Citing that the “time is right to pass this awesome organization on to the upcoming leader,” Celeste Helminski announced that she will be stepping down as the executive director of the Gunnison Country Chamber of Commerce at the end of May. The chamber’s board of directors is assembling a search committee to find the next executive director, according to board president Cheryl Dillard. Helminski said it was the right time for a change of leadership. “I am excited to share my chamber knowledge and experience with the next fearless leader,” Helminski wrote in a weekly newsletter that goes out to chamber members. Helminski began her post at the chamber in May of 2017. During her eight-year tenure, she championed Gunnison-area businesses during the chaos and uncertainty of a global pandemic and through several years of local highway disruptions. She is perhaps most well-known for tirelessly pounding the pavement, snapping photos of local businesses and promoting their goods and services on social media, in the Times and elsewhere. "From putting on events to playing an instrumental role in helping Gunnison's businesses grow, we are extremely proud of and grateful for all she has accomplished during her years as executive director,” Dillard said. “Her frequent in-person visits to our business community have been crucial, in our opinion.” In 2024, the Gunnison Country Chamber of Commerce:
Welcomed 33 new members
Greeted 27 new businesses, business locations or new owners
Collaborated on seven Business After Hours events
Coordinated four learning workshops and hosted two “coffee hours” with leaders and administrators at the City of Gunnison
Coordinated the annual Summer Forecast event, four Mid-week on Main Street music gatherings at IOOF Park, hosted a downtown Labor Day celebration and collaborated with the city on the annual Holiday Greenback Exchange
“The silver lining of the pandemic was how relationships across the state and country were strengthened by this solidarity of challenge,” Helminski said. “The amount of resources that the Gunnison chamber can bring to our members today is amazing, diverse and abundant.” The Gunnison chamber also owns and operates the Visitor Information Center, which saw a decrease in foot traffic last year that is attributed — much like the community’s overall lackluster tourist-based business performance — to the Hwy. 50 bridge closures that began in late April of 2024. Local sales tax revenues last year appear to be flat. Through September, according to the most recent data available on the city’s website, Gunnison generated $7.8 million in sales tax collections, representing a 0.2% decline from the previous year. “Travelers did change their plans around the highway challenges,” Helminski said, adding that phone and email inquiries for visitor information already appear to be rebounding for this year.“This promising uptick in inquiries has us hopeful that Gunnison visitation and traffic return for summer 2025 and beyond.”This year also marks the 100th anniversary of the organization, initially forming as the Gunnison Business Association in 1881. The first mention of a Gunnison area chamber in the local newspaper appeared in 1884. “That’s quite a history,” Helminski said. “I hope I have done my predecessors justice.” (Chris Dickey is the former owner and publisher of the Gunnison Country Times)
Citing that the “time is right to pass this awesome organization on to the upcoming leader,” Celeste Helminski announced that she will be stepping down as the executive director of the Gunnison Country Chamber of Commerce at the end of May.
The chamber’s board of directors is assembling a search committee to find the next executive director, according to board president Cheryl Dillard. Helminski said it was the right time for a change of leadership.
“I am excited to share my chamber knowledge and experience with the next fearless leader,” Helminski wrote in a weekly newsletter that goes out to chamber members.
Helminski began her post at the chamber in May of 2017. During her eight-year tenure, she championed Gunnison-area businesses during the chaos and uncertainty of a global pandemic and through several years of local highway disruptions. She is perhaps most well-known for tirelessly pounding the pavement, snapping photos of local businesses and promoting their goods and services on social media, in the Times and elsewhere.
"From putting on events to playing an instrumental role in helping Gunnison's businesses grow, we are extremely proud of and grateful for all she has accomplished during her years as executive director,” Dillard said. “Her frequent in-person visits to our business community have been crucial, in our opinion.”
In 2024, the Gunnison Country Chamber of Commerce:
Comments
No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here