Five Questions: Michelle West

Q: Why did you decide to join the chamber’s staff?

A: When I was at KY3 I was very focused on the local community. SIFE’s focus is more national and international, which is a great thing for them, but I felt a little disconnected with the community I love. So when this opportunity came up, I saw it as a great chance to reconnect with the contacts I had made at KY3 and do something positive in the Springfield community.

Q: What are your new job responsibilities?

A: I’m managing the communications department, so I handle the communications plans and the materials coming out of the chamber’s various departments, giving support to our other departments in communication materials they need for their events or initiatives.

Q: What are your first orders of business?

A: We’re helping with a member appreciation luncheon July 11 that the membership department is handling; we’re doing materials for that.

The Business and Technology Exposition is Oct. 5, and we’re assisting the community development department with that.

Also, the chamber is working with Riverbend Books on a book that chronicles Springfield and the surrounding area. It’s called “Celebrating Springfield – A Photographic Portrait.” Riverbend is telling us that it is shaping up to be one of their most successful projects. The book will be a great economic development resource and an incredible tool for promoting the quality of life of the area. It will be published in spring 2007.

Q: What has been the reaction to the chamber’s Character Education program, and what are the plans for the program?

A: The chamber is looking at continuing the program next year. That particular program falls under a different department, but having been out in the community and part of SIFE – a chamber member that did support the Character Education program – it was really perceived as a wonderful program. It’s a great way to bring up that next generation of business owners, employees and community leaders.

Q: What do you think is the chamber’s most important goal?

A: The chamber is dedicated to improving the economic climate in Springfield as well as the quality of life. That’s the overall theme. Whatever happens, it needs to be sustainable and find the balance between those two areas.