Palmer chamber has new director

PALMER — The Greater Palmer Chamber of Commerce welcomes a new executive director to their staff on Monday.

Jillyan Webb is leaving her post as Assistant Director of Community Investors for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Alaska in a homecoming of sorts.

Webb is originally from the Valley and her roots are constant with the agricultural past of Palmer.

After leaving Alaska, she spent seven years in Texas rodeoing professionally and working for the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame. She spent 13 years as the treasurer for the Historic Stockyard Preservation Committee, and she is a life-long member of the Future Farmers of America.

Back in Alaska, she has focused on fundraising efforts for the Boys and Girls Clubs and enhancing member benefits and communications. She produced major events for the Clubs, including the annual auction that raised about $350,000 each year.

How does she feel about the transition?

“Palmer is a great community,” said Webb. “The business members are very involved with the non-profits in the community. The members are really engaged, so I won’t be a lone ranger.”

With her strong technology background and web development skills, she hopes to bring new technologies to the GPCC without relying on outsourcing work to web developers.

With her event planning background, she is responsible for directing Colony Days, Colony Christmas and the Palmer Auction.

To show her dedication, Webb was the GPCC participant for this year’s Polar Plunge, much to the relief of the other members.

Webb was unable to comment on the direction she hopes the GPCC will take, as the new board has not yet been elected. Board officers are elected at the March 18 meeting. Meetings are held on Wednesdays at noon at the Palmer Moose Lodge.