Chamber Serving the Meeker County Area has a New Executive Director

Deana Wheeler took over as the new Executive Director of the Chamber Serving the Meeker County Area last month. She had been the Chamber’s administrative assistant for about a year prior to that.

Wheeler says she is not a native Minnesotan, but went to Mankato State and when she and her husband, Todd, got married 30 years ago, they lived in several other states while raising 4 children and then decided to move back to Minnesota as Todd is able to work remotely, and they found a unique home that had been converted from a former dairy barn – south of Litchfield.

Wheeler says she has a degree in leisure planning and management and has worked in event planning and community engagement for various secular and faith-based organizations over the years. She says her experience has prepared her well for her role at the Chamber.

Wheeler says she’s hoping that the Chamber can become even more supportive of local businesses and she feels that supporting families is also important for community growth and she’s gotten herself involved in other organizations including LAMP/Kinship, FFA Alumni, the Litchfield Christian Church, Kiwanis and the Peanut Butter & Milk Festival Committee. She says she and Todd have hosted PB&M events at their home and also hosted the adults who attended last February’s festival from Alabama.

Wheeler says they’re hoping to hire an administrative assistant for the Chamber and they are also looking for volunteers to help with Chamber events. She says she’s looking forward to meeting more people and getting to know them in her new role as Chamber Executive Director.