Attorney named chair of Chamber

Karen Gabler

Karen Gabler, attorney and partner with Nordman Cormany Hair and Compton Law Firm, is the new 2008 chair of the board for the Simi Valley Chamber of Commerce.

Gabler specializes in all aspects of employment law advice and litigation and she is a frequent speaker on employment law topics and training for clients, community groups and business professionals.

She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology from the University of Hawaii and her Juris Doctorate from the William S. Richardson School of Law at the University of Hawaii.

She practiced law in Honolulu for four years before moving her practice to California in 1996. She is also an adjunct professor at the Pepperdine University School of Law.

A member and past vice chair of the board of directors of the United Way of Ventura County, she serves as the vice chair of the board development committee.

Gabler serves on the board of the Simi Valley Community Foundation, is a former member of the board of the Simi Valley Education Foundation and has served as a board member for the East Ventura County Employers Advisory Council.

Other memberships include the Women's Information Network of Simi Valley, the Professionals In Human Resources Association, and the Moorpark and the Thousand Oaks-Westlake Village Chambers of Commerce.

Gabler resides in Simi Valley with her husband, Brian, and their two children. Brian Gabler is an assistant city manager in charge of economic development.

Other Chamber officers include chair elect Larry Hibbler of Simi Valley Ford and CFO Jill Haney of Santa Barbara Bank and Trust. Vice chairs are Colleen Janssen with Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District, Joe Engle of LoanSmart Inc. and Shari Schultz of New Directions Event Planning. Dick Erbe is past chair.

Board members are Shelley Baltimore of Holiday Inn Express/ Courtyard Marriott, Norman Beebe of East County Job and Career Center, Greg Gonzales of Americomm Systems, Gary Irish of Simi Valley Hospital, Daryl Kleintob of Supercuts, Greg Lenners of Simi Valley Town Center, Corinna Larson of House of Ink, Mike McCaffrey of McCaffrey & Associates, Tom Saulnier of HandnHand Total Body Wellness and Thomas Tarn of The Boeing Company.

Officers and directors will be installed at the Chamber's annual Business Achievement Luncheon on Thursday, Jan. 31 at the Grand Vista Hotel.