He majored in Biology there, studying Ecology.  For his Senior Project, he chose to design and construct a home from recycled materials, and this is where his interests in design and building were born.  After college, Orrin became a licensed General Contractor.  He designed and built a number of custom homes in western Sonoma County and then began developing small in-fill sub-divisions.

Orrin started studying mixed-use, downtown planning, New Urbanism and historic design in 1993.  He designed and rebuilt the historic downtown area of Graton, which had mixed-use buildings on the Main Street. The Sonoma County Historical Society presented Orrin with awards for his Graton Preservation efforts.  He continued developing mixed-use projects including Starr Station in Windsor on the Northwestern Rail.

Currently, Orrin is finishing the development of the Windsor Town Green which is the largest mixed-use project in Sonoma County to date.  The build-out will total 191 residential condominiums and approximately 100 shops, restaurants and offices.  Many of the buildings have historic elements incorporated into their design. 

Orrin was awarded the Sonoma County Spirit Award and Windsor Business Person of the Year in 2001 for his work in downtown Windsor.  He is currently planning a town square surrounded by mixed-use buildings on eight acres in downtown Forestville.  Orrin is also subdividing Harmony School in Occidental into a live/work village with a performing arts center and has built a hiring hall for day laborers in Graton.

Orrin and Terri have been married for twenty four years and have five children, ages 14 to 21.  Orrin and Terri are very involved in the community.  Terri is on her ninth year as a board member for the Oak Grove Union School District and Orrin coached both soccer and basketball teams for many years. 

Board Member

Skip Swensen, Steam Machines

Varied backgrounds in far ranging job experiences including Pan Am Pilot, US Military Air Search Rescue, Sales for Beringer Vineyards, West Coast Manger Foreign Currency Exchange for Citibank, Wine Importer, Executive Search for wine Industry.

Owns firm which imports Steam Car Wash equipment also usable on winery equipment. Currently Vineyard Consultant for Crinella Vineyards maintaining company operations and vineyard maintainer as well as sales and Marketing. Daughter just graduated from UC Davis and hopefully will bring her energy and education to Forestville to help at the vineyards.