Keweenaw Peninsula Chamber Board grows to 15

The Keweenaw Chamber of Commerce’s Board of Directors is expanding. At Wednesday’s annual meeting, President Mary Myers introduced three new members. Betsy Smith is a relative fresh face to the area, having called the Keweenaw home for three years now. She owns Baby E’s BBQ with her husband while raising a family and maintaining her connection to various outdoor activities.

Shannon Vairo is an assistant to the Dean of the Graduate School at Michigan Tech. In her introductory remarks she highlighted her local roots as well as her experience at both of the area’s universities.

The third addition to the board is Jill Passanisi from Nitro Consulting. She did not speak at the meeting. Leaving after two terms will be Carrie Richards, who quipped that she’ll celebrate by sleeping in going forward.

Also presented during the meeting was 2020 retrospective and Myers highlighted an open job posting with the Chamber. The organization is seeking a new manager. 

Tara Arens announced her resignation last week.

Mary Niemela rounded out the 25-minute meeting by giving an update on the Barbara Kettle Gundlach shelter. She said the “Build A Bedroom” fundraiser initiated last fall was a success, raising over ninety percent of its $15,000 goal. Niemela also noted that the shelter’s former location is up for sale.