February
2018
Volume 10, Issue 2
Business Connection Kelso Longview Chamber of Commerce
Linda DiLembo participates in the Chamber's Business and Tourism Expo at the Three Rivers Mall booth.
sQuatch Fest turnout feeds desire for more, similar events Kelso Longview Chamber of Commerce
Kelso Longview Chamber of Commerce Team Bill Marcum, CEO Amy Hallock Project Manager Pam Fierst Visitor Information Center and Office Manager
Kelso Longview Business Connection is published monthly by the Kelso Longview Chamber of Commerce 105 N. Minor Road • Kelso, WA 98626 • 360-423-8400 kelsolongviewchamber.org To advertise, call Bill Marcum, 360-423-8400 or e-mail bmarcum@ kelsolongviewchamber.org Ad Deadline: 20th of each month
President Linda DiLembo would like to see more tourism-driven events like January’s sQuatch Fest, which brought more than 1,900 Sasquatch fans from across the northwest and the United States into town for the one-day spectacular. For perspective, Chamber CEO Bill Marcum reported the Visitor Center averaged 1,400 visitors a month during the busy 2017 summer season – Memorial Day through Labor Day. Many sQuatch Fest attendees came from out of the area and spent at least one night, perhaps more, in Longview and Kelso. “I’d like to see more new and exciting events like
that,” DiLembo said. “Amy (Hallock, Chamber project manager) is doing a great job. I was so impressed with her work on the Sasquatch event. Hopefully, we can do more projects like sQuatch Fest.” DiLembo, Three Rivers Mall general manager, began her one-year term as Chamber president in January, but she has been a Chamber member, and board member, for several years. After she was hired by Three Rivers Mall parent company Rouse Properties, Inc., the Chamber was one of her first stops. Prior to coming to Three Rivers Mall in 2010, DiLembo was the marketing For more Chamber, see page 3
The Chamber's sQuatch Fest brought more than 1,900 enthusiasts to the KelsoLongview area in January.