From Penny Shanks

After 18 years with the Clarkston Area Chamber of Commerce, I am retiring and moving to Ann Arbor.  This move dramatically shortens my husband's commute and creates an opportunity for us to downsize from a 4 bedroom suburban home to an urban condo.  http://lifehacker.com/ditching-your-commute-is-the-happiness-equivalent-of-a-1679698849

I leave the chamber in very strong and capable hands.  

I am so pleased to announce that the Executive Committee has hired Janelle Best as your new Executive Director!

Janelle started with the Chamber two years ago.  When we did that strategic hire I was looking for a potential talented person who could be an option of also being my successor.  Janelle has exceeded my expectations-and my expectations were high.  She is quick to learn, strategic in her analyses and while warm and personable, she also has a core of commitment and drive that is exceptional. 

I never dreamed I would be here for 18 years and I had no idea all the things I would learn and be a part of.  While at the Chamber I've had the opportunity to meet celebrities, get behind the scenes tours and been mentored by some of the most exceptional business leaders. 

I've served under 19 Presidents:

1.      Carrol Cantor

2.      Marc Cooper

3.      Wendy Halsey

4.      Ron Davis

5.      Dawn Horner

6.      Fred Ritter

7.      Kurt Miller

8.      Tim Patterson

9.      Al Roberts

10.  Sue Welker

11.  Steve Hyer

12.  Lou Melone

13.  Heidi Wood

14.  Johnna Struck

15.  Bill Burr

16.  Donna Bullard

17.  Jason T. Ryan

18.  Kelley LaFontaine

19.  And Kevin Harrison

During my tenure we created and added:

              Taste of Clarkston

              Increased Concerts in the Park from 4 weeks to 6

              Body Mind Green EXPO

              WeBiz (formerly Women in Business) Keynote Luncheons

              Business over Breakfasts

              Business After Hours

              OCN Mixers

       Common Joint Application form for community HS Scholarships

My Habitat Calrkston

North Oakland Placemaking Steering Committee

We've also been instrumental in these community events

• July 4th Fireworks (The Chamber originally brought fireworks to Independence Twp, though it is now coordinated by ITPRS)
• Holiday Lights Parade (The Chamber started the Holiday Lights parade, though it is now coordinated by Team RUSH)
• Community Awards Breakfast (The Chamber took over coordination of  the Awards breakfast in 1988 and continued to as the main coordinator until 2008 when Clarkston Community Church volunteered.)
• Vegas Night (A former Chamber Fundraising event)
• Big Buck Raffle (A former Chamber Fundraising event)
• Halloween Howl (A former Chamber Community event)
• Heart of Clarkston--Woodcarving Festival (A former Chamber Fundraising event)
• Leadership Clarkston (The pre-cursor to North Oakland Placemaking Steering Committee)
• Career Connections 

I've shoveled horse dung in parades AND served as Grand Marshall of the Rotary's Labor Day Parade.

I've been awarded Citizen of the Year in Clarkston and served as President of the Oakland Chamber Network, hosting the Governor as our keynote speaker at an OCN event.

I've witnessed tragedy come into Chamber members' lives, and the grief or triumph that comes from: battling a diagnosis of cancer, a business buyout, a hostile take-over, employee embezzlement, bankruptcy, theft, fire, accidents, heart attacks, divorces, births, deaths and more.  I've found myself listening to these stories, often told to me in hushed tones, knowing that there is little I could do other than just listen . . . and keep things confidential.  Where possible I've tried to help-both personally and professionally.

I've gotten into heated disagreements with people whom ultimately ended up being my closest allies and friends.  And I've been betrayed by some I thought to be friends, who took advantage of my honesty and integrity for their own amusement or dishonest goals. 

I've learned how important it is to tackle dreaded tasks as soon as possible; slay that dragon and the rest of the day gets brighter.

I've served with amazing Chamber staff members.They've taught me so much about how to be a leader and mopped me up when I didn't want to face another rainy Taste of Clarkston.  Chamber staff are incredibly resilient and tough.  They have very high standards of personal and professional integrity.  It has been a huge honor to have worked with them.

This career has been an education unlike any other.  I cherish the people I've met, the things we were able to do-the impact that this organization can have when we are organized and collaborative spirited.

I know these things to be true:

• The only constant in life is change.
• You can do a lot more than you think you can do, if you're having fun!
• Always take the high road, you can get a better view of the big picture up there. 
• Your personal brand IS your company brand. How you behave in all your dealings with friends, family, partners, customers, clients reveals more than you know and directly affects your ability to be successful in business.
• When someone has a complaint, listen carefully-many times you are being gifted valuable information on how to improve.
• On that note:  listening is an underrated skill.  We can all learn to listen more.
• Tell the truth, it's easier to remember and will be revealed in the end anyway.
• When something goes wrong, take responsibility and work to fix it.
• When something goes right, go out of your way to praise those around you who helped make it happen.
• If you want to know what someone is really like, watch their behavior; words can lie, actions tell the truth.
• There are limits to what one person can do; It is each of us doing what we can, where we can with what we have that creates community.

So 300 bulk mailings; 200 luncheon mixers; 18 annual meetings; golf classics and EXPOs; 89 Concerts in the Park; 17 Taste of Clarkstons; 8 candidate forums; 180 Board meetings and 198 Executive Committee meetings . . . this is farewell and goodbye.

Thank you so much to all of you-businesses, residents, members, leaders . . . You Rock!

(so keep on ROCKIN'!!)