New leadership at Mattawa Area Chamber

MATTAWA - There has been a major change of leadership for the Mattawa Area Chamber of Commerce. Brian Webb of Think Tank Sanitation is serving as the new president.

Courtney Olson of Wahluke Family Clinic is the new vice president. Jaime Cruz of Northwest Compost and Maria Rosales of Columbia Bank remain as secretary and treasurer respectively.

The changes were made at the February election of officers. Lois Thiede, owner of Ginkgo Forest Winery, had been president, and City of Mattawa Public Works Director Gary Crowder was the vice president.

There were other changes. The regular monthly meetings are now being held on the second Wednesday of each month. The location is rotating between the Port of Mattawa office and the conference room of the Wahluke Family Clinic.

On every fourth Wednesday, members are invited to meet at a restaurant for a Power Lunch for networking, and a brief discussion or training on topics of interest to the members.

Various committees will be formed to carry out the projects of the Chamber. The officers, as part of a group dubbed The Development Committee, have worked to clarify the Chamber's focus and direction.

Their goal is to more easily convey their purpose and benefits to businesses and community members and encourage greater membership and participation. The Chamber will be hosting or assisting in more events to increase tourism to the area and promote unity within the community.

Webb's goal is to "build the Mattawa Area Chamber of Commerce into an organization that truly benefits the community and invites others to come explore everything that our great area has to offer."

Cruz is heading up the Taste the Wahluke Slope event this year with assistance from Maria Rosales, who has been an energetic organizer the past two years. Taste the Wahluke Slope is scheduled for June 27 at 5 p.m. and will be held at the Sagebrush Senior Center in Desert Aire. The committee welcomes anyone who is interested in helping with this event.

The Business Directory, started last year, is continually being updated as new businesses and members join the Chamber. For a nominal fee non-members can list their business in the directory which was developed to help customers find the product or services they need.

Copies of the directory are available at Tiddaly-Diddaly's, John L. Scott Realty office, Marty's Hardware and the Worksource office.

Businesses or individuals interested in working with the Mattawa Area Chamber of Commerce are encouraged to contact Brian Webb at 932-4370 or email the Chamber at MattawaCofC@gmail.com.