BOARD MEMBERS & STAFF
2025 BOARD OFFICERS
CHAIR OF THE BOARD
Steven Hillgren
Kearny Real Estate Company
1ST VICE CHAIR
Matt Traino
IDS Real Estate Group
2ND VICE CHAIR
Rosemary Luna
Vulcan Materials Company
TREASURER
Anita Ron
Briteworks, INC.
SECRETARY
Gaby Flores
Le Méridien Pasadena Arcadia
PAST CHAIR
Anita Hernandez
Irwindale Brew Yard
2024 BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Marc Harismendy
Athens Services
Chelsea Jones
Santa Anita Park
Krystle Barraza
United Rock Products
Andre Saldivar
Southern California Edison
Ted Koerner
Martin Marietta
Kam Kalantari
Rize Credit Union
Lucy Lin
Absolute International Security
STAFF MEMBERS
LILY PHAN
PRESIDENT & CEO
An experienced non-profit sector leader, Lily Phan was named President & CEO of the Irwindale Chamber of Commerce in February 2024. She brings to the Irwindale Chamber over 14 years of experience in program development and institutional fundraising as well as a diverse background in international development. In her role as President & CEO, Phan leads the organization in serving the greater Irwindale business community with a focus on economic development, public policy, member services, and programs to enhance and promote a thriving local economy.
Her roles prior to coming to the Irwindale Chamber include Head of Field Office for the United Nations – World Food Program in N Lebanon, Deputy Country Director for Medair Lebanon, and Program Development and Quality Assurance Director for Save the Children and World Vision International in Pakistan, Sudan and Haiti.
She also provided capacity building training and consultations to nonprofits in Greater Los Angeles, Russia and Uganda. In over 7 years overseas, she successfully mobilized resources among business, government, academia, and community stakeholders in support of humanitarian initiatives and played an instrumental role in several major humanitarian responses, including the Haiti earthquake, Pakistan humanitarian response, Sudan Humanitarian crisis, Syrian refugee response, Lebanon economic crisis and social-political upheaval and COVID response. During this time, Lily also served as an Elder for the oldest international evangelical church in the Levant region, where she was lead recruiter for the executive leadership transition of the 250-year-old congregation. Before serving overseas, Lily was very engaged in serving the vulnerable population of Los Angeles, from Watts to Inglewood, for over 7 years as national program / micro-business development director and consultant.
Lily has been a San Gabriel Valley resident since the time her family migrated to the US in 1979 and planted roots in the City of San Dimas. Currently, she resides in Pasadena after repatriating from Lebanon. Having deep roots in the area, Lily is very familiar with Irwindale and is very enthusiastic about using her knowledge and experience to help the business community survive and thrive during this period. Her engagement with chamber work includes 1.5 years at the Anaheim Economic Development Department in the late 90s where she was the first point of contact for business inquiries and entry.
Lily has a B.A. in Economics with a concentration in Organizational and Business Management and a minor in English Literature from UC Irvine. She also has a Masters in Urban and Regional Planning from Cal Poly Pomona. Lily enjoys swimming and hiking in the summer, and skiing in the winter. In her spare time, she relaxes over a game of Scrabble and is an avid animal lover, especially canine and feline, and takes in strays when no one is looking.
ASHLEY BENDANILLO
COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR/STAFF ASSISTANT
Ashley Bendanillo is the Irwindale Chamber’s Communications Coordinator. She recently graduated from Cal Poly Pomona with a degree in Communication - Public Relations. Before coming to the Irwindale Chamber, she was President of her university’s Public Relations Student Society of America chapter and was an Ambassador for the Kellogg Honors College.
In her role as the President of the Public Relations Student Society of America chapter she
- Directed overall operations of the chapter.
- Chaired all general and executive board meetings.
- Served as the point of contact for the national organization, companies, students and university staff and faculty.
- Maintained member database for chapter and national organization use.
- Assisted in the enrollment of new and renewing members.
- Educated current and prospective members on the benefits of joining the chapter.
- Built and edited organization’s calendar.
- Oversaw social media pages and assisted in developing content.
As an Ambassador for the Kellogg Honors College, she
- Planned community outreach events with local high schools to promote the university.
- Motivated prospective students about Cal Poly Pomona and higher education.
- Coordinated volunteers’ schedules for the college’s annual Showcase of Excellence, an event attended by over 300 high school students and their family members.
Outside of work, Ashley enjoys her time scorekeeping Dodger games and crocheting sweaters, in the case Southern California ever gets below 70°F.