Dayton Chamber welcomes new Director

DAYTON-A visit that turns into a new home doesn't happen to everyone, but that's exactly how Belinda Larsen ended up calling Dayton home. As the new Dayton Chamber of Commerce Director, Larsen is driven by community and economic development, and keeping Dayton as welcoming for all guests as it has been for her.

"When I told people I was moving to Dayton, they were all like 'Oh, what a neat place! Dayton is such a fun town,'" Larsen said. "Not one person questioned the move."

Larsen, formerly of Clarkston, found the Chamber Director job listing while scrolling through social media. When she discovered the position, the listing had actually expired, she said. She reached out to the staff at the time, and they agreed to review her resume with the Chamber board. A Zoom interview and a few days later, Larsen accepted the job and began the moving process.

She has a long history of working with economic development organizations and various Chambers of Commerce and believes that you must involve all members of the organizations.

"A lot of the success comes from involving the members with different events," Larsen said. "Not all of the events have to be big, like All Wheels Weekend. Small ones that bring the people together so they can network and get to know each other better, those are the events that I am envisioning. Lauren (Parsons) has given me a few ideas she has, so we are going to sit down, mesh those ideas together and bring a few new things to town."

Larsen said she has had a great time working with the Chamber board and appreciates how receptive they are to new ideas. She has also enjoyed working with Jennie Dickinson, at the Port of Columbia, rekindling a working relationship from Larsen's time working at the Port of Clarkston.

"She is just a go-getter, get-it-done kind of person," said Larsen, "That's how I am- if we have something we can take and move forward, let's make it happen."

Recently, Larsen helped put on the Dayton Days parade, one of the first organized parades since the COVID-19 pandemic last year and said she loved every minute of it.

"That was the first thing I stepped into, and it was crazy," Larsen joked. "I love that kind of pressure- I actually thrive in those situations. Things happen behind the scenes, but you just have to roll with it, and you just make things happen."

Her eyes are set forward, with All Wheels Weekend quickly approaching. Larsen said that the event received a "late go-ahead," with COVID-19-related uncertainties still looming. The event will take over Main Street in Dayton, June 18-20. Smash'em-Crash'em demolition derby fans will have to wait just a bit longer, with the derby scheduled for July 17. Tickets are available through the Chamber of Commerce.

"I have lived in a lot of places, but Dayton has been one of the most welcoming," Larsen said. "It has been incredible."