Published September 2001

South county chamber changes leaders, takes
new look at goals

By Kimberly Hilden
Herald Business Journal Assistant Editor

It’s a time of change and promise for the South Snohomish County Chamber of Commerce, a group with a new leader and an ongoing mission to advance business.

In July, Jean Hales was named Interim President and CEO of the 35-year-old chamber, replacing Sheryl McGrath, who left to become Regional Director of Lutheran Social Services of the Northwest in Spokane.

“I’m very excited about it. It’s a perfect fit,” said Hales, a former Vice President of the Everett Area Chamber of Commerce and current owner of Artisans Well, a Web-based fine-craft gallery and gift shop.

Hales has taken the post at an exciting time for the chamber and the area, said McGrath, who had been at the chamber’s helm since November 1999.

“The chamber has ... laid the groundwork, I think, for some pretty important projects that are going to make a big difference in the future of the region,” she said.

One of those projects is the chamber’s involvement with the Central Business District Task Force, a group that is committed to creating a city center with office buildings, housing, a public plaza and other amenities on 77 acres of land next to Interstate 5.

The group, made up of city officials and members of the South Snohomish County Public Facilities District, the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee and the chamber, recently chose LMN Architects to be consultants on the project.

“They’ve just begun the current-conditions portion of the study, so they’re going to let us know what’s out there and what needs to happen,” McGrath said. “So it’s been a good place to hand off the baton.”

Upon taking that baton, Hales began work with the 20-member chamber board on its “visioning process,” which will “culminate with some decisions being made at our retreat in October,” she said.

As part of the visioning process, the board is looking at the goals and operations of the chamber, which has about 700 members.

“It’s important to continually renew an organization such as the chamber — to make sure the goals are in line with the needs of its members and the community,” Hales said.

The chamber holds “Good Morning, South County” networking breakfasts at 7:30 a.m. on the third Wednesday of the month at the Old Country Buffet in Lynnwood. Twice a year, the chamber participates in a joint networking breakfast, “Good Morning, Snohomish County,” with the Everett Area Chamber of Commerce.

For more information, call 425-774-0507, send e-mail to info@sscchamber.org or visit the organization’s Web site, www.sscchamber.org.

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