Executive director for Palmer Chamber named

March 4, 2005

BOB MARTINSON/Frontiersman reporter

Sandy Gaither formerly with the Alaska State Fair office has been named executive director for the Greater Palmer Chamber of Commerce.

Gaither received the news about a week and a half ago and her last day at the fair's office was March 3. Gaither said her new job includes oversight of the management of the Palmer Visitors Center.

"One of the first things I'm going to tackle is to update our Web site, as it is very old and dated," she said. She also said she wants to pursue new members and get some of the inactive memberships back into the group.

"We're going to be working closely with the city of Palmer and hopefully increase the tourism numbers every year," she said.

Some of Palmer's attractions Gaither mentioned are the Musk Ox Farm, the state fair, the Colonist house, Hatcher Pass and the Reindeer farm.

"Those things are a big attraction and the beautiful scenery around here is a big seller too. I also think that Hatcher Pass is going to be a growing venue for us," Gaither said.

Gaither's duties for the fair were running main operations, including ticketing, oversight of the venues and insurance issues. She was also the liaison for emergency services and parking and worked with a board similar to one she will work for at the chamber.

"It's a pretty good cross-section of people throughout the Valley, that are active in it," Gaither said. "There are individuals and politicians, but it is mainly businesses. It's a good place for networking if you are a new business … and it's a great place to come and start meeting the other people that are operating businesses and sort of build up your clientele through the chamber. It is a good operation, what the chamber does."