Chamber of Commerce has a new director

by Diana Zimmerman

Paige Lake recently joined the Wahkiakum Chamber of Commerce as their new executive director.

The fact that she is having fun is evident from her easy laugh and smile.

Lake is currently working on the coming salmon derby and trying to settle in to her new duties.

"The event shouldn't be that difficult," Lake said of the salmon derby. "I've heard that Bald Eagle Day is just a little more extensive, intensive. We'll start working on that soon."

Lake and her husband, Steven, recently purchased the Bradley House. She is an accountant by trade, having switched from an art major at Evergreen State College to the business degree.

"I like to spin that by saying I use both sides of my brain," Lake laughed.

She grew up in Olympia, the town where her forebears settled in the 1860s. Steven is from England.

"We were looking for a nice, old craftsman home that hadn't been overly remodeled," Lake said. "After checking out this place we canceled an offer on a house in McMinnville and said this is it. It was a really good decision. People here are just so friendly. People have a connection here."

Lake has been an accountant for nearly 30 years and her emphasis on working with small businesses made her a good candidate for a position at the chamber. She had also ad been a member of a downtown association board.

"My focus was always small businesses, Lake said. "I did a lot of coaching from start up through licensing. I set up accounting systems so they could do their own. I like working with people that are self employed, that own their own business. They are a little different breed."

When the couple moved here, she gave up a lot of her clients. Still, some remained loyal.

"I have four monthly clients, Lake said. "I work on their books every month. They've driven down here to bring me stuff, because if I tried to let them go, they would just chase me down."

So far she's pitched in at the crab feed and attended a business and tourism expo in Longview. She wants to get through the salmon derby before she begins to tackle the big event, Bald Eagle Day.

Lake also plans to make good use of social media.

"My plan is to select a business each week to highlight on our Facebook page," she said. "It's pretty incredible how much activity you can get started online."