Chamber of Commerce election to fill 3 seats

The Maricopa Chamber of Commerce has seven candidates running for three open seats on the chamber board. Voting will continue until Dec. 15

“We have seven awesome candidates and we’re very excited about that,” chamber of commerce Chief Executive Officer Marla Lewis said. “The chamber board is basically our leadership. They’re the ones that set the strategic direction for the chamber and oversee all the financial movements. So, for us, it’s important to have a good board.”
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Suzie Miller is the owner of Maricopa travel agency Suz’s Cruises, and the only incumbent board member running in this year’s election.

“We’ve come a long way as a chamber and we’re going in the right direction,” Miller said. “Our 300 members are seeing a lot of positive changes in the chamber and I want to help wherever I can. I have served on the board for the last three years, and my goal is to move the chamber forward.”
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Glenda Kelley owns Uniquely Sewn in Maricopa and has been a member of the Maricopa Chamber of Commerce since 2009.

“I have been in Maricopa since before it was Maricopa,” Kelley said. “I have a lot to offer, and I love the local businesses. I’m a small business owner myself, so I know the issues facing small businesses. I don’t want to be on the board for the title, I want to impact my community.”
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John Schurz is the president and general manager of Orbitel Communications and Western Broadband Inc.’s Arizona cable properties.

“I have been really impressed with the momentum of the current board and I want to help,” Schurz said. “It’s important to have a strong board. The chamber helps with retaining the current business in the area, but it also serves as a tool to bring new businesses in. That is the goal for the city as a whole, and I think I could help.”
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Danielle Collazo is the owner of Adobe Blinds in Maricopa, moving to Arizona from New Jersey in 2005.

“I want to bring more awareness for local businesses to be part of the chamber,” Collazo said. “I feel it’s important to be part of the chamber and be more involved. It’s how you get your name out there and build trust to get more people involved with local businesses.”
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Sara Troyer is the marketing director at the Maricopa Center for Entrepreneurship and specializes in branding, imaging consultation, campaign development, and design.

“Because I work at MCE, I feel our values closely align with the values of the chamber,” Troyer said. “I think it’s the chamber is in a good position to bring in new and young businesses to the area. I’d like to help the chamber expand its local business reach.”
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Tami Johnson is a current member of the Chamber Ambassador Committee and started a networking group for new chamber members.

“From years in Corporate America to owning a trucking company and child development center to the last 10 years as small business specialist for LegalShield, my background is in small business,” Johnson said. “I believe small business is what stimulates the economy. Maricopa is developing into a strong city. I’d love to be a part of the Maricopa Chamber Board to help support this community in that continuation to build and grow.”
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Angie Groeneveld is the Director of Hospitality Operations at Harrah’s Ak-Chin and has been for the last 11 years. She is often involved with planning and executing chamber and community events and has served on the Chamber Ambassador Committee for the last three years. Groenweld will look to keep building on the value and expertise she has provided throughout her career so far.

This story appeared in the December issue of InMaricopa News.