News Items - Greater Marion Area Chamber of Commerce
Nine elected to Marion Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors
Nine members of the Marion Chamber of Commerce have been elected to the Chamber’s Board of Directors. Each will serve on the Board from February 2018 to January 2021.

Nine members of the Marion Chamber of Commerce have been elected to the Chamber’s Board of Directors. Each will serve on the Board from February 2018 to January 2021.
 
Eight are incumbents and one is a new board member.

The eight incumbents are:

  • Rodney Cabaness with Black Diamond Harley Davidson
  • Beau Detrick with the Illinois Army National Guard
  • Hayden Gardiner with South Porte Bank
  • Tracey Glenn with Peoples National Bank
  • Ted Gutierrez with Jackson County Mass Transit District
  • Megan Jones with Priority Professional Group
  • Mary Jo McCurdy with First Southern Bank
  • Brian Ziegler with Clarida & Ziegler Engineering Company
The new board member is Herby Voss with Heartland Regional Medical Center.

“A major part of my role as marketing director at Heartland Regional is to positively engage and support the region’s citizens and business community. Serving on the Marion Chamber Board would be a natural extension of my job,” Herby said. “I’m proud to say that 2017 saw Heartland Regional’s greatest engagement with the Marion Chamber since I joined the hospital staff in 2014. This year we’ve been privileged to host everything from small scale Chamber meetings to a major event, support multiple leadership initiatives and more.”

Voss is an alderman on the City Council for the City of Murphysboro, serves on the advisory board for the Southern Illinois University College of Business Department of Management, is the Red Carpet Gala Performance Director for Hospice of Southern Illinois and is the president of the Murphysboro Bocce Club.

“I would be honored to help guide the Chamber and serve beside the other Board members,” Herby said. “I’ll bring a unique perspective to the collaboration rooted in my association with one of the area’s largest employers and my 30 plus year career.”

The new directors were presented during the December Monthly Membership Luncheon on Tuesday, December 12 at The Pavilion.

“The Marion Chamber of Commerce would like to thank all of the candidates who allowed their names to stand in the election, and all of the Chamber members who exercised their right to vote,” said Dalus Ben Avi, executive director of the Marion Chamber of Commerce. “I look forward to working with all of the Board of Directors in the coming year to ensure the continued growth and success of the Chamber and the greater Marion area.”

This was the first year the Board of Directors election was held entirely online.

The new Executive Board was also announced at the December Monthly Membership Luncheon. Those serving on the Executive Board for 2018 are:
  • Immediate Past Chair - Kenya Garner with State Farm Insurance
  • Chair - Janet Jensen with Auto Credit of Southern Illinois
  • 1st Vice Chair - Gail Barger with Priority Staffing Group Ltd
  • 2nd Vice Chair – Ashlee Church with Volkswagen of Marion
  • Secretary – Amber Ciochetto with Crisp Container
  • Treasurer - Kimberly Walker with Kemper CPA Group LLP
“Being nominated by the Marion Chamber of Commerce’s Nominating Committee to serve as the Chamber’s Secretary is a great honor. And, for the Board of Directors to approve my nomination as Secretary is very moving. I take the role and its responsibilities very seriously and I am excited about my role in the future of the Marion Chamber of Commerce,” Ciochetto said. “My goal as one of the Executive Board members is to make every member feel welcomed into the organization and to encourage each of them to get involved and work together toward accomplishing the Chamber’s mission.

“I am very grateful to Crisp Container and Pepsi MidAmerica for not only allowing me to devote my time and energy to the Marion Chamber and its members and endeavors, but also for encouraging me to do so. Both Crisp Container and Pepsi MidAmerica value giving back to the community and making a difference in the community.”

Walker was nominated by the Nominating Committee to serve another term as the Chamber’s Treasurer. The Board approved her nomination at the December meeting.

“2018 will be a great year! I am looking forward to working with the Marion Chamber of Commerce and the Chamber Board,” Walker said. “I am excited about seeing Marion grow and being a part of that growth. Together we can do great things!”

Garner served as Chair of the Executive Board in 2017.

“It’s been an exciting year as the Chair. I have had the opportunity to work closely with so many hardworking and dedicated people, many of these people I barely knew before my term started,” Garner said. “Thanks to their hard work and organization my responsibilities were fairly easy.”

The term of the newly elected directors officially begins the evening of the 97th annual Marion Chamber of Commerce Awards Banquet & Auction on Friday, January 19, 2017, at the Pavilion. Reservations for the event are currently being accepted. To RSVP for the Annual Banquet, call the Chamber office at (618) 997-6311, email director@marionillinois.com or visit www.marionillinois.com.
 

Published: 12/12/17