Loren Mitchell Is New Chamber Head

Loren Mitchell is on his next great adventure.

He’s not flying planes over the Alaskan bush or serving on secret missions in Third World countries like in years past.

This time, Mitchell will be heading up the Spokane Valley Chamber of Commerce as the business organization’s new president and CEO. He comes to the Valley from the Coeur d’Alene Chamber of Commerce. He begins his new job on Feb. 17.

“The challenge is to nurture the business community until it becomes a large economic gold mine,” said Mitchell, who now lives in Coeur d’Alene and who plans to move to the Valley in a few months. “I can see (the Valley chamber) growing to become the dominating chamber in the area.”

That includes creating stronger ties with chambers in Post Falls and Coeur d’Alene.

“If you look at the area as I have - from the air - there really is no border,” he said.

“We have a border straddled by universities that are growing, land that’s undeveloped in the middle, airports on the either side and railroads running through the middle. I can’t think why this Valley won’t develop with high-end industry.”

Mitchell, 57, is taking the reins after the Valley chamber’s board of directors looked for almost five months for a new top manager.

Former president and CEO Ray Murphy resigned last September to pursue a private business venture.

The board sifted through 25 applications for someone to carry out plans for the 750-member organization. The base salary was advertised at $34,000 plus a bonus.

“He demonstrated a track record of getting things done, getting things accomplished,” said Robert Henry, chairman of the Valley chamber board, who also served on the search committee.

Mitchell relocated to Coeur d’Alene nine years ago from Southern California and ran a sign business, Dam Good Signs, in Coeur d’Alene for eight years with his brother.

A little more than a year ago he began working full time for the Coeur d’Alene chamber as a membership sales executive.

Interim Valley chamber president Jim Huttenmaier, who was one of the three finalists for the position, will stay as membership development director, his former post.

“I fully support the decision,” Huttenmaier said. “It’s an opportunity for new leadership.”

Huttenmaier’s position will be expanding, but no clear path has been charted yet.

“It’s not unusual for organizations to restructure when new people are hired on with a company,” he said.

, DataTimes