Who We Are
The Chamber of Commerce is a growing non-profit organization of 200 businesses and professional persons 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. An executive officer and other paid staff members 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 agency 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. A new hotel, 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 the helpful staff at the Chamber's Visitor Information Center in Cheney. The Chamber also co-sponsors an Auction Mania with Cheney Kiwanis and Cheney Rotary.
Business Contacts
The Chamber provides business persons with networking channels via its monthly membership luncheon, 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.
Chamber Officers/Executive Board of Directors
President: Ed Neunherz
Past President: Shawn Mayo
President Elect: Teresa LeGate (Holiday Inn Spokane-Airport)
Treasurer: Arlene Fisher (City of Cheney)
Secretary: Jamie Sijohn (Spokane Tribe of Indians)
2010 Board of Directors
Larry Keller (Cheney School District)
Lisa Poplawski (EWU Alumni Assoc.)
Jamie Dedmon (STCU)
Pam Veltri ( Medical Lake School District)
Susan Stickney (Numerica Credit Union)
Latisha Hill (Avista Utilities)
Ty Barbery (Edward Jones)
Mayor Tom Trulove (City of Cheney)
Dan Villalobos (Inland Power & Light)
Matt McCoy
Valerie Santillanes (Best Western Peppertree Inns)
Denise Vickerman (Spokane Ramada-Airport)
Karen Dodge (Washington Trust Bank)
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