New president sets goals for year

There’s one stereotype that Kim MacGregor is looking to stomp out as she takes over leadership of the Dowagiac Chamber of Commerce: That the organization only serves downtown.

MacGregor, a financial advisor with the Dowagiac Edwards Jones office, was elected president of the chamber last month, taking over the position from longtime member Timothy Dowsett, who suggested MacGregor for the job. She had previously served as the organization’s vice president.

“The movement is good,” MacGregor said. “Kris [Lamphere] went from secretary to treasurer as well. It helps keep things fresh.”

While she is settling into her new role, MacGregor has already established a number of goals she would like to accomplish in the coming months.

First and foremost, she would like to add chamber members from businesses outside the downtown area, she said.

“I think we can benefit more people by reaching out to businesses other than those downtown,” she said. “I think we need to get some of those outlying businesses on board. We don’t want to be viewed as just a downtown organization.”

MacGregor wants to remove that misconception by reaching out to business owners over the next several months, inviting them to come to chamber meetings and share their thoughts on future developments.

In addition to expanding the chamber’s presence, MacGregor hopes to infuse new ideas and membership by looking toward the outside.

“Any time we get new ideas from members is wonderful,” she said. “New ideas mean more growth and better opportunities.”

Another of MacGregor’s goals is to expand on their online presence. Besides continuing to expand their activity on social media sites like Twitter and Facebook, the chamber also plans on expanding its email newsletters to members.

“It gives ownership to what we’re doing, and informs our members of what is happening at the moment,” MacGregor said.

The chamber is also looking to increase the number of Business After Hour events it hosts this year, MacGregor said.

The organization is currently hard at work planning for the various festivals that will take place in the city this year, including the Miss Dowagiac Scholarship Pageant, which takes place of Feb. 22.

“We’re always open for new ideas, members, and any suggestions on what we can do to help Dowagiac businesses,” MacGregor said.