By Nina Coolidge
The turn of the New Year brought a new face and new duties to the Lexington-Rockbridge Chamber of Commerce. Just three weeks ago, Robert Chambers, 23, began his newly created position as “promotions manager” for the Chamber.
Chambers is a 2006 graduate of James Madison University in Harrisonburg, and a Rockbridge County native from Fairfield. He assumed his new duties at the Chamber on Jan. 2, and has already been put hard to work. Chambers said he heard about the position from a colleague of his father’s who knew Chambers was in the market for a job in the promotions or marketing field.
Chambers’ role with the C of C is multi-faceted. He writes press releases and newsletters, and communicates with the media in a public relations role.
“When I graduated, I knew that I wanted to be involved with PR or marketing but did not plan on being with a not-for-profit organization,” Chambers said. “I am involved not only with public relations but also marketing and advertising. I work on defining target audiences and developing a branding like you would in marketing.”
According to Sammy Moore, executive director of the C of C, a major part of Chambers’ job is hitting the streets and talking to business owners and patrons. Chambers said one of the most important parts of his job is making sure he gets to speak personally with business owners in order to do his job effectively.
“Every week I personally go to every business downtown to talk with the owners and employees, he said. “While moving around town I take the time to say hello and talk to the people I pass on the street.”
The people who make up Lexington - students, patrons, businesses, residents - have a lot of different ideas about what should be done to help downtown. “So it is my job to get out in the community and try to hear as much as possible.”
For over 20 years, the Lexington Downtown Development Agency played the central role in promoting and developing the businesses of downtown Lexington. After the LDDA closed its doors this fall, the Chamber stepped in and began the long process of taking over the duties of the LDDA.
When it was founded in 1985, LDDA had a very strong focus on downtown and the businesses of Lexington. According Moore, the 70s and 80s were a period of extensive redevelopment and refocus for the area. This surge of growth facilitated the efforts and mission of the LDDA. But after 10 or 12 years of important service to the community, the LDDA began to face financial and administrative problems. At one point the Chamber had more member businesses in the downtown area than the LDDA.
“Like any non-profit, they had problems with finances and with boards,” Moore said. “Financially, they just couldn’t stay solvent.”
Last June, Moore was approached by members of the LDDA about the possibility of the Chamber taking over the programs of the LDDA.
“As an organization, it just couldn’t exist anymore,” Moore said. “We can still institute their programs.”
It soon became clear that in order for the Chamber to take over these new responsibilities, a new staff member would need to be hired.
The Chamber finally hired Chambers to fill the new promotions manager position. The Chamber had only $40,000 total to staff and sustain this new position - a salary of $30,000 and $10,000 for marketing.
In his first few weeks on the job, Chambers said the biggest challenge he has faced is trying to work with 60 individual businesses to promote and market the comprehensive image of Downtown Lexington. He also noted that the most important thing is trying to get more patrons downtown.
“We want to let people know we have a very friendly business area downtown,” Chambers said.
The transition has just begun and Moore emphasized the fact that it is a work in progress that requires the help of everyone in the community - businesses, the government and the Chamber.
“Our work is really just beginning,” Moore said. “Every day is a new day.”
Produced by Washington and Lee journalism students.
Lead supervisor: Prof. Claudette Artwick
Reporting supervisors:
Technical supervisor: Michael Todd