Schmeiser steps down as chamber director

Posted 12/27/16

Schmeiser’s last day at the chamber is scheduled for Jan. 20; she has accepted the executive director position at Mountain Spirit Habitat for Humanity.

The choice to leave the chamber was a difficult one that she prayed about, but Schmeiser …

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Schmeiser steps down as chamber director

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After four years at the helm, Powell Valley Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Jaime Schmeiser is stepping down from the position.

Schmeiser’s last day at the chamber is scheduled for Jan. 20; she has accepted the executive director position at Mountain Spirit Habitat for Humanity.

The choice to leave the chamber was a difficult one that she prayed about, but Schmeiser said she’s excited for her new opportunity.

“I was torn, because I’m very passionate about Habitat Ministry, but I’m also very passionate about my work at the chamber,” Schmeiser said. “I love both, so it was a hard decision.”

Chamber board president J.J. Jeide thanked Schmeiser for her service on behalf of the board.  

“We wish Jaime the very best in her future endeavor and thank her for her great work on behalf of the Chamber of Commerce, Main Street Powell and the Park County Travel Council,” Jeide said in a release.

Schmeiser said working with the residents of Powell and the surrounding area has been a rewarding experience — one she will greatly miss as she embarks on her new adventure.

“I will miss the social interaction,” she said. “We did a lot of events at the chamber, and the chamber will of course continue to do them. I will be volunteering as much as I can for the chamber, as an ambassador perhaps, as well as working some of the events, like Country Christmas. I just love those events, and I don’t want to miss out on that.”

Schmeiser has enjoyed working with local businesses as well, saying she has gained a deeper appreciation for the culture of Powell through the experience.

“In my four-and-a-half years at the chamber I’ve learned so much more about the culture of this place and the people who live here,” Schmeiser said. “Getting to know the businesses, getting to know the community on such a personal level has just strengthened my love for the area and reinforces why I chose to live in Powell, Wyoming.”

Downtown Powell has fallen on leaner times of late, with the closing of several businesses creating a void residents aren’t used to seeing as they conduct business in the town’s hub. Schmeiser said the vacancies create a unique opportunity for businesses that may be looking at Powell to expand, and she is confident the area will rebound soon.

“This is an opportunity for Powell to diversify itself and not be like other small towns,” Schmeiser said. “Because we are not like other small towns. We are the pioneers, we are the homesteaders. We’re the ones that came up with the Mercantile. That idea has had its time, and now we’re the town that is poised for the next big wave of popular shopping opportunities.”

With a month to go before her final day, Schmeiser will take an active role in the hiring process of her replacement, a search that is now underway. The ultimate decision on who to hire belongs to the board of directors, but Schmeiser said she will be on hand to make the transition a smooth one.

“I will be there to help in any capacity possible,” she said. “And even after I’ve left, I’m not going to the moon; I’m just going down the street. I’ll be available to them for anything they need.”

Asked what advice she would give her replacement as he or she settles into the position, Schmeiser said she will tell them to prepare to be busy — especially when it comes to filling the empty storefronts downtown.

“Downtown is going to be picking up,” she said. “There is a lot of buzz. I’ve talked with a lot of people who are interested in opening businesses down there. I will continue to advocate for the uniqueness of Powell, especially our downtown area. There is a lot of opportunity for fresh ideas and better things to come from it.”

Schmeiser thanked everyone who made her time at the chamber “such a wonderful experience.”

“I’m still around and available if anybody has anything they need,” she said.

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