The Chamber of Commerce of Highlands Ranch has recently hired a new president the board hopes will excite the current membership and grow the membership base.
Andrea LaReu was hired on as the new president a few weeks ago. Megan Worley, chair of the board of the chamber, said she was hired after their previous president, LaRae Marsik, and the board decided they were not mutually beneficial for one another.
Most recently, LaReu worked for the Court Appointed Special Advocates of Jefferson and Gilpin Counties, 17 years with the YMCA and three years as director of marketing and programs for the West Metro Chamber.
“I think that Andrea has the connections that will move us ahead to the next plateau,” Worley said. “I think she will lift us to bring in new members in a time when other chambers seem to be staying flat.
“She has the business background that I believe that we need to bring out the business innovation that the South Metro area needs.”
She said LaReu has strong people skills she feels will be valuable. Worley said they had a welcoming reception two weeks ago and it was a packed house, signaling to her their members are ready and excited for LaReu’s leadership.
“Not only were our members excited, but our partners from the Highlands Ranch Community Association and the Highlands Ranch Metropolitan District all came,” Worley said. “I think you’re going to see a community-wide synergy that will be working together to really bring the community to higher standards of working together in a new and different way as we develop Highlands Ranch and its latter stages of development.”
LaReu said she sees her job as being the face of the chamber, helping small and large businesses succeed, helping with strategic alliances and partnerships and providing training opportunities for members.
“I think business is really thriving in Highlands Ranch,” LaReu said. “The economy is reflective of the Colorado economy, it’s starting to come back and it’s come a long way in the past couple of years from where they were.”
She said she’s buoyed by the fact membership has remained steady through the recession and through the changes in leadership.
She said one example of the economy being strong is that businesses are sponsoring and being involved with the Turkey Day 5K Thanksgiving fundraising event.
“When the economy is not strong, businesses are cautious about what they sponsor, and so it’s a really good sign they’re able to give back,” LaReu said.
She said her first order of business is to talk with members and find out what their needs are. She also said she will keep appraised of what larger state or national issues affect businesses, including legislation on transportation issues.
She also said she wants to continue the nonprofit organization’s technological education programs and programs that help out the rising number of sole proprietor businesses with things like social media and website development.
The 10th annual Turkey Day 5K starts at 7 a.m. Nov. 28 at Shea Stadium, 3270 Redstone Park Circle, Highlands Ranch.
Clayton Woullard: 303-954-2671, cwoullard@denverpost.com or
