The Woodbury Area Chamber of Commerce has a new leader at the helm, having hired Laurie Staiger as chamber president last fall. With the first few months now under her belt, Staiger says that she is thoroughly enjoying the new position, especially as it gives her the chance to utilize her skills in service to the community she calls home.
Staiger’s professional background combined with her big-picture thinking for the future makes her the perfect fit for the role of chamber president. She began her career at the Bloomington Convention and Visitors Bureau, where she focused on increasing tourism to the Twin Cities metro, and then spent eight years in association management at Hospitality Minnesota. Through such work, Staiger says, “I developed an affinity to working with boards of directors and communities. After managing three state-wide associations and one nonprofit education foundation for eight years, I decided to experience corporate life and spent six years at Deluxe Corporation.”
That combination of working with small businesses and large corporations, along with her expertise in areas like association management and community engagement, led Staiger to the Woodbury Area Chamber of Commerce. It also has made her well-prepared to assume the role of president, giving her unique insight into the work that lies ahead. “I think that my background in association management, hospitality, large corporations and small businesses [helps] me better understand the challenges facing our members’ businesses,” Staiger says.
Staiger has big plans for the Woodbury Area Chamber of Commerce, too. Her immediate goals have been to connect with members in order to fully understand their business needs and how the chamber can meet them. “I want each member to feel valued and heard,” she says. She also hopes to help the chamber become one of the best and most successful within all of Minnesota. “[My] long-term goals are to grow membership, retain existing members and be viewed as one of the most professional, most functional and most connected chambers in the state,” Staiger says.
Staiger says that “everything” about her new role has proven rewarding so far. “I am very excited about the positive reputation of the chamber, the alliance between the city of Woodbury and the chamber, and the opportunity for membership growth,” she says.
Above all, Staiger is eager to combine her professional skills and passion to better the Woodbury community, her home for the past eight years. “I love this community, and I enjoy building relationships, improving processes and developing top-notch teams,” she says.
Upcoming Chamber Events:
April 7 Woodbury Community Expo, 10 a.m.–4 p.m., East Ridge High School, 4200 Pioneer Drive
April 12 & May 10 Chamber 101, 10:30 a.m.–11:30 a.m., Woodbury Area Chamber of Commerce, 700 Commerce Drive
May 18 Business Networking Lunch, 11:30 a.m.–1:15 p.m., Oak Marsh Golf Course, 526 Inwood Ave. N., Oakdale
If your business is interested in joining the Woodbury Area Chamber of Commerce, fill out the online application at the website here.
