About Zoe J. Taylor

Zoe J. Taylor has served as the interim President/CEO of three chambers of commerce since ending her career as a full time chamber executive at the end of 2009.  She has used the knowledge she has gained over the past thirty years in assisting the Kingman, Arizona Chamber, the Huntington Beach, Manhattan Beach, and Santa Barbara Region Chambers of Commerce during the transitions of leadership change.

She served as the President/Chief Executive Officer of the Ventura Chamber of Commerce for fourteen years.  She was the President/CEO of the Burbank Chamber of Commerce from 1989 to 1996.  She began her career in chamber management with the Pico Rivera Chamber of Commerce, serving that community from 1982 to 1989.

In the interim leadership roles, she has conducted strategic planning sessions, created new funding programs, conducted numerous member focus groups and initiated operational/program audits.  Her experience in economic development and governmental affairs has led to new opportunities for the respective chambers of commerce.

Zoe has created two foundations within the structure of the Chambers she served.  An education foundation in Pico Rivera and the Ventura Commerce & Education Foundation in Ventura.  The VCEF was home to the Leadership Ventura program, initiated the formation of the Ventura City Corps, Principal for a Day program, and assisted with the formation of the Coast Marine BioLabs.  The Foundation also partnered with the Impact II Teacher Grant program with the Ventura County Education organization.  Zoe has also participated in the Ventura County Education Impact II and Academic Decathlon as a judge.

Among other distinctions, Taylor has had the honor of being named:

• 15-Year Accredited Chamber Executive
  – Western Association of Chamber Executives

• 2012 – Awarded Life Time Member
  – Western Association of Chamber Executives

• 2006-2009 – Top Fifty Business Leaders
  – Pacific Coast Business Times

• 2004 – Small Business Advocate of the Year
  – Pacific Coast Business Times

• 1996 – Service to Mankind Award
  – Sertoma Club of Burbank

• 1995 – Woman of the Year
  – 43rd Assembly District, State of California

• 1995 - Citizen of the Year
  – Burbank Association of Realtors

• 1994 - Honoree of the Year
  – Zonta International, Burbank

• 1988 - Woman of Distinction
  – Soroptimist International, Pico Rivera

• 1986 - Recipient of William E. Hammond Scholarship Award,
  – California Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives

Taylor has also served on the following boards:

• Federated Chambers of Ventura County past board/chair
  

• Regional Legislative Alliance of Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties, past board/chair (Founder)

• Western Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives, past board/chair

• Western Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives Foundation, past board/chair

• Southern California Assoc. of Chamber of Commerce Executives, past board/chair 

• Ventura Music Festival, past board/current Advisory board
  Downtown Ventura Organization, past board

• Ventura Botanical Gardens – Advisory

• Workforce Investment Board-Ventura County 1999-2009

• Business Advisory Council for the formation of the Ventura Foothill Technology High School

• Rubicon Theatre past board member

• Police Activities League, Advisory

A longtime Ventura resident, Zoe is the proud mother of two children, four grandchildren and one great-granddaughter. Her family is, she says, “the balance in my life, my inspiration and the foundation of who I am as a citizen of the community.”

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and Zoe J. Taylor

Zoe J. Taylor and former California Governor Pete Wilson

Phone: 805-659-1941 • Cell: 805-701-2605

E-mail: zoe@ZoeJTaylorConsulting.com

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