Newly announced business manager Chelsea Goucher (second from right) with Chamber board members (from left) Katherine Tatsuda, Miguel Torres, and Doug Ward.
Greater Ketchikan Chamber of Commerce President Judy Zenge introduced Chelsea Goucher as the Chamber’s new business manager Wednesday. Goucher will take the administrative position held by outgoing executive director Keith Smith, who announced his planned departure from the Chamber earlier this summer.
Goucher was born and raised in Ketchikan, and graduated salutatorian of the Ketchikan High School Class of 2006. She studied political science at Louis and Clark University in Portland, Oregon. Since then, she has returned to Ketchikan and become involved in the community.
“I am looking forward very much to working with everyone, and doing the best I can in this position to help Ketchikan,” Goucher said. “I care about this community a lot, and I am very aware of everything that this town has to offer – and also the challenges that we face as a community. I’m just really happy to have this opportunity, both personally and professionally, to do what I can to contribute to this town.”
Incoming business manager Chelsea Goucher with outgoing executive director, Keith Smith.
Following the announcement, Goucher immediately fielded questions about how the Chamber will increase membership, or better present ideas to government. She talked about her dedication to her new role, and some ways she hopes to address current concerns.
“I do hope I can kind of be an ear to Chamber members, and then also be a voice for the chamber. I don’t have my own business, so I can invest my time in speaking out and being the person that presents the ideas that the Chamber comes up with collectively to different government bodies. So I think adding that value, hopefully, will attract membership,” she said.
Goucher will start her new job on Monday, July 29th. She can currently be reached by email at info@ketchikanchamber.com.
