New Wasilla chamber director looks to build on business advocacy

WASILLA — A longtime chamber member and veteran event planning entrepreneur has taken over the reins of the Greater Wasilla Chamber of Commerce.

Ina Mueller began her tenure Sept. 1. The Big Lake resident said she hopes to grow the organization’s member base in a number of ways, but the bottom line is to provide an information resource for the business community.

Mueller grew up in Anchorage and worked in the tourism industry for many years before moving to Big Lake in 2010. She owns Lakeshore Entertaining and Event Management, and said her experience in the event planning business was a good fit with the member-driven nature of the chamber. She replaces Traci Boyle.

“I am familiar with working with groups,” she said. “Plus, I know everybody at the chamber and have been a member for years. I value this chamber — it is an energetic, thriving entity. So, when the position came open, it was an enticing opportunity that I felt I was ready for.”

Mueller said going forward, her hope was to build on what was already in place for the chamber. New businesses continue to open and expand in Wasilla, she said, adding that the city continues to define itself as a growing commercial center for the Mat-Su Borough.

Currently, chamber membership is hovering around 300, she said.

“Really, my goal is to take the good work that has been going on for many years at the chamber and continue that,” Mueller said. “I also want to be an advocate and to make sure the city and its political leaders know what businesses need.”

She said the state’s current fiscal challenges create a trickle-down effect for the business community.

“Once a source of income for their business suffers, then obviously their support for organizations such as ours can suffer,” she said. “So we have a job ahead of us to make sure that our members feel that they are getting the service from us that they need so we don’t lose our membership base.”

While the 2016 numbers are still being hashed out, Mueller said overall the tourism season was looking fairly strong for the region, adding that the chamber’s business makeup was unique between standard commerce and tourism-related activities.

“Tourism is really one of the best renewable resources that our state has,” she said. “Despite the state’s (financial) troubles, getting that tourism revenue from other areas of the world should be a focus.”

Mueller heads a staff that includes membership and events coordinator Kristina Nevenzel, who held down interim director duties while the chamber board of directors conducted the job search.

“She has a wealth of knowledge and will be a huge asset to the business community,” Nevenzel said. “I am thrilled to be working with her.”

For the business not yet a member but considering joining up, Mueller said the chamber can offer a range of networking opportunities with other businesses, community outreach, as well as an ongoing educational resource for members.

“Whether it is through our chamber luncheon speakers or just through general communication with members, I think we can offer an educational component to let them know what’s going on with, say, current legislation or topics that affect them,” Mueller said. “I think we provide a valuable service... and we are always looking for that feedback from members on what they are interested in.”

Contact reporter Steven Merritt at 352-2269 or steven.merritt@frontiersman.com