From Staff Reports
AMERICUS — AMERICUS— You will find her in her office inside the brick walls of the Rees Park Economic Development Center, working furiously behind her desk. You might see her at a business after hours event, or cutting the ribbon at a new business that has opened in this area. She is the new face of the Americus-Sumter Chamber of Commerce, and her name is Anglela Westra.
Westra is the new President of the Chamber of Commerce. Her love for Americus and Sumter County and the pride in her community shines into her daily work with the Chamber. “I really like the small town community atmosphere in Americus and Sumter County,” said Westra. “A lot of people might think its a bad thing for everybody to know everybody, but I kind of like it. This is a safe, close-knit community where everyone looks out for everybody else.” A graduate of Valdosta State University, Westra obtained her degree in Speech Communications with a minor in Public Relations.
Today will mark Westra’s first month as President, and with each passing day her love for the job grows. “I have an awesome staff that has made the transition extremely smooth for me,” Westra said. “I really get to do what I love to do, and that is be active in my community, to get out there and really sell the area to not only those who live here, but those that are wanting to relocate.”
This job is not Westra’s first time with the Chamber. Her love for city work started when she was attending college and obtained an internship with Cal-Duke publishing working on Newcomer’s Guides for local Chambers in the area. “I got to not only work with this chamber,” said Westra “but I got to go all over the state and talk to different chamber of commerce executives and write P.R. copy for the magazine, so that got me really interested in chamber work.”
Westra brings to the job years of experience, and an excited demeanor, ready to tackle anything the job brings her way. She credits her parents work ethic as a major influence in her life. “My parents taught me an incredible work ethic, which I wish for so many children that they get to have that upbringing.”
It’s with that work ethic that Westra plans to tackle some of her goals for the chamber. “I would like for the chamber to be a little more personable,” said Westra, “and not just an office building that people feel obligated to be a part of.” Westra also plans to make the Chamber even more visible in the community, and make businesses aware of all the services that the Chamber can do fro them. “When you can engage people and plug them in using whatever gifts, talents, or passions they may have, it really builds not only support for the chamber, but also for community and economic development,” said Westra.
“I want people to join the chamber, because it is a great networking tool, and its fun. We do a lot of member appreciation events, and I want it to be a no-brainer decision to join the Chamber of Commerce.”
