Chamber changes: Director Lizzy Billington leaves chamber for city contract
Published 4:25 pm Wednesday, May 6, 2015
Lizzy Billington works on ways to enable local residents to stay close to home for all their needs, but to do that, she’s making a move of her own.
The former chief executive officer of the Snoqualmie Valley Chamber of Commerce has, as of May 1, moved two blocks down River Street, to resume her work under a new contract with the city of Snoqualmie.
“There’s a lot of projects that I’m currently working on that will transfer over,” said Billington Thursday, her last day as a chamber staffer.
Those projects include a series of movies and music in the park, and a July 25 celebration of, and on, historic Snoqualmie’s Main Street.
“We’re going to make a big deal, a big celebration, of the fact that downtown Snoqualmie looks amazing,” she said.
Billington’s departure marks the end of a several-years-long collaborative agreement between the chamber and the city for economic development services and the start of increased efforts by the city to attract businesses and residents alike to not only come to Snoqualmie, but also to stay there.
“The city is really interested in getting people to eat, sleep, work and play here,” said Billington.
In her new position, Billington will report to both Mark Hofman, the city’s community development director, and Dan Marcinko, the director of parks and public works. Her contract, initially set to expire at the end of the year, calls for her to do a mix of events planning and business development, similar to what she’s been doing at the chamber for the past 16 months.
“I served the city of Snoqualmie under contract as the CEO of the chamber,” she said. “Nothing is going to change, as far as my presence (among business owners). My role with the merchants will remain the same.”
The transition does mean some changes at the chamber office, though.
“We don’t have a plan to replace Lizzy’s position right now,” said Andy Glandon, president of the chamber’s board of directors.
Instead, he said, the board will maintain one full-time staffer, Kaylee Hardman, and rely on volunteers to help staff the visitor’s center, which is under a separate contract with the city of Snoqualmie.
“I think we’re going to become more member-focused,” Glandon added, concentrating on supporting those businesses.
None of the traditional chamber events will change, he said. The organization is again preparing to hire interns who annually promote the city to visitors at Snoqualmie Falls, and is working on its summer golf tournament, the Tour de Peaks bike ride, the fall gala, and its regular monthly luncheons and after-hours networking events.
Glandon also foresees working with the city, as always.
“We still have a mutually beneficial partnership with the city,” he said. “The city and the chamber have a lot of common goals.”
He considers the change “a separation of duties.”
Snoqualmie Mayor Matt Larson said “We appreciate and will continue to support the chamber’s efforts for tourism growth and visitor services, as well as its emphasis on the vitality of local businesses. Redefining our partnership with the chamber will allow us to expand our economic development goals.
“Additionally, Snoqualmie City Council members have requested that the administration move forward with hiring an events coordinator, either as a staff position or a consultant. Special events and programs are a benefit to the community and support the City’s desire to provide fun and healthy activities for our residents and visitors.”
