2019 May Colony Magazine

Emily Reneau named President/CEO of Atascadero Chamber
By Melissa Chavez
On April 18, Emily Reneau
greeted merchants at the
Atascadero Chamber of
Commerce Mixer. It was a
golden opportunity for business
owners and residents to
meet the new CEO/President
of the Atascadero Chamber
of Commerce.
“We are excited to have
Emily Reneau as our
incoming CEO,”
said Angela Cisneros, the 2019
chairperson of the Atascadero
Chamber Board of Directors.
“As a longtime resident of North
County, Emily has a passion for
the community, and she succeeds
wherever she directs her energy.”
Emily and her husband Scott
Reneau moved to north San Luis
Obispo County from Southern
California in 1996 with their then-
18-month-old baby girl to work
for Scott’s family dealership, Jerry
Reneau Chrysler Dodge. Emily, the
consummate volunteer leader, donated
her time for many local charities.
Once her children were in
school, Emily landed the role
of Parent Teacher Organization
president and auction chair at
Saint Rose Catholic School. As
non-traditional as she may seem,
Emily finds motherhood to be the
biggest accomplishment of her
life. Her daughter, Shelby, 24, is a
comedian in Los Angeles. James
Sloane, 20, is a musician who
attends Cuesta College. Carson,
15, is a high school student who is
active in drama and choir.
Emily’s relational approach
to community involvement has
extended to performing arts in
previous stage work with Pioneer
Players community theater and in
education as a board member of
the Paso Robles Library Foundation,
the Paso Robles Education
Alliance, and the REC Foundation
in Paso Robles.
As a longtime resident of North County,
Emily has a passion for the community, and
she succeeds wherever she directs her energy.
Emily reached a satisfying
milestone in 2007 as the project
manager for the $1.5 million
construction of Paso Robles
Children’s Museum. The 7,000
square-foot former city fire department
at 623 13th Street
received extensive renovation
to the ground-level space and
basement. Emily achieved the
$1.5 million dollar funding goal
through generous community
donors and memorial foundations,
sweat equity, and a
$135,875 Community Development
Block Grant.
When Paso Robles had fewer
than 30 active wineries, Emily
worked on the ground floor of
Paso Robles Vintners and Growers
Association. In her liaison
role as the Marketing and Events
Manager, Emily managed the Zinfandel
Festival, Paso Robles Wine
Festival, and Harvest Wine Affair.
Emily planned and organized
events at Cal Poly and managed
the students who host the Cal Poly
Wine Festival.
Over almost eight years at the
American Heart Association, Emily
worked as the Business Development
Director, initiating a new heart
walk and luncheon in the North
County and overseeing the existing
heart walk and luncheon in San Luis
Obispo and events in Santa Maria.
Most recently, Emily has worked as
the Business Development Associate
for H.M. Holloway, Inc., opening up
the company’s Paso Robles office
and leading the firm’s community
outreach on the Central Coast.
Emily’s hire at the Atascadero
Chamber of Commerce comes after
much hope and anticipation of
one day being the lead for a North
County community organization.
“Ever since working with Walt
Disney Company as the Community
Relations Coordinator for the
expansion of Disneyland Resort,
I’ve always wanted a position as a
chamber director,” Emily said. “For
the past few years, Atascadero has
made some fabulous strides. I’m
excited to be part of the development
going forward and helping to
position Atascadero as a catalyst in
tourism in North County.”
“I’m thrilled about the La Plaza
project to enhance Atascadero,”
Emily said. “BridgeWork is another
feather in the Chamber’s
cap. Creating a coworking space
for telecommuters and nonprofit
executives can only help the
economy in North County and
allow for double-income families
and young entrepreneurs to better
their businesses.”
The “Creekside Building” in
Colony Square at 6907 El Camino
Real, previously used for mixed retail
and City Hall offices, has been
repurposed courtesy of a $15,000
pledge and partnership with
Pacific Premier Bank. The
Atascadero Chamber of Commerce
will oversee a new visitor’s
center and 3,200-square-foot public
office space will enable people
to work remotely from downtown
and even cross-pollinate skillsets
with other professionals.
“I am collaborative, yet competitive,”
laughed Emily. “I believe
in empowering people and using
their creative energy to generate
new ideas. It’s an exciting time
in Atascadero and I’m so glad to
take part in all of it!”
ATASCADERO CHAMBER BUSINESS MIXER
On May 16, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Chalk Mountain Golf
Course will host an Atascadero Chamber of Commerce Business
Mixer at Sunset Service Center, located at 8600 El Camino Real in
Atascadero. Enjoy complimentary food and drink while connecting
with fellow business professionals. The Business Mixer is a free
service of Atascadero Chamber of Commerce.
For more information, call the chamber at (805) 466-2044, email
info@atascaderochamber.org, or visit atascaderochamber.org.
36 | colonymagazine.com Colony Magazine, May 2019