Royal Oak Chamber Announces 2014 Board of Directors

The Royal Oak Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors has elected attorney Mark Schneider of Troy-based Gifford, Krass, Sprinkle, Anderson & Citkowski, PC as its 2014 President, effective Jan. 1.

A 1990 Graduate of Shrine, who resides in Royal Oak with his wife and two children who are enrolled in the Royal Oak School District, Schneider has been a Royal Oak Chamber of Commerce member for nine years. He served on the Chamber’s Board of Directors since 2011 as Vice President for two years. In addition, Schneider chaired the Chamber’s Community Relations Committee and was responsible for spear-heading the rewrite of the Chamber By-Laws in 2010. Schneider was also elected as an Honorary Lifetime Member. 

“The Chamber will be working to thoughtfully lend its voice in a more substantive and public way to issues of concern to the business community,” stated Schneider of his plans as the new Board leader. “Thanks to the hard work of the Chamber staff – and the vision of our two immediate past presidents, the Chamber is an excellent shape and well positioned to continue to serve the greater Royal Oak business community for many years into the future.”

The Chamber’s 2014 Board of Directors Officers also include Carrie O’Neill,The Rock on 3rd and President of the Royal Oak Restaurant Association as Vice President; Becky Maas, Sales & Marketing Manager of Hamlin Corner & Hamlin Pubs and 2013 Chamber Volunteer of the Year as Secretary; and Jay Dunstan from Midcoast Studios as Treasurer.

In addition to its new officers, the Chamber welcomes several new Board Members as Norm Clissold (Beaumont’s Jones Lang LaSalle), Jim Plecha (Advantage Computer); Jason Krieger (Krieger | Klatt Architects) and Steve Harmon (PNC Bank) conclude their years of service. 

2014 new Chamber of Commerce Board Members are Greg Cooksey (CG Emerson Real Estate Group), Kim Hosner (ReMax Vision), Thomas B. Lanni, Jr. (Medicine & Imaging, Beaumont Health System) and Mike Ripinski (Century 21 Town & Country Team Ripinski).

Returning Board Members include Howard Collens (Galloway & Collens PLLC); Jason Gittinger (Detroit School of Rock & Pop); Michael Gordon (Moiseev Gordon Architects); Shawn Lewis-Lakin (Royal Oak School District); Craig Mangold (Holiday Market); Vonnie Miller (Stagecrafters); Jim Reinert (Reinert & Co); Tom Tull (TC Green Media); and Dale Vigliarolo (Northwest Contracting).

“As a resident of Royal Oak, Mark knows from firsthand experience the value of our community and how it can become even better, stated 2011-13 President Howard Collens. “Our members will benefit from his enthusiastic inquisitiveness.  I would expect that his tenure as President of the Chamber will be notable for the Chamber’s further engagement with City Hall, the City Commission, the DDA, the Royal Oak School District and the broader business community.” 

“Mark brings with him an amazing skillset. He’s incredibly organized and full of exciting ideas for 2014,” stated Executive Director Shelly Kemp. “In addition to his involvement with the Chamber for so many years, he also volunteers with the Royal Oak Historical Society. I firmly believe the more connected the Chamber is to the community we serve, the more good we can do for all. Mark will be a great asset to the Chamber’s continued growth and development.”

Source: Royal Oak Chamber of Commerce