It’s hard to believe that I’ve lived in North Idaho for 44 years, (1980 Post Falls population, 7,000) enjoying it through all kinds of Lake CdA fun, weather, road construction, school levies, as well as other changes over the years.
I grew up in Mukilteo Washington, spending my summers down at the Puget Sound beach, digging clams, and swimming around the ferry docks. Mariners, Sonics and Seahawks were just a few miles down the freeway to Seattle. My parents owned a shoe store in Everett, Washington where I started working as a teenager and learned the ropes of banking, retail sales, customer service, marketing, and advertising. I became the head of the Downtown Everett Business Association events when I was 20. That was pretty overwhelming at 20, but it was a worthwhile successful endeavor, and a lot of fun.
My husband, Cort, and I both graduated from high school in Everett, and after college were on a new adventure to Richland, WA, then on to North Idaho. Cort and I both worked at D.A. Davidson & Co. in Coeur d’Alene for many years, and my job there was marketing, advertising, and organizing office and client events from fancy to Office Olympics and Casino Game Parties. We were always members of the Post Falls Chamber of Commerce until Cort retired, but when I was offered the Chamber job, I thought working at the Chamber and Visitor Center was a great fit for me.
The time I’ve spent in community involvement has become very rewarding from the early days of the Post Falls Boys & Girls Club – Jordan Johnson Clubhouse, and the Post Falls Education Foundation. Oh yes, there were crazy years of Ponderosa Elementary PTO school carnivals, Girl Scout cookie sales, and sports with 2 active kids who are grown professionals in their fields; and now a grandson playing varsity football at Whitworth University, Go Bucs!
The Post Falls Chamber has always been a stable, worthwhile organization to be involved in where we can engage with and be enlightened by the people and leaders within the Chamber. I’ve been an Ambassador Committee member, and currently the Ambassador Committee Chair, where the Ambassador group has been able to learn a tremendous amount of information about local people and their businesses when we visit Chamber businesses each month. We are always in awe of what is thriving right here in our own area – new businesses and 100 yr. old businesses.
Yes, we have had an increase in the number of folks moving here, but from a business perspective, I see growing businesses with owners and employees who are working hard. They are looking forward to being involved in the Chamber and the community while making North Idaho the best place to work and live.