New leader has big plans for Chamber of Commerce

26 OUR REGION

HANCOCK

Saturday, Aug. 27, 2022

New leader has big plans for Chamber of Commerce

BY KEN SILVA

MESSENGER-INQUIRER

The last couple years have been rough for Hancock County’s economy, starting with the COVID-19 pandemic and punctuated by the June announcement that the Century Aluminum plant would be idled.

But that hasn’t dampened the spirits of Tina Snyder, who took the helm as executive director of the Hancock County Chamber of Commerce on June 1.

“In the past month, we’ve gained five new businesses,” Snyder said in an optimistic tone. “I think we’re growing in spurts.”

Snyder and new Chamber President Chelsea Boling are aiming to bring some fresh faces into the fold with an “auxiliary group” that will supplement the organization’s board of directors.

“When you’re in a small community, nine times out of 10, if you’re in one committee then you’re in four. You’ll see the same faces in all the committees. That’s just the way things work,” Snyder explained. “So, we discussed reaching out and pulling in some people that maybe aren’t as involved and pulling them in to get with us. Because everyone has ideas, and everyone has pros and cons that they can add to the pie.”

Along with bringing in fresh faces, the beginning of Snyder’s tenure has her looking to reengage businesses that have fallen behind on paying dues amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and ensuing government lockdown orders.

“I believe we have over 70 chamber members, and I say I believe that because we had a little change in leadership, and then the pandemic put a wrench in a lot of plans. And so, some were hesitant to send in dues. I think there just needs to be checks and balances with that system,” she said. “We just need to double-check with everybody and tell them, ‘We just wanted to check base and make sure you got your letter about your dues, and see if you have any questions,’ — just to kind of fine tune that process.”

Meanwhile, Snyder is also concentrated on organizing the Chamber’s usual slate of events. She hit the ground running in June with the organization’s annual dinner, and it had U.S. Rep. Brett Guthrie speak at a Chamber breakfast on Aug. 9.

One of the newer Chamber initiatives is its “market day” events, where small businesses from around the community gather in one area to sell goods and services. The first of these events took place in November 2021 at the Lewisport Lions Community Center, and Snyder said the next one should be around the start of fall.

All this and more is making plenty of work for Snyder, who is also director of the Hancock County Public Library. But being born and raised in Hancock County gives her extra motivation to make sure the community grows and thrives, she said.

“I’ve been here my entire life,” she said. “I have an interest in seeing our county continue to have improvements and move forward.”

Tina Snyder executive director, Hancock County Chamber of Commerce

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