Sedona Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors

Chairman - Ralph Woellmer

Ralph is the owner of the Matterhorn Inn & Matterhorn Shoppes, a Sedona hotel and retail shopping plaza located in uptown Sedona. Mr. Woellmer is responsible for the operations of the Matterhorn Inn and shops and is responsible for future planning at the family owned properties. Mr. Woellmer is also the General Manager/Director of the Arroyo Roble Resort a Gold Crown Resort located in uptown Sedona.

Vice-Chair - Joel Gilgoff

Joel Gilgoff has been a Sedona resident for 22 years and has served on the Sedona Chamber Board of Directors in various capacities for over 18 years.  Joel is the consummate marketer and oversaw the creation of the three original chamber websites, he created the Brown Bag Lunch educational program and has personally taught over a dozen classes to chamber members and the public.  The Javelina’s on Parade program was his inspiration along with various other marketing programs. Joel assisted in the purchase of the Sedona Administrative offices and donated the funds to furnish the building. Joel helped many chamber members with one-on-one marketing assistance.  He plans, if elected to another term on the board, to continue his previous efforts. Joel has served in the past as chamber Marketing Professional, board secretary for one term, treasurer for one term, vice chairman for two terms and chairman for 2 ½ terms.

Treasurer - David Biermann

David Biermann has a Bachelors of Science in Business Administration & Economics from St. Mary’s College of California.  He has a son Brenden 22, Graduate U of A currently working for AT&T Corp. and a daughter Brooke 20, working in the hospitality industry. David has been in the construction business for 30 years.  He established the successful Biermann Construction and Development, Inc. (using Honesty and integrity as the foundation of his business) a commercial and residential construction company, 9 years ago.  His projects have included the Chamber of Commerce Visitors Center in uptown, Village of Oak Creek Health Center, Parkway Plaza, The Fork in the Road Restaurant, Northern Arizona Rehabilitation and Fitness, Bell Rock Vista townhouses, Cathedral Hideaway Bed and Breakfast, Pita fresh restaurant to name a few along with many custom homes and remodels in the greater Sedona area.  As an incumbent to the Chamber of Commerce my involvement the last three years has been enormous, serving on multiple Committees and providing important feedback.  Community involvement is important. He supports the Boys & Girls Clubs of Northern Arizona, Sedona Red Rock High School, International Mountain Bike Association, Volunteers as a trail patroller for greater Sedona mountain bike trail system and Wild Turkey foundation for junior hunters.  Certified by the U.S. Green building counsel.  He is always available to provide services to the community.

Secretary - Tony Rizzo

Tony Rizzo is the General Manager for the Village of Oakcreek Association and the Oakcreek Country Club. Tony grew up in Coon Rapids, MN, and graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire with a degree in Marketing and Coaching, while playing on the Varsity Football team. Believing that business is a lot like team sports, his background in coaching has enhanced his leadership, communication, motivational and people skills. Tony began his career with the American Golf Corporation in Southern California, becoming the youngest General Manager in the company's 36 year history. He then left American Golf to partner in and run the family owned golf course, Desert Mirage of Glendale, Arizona.  During his six year tenure at Desert Mirage, Tony learned how valuable the local community was in the success of their business, building a strong relationship with the City, local businesses and the Chambers of Commerce. Tony has always put God, family and community at the top of his list.

Desiree Brackin

Desiree Brackin was born and raised in Chandler, Arizona.  She and her husband of 23 years moved to Sedona in 2004 to start their own business. Since then, Desiree has been the co-owner and licensed professional of Brackin Benefits, a local insurance agency offering Health, Life and Long Term Care insurance. Desiree has been a Sedona Chamber of Commerce Ambassador since 2011 and recently won the Sedona Chamber of Commerce “2012 Excellence in Service” Award for her dedicated efforts in helping new members fully utilize their membership. She served 4 years on the Mystic Hills HOA Board of Directors and is a member of the Sedona Red Rocks Rotary. And if all this isn’t enough, Desiree has homeschooled each of her 4 daughters! The two oldest girls currently attend Scottsdale Community College.

Ed Conway

For the past 6 ½ years Ed Conway has been General Manager of Sedona Rouge, starting with the pre-opening construction through grand opening with involvement in all aspects of the project. Affiliations in Sedona include: Board member for three years of the Northern AZ Boys & Girls Clubs and involved with Sedona Taste including REDS participation; steering committee for three Sedona Miracle events; and Vice President of the Sedona Lodging Council. Under his leadership Sedona Rouge was awarded the Spirit of Sedona 2009 award by Sedona Community Foundation and he is a Member of Sedona 30. Prior to arriving to Sedona he was General Manager of Greenhorn Creek Resort in Angels Camp. Additional career positions include Director of Operations of the California Culinary Academy in San Francisco and General Manager of Beresta Palace Hotel in Novgorod, Russia. Other international assignments in hospitality positions included hotels in South Africa, Republic of Georgia and the Caribbean. Ed has a family of four, wife Julia and two sons, Steven and Sasha.

Myra deGersdorff

Myra H. deGersdorff accomplished hospitality professional began her career with Hyatt Hotels Corporation holding management positions in Front Office, Reservations, and Housekeeping.  She opened the 1200 room Hyatt Regency New Orleans and the 1000 room addition to the Hyatt Regency Chicago bringing it to 2019 rooms.  Following six years with Hyatt, Ms deGersdorff opened the InterContinental New Orleans as Director of Training and Management Development, was promoted to Master Trainer for US, UK, BENELUX, was then promoted to Director of Human Resources, and later moved to The Willard InterContinental, in Washington, D.C.   Ms deGersdorff was in Human Resources for seven years before joining Ritz-Carlton in 1989 when there were only 8 hotels.  She opened Ritz-Carlton’s in Pentagon City, Tysons Corner, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Cancun.  As Director of Operations for The Ritz-Carlton, Washington D.C., Ms deGersdorff managed a total renovation and gained three years running Food and Beverage before being promoted as General Manager to The Ritz-Carlton, Kansas City.  While there, the hotel improved guest and employee satisfaction from number 28 to number 7 and achieved budget expectations for the first time since being flagged.  As General Manager of The Ritz-Carlton Pentagon City, she led 800 employees and guests through the terrorist attacks at the Pentagon on 9/11. 

United Airlines recruited Ms deGersdorff to manage a fractional ownership start up venture as Senior Vice President, Owner Relations and In-flight Operations.  Due to financial challenges following 9/11 and union negotiations with the parent company, the venture closed in mid 2002.  Ritz-Carlton immediately recruited Ms deGersdorff to return as General Manager of The Ritz-Carlton, Philadelphia.  In 2005 Ms deGersdorff was promoted to Area General Manager for Ritz-Carlton’s complex of three hotels, six outlets serving food and beverage, a 35,000 sq ft banquet operation, three retail shops and 25,000 sq ft Spa with 22 treatment rooms and full salon in New Orleans.  Amidst the rioting, with 1200 guests and employees stranded in flood waters for a week during and following Hurricane Katrina, Ms deGersdorff’s decisive crisis management saved lives.  In 2006 she received Ritz-Carlton’s coveted President’s Award.  When the financial crisis began in 2008, hers were the only US hotels to achieve budget.      

With more than 30 years’ leadership experience in upscale and luxury hotels Ms deGersdorff comes as an accomplished performer with the sophistication and interpersonal skills required in such environments.   Her innate talent, integrity and reliability combined with financial business savvy, strength in marketing and revenue management bring tremendous value.  Her strong focus on service excellence, employee engagement and profit retention is complemented by an understanding of the importance of bringing warmth, enthusiasm, optimism, and approachability into senior leadership roles.

Stephanie Giesbrecht

Stephanie Giesbrecht has been a full-time Sedona resident since January, 1996.  The 15 years prior to landing in Sedona, Stephanie provided startup infrastructure and systems automation consulting services to large resort development companies located throughout the Continental United States, Canada and the Caribbean under her own company.  She earned her commercial helicopter pilot rating in 2000 and flew until 2004, which time she went back to infrastructure and systems work for Northern Arizona Healthcare, and currently manages both the FMC and VVMC Foundation offices.  Stephanie holds current California Real Estate Broker and Arizona Mortgage Broker and Originator licenses offering private money loans, and serves on the Sedona Community Foundation and Sedona Airport Authority Boards of Directors.

Carol Golden

Carol was recently named Executive Director of Sedona Jazz on the Rocks, a non-profit that annually produces Sedona's well known Jazz Festival that raises funds for scholarships and other programs to support talented young Arizona jazz musicians to keep the American Jazz tradition alive. Shortly after moving to Sedona in 2002, Carol began working for Sedona Red Rock Jeep Tours as director of sales and marketing. Carol's understanding of the tourism industry and her ability to market is one of her valuable strengths. During this period Carol also served on the board of the Philanthropic Committee for Verde Valley Medical Center and was one of the original members who created the Copper Ball Fundraiser for VVMC Foundation.

Carol and her husband have three daughters, three son-in-laws, two of which are local to the Sedona area and two wonderful grand children. She enjoys hiking, singing, and playing "tea party" with her grandkids.

Alexander Hashimi

There’s a lot more behind Zainey’s Yogurt than just delicious frozen yogurt. I started my culinary career at the age of 14 working for a high-end catering company in VA. By the time I was 17 years old I had become the head Pastry Chef and Sous Chef of the catering company. I decided to enroll in culinary school at the Prestigious Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, NY. There I earned my AOS in Baking and Pastry Arts, I wanted to learn pastries because I knew the savory side, and the art of baking is so scientifically precise, one minor mishap can ruin an entire batch, I loved having that pressure. After culinary school I enrolled at Purdue University in West Lafayette, IN where I was located for a year. There, I got a job as the Executive Chef at a high-end steakhouse; I had a lot of responsibility for only being 20yrs old. I got to refine my skills and was asked to be featured in Sunbelt Foodservice Magazine and was hired to prepare an exclusive wine dinner for Neil Armstrong. I knew I wanted to pursue my higher education and even though receiving offers to work for Michelin rated Jeans George and Thomas Keller, I enrolled at a Swiss Hotel School in Chicago, where I received my B.A in International Hotel Management. “I run Zainey’s Yogurt just like a high-end restaurant…it doesn’t matter what the concept is, you still always have to have quality, cleanliness, consistency and customer service, THAT’S the art to bringing people back…”

Michele Moore

Born in Los Angeles, first generation raised on the west coast, most of my family is from New York. I attended San Diego State University for a short period as I wanted to work in Hollywood. In 1986 I moved to LA and put myself through beauty school so I could work with the "STARS". In 1993 I met my husband on a Film in Cleveland, Ohio. While working in the Film Business I started a mobile coffee business on the side that I relocated to Sedona in 1994. I decided to retire from the Film industry after 7 years. In 1997 I opened my current restaurant of 11 years "the Marketplace Cafe". I currently supervise and provide jobs for 25-30 employees. I recently opened an international Travel Business with a growing team. I enjoy studying marketing, finance and well being. I enjoy helping others succeed beyond their wildest dreams. I have been a member of the Chamber of Commerce since 1994.

Becky O'Banion

As a partner/operator of Zonies Galleria for more than 20 years, Becky has had many and varied hands-on opportunities to impact Sedona’s tourist industry and community.

Becky has served as a member/representative on many Sedona, Clarkdale and Yavapai County focus groups, community panels, and think tanks dealing with economic development including Focus Future and community plans. She has served in board/leadership roles with the Sedona Main Street Program (founder/ current president), the Sedona-Oak Creek Unified School District, Arizona School Board Association (Federal Relations Network lobbying), Verde Valley Leadership, and the Clarkdale-Jerome Elementary School District (current clerk).

Becky has a degree in computer systems design and management from the University of North Texas and work experience in the biomedical and education data systems fields. Opening a retail shop in Sedona began a new vocation. The technology background supports some of her current volunteer and contract work in public relations, leadership training, and grant writing/ management. 

With business and personal connections across the Verde Valley, Becky values the partnerships and shared vision growing between neighboring communities. 

She appreciates working with talented, dedicated people and organizations as they identify, define, and put into action solutions for community issues.  

Brenda Pakay

Believing strongly that we should each give back to the community that we love & thrive in, Brenda previously served 6 years on the Chamber Board of Directors and several times on the executive committee. She also chaired 30 members of the Chamber Ambassadors for 2 years and even volunteered at the Chamber visitor center. As Chair of the Community Issues Committee, Brenda involved the City, Chamber, US Forest Service, Airport Management & other leaders to meet and learn of each other's important issues. She served on the "Mayor's Think Tank", which evolved into the "Focused Future" study for economic sustainability in Sedona. Brenda represented Sedona on the Central Basin Regional Economic Development Council and the Verde Valley Regional Economic Development Council.

Brenda serves on the Board of Trustees of Chamber Music Sedona and the Sedona Elk's Lodge. She was awarded "Kiwanian of the Year" by Sedona Sunrise Kiwanis. She is a Certified Master Gardener volunteer and has assisted the Yavapai County United Way Allocations Committee, since she moved to Sedona full-time in 1992. In prior years she served on the boards of the Phoenix Symphony Council and the Paradise Valley Chamber of Commerce. A Realtor since 1966, now with Coldwell Banker First Affiliate, Brenda enjoys the nurturing process involved in re-locating families to and from Sedona.

Greg Stevenson

Greg Stevenson, born in Phoenix, Arizona, is a recent “white collar escapee” who spent the past 20+ year as a consultant for Willis (Ticker: WSH) in Houston, TX.  As a Vice President with Willis, Greg worked with Fortune 1000 companies developing wellness programs, structuring benefits packages and managing healthcare costs. In June 2010, Greg, Gracie (wife), Lauren and Olivia moved to Sedona to create an integrated hiking store (The  Hike House) that truly celebrates hiking in the Sedona Red Rocks.  After visitng Sedona for 12 years, Greg & Gracie felt that most people coming to Sedona “missed” one of the best experiences Sedona has to offer…over 100 breathtaking hiking trails. In an effort to help people discover Sedona, they created a unique technology called Sedona Trail Finder (STF) that “marries people’s abilities and desires to the perfect trail.” Greg is an avid hiker, he has a passion for the outdoors and is excited to promote Sedona as the greatest hiking destination in America.  When he is not at The Hike House you will more than likely find him on the trail.

Debbie Weinkauff

Debbie Weinkauff, co-creator and publisher of Sedona Monthly since 2003, is a graduate of the Fashion Institute of Technology and worked in New York City as an art director at Hearst Publications, McGraw Hill and CMP Media. Her own media/design company, DL Studios, regularly created editorial and advertising material for clients that included Forbes magazine, Ziff-Davis Publishing and DMB&B Advertising.