2023_Fall_ValpoMagazine

HEART AND SOUL OF VALPARAISO | CHAMBER STAFF
Chamber staff from left to right: Brie Zacharias, Vanessa Lynch, Rex Richards,
Stephanie Edwards, Christine Pazdur and Sue Stymiest
Heart
and
Soul of
Va
Each Valpo Chamber staff member plays an active role in making Valparaiso a place where businesses “
n the outside looking in,
businesses are booming in
downtown Valparaiso. But that’s
not how a business starts. Usually
it starts with an idea, an empty
room, and a hunger for success.
“It’s difficult to grow your business on your
own,” said Brie Zacharias, Vice President of
Sales and Marketing. That’s why the Valpo
Chamber, selected as the Best Chamber in
Indiana three times in a row and the second-
Best Chamber in America in 2018, provides
opportunities, support, and a dedicated,
passionate team to help businesses grow.
Fostering Connections and
Building Relationships
“I think the most important thing in
business is building those relationships
and having those partners you can go to,”
said Stephanie Edwards, Vice President of
Programs and Communications.
10 FALL 2023 |
A major feature of a Valpo Chamber
membership is its events, from the heavily
anticipated Chamber Network Night to the
luncheons, breakfasts, and ribbon cuttings.
These events help facilitate conversations
between new members and build closer
relationships between existing members.
With a large, varied number of events,
businesses can find something that fits into
their schedule and their personality. “Keep
in mind that you get out what you put in
to your chamber membership,” advised
Christine Pazdur, Vice President and Chief
Financial Officer.
Encouraging People
to Shop Local
Sue Stymiest, Resource Director, is the first
face you see when you walk in and the first
voice you hear when you call. She helps
visitors and residents find things to do in
Valparaiso. “I remember when I first started
here, somebody had called and said that
they were coming for a girls’ weekend,”
Stymiest chuckled. As a local and never
thinking of Valparaiso as a retreat, she soon
realized after investigating that Valparaiso is
“a really fun place to go and explore.”
In addition, the gift certificate program, in
which certificates can be used at more than
100 different participating chamber member
businesses, “helps the money stay in the
community,” added Pazdur.
Developing a Strong,
Thriving Business Community
“If you have a strong business community,
you’re going to have a strong community,”
said Stymiest.
On one hand, the Valpo Chamber is
dedicated to helping businesses grow. On
the other hand, the Chamber engages in
creating a thriving community by