[Vision2020] New Director Has Big Plans for Moscow Chamber

[Tom Hansen]

Thanks for your comments, Mr. Keim.

I was interested in your impression as a person that has "been there, done 
that."

Thanks again.

Tom Hansen
Moscow, Idaho

> Tom:  Not knowing Mr. Hacker, I have no idea as to his potential as a
> director.  But I do agree with his quote "We have good programs, we
> have good staff and we have a great board."  The Chamber has some
> major challenges, but the board and staff are working hard to solve
> them.  I wish him well in his new endeavor, and I wish the Chamber
> well as it works for the good of Moscow businesses.
> 
> 2009/1/16 Tom Hansen <thansen at moscow.com>:
> > Mr. Darrel Keim:  If you would be so kind as to comment on this 
article,
> > and more particularly) Steve Hacker's potential as a director of the
> > Moscow Chamber of Commerce, it would be sincerely appreciated.
> >
> > Courtesy of today's (January 16, 2009) Moscow-Pullman Daily News.
> >
> > -----------------------------------------------------------------
> >
> > New director has big plans for Moscow chamber
> >
> > Hacker hopes to bring new elements to local economy
> >
> > By Tara Roberts Daily News staff writer
> > January 16, 2009
> >
> > -------------------
> >
> > Steve Hacker
> > http://www.dnews.com/images/2948964.jpg
> >
> > -------------------
> >
> > Steve Hacker's first mission as the new Moscow Chamber of Commerce
> > executive director is to meet as many members of the local business
> > community as possible.
> >
> > "By meeting them, that means listening to them," he said.
> >
> > Hacker, 37, was named to the post earlier this week and Thursday was 
his
> > first day on the job. He's still getting his bearings but is eager to 
hear
> > how people want him to lead the chamber.
> >
> > Hacker said he will build his long-term goals based on what he hears 
from
> > chamber members in the coming weeks.
> >
> > One big idea he would like to pursue is to create "two viable, long-
term,
> > sustainable economies" for Moscow. He knows the University of Idaho 
makes
> > up much of the city's lifeblood but he would like to add something 
else.
> >
> > He doesn't yet know what that will be, but he plans to base it on "what
> > the business community sees that as."
> >
> > Hacker said he also would like to continue some of the chamber's 
current
> > successful programs, but declined to list any specifically.
> >
> > "We have good programs, we have good staff and we have a great board, 
and
> > I'm going to let them guide me," he said.
> >
> > Hacker replaces Darrell Keim, who left the chamber in October. He is 
the
> > fourth director in less than two years.
> >
> > Hacker said he has plans to stick with the post.
> >
> > "We've made a commitment to our children that this is where they're 
going
> > to grow up," he said. "You'd almost have to drag me away."
> >
> > Hacker, his wife, Traci, and their three children moved to town in 
June,
> > but the Tennessee native already had a history with Moscow.
> >
> > He earned his master's degree in forest resources at the University of
> > Idaho in 2004. He chose the school because he'd never been to the
> > Northwest before and wanted to go somewhere new that offered the 
fishing,
> > hunting and outdoor experiences he loves.
> >
> > He returned to Knoxville, Tenn., to work as an area forester for the 
state
> > of Tennessee. The Hackers soon realized they wanted to settle somewhere
> > else when their children started commenting on the number of police 
sirens
> > they could hear in their neighborhood.
> >
> > They wanted a safe place that still offered a variety of cultural
> > experiences, and Moscow was "a great fit."
> >
> > "Your kids can play outside and you don't have to worry about them so
> > much," he said.
> >
> > Hacker previously worked as a traveling business manager for his 
brother's
> > company, Pro Paintless, a national company that helps people whose
> > vehicles are damaged in severe hailstorms. He searched for a 
permanent, in-
> > town job and was pleased to find the chamber position.
> >
> > "I wanted an opportunity that would allow us to get involved in the
> > community," he said.
> >
> > Hacker also has worked in financial management and hospital accounts
> > management and was a board member for his local Boys and Girls Clubs of
> > America. He said his "melting pot of experience" in a variety of
> > industries - public, private and nonprofit - will help him in his new 
job.
> >
> > Leading the chamber will be much like working for other public 
entities,
> > he said.
> >
> > "Every time you go out there you have to represent the Chamber of
> > Commerce," he said.
> >
> > -----------------------------------------------------------------
> >
> > Seeya round town, Moscow.
> >
> > Tom Hansen
> > Moscow, Idaho
> >
> > "For a lapsed Lutheran born-again Buddhist pan-Humanist Universalist
> > Unitarian Wiccan Agnostic like myself there's really no reason ever to 
go
> > to work."
> >
> > - Roy Zimmerman
> >
> >
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> 


"For a lapsed Lutheran born-again Buddhist pan-Humanist Universalist 
Unitarian Wiccan Agnostic like myself there's really no reason ever to go 
to work."

- Roy Zimmerman


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