By Mary Jo Coulehan | Pagosa Springs Area Chamber of Commerce
Part of closing out 2022 and welcoming 2023 is installing three new directors for three-year terms to the Chamber’s board of directors.
Representing a variety of business interests, the Chamber board seeks nominees from various business sectors to give the board a broad representation of the business community. Every year, three board members term out and three new board members come on the board for a three-year term, making up a nine-member team. Voting opened on Dec. 27 and will remain open until Jan. 18, 2023.
Chamber member businesses are encouraged to vote online, although voting may take place in person at the Chamber of Commerce. Member businesses are allowed one ballot per business, with each ballot allowing the business to vote for up to three of the nominees. Should a business cast more than one ballot or vote for more than three candidates, their vote will be disqualified.
Following is this year’s board nominees. We encourage all Chamber member businesses to vote as each vote counts. Read their bios on the Chamber’s website from the home page, www.pagosachamber.com. Scroll to “More in the News” under Community and Chamber News and click on the graphic. Even if you don’t know the person, check out their bio and see how you feel they can best round out the Chamber board with their knowledge or skill set.
Starting in alphabetical order is Jennifer Bowden, who manages a lodging facility that has been a Chamber member for more than 20 years. Bowden was an inaugural member of the Young Professionals of Pagosa Springs at the time it was active. She represents the lodging sector.
Lauren Crawford has been a Chamber member for just two years, but has been a member through one of the most trying times in business history — COVID — opening their doors the week before COVID shut almost everything down. Raised and educated here in Pagosa Springs, leaving and gaining outside experience, Crawford returns to represent the service industry.
Blue Pitcher Lindner is another “home-grown” Pagosa resident. As with Crawford, Pitcher Lindner left for a time but has returned to Pagosa to raise her family and to lead a successful business and be involved in various aspects of the community.
Dale Scrivener, executive director of Curtains Up Pagosa, ran for the board in 2022 and has been serving on the Chamber board for one year, filling a board vacancy. He has chosen to run again for a three-year term representing the arts and nonprofit business sectors.
Pat Tackett is another long-term resident of Pagosa Springs and represents the financial business sector. However, she also has retail experience assisting her mother, who owns a retail store here in Pagosa.
Rounding out the slate of nominees is Robin Young, Archuleta County/Colorado State University Extension agent. Hugely involved in many aspects of the community, Young is looking to build our community’s future through her work with youth and the various nonprofit entities focused on the heaalth and sustainability of our county. She also represents Archuleta County with a number of statewide organizations.
All of these nominees are worthy of the appointment to the board; however, only three can be selected at this time. Please take time to cast your ballot for some of these individuals after giving them serious consideration. Should you have any questions as a Chamber member business, please contact Mary Jo at the Chamber.
Nominate for the
community award
categories
Nominations are also open for the annual Community Awards. The categories are Citizen, Volunteer, Non-Profit and Small Business of the Year. It is not uncommon for a business or nonprofit organization to self-nominate for this award, as who knows your organization better than you do? Nomination forms may be obtained off the Chamber website at www.pagosachamber.com from the home page.
Please be as specific as you can in nominating a person, persons, business or organization. Your information gives the judging committee more information from which to make their decisions. Should you need extra room to describe the accomplishments, don’t hesitate to attach additional pages. The nominees and award winners will be announced at the Chamber’s annual meeting and celebration on Feb. 8, 2023. The event will be held at the Pagosa Lakes Property Owners Association Clubhouse from 4 to 7 p.m. Tickets will be available after the first of the year. Take this time to honor those heroes who give so much back to the workings of our community.
