Get Involved

You can make a difference in your community and help to shape the Chamber’s direction.  The Dalles Area Chamber of Commerce offers members a variety of opportunities to share their expertise with other business professionals in the city.  Check out our volunteer committees and task forces.

Ambassadors –
Chair:  Bonniegene Cloud, Mill Creek Point Assisted Living
The Ambassadors serve as official greeters for the Chamber and the community.  They welcome new businesses, perform ribbon cuttings, celebrate grand openings and host the monthly Business After Hours.

Downtown Committee
Chair:  Luise Langheinrich, Boulder Path Design
The Chamber’s Downtown Committee works for the promotion of downtown core area through special events that enhance retail opportunities as well as supporting the revitalization of the Downtown National Historic District.

Building Committee
The Building Committee’s purpose is to build a new Chamber building some time in the future. Their goal is to provide a new Chamber building that the whole community can be proud to call the “Front Door to Our Community.”

YoPros
Chair:  Marcus Denney, Columbia River Bank
The Young Professionals Group (YoPros) is open to members and their employees aged 21 to 40. Currently the YoPros “Showcase” two Chamber businesses per month.  They manage The Dalles-Dash and World of Wine in 49 (miles) geocaching loops, produce the Gorge Eco Fest, held annually in September, organized the “Save Taylor Lake” cleanup effort and other worthwhile projects.

Economic Development
Chair:  Carina Schmidt, Crestline Construction
The Chamber’s Economic Development Committee focuses on economic growth, business development and business outreach. They add expertise and assist in the areas of work force training, essential community services, economic development, business outreach and community revitalization projects.

Governmental Affairs
Chair:  Joan Silver, Joan Silver Consulting
The Governmental Affairs Committee meets weekly, monitors business issues and conducts regular dialogues with elected officials. Governmental Affairs sponsors forums and debates featuring state and local candidates and issues whenever appropriate.

Marketing
Chair:  Lee Weinstein, Lee Weinstein Associates Public Relations
The Marketing Committee assists Chamber staff with all marketing promotions, communications, and public relations activities, as well as special projects. They were instrumental in creating the Chamber’s business development and tourism videos, the Chamber website, and other marketing communications projects.

Business Outreach Subcommittee
Chair:  Mike Zingg, Design Structures
Business Outreach is a subcommittee of the Economic Development Committee.  Their charge is to develop business prospects and reach out to them with information on the community and the business benefits available to them in The Dalles.

Urban Growth Boundary Subcommittee
Chair:  Les Cochenour
The UGB Subcommittee is made up of members of the Government Affairs and Economic Development Committees.  This group was formed to assist the city in its bid to expand the urban growth boundary to comply with Oregon’s Land Use laws.