The new Morris Area Chamber Director did not grow up in Morris but is very familiar with the town and area. Skyler Siegel grew up in Wheaton but spent time attending various events in Morris. Therefore, he is comfortable taking on the role of the Morris Area Chamber Director.
After graduating from Wheaton High School, he went on to attend the University of Minnesota in Crookston. He received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communication with an emphasis on Public Relations. His first jobs were in the Fargo area, where he worked for a number of organizations doing marketing and event development. He oversaw many different events in Fargo and worked on the marketing efforts.
His most recent job was at Star Bank in Wheaton, where he oversaw the digital banking aspects. He was working there when he saw the post on Facebook for a new Chamber Director in Morris. Since he was always interested in being part of a community, he saw this as the perfect opportunity to take on a new role.
Skyler began in Morris on August 25, and since that time, he has been getting to know the Chamber members and attending some Chamber events. He is also working on three upcoming Chamber events, including Moonlight Madness on October 29, Parade of Lights on November 19, and Holiday Stroll on December 5. He is working with the Tourism Board to find ways to attract people to the community for some of these events.
Skyler hopes to provide support to the business community and be involved in community events. He sees Morris as a thriving and growing community and is excited to become a part of this. He can see a good deal of potential for even more growth in Morris.
Last week he attended his first Chamber Connects meeting, which was held at Prime Steak. This is a meeting that takes place once per month at different businesses in the community. It is an opportunity for business owners to share what they do and plans for the future. It is a good way to showcase and promote the community.
Skyler also found that it was a great way to put a face to the name of many people he has been working with and to learn more about their business. There were 20 people who attended this Chamber Connects meeting.
Moving forward, Skyler will be focusing on the upcoming events but also looking for new ideas for the future. One of his ideas is to form a young professional group to meet regularly and collaborate on issues. He can see this as a way to promote leadership and be able to learn from others. He hopes to bring in special speakers and encourage young professionals to get involved in the community.
Skyler is hoping to increase visibility and education in the business community. He wants to help promote, grow, and create a greater understanding. When not working, you might find him traveling or taking photos, which are some of his favorite hobbies.
Skyler and his wife, Carrie, along with their two children, Raelynn, 6, and Oliver, 2, still live in Wheaton but are looking for a home in Morris. This has caused him to realize what a shortage there is of housing in this area. However, they will continue their search. Raelynn is getting to the age where she wants to be involved in 4-H, so they are hoping to join a club in this area. They have already purchased a rabbit for her project.
Skyler’s impression of Morris is that it is a very welcoming community with a great deal of growth potential. He is hoping to bring in more events and strive to make it a place where people want to visit and even open new businesses.
