Board of Directors
Delano Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors
The Delano Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors meets every 2nd Tuesday of the month at 6:00PM (unless posted otherwise on event calendar).
Executive Committee (2023-2024)
Chairwoman of the Board: Jasmin Samano
About Jasmin Samano: Hello from Jasmin Samano's State Farm Agency, located in beautiful downtown Bakersfield. Our neighboring cities are Oildale, Lamont, Shafter, Wasco, Delano, Mcfarland, Earlimart, and Richgrove, but they are here to help service all of California! Jasmin's career with State Farm first started straight out of high school where she worked at their old regional building on Old River Rd with her mom who had worked for State Farm in multiple sectors of the company for 25+ years. Jasmin started with State Farm in the basement level of the building sorting and filing claim paperwork, which is now done electronically! A year later an opportunity arose for her to move up and work at a local office for her dear friend and mentor James E. Banks. She learned all about State Farm's processes, policies, and array of products over a 10 year time span. This gave her the opportunity to build relationships with what is now her current book of business, along with members of the local community. After those ten years, she was given the opportunity to open her own office in downtown Bakersfield on September 1, 2020. During these past 3 years, Jasmin had the opportunity to grow her office to what is now a staff of 6, who are ready and waiting to help you with all of your insurance and financial needs. Jasmin stays active in the local community by currently sitting on the Delano Chamber of Commerce Board, a member of the Greater Bakersfield Chamber, NAWBO (National Association of Women Business Owners) and a proud supporter of her children's Alianza Soccer Team. We can't wait to welcome you to our State Farm Family to assist you with all of your Auto, Home, Renters, Life, Health, and Business needs!
Business Name: Jasmin Samano State Farm Agency
About Business: Insurance Agency
Address: 1528 18th Street, Bakersfield, CA 93301-4402 Phone: (661) 872-5140
Immediate Past Chairwoman: May Zetina
About May Zetina:
Business Name: Delano Union School District
About Business: The Delano Unified Elementary School District is in Delano, California. Of the 11 schools, eight of the schools are K-5. They are Princeton, Morningside, Harvest, Fremont, Terrace, Albany Park, Nueva Vista and Del Vista. The other 3 serve 6th-8th grade. They include Cecil Ave., Almond Tree, and La Vina. The oldest, Cecil Ave. was once an Elementary School and is currently located across from the city's first High School DHS (Delano High School).
Address: 1405 12th Ave., Delano, CA 93215
Chair-Elect: Ed Zamora
About Ed Zamora: Born and raised in the City of Delano, Board of Director Ed Zamora joined the Delano Chamber of Commerce in 2021. Ed joined the Chamber as a way to give back to the community that has raised him. When not spending time with family and friends, you might see Ed around town showing homes as a local realtor with Better Homes Realty.
Business Name: Better Homes Realty
About Business: Better Homes Realty opened its doors in 2018 with only one agent. Now in 2023, Better Homes Realty has a total of 8 agents working for the community of Delano. Each Better Homes Realty is independently owned and operated. The Delano office is owned by Sam Muñoz who also sits on the Board of Directors of the Delano Chamber of Commerce
Mr. Muñoz has said, “The more we grow, the more we are able to help our community.” Over the last 5 years, Better Homes Realty has grown their business while helping the community. Just last year, they sold over $20,000,000 (20 million dollars) worth of property enabling them to participate in and sponsor many community events and organizations.
Better Homes Realty staff has assisted with several Chamber events including the Annual Christmas Parade, Crab Feed, and Street Fairs through volunteering and sponsorships. They have sponsored a soccer team from the Torres Youth Soccer League. They have also partnered with The Ideal Club, a local non-profit organization, to purchase sweaters and jackets for their annual coat drive, which were provided recently to more than 60 kids at Almond Tree Middle School. They have also donated TV’s to aid in the fundraising efforts of The Ideal Club for yearly scholarships to students at all local high schools. Other donations include raffle prizes for the Warden’s Golf Tournament, Lakers game tickets for the Chamber’s Crab Feed Cake Auction, and canned goods and clothing to help families that have experienced tragedies in the household.
Better Homes Realty is committed to helping local families, not just through buying and selling property, but through community involvement.
Address: 1420 High St., Suite C, Delano, CA 93215
Phone: (661) 852-8114
Vice Chairwoman: Elsa Pinoliar
About Elsa Pinoliar: Elsa has been a resident of Delano since 2003 and was raised in Kodiak, Alaska, so she enjoys living in a small town. She has been married since 1997 and has three wonderful children. They moved to California to seek a better opportunity for our family and purchase our first home.
Elsa is currently a Branch Manager II at Valley Strong Credit Union since July 2021, but has been in the financial industry since 1997. She loves helping their members financially and developing her team to reach their full potential.
Elsa enjoys spending time with her family, watching sports, and promoting Valley Strong Credit Union as well as a non-profit organization in the Delano Community. Elsa and her husband are involved with a Non-Profit organization called Spreading Help Around You (SHAY) that was established in 2014 to honor their second daughter, Shaylyn. Their Mission is to help and support families who have lost a loved one. They will educate families on the importance of being prepared at the time of loss. They are committed to actively serving the community. Each year since Shaylyn’s passing, family and friends along with the Delano Community, honor her with an Annual Citywide 5k Run/Walk on Thanksgiving morning to promote Pedestrian Safety Awareness.
Elsa is grateful for the opportunity to give back to the Delano Community and represent my Credit Union.
Business Name: Valley Strong Credit Union (Delano Branch)
About Business: In 1938, a small group of dedicated and concerned teachers met for the purpose of forming a financial cooperative for school employees and their families. From these very humble beginnings, Valley Strong Credit Union was founded and formed.
The first Valley Strong “office” was actually a small room located in the library of a local high school. A single volunteer conducted all the operations, with transaction receipts kept in a shoe box. By the end of our first year, Valley Strong had 141 individuals banking with us and approximately $1,300 in assets.
Simply stated, a lot has changed over the last three-quarters of a century. However, our commitment to serving all of California remains the same. That’s why more than 290,000 individuals representing nearly $4 billion in assets choose to bank with us.
Our mission is to turn people’s financial possibilities into financial realities. We work every day to create a better tomorrow for our children and families. We are here to stay and grow together. And, here to discover the best financial possibilities for the best possible outcomes.
From extensive loan programs, including home and auto, to the latest in digital technology, retirement and wealth management services, and business banking, Valley Strong is your lifelong financial partner.
So no matter what your financial possibilities may be, we are here to serve you.
Valley Strong Credit Union – Grow Your Possibilities
Address: 1828 Cecil Ave A & B, Delano, CA 93215
Phone: (661) 833-7557Treasurer: Silvia Soto
Business Name: EJ Construction
About Business: General Contractor
Address: 1002 Dover Place Ste. # 103, Delano, CA 93215.
Phone: (661) 725-0814.Business Name: King of Kings Christian Bookstore & Gift Store
About Business: Christian Bookstore and Christian Gift Shop
Address:1002 Dover Pl # 102, Delano, CA 93215.
Phone: (661) 725-0814Board Members
Liz Morris
About Liz Morris: City of Delano Council Member
Business Name: Delano City Council
Address: City Hall, First Floor - City Council Chambers, 1015 11th Avenue, P. O. Box 3010, Delano, CA 93215
Phone: 661-721-3303
Sam Muñoz
About Sam Muñoz: I am extremely passionate about what I do. I love and enjoy flipping properties so families have a move in ready home.
Business Name: Better Homes Realty
About Business: Better Homes Realty opened its doors in 2018 with only one agent. Now in 2023, Better Homes Realty has a total of 8 agents working for the community of Delano. Each Better Homes Realty is independently owned and operated. The Delano office is owned by Sam Muñoz who also sits on the Board of Directors of the Delano Chamber of Commerce
Mr. Muñoz has said, “The more we grow, the more we are able to help our community.” Over the last 5 years, Better Homes Realty has grown their business while helping the community. Just last year, they sold over $20,000,000 (20 million dollars) worth of property enabling them to participate in and sponsor many community events and organizations.
Better Homes Realty staff has assisted with several Chamber events including the Annual Christmas Parade, Crab Feed, and Street Fairs through volunteering and sponsorships. They have sponsored a soccer team from the Torres Youth Soccer League. They have also partnered with The Ideal Club, a local non-profit organization, to purchase sweaters and jackets for their annual coat drive, which were provided recently to more than 60 kids at Almond Tree Middle School. They have also donated TV’s to aid in the fundraising efforts of The Ideal Club for yearly scholarships to students at all local high schools. Other donations include raffle prizes for the Warden’s Golf Tournament, Lakers game tickets for the Chamber’s Crab Feed Cake Auction, and canned goods and clothing to help families that have experienced tragedies in the household.
Better Homes Realty is committed to helping local families, not just through buying and selling property, but through community involvement.
Address: 1420 High St., Suite C, Delano, CA 93215
Phone: (661) 709-0921
Jonathon Ortiz
About Jonathon Ortiz: Jonathon began his career working in residential real estate. As second generation, he has worked in buying, selling, flipping, and probates. He has aided in the refinement of family-owned companies Liberty One Real Estate & Liberty One Property Management, as well as working along-side owners in the development of start-up businesses Athletix Sports Gym and De Vino Event Center in Delano, California. He studied at California State University Bakersfield majoring in business with a concentration in finance while serving as the schools highly honored Financial Management Association’s (FMA) President. Jonathon is now being mentored by one the most successful commercial brokerage firms in the San Joaquin Valley under the company’s senior retail specialist, Scott Underhill with over 40 years of experience. Together actively participating in leasing space, heavily marketing, and seeking new ways the team can serve the surrounding area.
Business Name: De Vino Event Center
About Business: De Vino is a private event venue located in Delano, Ca. The Winery theme space features premium tiled flooring, dance floor, lanterns, & pillars.
Address: 1427 S Lexington St Bld B, Delano, CA 93215
Phone: (866) 766-5503
Connie Torres
About Connie Torres: In today’s world, you want options, flexibility, and some measure of certainty that a secure future is within reach. As your local Life, Home, Business, Auto, & Health Insurance agent, Connie has the experience and professional perspective to help you build a solid financial plan. She is also a mortgage lender with 18 years of experience. She brings her knowledge and experience to help you through the process, and find the terms which are right for you, making sure all the legalities are competently handled. Additionally, a Solar Consultant, to help you take control of where your power comes from and what you want to pay. Connie is also the owner of event venue, BellaVento. Life is better when you are working with a trained and caring professional like Connie Torres in your corner.
Business Name: Consuelo Torres Insurance Agency
About Business: Founded in 2020, Consuelo Torres Agency is an insurance and risk management brokerage, delivering tailored insurance solutions in all of California. They take pride in serving as their clients' trusted & local insurance office. Offering their insurance expertise and helping them navigate through life's unexpected events.
As an independently-owned agency, they have gained their reputation and advantage from their team's responsiveness, honesty and integrity, and foresight into an ever-changing world and its risks. This level of commitment and dedication to their clients allows them to help clients stay ahead of any challenges they may face.
Contact them today and learn how they can be an asset to you in your search for insurance protection.
Address: 375 So. Dover Parkway Suite C1, Delano, CA 93215.
Phone: (661) 446-8090
Miriam Jeronimo
About Miriam Jeronimo: Miriam was born on September 23, 1986, in Guerrero, Mexico. Her mother and siblings migrated to Delano California in 1993. She attended Delano High School and graduated in 2004. She was the first of her family to graduate from high school. Miriam attended Bakersfield College and began her career with Wells Fargo Bank. Miriam has held several positions within the Bank over the last 19 years, 12 of those years has been served as a Branch Manager. She has volunteered numerous amounts of hours to serve her community these over the years and now serves as a Board member for the Delano Chamber of Commerce. Miriam is proud to continue to serve the community of Delano to help the city prosper.
Business Name: Wells Fargo
Address: 920 11th Ave., Delano, CA 93215
Phone: (661) 725-2523
Art Madrigal
About Art Madrigal:
Business Name: A.Madrigal Productions
Ginda Adkins (Associate Director)
About Ginda Adkins:
Business Name: Greater Delano Area Youth Foundation
Address: P.O. Box 135, Delano, CA 93216.
Phone: (661) 725-1234
Honorary Life Members
Martin Zaninovich
Betty La Course
Posthumous Life Members
Ralph Carpenter
Ralph E. Carpenter 1914 - 2010 Ralph was born on September 18, 1914 in Marion, Iowa. After his parents divorced, Ralph lived in Colorado until he was 7. After his mother died he lived with her family in Hopewell, Mississippi. At age 12, he was adopted by an aunt and her husband and moved to New Jersey. He graduated from the University of Arizona in 1937 with a bachelor's degree in journalism. Ralph wanted to see the world so he sailed as a steward to Germany and to South America. He married Janice Hemenway in Tucson, Arizona in June 1940. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, he joined the U.S. Navy and became a gunnery officer on the U.S.S. Kitty Hawk, sailing into the South Pacific for three and a half years. After the war, he and his wife, Jan, and their two children, Susan and Monty, moved to Delano where he worked as an advertising manager for the Delano Record. In January 1950 he became a life insurance salesman for Aetna Life and Casualty. Their daughter, Stacey, was born in 1955. He served on the original board of the Delano Harvest Holidays and was active in Kiwanis, V.F.W., and Delano Chamber of Commerce. He served on the Kern County Board of Trade for twenty years, twice as president. He and Jan were active in establishing the Delano Center of Bakersfield College. Ralph and Jan were married for 70 years. They spent their final year together in the same room of the Delano District Skilled Nursing Facility. He died at the age of 95 on June 23, 2010.