2022 Affiliate Chamber Spotlight: Grimes Chamber & Economic Development
Chamber Name + Website
Grimes Chamber & Economic Development
Elected Leader for 2022
Ryleah Cross, CRPC, Board Chair (Edward Jones)
Professional Staff Leader of the Chamber
Brian Buethe, President | CEO
Number of Members
306 Members
How Does a Business Join Your Chamber?
Grimes Chamber & Economic Development (GCED) provides a variety of options to businesses interested in exploring the benefits of membership. The first option is to apply online at GrimesIowa.com. We can also be contacted directly via Chamber@GrimesIowa.com or (515) 986-5770. Any of our three staff members, including Halsey Scales (Director of Operations), Madison Taiber (Creative Director) or Brian Buethe (President | CEO), would be happy to answer questions and provide information, either in person or remotely.
What Inspired You to First Get Involved with Your Chamber?
In my role as a Financial Advisor with Edward Jones, I was looking for opportunities to engage in the fast-growing community of Grimes. The Chamber provided me with a number of ways in which I could meet new people and form, and ultimately grow, business relationships. Furthermore, by becoming a member I was able to stay more informed about local initiatives, new development and a variety of other topics that have proved useful to me professionally.
What is a Signature Offering of Your Chamber?
GCED has the honor and privilege to work alongside a growing variety of tremendous businesses who are collectively and cooperatively working for the greater good of both the business community and the community as a whole. The fact that this GCED is simultaneously a Chamber of Commerce, and Economic Development organization and advocate for attracting and growing tourism in the community makes it unique.
What is Your Chamber’s Biggest Accomplishment in the Past 12 Months?
Grimes Chamber & Economic Development has been busy celebrating accomplishments alongside our many partners. Our calendar has been full of groundbreaking ceremonies, ribbon cutting celebrations, etc… all why we continue do everything we can to help our individual member better their own situation.
What Initiative/Project Are You Looking Forward to in the Upcoming Year?
We are working diligently, along with a number of partners, to establish what we believe will be a premier community-based leadership program that seeks to identify and resource leaders within the Grimes community, encouraging and equipping them to be more effective leaders in the workplace and the community and providing opportunity for relationship building and professional networking. This new initiative will be known as the Grimes Leadership Academy and is anticipated to launch in 2023.
What Partnership Tools/Resources Have Been Most Beneficial to Your Chamber Members?
The Greater Des Moines Partnership offers such an extensive array of opportunities for our members to engage it is difficult to pick just one. However, the advocacy work that is done on behalf of the business community, often quietly, has provided a number of unsung wins over the years. Whether it is helping to keep Chamber Members informed of policy proposals or actively engaging with elected officials on their behalf, the work is very important, and it never ends.
What Are Your Upcoming Events?
Details for these and many other events can be found on the GCED Events Page.
Brian Buethe
Brian Buethe is President/CEO of the Grimes Chamber & Economic Development.