New Othello Chamber manager is community cheerleader

OTHELLO — If the Greater Othello Chamber of Commerce wanted a community cheerleader as its manager, then the recent hiring of Bianca Mendoza was just right.

“I wanted to come back to Othello,” the 2015 Washington State University graduate said. “I want to work and live here, I’m a small town girl.”

Mendoza was raised in Othello, graduating from Othello High School in 2011. She went on to WSU to earn a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish, with a minor in Biology.

Mendoza’s original goal was to prepare herself for physician’s assistant school. Instead of doing that immediately after WSU, she decided to take a break from school and work for a while.

More than anything else, Mendoza just wanted to come home. She didn’t want Othello to become a memory.

“I missed my family, and they missed me too,” she said.

When Mendoza learned that the Chamber needed a manager, she applied. First she spoke with her uncle Jose Gonzales, who is a member. He explained a chamber and the manager’s role.

Mendoza had plenty of work experience. She was employed all four years of college. She worked in the contracts department for WSU. Her last job was medication aid at an assisted living facility.

“I needed 2,000 hours of experience to qualify for PA school,” she said.

The Greater Othello Chamber of Commerce hired Mendoza on June 6. She has been a busy woman ever since. She went from about 5 p.m. to midnight at the Chamber’s Fourth of July celebration.

Mendoza has come to appreciate business people, who are the core of most chambers. She noticed they are always thinking of ways to be successful at whatever the task.

Mendoza is still thinking about the medical field, but her focus has changed to optometry or physical therapy. Whichever field she chooses, she still plans to live and work in Othello after her schooling is completed.

When that will come is anybody’s guess. Mendoza is excited about what she is doing now. Growing up, she didn’t know what a chamber of commerce was and certainly didn’t dream of being a community cheerleader.

“I love it,” she said. “I love meeting so many people.”

Part of Mendoza’s work is keeping in touch with Chamber President Connie Aganbroad. She sees her a couple times a week and speaks with her on the phone about as much.

She also communicates frequently with Mayor Shawn Logan, who is a member of the Chamber’s board of directors.

Another role for Mendoza is information conduit. She fields and responds to member questions about the Chamber, Chamber activities or questions that have nothing to do with Chamber.

“I’m kind of a resource center for all of our members,” Mendoza said. “If a member calls with a question I can’t answer, I find the person who can answer it.”

There are about 60 Chamber members. There is a 13-member board which has two vacancies. Mendoza is conducting a search for new candidates. A couple of contacts have said they will apply. She said the 11 current members will make the final selections.

As Chamber manager, Mendoza is the manager of the summertime farmers market in the city park. She recently added Business Expo to the park schedule.

Three businesses participated the first weekend, right alongside the market, which had 11 vendors. All businesses are welcome, and they can participate every Saturday. The schedule for the Farmers Market and Business Expo is 8 a.m.-1 p.m.

Mendoza is in charge of planning Chamber meetings every third Wednesday of the month at noon at the senior center and sending out notices and reminders. She recently started planning next February’s Greater Othello Chamber of Commerce annual awards banquet.