After nearly eight months of searching for a new CEO, the Calabasas Chamber has hired a dynamic creative, and energized professional in Lisa Clayden, right. Raised in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, with the Windy City just to the Southeast, Lisa grew up with big city dreams and a Midwest work ethic.
At an early age, Clayden was interested in dancing and camera work, which gave her the job of family photographer for all gatherings. Clearly a natural director and manager, she took those skills to the private art college, Columbia College Chicago, earning a degree in media management. Before graduating, Clayden helped pay her way through school as an actor as well as a dancer with the Chicago Honey Bear Dancers, where she received an inside peek of how the entertainment industry operated. She also was honored with a best student film award for her movie short “Sisters,” where she wrote, edited, starred, directed, and casted the entire production.
After graduating, Clayden moved to Los Angeles and began the pursuit of integrating into the entertainment business, not as an actress, but as a behind-the-scenes professional. Before landing a job at Paramount Pictures, she approached GROOVE 103.1FM to pitch the idea of creating a dance troupe that would promote the radio station at events and in the community. As an ambitious, empathetic, and thoughtful person, Clayden continued her professional evolution, taking a position with PETA as their Celebrity Marketing Specialist where she developed and managed outreach with celebrity-based media campaigns to bring awareness to unethical animal treatment.
While working with PETA was personally rewarding for Clayden, she wanted more responsibility and craved using her creative mind to give back to the community. The birth of PSI Records Inc. became the next accomplishment for Lisa. She was both a partner and a director where the focus was not to sign music talent, but to generate and execute marketing strategies for music placement in film and television.
As this endeavor became wildly successful, Claydebn still turned to another passion in which she could continue using her creativity and management skills together, as the Executive Director and CEO of the Sherman Oaks Chamber of Commerce, where she worked for nearly three years. In this role, she managed all operations including reducing operating expenses by 43%, increasing advertising income by 35% and saw a net income for the Chamber of 94% in just one year. She found her niche where she combined all her skill sets, both tangible and intangible, into one position that flourished the Chamber and her own professional development.
Lisa ultimately left the Chamber to raise a family and spend time with her two boys. The drive and passion that Lisa possesses didn’t evaporate, it was just not the focal point.
With her children older, Lisa again heard the calling of change and a strong creative drive that inspired her to apply for the position of CEO with the Calabasas Chamber of Commerce. Lisa has a track record of problem solving, leadership, management, organization, the art of observation and action, commitment to success, community pride, and enthusiasm.
Post COVID, the Chamber will continue to function as an advocate for Calabasas businesses, as a regional asset for guidance, and as a liaison with the City of Calabasas and local/regional business leaders. What will be different is the approach to promoting and lifting-up the local economy using 21st Century practices and platforms. We are ready to “Move Forward.”
The Chamber is proud to introduce our new CEO to the community, Lisa Clayden!
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