RIPON — It’s first things first for the newly appointed executive director of the Ripon Chamber of Commerce hoping to build a promotional team of three including herself and interim director Sam Carhart and assistant Bonnie Nutt.

Rebecca Naranjo comes to Ripon with a BA degree in Organizational Management and a work history in the field.  She has already been hitting the streets marketing the chamber’s benefits to business and professional men and women in the community.

She said that she hopes to determine – with the help of her team members – what can be done better and what is best to continue in the successes of the past.

“Our No. 1 thing is to bring value with more networking opportunities to the members to help them succeed,” she said.  “That’s where I feel the most comfortable going around and telling (business owners) about the events that are coming up such as Main Street Day on October 20.”

Naranjo will be meeting the general membership at the monthly chamber coffee Friday at 7:45 a.m. at the Ripon Senior Center at Fourth Street and Wilma Avenue.  Her first Board of Directors meeting is scheduled for an 11:30 a.m. lunch that will be held at the firehouse.  It will be hosted by Leo Zuber this month and will continue for two hours.

The new chamber director is a native of Escalon and a graduate of Davis High School in Modesto.  She earned her degree from Stanislaus State University.  Her work history includes Divine and Peters Intermodal where she worked as their marketing representative.

Naranjo also served as a sales representative for Chicago Title for six years and most recently worked as sales manager for her husband Mike’s used car dealership in Manteca.

The couple has two children: Kaylee, 17, and Kyle, 8.  Her family is most important to her, she says, followed by her relationships with people.  Naranjo said she loves to play tennis,  but most important in her love of sports,  is swimming.

Her daughter Kaylee is on the varsity tennis team at Central Catholic High School in Modesto.  Son Kyle loves baseball and plays tennis for fun, she said.