Staff

Garret Olson joins the Chamber of Commerce with more than 30 years of experience serving communities through careers in local government, nonprofits, and private business. For 30 years, Garret responded to the community’s needs as a professional firefighter, including six years as the Fire Chief for the City of San Luis Obispo. After his fire service experience, Garret co-founded a local consulting firm focused on strategic planning, emergency preparedness and land use. In early 2020, Garret was recruited to lead the SLO Food Bank through the pandemic and the social and economic challenges that followed.

From his first experience with the Chamber at Good Morning SLO, Garret’s appreciation for and participation in Chamber activities has grown. A graduate of Leadership SLO Class 23, Garret served on Chamber Advisory Bodies, provided educational content at Good Morning SLO and Insight Studio, facilitated Board engagement and connected with our business community at Membership Mixers. Joining the SLO Chamber team and mission is a professional honor deeply rooted in Garret’s commitment and care for San Luis Obispo.

With a bachelor’s degree in business management and a master’s degree in organizational management, Garret and his wife of over 30 years, Susan, live in SLO and are diehard locals at Thursday night Farmers’ Market, concerts in Mission Plaza, and patrons of local businesses. As much as Garret loves SLO’s history, he believes SLO best days are on our near horizon, and he is thrilled to roll up his sleeves to bring that reality into focus.

Kaila Anderson joined SLO Chamber’s membership relations team in Nov. 2018 working to solicit new members, and to service and retain current members.

With a background in marketing and economics from Cal Poly, Kaila most recently served as director of marketing and communications for the Economic Vitality Corporation. In that capacity, she led a rebrand of the organization and collaborated with business and local government on policy and program development. Her position exposed her to the big picture issues that affect our local economy, including housing, infrastructure and workforce development.

When she’s not out and about with the business community, you can find Kaila playing golf, hiking or most importantly, cheering on the San Francisco Giants.

Michelle Axberg joined the Chamber in 2013 and currently works with Kaila Anderson in securing new membership sales and ensuring that new members know how to utilize all of the marketing opportunities the Chamber provides to help promote, support and network their business. She also provides key, behind-the-scenes logistics support for the Good Morning SLO program and other Chamber events to make sure they are relevant and impactful.

Michelle is originally from Santa Clarita and holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from San Diego State University with an emphasis in advertising and a minor in psychology.

She has an extensive background in sales starting with retail management out of college, 11 years at Kodak Office Imaging in Los Angeles and a ten-year stint at The Tribune.

Her partner Patrick, son Logan and two cats make up her family unit. She enjoys walking the hills around the Cal Poly campus, shell hunting at the beach, baking her famous Kentucky Butter Cake and is a lifelong fan of the LA Dodgers.

Lori Bjorklund-Silva has been with the Chamber since 2005, most recently in the role of Director of Business Operations. Lori spends most of her time managing and updating the Chamber’s member database, creating new member profiles and keeping information current for our Membership Directory, Visitors Guide and online listings.

Lori handles the registration for all Chamber events, such as Good Morning SLO, Insight Studios and Legislative series. Along with managing registration, member accounts, Lori is the lead contact for questions regarding billing and membership listing updates. Her work helps ensure that the Chamber is a vibrant, member-based and member-responsive organization.

Born and raised in SLO, Lori is a fifth-generation resident. Family is central to Lori’s life. She and her high school sweetheart, Mike, have two children, Kailyn (married to Cole) and Dylan (married to Kaycie), and together they are blessed with four grandchildren. Lori feels lucky to live just 10 minutes from the beach, and she is proud to be a graduate of Leadership SLO, Class XX.

Rachel Whalen joined the San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce in 2023 to lead the SLO Onboarding Assistance Resources (SOAR) Program, which supports out-of-area new hires of local businesses as they integrate into the community. Through SOAR, Rachel helps newcomers access resources and build connections so they can feel at home in San Luis Obispo. In early 2024, she expanded her role to include legislative advocacy as she stepped into Governmental Affairs Coordinator. Rachel is now the Director of Governmental Affairs, continuing her work with the SLO Chamber by advancing legislative advocacy efforts and overseeing Chamber committees.

Rachel earned her bachelor’s degree in Industrial Technology and Packaging from Cal Poly, with minors in Spanish and Latin American Studies. Before joining the Chamber, she spent two years as a Quality Analyst working with five Central Coast hospitals. Growing up on the Central Coast, Rachel is grateful to still call this beautiful region home. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, crocheting, and spending time outdoors with family and friends.

Brianna Harris joined the chamber in 2024 as the Visitor Center Manager. As a third generation SLOcal, she excited to put her Apparel Merchandising and Management degree from Cal Poly Pomona and years of customer service experience to use in her hometown community. She will be responsible for managing her team of information specialists, helping navigate guests to a mix of local staples as well as new favorites, and working in partnership with the City of San Luis Obispo for various initiatives.

When she is not in the office, Brianna can be found in the kitchen testing out new recipes or putting together looks to style her friends and family.

Rani Shah joined the Chamber in July 2023. She has worn several hats throughout her life in SLO County, starting after she graduated from Cal Poly in 1996 with a degree in Recreation Administration. She’s worked with the City, to the County, several non-profits, local businesses and established online companies, and is filled with gratitude to be working, learning and sharing on the Central Coast.

Always thinking with creativity in mind, she enjoys writing and various arts as hobbies and finding ways to infuse them into the workspaces to increase productivity and balance. When not at work, she can be found improving her home with her partner, crafting and painting with their daughters and out and about with their family dog, Slider.