Norwalk Area Chamber of Commerce 2019 Spotlight

Chamber Name: Norwalk Area Chamber of Commerce

Elected leader for 2019:

Eric Simon, 2019 Chamber President

Professional Staff Leader of the Chamber:

Lucinda Sperry, Executive Director

Number of Members:

221

What inspired you to first get involved with your Chamber?    

I work at SHYFT Collective in Downtown Des Moines (DSM) and live in Norwalk. I wanted to connect more with the business community in Norwalk and getting involved with the chamber has given myself and my business more visibility with Norwalk Area Chamber members. I also really enjoy giving back to this vibrant community. The growth here is exciting and I’m glad to be involved during this time.

What’s a signature offering of your Chamber?

We want to be a welcoming chamber. Our goal is to make sure that our current membership, as well as new members, feels involved and connected. The GrowNorwalk Ambassadors have been assigning an ambassador to each new member, connecting with them in person and taking a short intro video of them to share with the membership.?

What is your Chamber’s biggest accomplishment in the past 12 months?     

The City of Norwalk hosted a RAGBRAI Meeting Town event called Celebrate Norwalk. Many chamber members were instrumental in making the event a success. Our theme was Hometown for Heroes celebrating our police, EMS and celebrity heroes (Jason Momoa — Aquaman & Brandon Routh — Superman). Three bands, 350 volunteers, three beer tents and 35 food and other vendors kept the party rolling from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. We then continued the celebration with a community afterparty from 6-9 p.m. and invited the community and volunteers to relax and enjoy the remaining vendors and music by Pianopalooza. The chamber shared the proceeds of their beer tent with organizations that provided critical volunteer services for the event. It was a great success for the Norwalk community!

Any initiative or project that you are looking forward to in 2019?  

This year we committed to improving all of our events. Each event committee was asked to present three ideas they would implement in 2019 to make their event better. The board asked each committee to consider locations, offerings and rain contingencies in their strategy. This was helpful in improving the overall experience for all events and preparing them for success in future years.

What upcoming events should people watch for?       

On Saturday, September 21, Norwalktoberfest, will take place from 2-6 p.m. at Norwalk City Park, 907 North Ave, in Norwalk. Celebrate fall at this casual craft brew event in the park featuring live music from local musicians, yard games, Oktoberfest contests, food trucks and vendors. Bring your lawn chair and enjoy the afternoon with family and friends. Norwalktoberfest is open to the public. Admission is $5 per person. Kids under 12 free.

The Greater Des Moines Partnership is the second largest regional Chamber of Commerce in the nation. Learn more about Partnership Affiliate Chambers, browse the Membership directory and read additional Affiliate Chamber spotlights.