Tuesday, January 6, 2026

Thank you to our Chairman's Circle investors:

Embrace Change | Drive Momentum | Champion Growth

Please join us in welcoming the 2026 Willmar Lakes Area Chamber Board of Directors!

We appreciate their leadership, commitment to our business community, and contributions to the growth and success of the Willmar Lakes Area.

Executive Leadership Team:

Chair: Dustin Kotrba - Christianson CPAs and Consultants

Past Chair: Suzanne Hass - Allstate Insurance

Vice Chair: Sam Quam - Bethesda

Chair-Elect: Tracy Lundy - Lake Region Bank

Secretary/ Treasurer: Dan Jacobs - Marcus Construction

President/ CEO: James Miller - Willmar Lakes Area Chamber

Returning Board Members:

Tayla Boersma - MinnWest Technology Campus

Jean Geselius - Conway, Deuth & Schmiesing, PLLP - CDS

Matt Schrupp - Jennie-O

Brittany VanDerBill - B. VanDerBill Consulting

New Board Members:

Kami Anez - Anez Consulting

Jeff Newberg - Duininck

Keri Ohren - CentraCare

Alex Wolter - Willmar Community Education

Join local business and HR experts for an interactive session that explores how to stay compliant, strengthen your workforce, and turn today’s challenges into tomorrow’s competitive advantage. Whether you’re a business owner, HR professional, manager, or front-line supervisor, this session will provide practical solutions and tools to help you lead confidently through the workforce and compliance challenges of the year ahead! 

Plus, buckle up for these exciting mini presentations:

• Tackling Toxicity and Promoting Positivity
• Why Do Employees Leave? It’s Because of You! Being the Nice Guy Can Backfire
• How to Put Butts in Seats: Using Technology to Set the Hook When Fishing for Candidates

The Willmar Lakes Area Chamber and Explore Willmar Lakes Area have moved to MinnWest Technology Campus! Our new home is a modern hub designed for collaboration, training, and community connection. The expanded space features enhanced technology and larger meeting areas, allowing us to better serve local businesses, partners, and visitors in fresh and innovative ways. We’ve launched a $100,000 capital campaign to support the build-out of the new space. If you’d like to be part of this exciting next chapter, we’d love to connect with you.

New Address: 1700 Technology Drive NE, Suite 124, Willmar, MN 56201

Hiring? Make sure to log in to ChamberMaster to post your positions on the Chamber Job Board. Job postings are shared in the weekly e-newsletter that reaches over 1,600 people as well as on the Chamber website, and occasionally on social media. This is a complimentary service offered exclusively to Chamber members.

Dooley's Petroleum - Fuel Transport Driver

ESS - Substitute Teacher, Substitute SpEd Paraprofessional, Food and Nutrition Service

Haug Implement - Cleaning and Customer Service Assistant, Parts Counter Professional

Life-Science Innovations - Chief Financial Officer

Minnesota Direct Care and Treatment - Advance Dental Therapist, Special Care Dentist, Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist

Old National - Business Banking Relationship Manager (Marshall, MN)

January 27 - Business After Hours at Glacial Ridge Curling

January 29 - KCEO Gala at Willmar Conference Center

February 12 - Community Leadership Celebration at Willmar Conference Center

February 26 - Partners in Ag Innovation Conference at MinnWest Technology Campus

April 23 - Student Job Fair & Career Expo at the Willmar High School

April 28 - Business After Hours at Quist Wealth Management

May 14 - Business After Hours at Max's on the Green hosted by SDN Communications

June 22 - Aggie Open at Island Pine Golf Club

July 25 - Rock the Dock at Zorbaz on Green Lake

August 3 - Golf Classic at Eagle Creek Golf Club