A new executive director has been hired by the Humboldt and District Chamber of Commerce.
Brent Fitzpatrick, a former publisher of the Humboldt Journal, started the job Oct. 29.
鈥淚 applied for the job because I felt I had a lot of accumulated skill that I鈥檝e picked up along my years in newspaper and in television and thought I could actually put those skills to good use with the chamber,鈥� he said.
Dan Torwalt, the chamber鈥檚 president, said the board is excited to work with the new hire.
鈥淗e鈥檚 a guy who knows Humboldt. He鈥檚 ran a business here in the city, he鈥檚 familiar with Humboldt,鈥� he said. 鈥淓veryone on the board thought he was what we were looking for in going in a new direction and he鈥檇 be the right guy to lead it.鈥�
Torwalt said he expects Fitzpatrick to communicate with chamber members, letting them know what the chamber is doing, learning about their concerns, telling them about the services the chamber can provide them and helping out with advocacy efforts with the provincial and federal governments.
The board will be meeting with the new executive director to come up with a plan to move forward over the next six to 12 months.
Fitzpatrick said his experience as a manager of media outlets will help with his new role.
鈥淚 have an understanding of what business needs, in a fashion,鈥� he said. 鈥淢ost of the time, I鈥檓 going to be asking businesses what we can do for them. That鈥檚 what my job for the next few months is going to be. I鈥檓 like a sponge. I鈥檓 looking for direction and help from the members as to what we should do as a chamber.鈥�
The new executive director is eager to get started.
鈥淚 think it鈥檚 a really exciting time in this position, in Humboldt and area, because there鈥檚 such a strong economy here right now and this is the time you really look at how we got it, what the chamber can do to help dovetail into that success in order to elongate that economy.鈥�
Torwalt said he's looking forward to working with Fitzpatrick.
鈥淚 think Brent鈥檚 going to be the right person at the right time for us.鈥�
