Meet The Staff
Annalisa Rush
Interim Executive Director
Office: 707.897.6004 EXT 102
Annalisa@ArcataChamber.com
Annalisa Rush has served as the Arcata Chamber of Commerce Executive Assistant, then Interim Manager, and now Interim Executive Director since 2019. Raised in the Santa Cruz mountains and an alumnus of Cal Poly Humboldt, she is passionate about stewardship of California, Humboldt’s natural spaces, and the communities that make this area so unique. For over 30 years, Annalisa has dedicated her life here to sharing place-based education through guided outdoor tours, cultural education and development programs, as well as environmental education service-learning opportunities. She has been involved with local tribal restoration, business, and economic development initiatives, as well as multicultural performing arts and awareness events in local schools. Annalisa has a B.A. in Spanish Language and Culture from Cal Poly Humboldt. She also began an M.A. Environmental Education degree to create a comprehensive collection of local interpretive curricula offered by area organizations. Her goals for the Chamber are to engage with businesses new to the area, create place-based information for the Arcata-Humboldt Welcome Center, develop diversity and inclusion initiatives, and implement disaster and resilience programs. She’s a surfer, mom of two, open-water lifeguard, paddleboard and surf instructor, certified installer of hemp-lime insulation wall systems, and leads nutrition coaching programs
Gloria Baker (She/Her)
Operations Manager
Office: 707.897.6004 EXT 101
Gloria@ArcataChamber.com
Gloria Baker was hired in November 2022 as the Arcata Chamber of Commerce’s Operations Manager. Her responsibilities include managing all day-to-day operations, engaging current and prospective members, and assisting with events. She is the right-hand person of the Executive Director. Hounds of Humboldt and Glow Up Designs have been Gloria’s main passions outside of being an incredible community networker. She is passionate about running a successful business, entrepreneurship, and, of course, dogs.