Articles
Christian Malesic Named New Chamber President and CEO
Santa Clara News Online
by Robert Haugh
The Silicon Valley Central Chamber of Commerce (SVCCC) formerly known as the Santa Clara Chamber of Commerce picked a new president and CEO.
Christian D. Malesic will replace Christian Pellecchia who’s been running the chamber since June 2020. Pellechia is a Chamber board member who took over when Nick Kaspar left to take a job for a San Jose Councilmember.
Christian D. Malesic will replace Christian Pellecchia who’s been running the chamber since June 2020. Pellechia is a Chamber board member who took over when Nick Kaspar left to take a job for a San Jose Councilmember.
“The small business community needs our support now more than ever,” said Malesic. “I’m thrilled to join the Silicon Valley Central Chamber of Commerce as we work toward connecting the entire region and leading the community with integrity, honesty, and passion.”
According to a Chamber press release, “Malesic previously served as the chief executive for the Pennsylvania Society of Association Executives (PASAE), Pennsylvania Veterinary Medical Society (PVMA), and the Melbourne Regional Chamber in East Central Florida where he facilitated operations, personnel administration, accounting activities, communications, budgets, and marketing.”
Malesic will have a lot of rebuilding to do. In the past few years, the City took over management of the Convention Center from the Chamber after discovering mismanagement and malfeasance.
They also changed their name in an effort to become more regional. But they upset other local chambers who had no clue what they were doing.
But one smart thing the Chamber did was get rid of the Chamber PAC in 2019. The PAC was routinely talked about in local politics as the “gang that couldn’t shoot straight.”
Malesic will have a lot of rebuilding to do. In the past few years, the City took over management of the Convention Center from the Chamber after discovering mismanagement and malfeasance.
They also changed their name in an effort to become more regional. But they upset other local chambers who had no clue what they were doing.
But one smart thing the Chamber did was get rid of the Chamber PAC in 2019. The PAC was routinely talked about in local politics as the “gang that couldn’t shoot straight.”
Christian D. Malesic,
MBA, CAE, CMP, IOM
MBA, CAE, CMP, IOM
According to local business sources, the people active in the PAC and its unsuccessful political efforts are no longer involved with any of the Chamber’s current operations. Those people were:
We wish Malesic well. He has a lot of work to do to return the Chamber to its former glory.
- Miles Barber (Santa Clara Weekly Lobbyist/Publisher)
- Rahul Chandhok (49ers Government Relations)
- Dave DeLozier (former Councilmember)
- John Mlnarik (attorney suspended by CA Bar)
- Andy Ratermann (Santa Clara Unified School District board member)
- Dave Tobkin (former Councilmember)
We wish Malesic well. He has a lot of work to do to return the Chamber to its former glory.