Nassi's six-month stint as office help in the Chamber evolved into her taking on more of a role of an executive director, and the Chamber board of directors formally offered her the position Nov. 14.

According to Greg Stowers, president of the board, the group would interview candidates for the job and keep comparing them to Nassi. "It became clear that she was right for the job," Stowers said. "She really shines in the position."

"Ronee came into the Chamber as a part-time assistant. She ended up being a surprise find for us," Stowers said.

"I guess I was in the right place at the right time," Nassi said. "I was just looking for a job."

Nassi, 53, had spent three years working for Bill Seligmann's law firm. Seligmann, who is on the Chamber's board, told Nassi that the Chamber was looking for someone on an interim basis as the organization did a search for a permanent executive director.

Since she came aboard in May, Nassi has done "a little bit of everything," including working with the town and the business community on the downtown streetscape project; handling the Chamber's directory of members, events and membership; and gearing up for the busy holiday season, which includes carriage rides, free valet parking and a promotion of Los Gatos shopping.

"It's very varied. Every day is different," Nassi said of the work. "You can never say it's boring."

Nassi is also working with the town to put out the annual Town of Los Gatos calendar, which was popular with businesses this year.

Stowers says some projects that Nassi will be facing are taking on a larger role in the Leadership Los Gatos program, since coordinator Diane McNutt was recently elected to the town council, and "investigating other fundraising events for next year."

As a resident of Los Gatos, Nassi said, "it's easy to be able to tell people what a great place Los Gatos is. I can honestly tell people it's great place to live, it's a great place to work, it's a great place to shop."

Nassi says her main goal as director is "getting that feeling of inclusiveness from all the Chamber members," including those in the outlying parts of town. Nassi herself knows a few things about being excluded, having found it difficult to meet people when her family first moved here from Boston in 1993.

"I moved here, and for about 18 months the only thing I liked about California was the town and the weather," Nassi said. "It's difficult to assimilate here."

Nassi was an elementary school teacher in New York before becoming a full-time mother to her three sons.

Gradually, through her sons' attendance of Los Gatos schools, her membership in Congregation Beth David and her involvement with the area Newcomers' Club—"my saving grace," Nassi calls it—she made more friends and grew more comfortable living in town.

Nassi, however, confesses that she "had no clue" about various town issues and characteristics until she started working for the Chamber. Coordinating the carriage rides, which started Dec. 6, "was an eye-opener. It has just been amazing to me how many people look forward to this. It's a family tradition," Nassi said.

Ike, Nassi's husband, served as her main cheerleader through the process and proudly boasted of her new title after it was announced. "He's been telling everyone he knows," Nassi said.

Almost as proud is the Chamber board.

"She was able to wrap her arms around the job and get things done," Stowers said. "The board is enormously happy with the job that she's been doing."