“The chamber let me fill in while they were in the process of looking to hire,” Koennecke said. “They went through a long process of interviewing a bunch of people and ultimately I was chosen by the group to stay in the position.”
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Koennecke was born and raised in Canada before moving to Ohio with her husband, Superintendent of Granham Local Schools Kirk Koennecke, in 2009. She has been with the chamber since 2017, with a focus on working to strengthen connections between businesses and the community.
“Our goal at the chamber is to link businesses with the community,” Koennecke said.
The mission of Champaign County Chamber of Commerce is to advance the business and community interests of Champaign County and its trade area, according to the chamber’s website.
This year, Koennecke said she is most excited about the chamber celebrating 100 years of Commerce in Champaign County.
“For what we have been able to find, September 1919 was the first meeting of the chamber,” Koennecke said. “And they were meeting to discuss regulating some cigar shops.”
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Because of the 100 year anniversary, this year’s annual commerce dinner is Monte Carlo themed. The dinner will take place on Thursday, Sept. 19, at Champaign Aviation Museum at Grimes Field.
Koennecke also encourages Urbana residents to come see the chamber’s new office, which is located at 127 W. Court St. in Urbana.
“We would be more than happy to show them our ‘new home’ and discuss the programs we offer and support throughout Champaign County,” Koennecke said.
In addition to the hiring Koennecke, the chamber is also looking to hire a new administrative coordinator. According to the chamber’s website, “the position calls for an experienced candidate who has strong communication skills to help instill confidence in members and the community.”
Those interested in the position should contact the chamber directly.
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