The Chamber Team

Cheryl Luzet is the CEO and founder of award-winning digital marketing agency Wagada Digital. Wagada supports clients in their business growth, allowing them to take control of their marketing, and navigate the ever-changing digital landscape. Starting from a company’s business goals, the team deliver the necessary growth through strategy-focussed and data-led marketing activities. Cheryl has a degree in languages and worked in the travel industry for several years before gaining experience as an online marketer in the publishing industry and for the NHS. Cheryl set up her business after having her second child and knows the challenges of juggling parenthood and running a business.

Pat joined accountancy practice Rayner Essex in 1983 and has experience working across the entire business. She was promoted to Partner in 2010 and, since then, has specialised in VAT, Tax and Payroll. She became President of the St Albans District Chamber of Commerce in 2021 and plays an active role in the events the Chamber organises. When she’s not working, sport is an important part of her life. Pat enjoys walking, playing golf and watching football where she is a season ticket holder at both Arsenal and St Albans City FC. Despite having a hint of a West Country accent, Pat and her family have lived in St Albans for many years.

Emma graduated with a BA in English from Swansea University before embarking on a marketing career at the BBC, driving awareness and adoption of educational programmes and content such as BBC Bitesize. Emma then left to travel the world for eighteen months which included a stint as a content writer for a backpacker guidebook in Sydney. Returning to the UK, she moved into digital marketing, working with affiliates and partners and on PPC and SEO to drive consumer growth for major telecommunications brands. Whilst there she obtained her IDM Diploma in Interactive and Direct Marketing before taking a break to have her three children. Working in both corporate and not for profit businesses, she has a strong commercial marketing background. Emma joined the Chamber in 2016 and has lived in St Albans for over 16 years with her family, enjoying travelling, live comedy, musicals and walking.

Mark has spent his career in the finance industry. He started in small business banking with NatWest before moving to accountancy and auditing. In 2003, Mark set up his own accountancy practice, TaxAssist Accountants, and quickly grew the business to 900 clients and 13 staff. He successfully sold the business in 2012. As well as being Treasurer, Mark works as a Business Advisor for the St Albans Enterprise Agency (STANTA) where he provides consultancy service to start ups and growing businesses and he holds Non-Executive Director roles for several small to medium-sized companies.

Alastair is a Director at Rumball Sedgwick, a Chartered Surveyor and RICS Registered Valuer with over 30 years’ experience in the Hertfordshire area. Alastair leads the Consultancy & Valuation Team, undertaking professional valuations and appraisals for acquisition and sale, funding and development purposes. Acting for major lending institutions, charitable organisations, local authorities and corporate and private clients, he has an unrivalled working knowledge of the Charities Act and of the local property market. A lover of the arts, in his spare time Alastair performs with a local theatre company.

Mark is a Director and one of the ex-owners of Aitchison Raffety, St Albans’s leading firm of commercial Chartered Surveyors. Mark has a wide knowledge of all aspects of commercial property together with a wide range of contacts for specialist areas. He is always happy to speak to any Chamber members regarding commercial property matters as well as the benefit of his experience in being a senior director of a successful business for many years.

career in the food industry, then in grocery non-food, hardware and DIY. He then gained an MBA from Warwick University whilst he was sales and marketing director at stationery company, Eastlight, part of the Acco Group. He went on to become managing director at a specialist group subsidiary, which he ran for nearly 12 years. During this period, the company became part of School Speciality Inc. He ultimately managed the sale and integration of this business with a competitor. He then spent a period as a marketing and strategy consultant, before joining St Albans Enterprise Agency, STANTA, as Executive Director in 2004. Mel saw through the completion and launch of Stanta Business Centre, where the Chamber is based. Mel is also a STANTA business advisor and has helped more than 1500 start-ups and small businesses in that time. He has also been a Chamber director since 2004.

Matt is a highly experienced editor and journalist with a career spanning over 25 years in the regional press and media industry. He has extensive experience in public speaking and delivering presentations to local business leaders and community organisations advising them on their media strategies. Being a Chamber Director gives him the opportunity to work closely with business leaders in the district and build on his reputation as both a respected member of the professional community and a local influencer. He regularly liaises with senior political figures, including MPs and council leaders, and has overseen major stories including the development of the district Local Plan, the fight against the Park Street strategic rail depot, and the regeneration efforts in the wake of the St Albans sinkhole.

Paul Rosenthal is the founding sales director at Amthal, a St Albans based Fire & Security company launched in 2000. Amthal is dedicated to supporting their clients offering all-encompassing fire & security services right from the initial design process, through installation to preventative maintenance and remote monitoring services. Amthal is proud to be independent, and operate across many different sectors, including commercial, hospitality, education, retail and public sectors providing tailored fire & security system solutions. Paul has been a chamber director since 2009 and enjoys meeting and supporting new local business people on their journey, along with his passion for hosting the annual chamber community business awards. A keen cyclist, in his spare time Paul enjoys spending time with his family and his ‘life on two wheels’ whether it be for his own fulfilment of for that of charitable fundraising.

Steve has worked across a range of Technology industries in sales, marketing, M&A, communications, motivation and incentives for over 25 years. He has owned and managed several IT & Telecoms businesses and now runs Connexus Cloud, a B2B Cloud IT & Communications business serving a wide range of customers in the district and beyond. He actively supports several local charities and loves all things related to sport and technology.

Claire has over 15 years’ extensive marketing experience across events, online learning and the publishing sector.  Claire graduated with a BA Hons Marketing Management Degree and CIM Diploma from Manchester Metropolitan University Business School and has enjoyed a colourful and varied marketing career ever since.  She is looking forward to bringing her passion for events management and marketing and collaboration to St Albans District Chamber of Commerce and to supporting the local business community.

Susan is the managing partner at law firm Debenhams Ottaway. Her role is to inspire their people, nurturing their lawyers and business services teams so they feel supported, happy and appreciated. This approach plays a key part in the continued success of the business. She is passionate about getting people to think about lawyers and law firms differently. Susan wants Debenhams Ottaway to be seen as a trusted adviser by all their clients, there to help them through all life’s legal challenges and to make the most of new and exciting opportunities at home and in business. Susan joined Debenhams Ottaway over 20 years ago and became managing partner in 2018. She is also a qualified solicitor and before becoming managing partner led the private wealth team and specialised in Wills, trusts and probate.

Emily is the Marketing & Business Development Manager at leading regional law firm, Taylor Walton, and has worked in professional services for over 12 years. Having grown up and worked locally, Emily knows the St Albans community and looks forward to supporting it and the Chamber. With a love of events and experience running Young Professional events, she is delighted to be part of the Young Chamber committee and working on this new initiative . Outside of work, Emily juggles family life with two young children, a horse and a dog.

Kiall Bagnell is a Partner in the Corporate and Commercial team at Sherrards Solicitors, where he has experience on advising on a broad range of corporate matters for start-ups all the way up to PLCs. He is known for his down-to-earth and pragmatic approach, ensuring his clients understand each step of the legal process as evidenced by his continued inclusion in the legal directory, The Legal 500, more recently as a ‘Rising Star’ in the legal sector. Kiall and his family have lived in St Albans for over 15 years and love the local community and when he’s not working, he’ll most likely be with his three kids in one of the local parks or still trying to play football or the odd round of golf.

Richard is the Operations Manager at The Maltings Shopping Centre, occupying 250,000f2 of retail, residential and commercial office space in St Albans City Centre. Richard joined The Maltings in 2022 after having spent 25 years in the hospitality industry progressing through the hierarchy at a 5 Star Mayfair hotel for 10 years and most recently General Manager of St Michaels Manor in St Albans from 2011. Richard has been a member of St Albans District Chamber of Commerce since moving to St Albans and has benefitted enormously from the connections and friendships gained over this period. In 2016 Richard was instrumental in the introduction of St Albans Business Improvement District, generating £2.5m over 5 years to promote and enhance the city centre of St Albans. In his spare time, Richard enjoys playing golf, spending time with his family and the occasional quiz night at his local.