Mary Zebrowski, the new Twin City Area Chamber of Commerce director, said she intends to keep the nonprofit business organization on the track it has traveled the last several years.
She started in the part-time position April 5, but former director, Tonda Breeze, has remained and is helping her take over the reins.
“Tonda and Diana Stueve (Breeze’s assistant) are still here working with me for the time being,” Zebrowski said. “Definitely, they did a great job bringing the chamber to where it is now. I probably won’t make any changes right away.”
The chamber has about 250 members, Zebrowski said.
“There’s a good base and a good support system from many of the businesses and the Historic Tanglefoot Association,” she said. “Between them and the chamber, they’re putting on more and more events to draw people to the Twin City area. I see more people shopping (along Main Street/Bailey Road). It’s a more vibrant downtown.”
Breeze said more than 100 people applied for the director position.
“(Zebrowski) was exactly what we were looking for,” Breeze said. “She had stability in past jobs. She’s local. She has experience in many of the things we do at the chamber. When we interviewed her, it was a perfect interview.”
Zebrowski, 61, of the Festus area said she currently is working two jobs, but eventually will work only for the chamber.
“I work at Southern Wealth Management in Arnold,” she said. “I’m the administrative assistant. I previously worked at Liguori Publications for 23 years.
“I’m getting closer to retirement and wanted to work for a nonprofit and cut back on my hours to spend more time with the kids and new grandbaby.”
Zebrowski said the chamber will continue to organize and hold its major events, like the Twin City Days in September, the Great Pumpkin Festival in October and the Christmas Parade at the end of November.
Zebrowski urges all businesses in the area to get involved in the chamber.
“We so enjoy seeing the area grow, be revitalized,” she said. “We encourage people to join the chamber and be a part of the revitalization.”
Breeze, 71, of Festus ran the chamber for the past four years.
“I’m really fully retiring,” she said.