Local Chamber of Year Title Goes to Sitka

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Created on Thursday, 10 October 2024 15:31

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By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
The Sitka Chamber of Commerce was named Local Chamber of of Commerce of the Year Wednesday during the Alaska Chamber’s annual business summit in Fairbanks.
The Sitka Chamber was recognized for supporting business needs in the areas of workforce development, housing, and child care, and in promoting cultural tourism as Visit Sitka, the city’s convention and tourism bureau.

Sitka Chamber of Commerce executive director Rachel Roy, left, and Holly Meyer, vice president of the Sitka Chamber board, take a celebratory photo after being presented with the Alaska Chamber’s “Local Chamber of Commerce of the Year” Wednesday in Fairbanks. (Photo provided)

Holly Meyer, who is on the board of directors of both the Sitka and the Alaska Chambers, presented the award to Sitka Chamber manager Rachel Roy.
“We were honored to be recognized for our work,” Roy said today from Fairbanks. “In the past two years we’ve had clear direction and have focused our program on the top issues facing our membership.”
The Chamber has brought attention to community issues through its speaker series on Housing and Child Care; round table discussions on workforce; and the Sitka Emerging Leaders program, which just had its first summit after a year of building the program of young professionals.
The Local Chamber of Commerce of the Year award recognizes “consistent community involvement and excellent business reputation,” the state Chamber organization says.
Paul Kraft, director of University of Alaska Southeast, Sitka campus, and the current president of the Sitka Chamber board, wrote a letter as part of the nomination process.
“I’ve had the honor of witnessing first hand all the Sitka Chamber does to benefit our community and economy,” Kraft wrote. “The Chamber’s dedication and support shines through a wide variety of events, services, and programs ... Their willingness and ability to bring the business community together to both advocate for important issues and solve problems is as consistent as it is impressive.”
The Sitka Chamber was presented with a plaque for the award. It was the third time the Sitka Chamber has won the award; it received it in 2003 and 2017.