Crispin brings music, marketing experience to chamber position

Michelle Crispin’s first event as the newly appointed president and CEO of the Hermosa Beach Chamber of Commerce will be the 75th anniversary celebration of the legendary Lighthouse Cafe on Monday, July 15.

The event is consistent with the chamber’s recent efforts to support Hermosa’s cultural, as well as business interests, and with Crispin’s music background.

The evening will include a screening of “Jazz v. Punk,’ a documentary Crispin wrote about Hermosa’s jazz and punk histories.

Michele Crispin (center, back) with the production crew from Jazz V. Punk (clockwise from left) Brendan Hirsh, Spot, Ryan Cartee, Julie Nunis, Garrett Barghash and Austin Nunis. The documentary will screen at the 75th Anniversary of the Lighthouse Cafe on Monday, July 15. Crispin wrote the documentary’s script. Photo by Ryan McDonald

Chamber Board chair Dave Davis, owner of Hermosa Brewing, said Crispin’s background in music and marketing were decisive factors in her hiring.

“Music events are a huge part of what the chamber does. And we wanted someone who lived here and is involved in the community,” Davis said.

Crispin replaces Jessica Accamando, who resigned in April, after three years. Under Accamando’s leadership chamber membership doubled, from 220 to over 400, and the long languishing organization was rejuvenated with new activities, and the reshaping of its traditional events, including Fiesta Hermosa, the St. Patrick’s Day Parade, Hermosa for the Holidays, and sidewalk sales. But Accamando’s flamboyant style was also polarizing, and her sometimes unconventional business practices caused concerns.

Crispin inherits the conflicting challenges of stabilizing the chamber financially and sustaining its growth.

Crispin moved from her native Pittsburgh to West Hollywood in the mid ‘90s to pursue a music career, after attending Jacksonville University in Florida, where she studied music and marketing.

Her move to Hermosa followed a visit to a friend living on the Hermosa Strand.

“After the visit, I promptly packed up and moved here,” she said.

She toured as a singer and keyboard player with rock and EDM (electronic dance music) bands for several years, until she married. She has two children in their early 20s

“When I began a family, I switched to the other side, working as a record company executive in marketing.” she said.

Mic Drop Media, which she founded after she stopped touring, works with companies such as Cirque Du Soleil, in securing music licensing rights, and with musicians on jump starting their careers. 

Locally, she has managed singer/songwriter Katie Costello, and produced the Songwriter Showcase at Saint Rocke, and the Fiesta Hermosa acoustic music stage.

Crispin met Costello after meeting Costello’s mother at a social event, and reluctantly agreeing to the mother’s request to meet her then 16 year-old aspiring singer/songwriter.

The meeting resulted in Crispin introducing the Mira Costa sophomore to Elicit Music, who produced 16-year-old Angela Aguilar’s first album. Costello’s first album, “Kaleidoscope Machine,” received heavy play on KCRW leading Crispin to license songs from the album to shows, including 90210, One Tree  Hill and Private Practice.

The monthly Songwriter Showcase at Saint Rocke celebrated its 1st anniversary last month, with performances from a dozen South Bay bands.

Crispin said the Songwriter Showcase will continue. Its next show is Wednesday, July 31.

The thriving Chamber of Commerce Crispin inherits comes with several political challenges. 

The most immediate is the proposed 3/4 percent sales tax (General Transactions and Use Tax) on the November 5 general election ballot.

Business organizations traditionally oppose sales tax increases.

Davis, during an interview with Crispin last week, suggested the chamber will not take a position on the measure.

Instead, he said, the chamber will host a forum, with proponents and opponents of the tax increase. 

“Our goal is to educate the chamber members and have them make their own decisions,” he said.

Two open council seats are also on the ballot.

Incumbent Mike Detoy has filed for reelection, Incumbent Justin Massey has not stated publicly whether or not he will seek reelection. The filing deadline is Thursday, August 8. 

Davis said the chamber will also host candidates forums, but not endorse candidates. 

“Our objective is to facilitate a discussion and help our chamber members, and the residents of Hermosa learn as much as they can about all the candidates,” he said.

Hermosa’s commercial zoning is another political issue of concern to chamber members.

The Hermosa Council recently rejected a staff proposal to discourage, and possibly prohibit street level office uses in the downtown.

But the council approved a “land value recapture” plan for commercial districts. The plan would add value to commercially zoned property by allowing residential development on the properties.  In exchange, the city would “recapture” a portion of the added value through fees, or equity in the mixed use developments.

Davis said the chamber has a business advocacy group led by Realtor Tony Cordi working with the city on commercial zoning updates.

He said that generally, the chamber wants a vibrant downtown, and discourages ground floor office use because it can create pedestrian “dead zones.”

He said it generally favors residential development in the commercial districts because it brings customers to local businesses. 

“We want business to have a voice in the decision making, so they’re not left to complain after council decisions are made,” Davis said. ER