No matter how much someone warns you, nothing truly prepares you for becoming a chamber director.
It’s a role that requires equal parts enthusiasm, patience, diplomacy and resilience. People will tell you about the long hours, the unexpected challenges and the immense responsibility of being the bridge between businesses, government and the community.
Until you’re in the seat, navigating the daily whirlwind, you won’t fully understand just how demanding — and rewarding — this job can be.
From the outside, a chamber director’s job seems straightforward: promote local businesses, plan events and advocate for economic growth. To others, they have no idea what I do. The reality is far more complex. You’re suddenly expected to be a problem solver, an event planner, a fund-raiser, a marketer, a community leader and sometimes even a therapist for business owners facing tough times.
You’re pulled in a dozen directions at once, juggling the needs of your members while also trying to grow and sustain the organization itself.
One of the biggest surprises is the weight of expectations. Everyone has an idea of what the chamber should be doing. Some expect you to revitalize the community overnight. Others assume you have unlimited resources to make magic happen. And of course, you quickly learn that no matter how hard you work, you won’t please everyone.
Thick skin and a strong sense of purpose become your best assets.
Then, there are the unexpected moments that no one warned you about — the last-minute changes due to the weather or the occasional political minefield you must navigate with care, and no matter how much you plan and prepare for the event, you are only as good as your board members and volunteers.
My favorite unexpected behind-the-scenes crises moment came at my first Chili and Salsa Cook-Off where I didn’t order trash cans for around the square. You learn to pivot quickly and to problem-solve on the fly.
In the never forgotten Chili Cook-Off incident, I relied on my husband and fellow committee member Chad Johnson to “borrow” some from the aquatic park for the day, with the mayor’s blessing might I add. I will say that once you have such an incident occur, it never happens again.
Amidst the chaos, there are moments of deep fulfillment, such as when a struggling entrepreneur finds new customers through a chamber event, or when the community comes together to make things happen such as the Nativity Scene that adorns the hill above Cassville.
You then realize why you took on this challenge in the first place. You’re not just running an organization — you’re shaping the future of your community, one relationship at a time. You’re making it a better place for your neighbors, your friends and your family.
With the opening day of catch and keep season at Roaring River State Park coming up on March 1, I am quickly reminded that the event season is upon me. As a kid, “Trout Day” was a day out of school to spend with your community, friends and family, shoulder to shoulder at the river we all love.
As a chamber director, it’s taken on a whole new meaning. While I may not get to fish on opening day, I still get to enjoy the excitement. Handing out those opening day mugs and hearing the stories of how long family members have collected them or been coming to the park makes the pain of getting up at 2 a.m. worth it.
I don’t sleep well on event weeks anyways. I always seem to spend my nights dreaming of new ways that something will go wrong, or that I forgot something such as ordering trash cans.
So, to anyone considering stepping into this role, know this: no amount of advice will fully prepare you. You will learn as you go. You will be tested in ways you never imagined. You will find out who your friends are.
But, if you embrace the journey with passion and persistence, you’ll find that the rewards far outweigh the challenges. And one day, you’ll be the one warning the next director — knowing full well they won’t truly understand until they take the leap themselves.
As I approach the four-year mark this month, I have reflected on the job thus far. Am I perfect and do I get everything right all the time? The answer is no.
But, I do it with love and the willingness to learn and get better for our community.
Morgan Williams is the director of the Cassville Area Chamber of Commerce. She may be reached at chamber@cassville. com, or 471-847-2814.
