By Leah Peterson, Executive Director
Your Conifer Chamber | October 2026
One question has already become a bit of a compass for me in my new role at the Conifer Area Chamber of Commerce: How does this benefit our members?
It sounds simple, but it’s a question that can—and should—be asked about almost everything we do.
Before stepping into this position, I knew the Chamber through community events, local businesses, and simply from living here for nearly 12 years. Now that I’m on the other side of it, I’m getting a much better look at just how much happens behind the scenes. I’m also learning that Chamber membership should be about much more than having your business listed in a directory.
Our local businesses are a huge part of what makes this community what it is. They’re the places we stop on the way home, the people we call when something breaks, the restaurants where we meet friends, and the organizations we turn to when we need help. They sponsor events, donate to fundraisers, support our schools and nonprofits, and show up for this community over and over again.
The Chamber should be doing the same for them.
Sometimes that means something big and visible, like an event that brings people into town. Other times, it’s making an introduction, sharing a social media post, connecting someone with a resource, or helping a new business become part of the community.
One of my biggest priorities as I settle into this role is getting to know our members—who you are, what you do, what’s working, what isn’t, and what you actually need from your Chamber.
As we head toward the holiday season, that question—How does this benefit our members?—is especially important. Christmas in Conifer has been a beloved community tradition for years, with our longstanding parade at the heart of it. This year, we’re also looking at Christmas in Conifer as something bigger than a single day.
Throughout the holiday season, we’re working to bring together Holiday Happenings, Light Up 285, charitable giving, family activities, and our local businesses. The idea is simple: each of us contributes one manageable piece, and together we create something special that gives people more reasons to get out into the community, shop locally, discover a new business, and spend time together.
There will be much more to share as we get closer, including plenty of ways for businesses and residents to get involved.
Because, whether we’re planning Christmas in Conifer or deciding what the Chamber tackles next, I hope we continue asking the same question: How does this benefit our members? When we get that answer right, the whole community benefits.
