Island Life: SPI Chamber of Commerce Back on Track After Pandemic
Interview with Chamber President/CEO Alita Bagley |
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The SPI Chamber, like many other businesses, was forced to stand still during the pandemic.
After serving as a councilwoman for 13 years, Alita Bagley was handed the presidential baton a year and a half into the pandemic to steer the Chamber of Commerce on SPI to safety.
Experienced as a business owner along with her husband, Bagley and her team of Marketing Director Diana Harvill, and Membership Services, Beverley Eymard, are preparing to step up their game and bring more to the table.
According to Bagley, in 2021, the Chamber gained a record-breaking 73 new members. This excited Bagley. "That spoke to the entrepreneurial spirits of people coming out of COVID with new businesses." |
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"The pandemic made Chamber duties difficult," said Bagley. Many canceled events include the Ladies Kingfish Tournament, educational classes, luncheons, Coffee & Conversations, and more.
Back on Track
After adapting and adjusting its sails, the Chamber is booming with new ideas, events, and communication to keep the community close.
This February, the Chamber's board of directors dedicated time to pursue five goals for the community. |
| President/CEO Alita Bagley |
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Goals 1.) Communication 2.) Outreach 3.) 12 & 12 Program 4.) Hospitality Training 5.) Chamber University
The Chamber's sole goal is to constantly communicate with its members who fund the community through membership. The goal of the three staff members is to reach out to all the members monthly. "Our goal is to work for our members. That's who we are working for."
New 12 & 12 Program
During the lunch hour, the Chamber plans to take on small groups of 10-12 members and use the time to provide lunch and talk about new avenues to use the Chamber better. "We want to use that time to discuss the struggles and build on the successes." Hospitality Training & Chamber University
In the previous months, Bagley sent out a survey asking members about one thing they needed: "The top of the list was hospitality training and customer service training."
This fall, customer training is coming to fruition with help from the City's Conventions and Visitors Bureau (CVB). The CVB offers a four-hour tourism certification program for employees of the island and, combined with the Chamber's Hospitality classes, will result in a graduate of the Chamber University. In addition, courses given by the Chamber will offer different industry options. |
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