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Chamber annual meeting a wealth of gratitude

SKYLER BELL, Of the Record staff

At its annual meeting, the Park City Chamber/Bureau announced the seven new members of the board of directors, as well as the new executive committee, the winner of the Myles Rademan Spirit of Hospitality Award, and unveiled their new marketing campaign in an afternoon highlighted with expressions of gratitude by and for all the Chamber/Bureau members.

"We just want to make sure and say ‘thanks’ to our membership for their hard work over the last year, and let everyone know we’re looking forward to another great year," said Membership Director Kristin Carpenter.

The new year will see some new faces at the helm of the almost 950-member Chamber/Bureau. New members of the board of directors include: Gabrielle Caruso of VanCott, Bagley, Cornwall and McCarthy, Russ Coburn of Jans Mountain Outfitters, Ed Fraze of Mountain Town Stages, Abby McNulty of the Sundance Institute, Donnie Novelle of Park City Transportation, Jenni Smith of Park City Mountain Resort and Michael Sweeney of Brothers III, Inc.

Outgoing members are: Monty Coates of Southwestern Expressions, Peter Curtis of Park City Mountain Resort, Eileen Dunn of Done to Your Taste Catering, Tracy Harden of the Blakeslee Group, Craig Sanchez of Park City Golf, Kevin Thorstenson of Hotel Park City and Teri Whitney of Snow Flower Property Management.

The board consists of 22 members who serve three-year terms. They are chosen by vote of the membership, of which 310 returned ballots this year.

The Executive Committee for 2006-07 includes: President Andrew Volkman of Frontier Bank, Past President Bob Wheaton of Deer Valley Resort, Treasurer (and president-elect for 2007-08) Scott Pierpont of The Canyons Resort, Debbie Batt of the Park City Marriott, Richard Bizzaro of All Resort Express, Jeff Ward of 350 Main

, John Rogers of Hart Property Management and Summit County Commissioner Bob Richer.

"We try to have representatives from different parts of the business community," Carpenter said. "Our hope is that if we have that diversity then we will be able to serve the community as a whole."

Executive Director Bill Malone said it is this diversity that makes the board and the Chamber work.

"Our bylaws speak to that, at least through the nominating process, that we are cognizant to having people from various parts of the industry so we’re not looking at it with a myopic point of view," he said.

He also said Volkman, who will serve as president for a one-year term, has many characteristics that will help him work with the new board and continue to grow the Chamber/Bureau and Park City.

"I think Andrew has a couple of real strong points he reflects in serving in our organization," Malone said. "His job gives him a certain level of financial expertise. Andrew brings a lot from the operational side, and also, since he served for so long on the Planning Commission in Park City, he has had the chance to meet a lot of people in town and in the development industry as well. He’s a great asset."

One of the responsibilities he will have will be to help choose a deserving recipient of the Myles Rademan Spirit of Hospitality Award. This year the award went to former Park City Mayor, Brad Olch. The award, named after its first recipient, is given each year to a member of the Chamber/Bureau that has exemplified the spirit of Park City hospitality.

As mayor, Olch helped pave the way for Park City to become one of the focal points of the 2002 Winter Olympics,

"I think, in my mind, that we would have hosted those medal events in the 2002 Winter Olympics whether Brad was mayor or not, but it certainly would not have been the same. He helped position Park City as the alpine heart of the Olympics.

"It was the Salt Lake City Olympics and we were just supposed to be a venue on the outside. Our views could have very easily been overlooked but Brad got Park City’s interests involved and really fought hard for the best things to happen here."

Aside from giving out awards, another of Volkman’s duties as president will be to help push the new marketing campaign to bring in more visitors to Park City. The new campaign will focus on continuing to do what has worked in the past and tossing what hasn’t. Judging by the numbers, a lot has been working.

Skier days were up last year by 6.7 percent and overnight visitation was up 10 percent. Yet, the marketing committee set a goal to refresh the Park City brand. Part of that will be done by extensive advertising in the publications that have shown the highest return in the past.

"In some respects, if you look at our success in terms of overnight visitation, skier days and visitor nights, each year has done a little better than the previous year," Malone said. "With that in mind, we’re not throwing everything from the past out the window, but we’re building on what has worked and brought us that success."

By reaching out to both national and local audiences, the Chamber/Bureau will continue the push to make Park City a world class community and destination.

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