Who We Are

The Chamber of Commerce is a growing non-profit organization of 200 businesses, organizations, and individuals who support and promote their community and each other. By promoting business and community development, employment opportunities expand – thus, the Chamber is fostering a healthy economy and helping to enrich the quality of life of all residents.

How The Chamber Is Structured

Volunteers, businesses,organizations, professional people and citizens are the lifeblood of the Chamber. Through the Board of Directors and Executive Committee, volunteers make major policy decisions and outline Chamber programs. Office staff assist in implementing policies and programs.

Goal Statement:

The Chamber’s long-term goals are to meet the needs of and involve an expanding membership; to lead in marketing and promoting the West Plains area; to take a leadership role in shaping the future of the West Plains area; to encourage appropriate commercial and industrial development and new private-sector jobs; and to encourage and support resources that result in an educated work force.

What We Do

Government Relations

The Chamber maintains an effective working relationship with government by meeting regularly with elected officials, establishing issue-focused task forces, and constantly reviewing and analyzing proposed legislation that affects business and community interest.
 

Legislative

The Chamber monitors federal, state and local government legislative activities to assess their impact on business, and advises the elected officials of the Chamber’s position on specific issues.

 

West Plains Promotion

The Chamber is the only local organization working full time to promote the West Plains and the business community.

Economic Development

The Chamber is a forerunner in the area of economic development. Despite the challenging national economy in recent years, the West Plains area continues to grow and develop.  New hotels, Military Entrance Processing Station, businesses, a theater, single-family homes, apartment complexes, wastewater-treatment facilities, and industrial parks are among recent projects that exceed $500 million.

Public Service

The Chamber enhances the community’s image by promoting our communities' events and attractions, and serving as the primary contact for information about Airway Heights, Cheney, Medical Lake, and West Spokane County. Visitors to our communities find information they need from our website, as well as our helpful staff at the Chamber's Visitor Information Center located at 8727 West Highway 2.
 

Business Contacts

The Chamber provides business persons with networking channels via its monthly membership events, annual Golf Scramble, annual "State of the Cities" meeting, annual Best of the West event, Grand Openings and Ribbon Cutting events, business referrals, and committee opportunities.
 

Services

The Chamber provides many services to its members and the public, including information and relocation materials, city maps, city demographics, community organizations list, a point of inquiry relative to community events, tourist information and this website and links to your business.

2012 Chamber Officers/Executive Board of Directors

President: Tyrone Barbery (Edward Jones)

Past President: Ed Neunherz

President Elect: Latisha Hill (Avista)

Treasurer: Allan Gainer (Tree of Knowledge Book Store)

Secretary: Jamie Dedmon (STCU)

2012 Board of Directors

Karen Dodge (Washington Trust Bank)

John Francisco (Inland Power & Light)

Larry Keller (Cheney School District)

Doug Nixon (Farmers Insurance)

Lisa Poplawski (EWU Alumni Assoc.)

Mayor Patrick Rushing (City of Airway Heights)

Valerie Santillanes (Best Western Plus Peppertree Inn)

Jamie Sijohn (Spokane Tribe of Indians)

Mayor Tom Trulove (City of Cheney)

Pam Veltri (Medical Lake School District)

Denise Vickerman (Ramada Spokane Airport)

Office Staff

Manager:  Kathleen Schreiber Zinke