New Chamber of Commerce Director starts
- Ellie Ruel
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
Rebecca Parks excited to build new interorganizational relationships, energize business community
By Ellie Ruel
Juneau Independent
Rebecca Parks said her first week as executive director of the Juneau Chamber of Commerce has been a lot of reviewing documents, directories, and finances, but she’s excited for the future.
“I was looking to make a change,” Parks said, standing outside the Moose Lodge where she attended her first weekly chamber luncheon since starting the new role on Monday. “I just feel so tied to Juneau and the community here, it seemed like a really good opportunity to learn more.”
Parks grew up on the East Coast, where she began a career in teaching. She moved to Juneau in 2006 and worked at the Juneau Economic Development Council, running the statewide robotics program and working with workforce development and education. Her latest role was assistant director for STEAM and postsecondary programs at Sealaska Heritage Institute.
At the chamber, she plans to use her experience of slowly getting to know different parts of the community over her 20 years in Juneau and working for nonprofits to provide support for local businesses. So far, she’s appreciated the community reception to her new role.
“I have one staff member, and she is just incredible,” Parks said. “The board and the business community that I've talked to have been super welcoming and optimistic.”
Her main goal as executive director is to build a healthier sustainable community through supporting Juneau businesses. Parks doesn’t have a defined agenda for that yet, but thinks monitoring local and federal policy while building relationships with other organizations in town is an important first step.
“We have so many great businesses and such a diversity of businesses,” Parks said.“I think being able to really support that side of the community so that it can, in turn lead to healthy schools, a healthy population and residents, all of that stuff fits together.”
• Contact Ellie Ruel at ellie.ruel@juneauindependent.com.
