Coffee & Conversation: The weekly Zoom meetings were more of a workaround during the pandemic. They later became monthly in-person meetings, with a guest speaker addressing a larger audience, along with coffee and pastries sponsored by a local small business, held at On-Cue Sports Bar and Grill on the first Friday of each month at 9am. It always offers a valuable opportunity to speak with local business owners, nonprofit directors, government officials, and other community leaders.

Guest speakers included, but were not limited to:

Community Revitalization: I became a premier-level sponsor of the Civic Pride workshop, formerly titled “Revitalize or Die,” to bring guest speaker Jeff Siegler to our town. I met many local leaders at a seminar focused on improving our community. Leaders included the chief of police and county supervisors, one of whom became a state delegate for our area. This workshop inspired me to pursue public service in my town, and I was appointed to the Board of Zoning Appeals.

Leadership Class: Participating in the Leadership Class proved immensely beneficial. Through visits to various non-profit organizations and government facilities at the local, county, state, and federal levels, I gained direct access to community leaders and gained invaluable insights. The program also fostered lasting friendships, leading to numerous opportunities.

Christmas Parade: Embracing the festive spirit, I actively participated in our town’s annual Christmas Parade. In 2022, I decorated my CitiCar with company branding and lights, and I also included an Elf on the Shelf. In 2023, I volunteered to assist with carriage rides, support attendees, and capture memorable moments through photography. Following the parade, I offered feedback as a judge, compiling community concerns and suggesting improvements for future events. In 2024, I was on the Christmas planning committee.

Membership Directory: Early in my tenure, I addressed issues with the Chamber’s website, particularly by enhancing the membership directory’s functionality and features. Leveraging my proficiency with the Wix platform, I optimized search capabilities, ensured mobile responsiveness, and integrated social media icons and company logos into search results.

Online Vendor Applications: In 2024, I took on the responsibility of facilitating online vendor applications, setting them up on the user-friendly Wix platform, and integrating it to accept online payments and to display images showcasing products, menus, and booth setups vendors would provide.

Many pricing options are available, based on membership, nonprofit status, and booth requirements. I identified a method that met the needs of both the director and applicants, given the platform’s constraints when using a single form.

Ribbon Cuttings: Recognizing the significance of showing support for fellow businesses, I actively attended ribbon-cutting ceremonies, contributing to the vibrant networking atmosphere. These ribbon cuttings often provide an additional opportunity to network with chamber members and local leaders.

Some of the ribbon cuttings that I’ve attended include, but are not limited to:

Business After Hours: I seized networking opportunities by attending dinner events hosted by local small businesses. Some events, such as free Christmas movie screenings at the local theater or well-appointed gatherings at hotels, proved particularly popular and facilitated meaningful connections. These meetings often include an announcement period for local businesses to share milestones achieved and upcoming events, which may also include sponsorship opportunities.