Meet the Team
The People Powering Our Local Business Community
To our team, this isn’t just a job. We care about this community in a real, personal way; and we’re proud to call North San Luis Obispo County home. We’re a collaborative, hands-on team that shows up for our members day after day. We’re talking with business owners, showing up to meetings, pushing for solutions, and doing the work it takes to keep Paso Robles & Templeton moving forward.
Robert Covarrubias
President/CEO
Robert Covarrubias
With more than 30 years of experience in financial services, Rob Covarrubias is widely recognized as one of the Central Coast’s leading experts in business services, commercial, and mortgage lending. His philosophy is simple: “Developing genuine, long-lasting relationships allows me to provide loans that make a real difference in the lives of business owners, their employees, and local families.”
Over the course of his career, Rob has held senior leadership roles across both large and community-based financial institutions, gaining a deep understanding of operations, lending, and business strategy. This well-rounded perspective enables him to navigate today’s complex lending landscape with integrity and a strong client focus.
A dedicated community advocate, Rob has served on numerous nonprofit boards, including the Boys and Girls Clubs of Paso Robles, and has been an active board member of both the Paso Robles and Templeton Chamber of Commerce since 1990.
As a 2025 Board Member and now Interim CEO of the Paso Robles Chamber of Commerce, Covarrubias brings a legacy of business advocacy and civic leadership to his new role. He will oversee daily operations, ongoing programs, and the search for a permanent successor—ensuring the Chamber’s mission continues seamlessly.
“I look forward to building on our shared achievements and continuing to champion collaboration, innovation, and community focus."
Contact Rob directly: robert.covarrubias@pasorobleschamber.com
Mae Gonzalez
Executive Assistant
Mae Gonzalez
Originally from Nashville, Tennessee, Mae made the move to California’s Central Coast in the summer of 2023 and quickly found a strong sense of belonging and community in Paso Robles.
In her role as an executive assistant, she focuses on creating structure and clarity that allows teams and leaders to do their best work. She understands that strong organizations are built on thoughtful support, clear communication, and a willingness to step in wherever needed.
Mae is driven by a genuine commitment to the people around her. She values being someone others can rely on, whether that means keeping things on track behind the scenes or helping bring ideas to life. Her approach is grounded in service, with an understanding that small, consistent efforts can make a meaningful impact.
Since becoming part of the Paso Robles community, Mae has developed a deep appreciation for its collaborative spirit and the people who make it thrive. She feels fortunate to contribute to a place where connection, local pride, and supporting one another are part of everyday life.
Outside of her professional role, Mae enjoys exploring local restaurants, expanding her wheelhouse of creative hobbies, and spending quality time with her friends, partner, and cats.
Contact Mae Directly: mae.gonzalez@pasorobleschamber.com
Yvette Givvin
Director of Finance
Yvette Givvin
Yvette Givvin serves as the Chamber’s Director of Finance, overseeing financial management, budgeting, and reporting. She works closely with leadership to ensure the organization’s resources are aligned with its mission and long-term stability.
She brings more than 25 years of experience in accounting and business operations, including co-owning and leading a company that grew to $10 million in annual revenue. Her approach is practical, steady, and grounded in real-world experience.
Yvette holds a degree in Psychology from Santa Clara University, which informs how she works with teams and supports the organization as a whole.
She moved to Paso Robles in 2024 and enjoys the slower pace and natural beauty of the Central Coast.
Dawn Ventura
Dawn Ventura is the founder of DAWN Marketing, a California-grown boutique agency serving as the agency of record for the Paso Robles & Templeton Chamber of Commerce. In this role, she leads marketing and communications efforts that promote Chamber events, spotlight local businesses, and strengthen engagement across the North County community.
With over a decade of experience in marketing and public relations, Dawn brings a strategic, results-driven approach to storytelling, helping amplify the voices of Chamber members while driving visibility and attendance for key programs and initiatives. Her work is rooted in building meaningful connections and supporting the continued growth of the local business community.
Hilary O’Brien
Director of Events
Hilary O’Brien
Originally from Ohio, Hilary spent her college years immersed in the energy of the DC area before California's sunshine lured her west to LA in 2016. In 2024, she made her way to the beautiful Central Coast, and she celebrates that decision every day. With a long career in corporate marketing, Hilary has developed expertise in brand/event strategy, communications, and audience engagement. Now, she’s channeling that experience into a role she’s truly passionate about: serving the business community as part of the Paso Robles Templeton Chamber of Commerce. Driven by a commitment to connection and community, she’s excited to be part of an organization rooted in meaningful work. When she's not championing local businesses at a Chamber event, you'll find Hilary exploring new hiking trails, enjoying live music, or relaxing at one of our many tasting rooms or vineyards.
Krista Carpenter
Director of Membership
Krista Carpenter
Krista is an accomplished Business Development Manager with over 10 years of experience in building strong relationships, fostering connections, and driving business growth. She has a proven track record of delivering exceptional results and is deeply passionate about supporting our local community.
Born and raised in Northern California, Krista spent 11 years in Central Oregon before returning to the beautiful Central Coast, where she now resides in Templeton with her family.
Krista holds a BA in Liberal Arts from Simpson University and has dedicated her career to community engagement, volunteering, and B2B sales. Her professional journey includes living and working in Paris, France, for three years, an experience that allowed her to travel extensively across Europe and gain a global perspective.
Outside of work, Krista enjoys spending time with her family and friends, riding horses, attending rodeos, and supporting her son in his competitions. She believes in the importance of balancing professional and personal life, embracing all that the local community has to offer, and finding fulfillment through meaningful connections and experiences.
Contact Krista Directly: krista.carpenter@pasorobleschamber.com
Kathleen Gorman
Business Development
Kathleen Gorman
Bio coming soon!
Debbie Bonafede
Visitor Services
Debbie Bonafede
Debbie Bonafede is a native Californian, born and raised in Southern California, with seven siblings who live throughout the state. In 1989 Debbie’s parents moved from Southern California to Paso Robles. Debbie fell in love with Paso Robles and has been a resident since 2007.
Debbie’s hospitality and health care career spans over thirty-five years. She joined Marriott International in 1986. Over the years Debbie has managed hotels and assisted living communities along with holding several regional positions throughout the country.
Debbie thoroughly enjoys her role as a Visitor Center Representative for the Paso Robles Chamber of Commerce. She finds it exciting to assist travelers in experiencing the beauty of the Central Coast as
well as partnering with local merchants.
Contact Debbie directly: info@pasorobleschamber.com
Deborah Scarborough
Visitor Services
Deborah Scarborough
Deborah Scarborough enjoyed a successful 20-year career in television production after graduating from USC’s highly acclaimed School of Cinema-Television, working on mostly sit-coms with Golden Girls being her first gig.
Deborah essentially first visited the Central Coast before she was born as her grandparents had a cabin in Cayucos which her grandfather and 14-year-old father built. Her parents got engaged while on a picnic where the Borradori Garage now sits overlooking the Cayucos pier.
After probably hundreds of visits throughout the years, it was a no-brainer for her to move to the Central Coast after deciding to leave Los Angeles.
Natalia Casemore
Visitor Services
Natalia Casemore
Originally from Southern California, Natalia discovered Paso Robles in 2008 after tasting a bottle of zinfandel at a restaurant in Cambria and being told, “just take the 46 east to find the winery”, and falling in love with the landscape and the downtown park.
After many visits and many stays in the wine country Natalia was able to realize her dream of living here, buying a home in 2016 and moving permanently in 2020. Natalia grew up in Malibu with horses and dogs along the beach, as an adult then had a career working in Creative services, Marketing and Entertainment, living all over Los Angeles. Paso Robles felt like coming home for even Malibu then was really a country town. She loves walking her dog in town and discovering new roads and adventures all over the Central Coast.
Corinne Ashley
Visitor Services
Corinne Ashley
Corinne Ashley is a lifelong California resident, born and raised in Los Angeles to French immigrant parents who owned and operated a French bakery for over 50 years. She holds a background in interior and environmental design with an emphasis in space planning. She brings diverse professional experience across design, retail management, hospitality, customer support, and executive assistance.
Known for her warm, people-first approach, Corinne creates organized, positive experiences for both customers and teams, combining reliability, empathy, and a strong sense of ownership. She is passionate about community involvement and values building strong local connections.
Corinne relocated to Paso Robles in 2024 to embrace country living and enjoys spending her free time at home with her family.
Karen Manier
Visitor Services - Templeton
Karen Manier
Karen’s roots trace back to Germany, where her mother is from, and to the Central Coast, where her father was stationed at Fort Hunter Liggett during his time in the Army. What was meant to be temporary turned into home—and it’s been that way ever since.
One of Karen’s favorite childhood memories is from a visit to Germany at just four years old, stubbornly arguing with her Oma. She understood and spoke German perfectly well—but refused to use it, insisting on English because she didn’t want to “sound funny.” These days, she’s come full circle, actively taking German lessons and finding that while she understands quite a bit, speaking it is still a work in progress.
Karen is a proud mom to three incredible kids and shares her home with a lively crew of pets—three cats, one dog, and a guinea pig. She’s someone who truly believes in pushing herself outside of her comfort zone and embracing new challenges. That mindset has led her down a wide range of paths: she’s a licensed cosmetologist, a yoga instructor, has studied real estate, spends time hiking local trails, and is known for her baking skills.