Local CPA chief installed as chairman of Pleasanton Chamber

Matt DePretis, a Pleasanton business consultant and tax adviser, has been installed as this year’s chairman of the Pleasanton Chamber of Commerce.

In a ceremony held during a sold-out luncheon at Ruby Hill Golf Club, DePretis was sworn into his new position by Mayor Jerry Thorne.

DePretis has served as served on the chamber board of directors for the past five years and has been active on both the chamber’s Economic Development and Government Affairs committees and its political action arm, known as BACPAC.

He succeeds James Paxson, general manager of Hacienda, who continues to serve on the chamber’s board.

DePretis has over 25 years of experience providing business consulting and tax advisory services to high net worth individuals and privately held companies in a variety of industries, leading a team at certified public accountants at DePretis CPAs in Bernal Corporate Park.

Also honored at the luncheon were Dave Stark, ‎public affairs director at Bay East Association of Realtors, and Pam Hardy, senior manager of Land Planning at Ponderosa Homes. They stepped down after 13 years of combined service on the chamber’s board..

“They’re stepping down, but thankfully not stepping away,” said DePretis. “Both will remain active on committees representing the interests of business to government and advancing policies in Pleasanton 2020.”

New to the chamber board in 2016 are Sara LeBrun-Scott from the Marriott Pleasanton Hotel, Randy Brown, PMZ Real Estate and Herb Ritter, Ritter Investments.

Returning directors include Danielle Fratellone of Fratellone Family Chiropractic; Janice Phalen, Diablo Meridian Realty; Ed Westmoreland, Eddie Papa’s American Hangout; Brian Gentry, Fremont Bank; Scott Gregerson, Stanford Health Care/ValleyCare; Todd Moberg, Insignia Designs; Mike Peel, Venture Sotheby’s International Realty; Harold Roundtree, UNCLE Credit Union and Heather Stanek, ClubSport Pleasanton.

“This is the one time during the year we turn our attention inward and say thank you to the countless individuals and businesses who bring their time, talent and resources to the table year in and year out for the greater good of our community,” said Scott Raty, the chamber’s chief executive officer.

Awards were given to chamber volunteers.

Ken Norvell of CMIT Solutions, was named Ambassador of the Year for the second year in a row. He serves on the chamber’s Ambassador Committee, which is the public relations arm of the organization.

The Carol Bush Award for outstanding volunteer of the year went to Danielle Fratellone for her leadership of the Pleasanton Young Professionals over the last two years. She was one of the founding members of the group, served as its chairwoman for its first two years and helped build its membership to 60 individuals.

Paxson presented the Chairman’s Award to Todd Moberg of Insignia Designs for his work on the chamber’s Ambassador Committee, which included boosting the chamber’s membership.

The chamber’s Foundation chairman Jim DeMersman, executive director of the Museum on Main, presented the Jenny Doehle Leadership Pleasanton award to Donna Colteaux. The annual award honors a Leadership Pleasanton graduate who exemplifies the program’s goals for community engagement.