Owners of businesses large and small are excited to see the new addition to the Brownsburg Chamber of Commerce. New Executive Director Tina Stansbury is on the job and, if you haven’t had a chance to meet her, you likely will soon.
Stansbury started her new position on January 6 and is jumping in feet first as she learns the ropes. Though she hasn’t worked at a chamber in the past, she brings a variety of business experience to the table.
“I have had bookend careers,” she said. “I started in accounting and spent 12 years with Gatorade/Quaker Oats and then landed at Simon Property Group for nearly 10 years. I moved into marketing and financial reporting, and in doing that, I found a niche in training marketing employees on how to do their financial reporting. I just found a love for corporate training.”
In addition, she’s had experience at a computer software company and in technology, consulting and recruiting before the position for the chamber became available.
“Overall, I’ve had a lot of experience in pretty much every department in corporate America,” Stansbury said.
Unfortunately, in January of 2023 she was one of 8,000 people at her previous company that were let go due to a reduction in work force, but she didn’t let that stop her. Stansbury began reaching out to past contacts and those familiar with her love of working with businesses.
Though Stansbury said it’s taken a while to find the perfect combination of her skills and her passions, she knows the chamber is everything she’s been looking for. Not only is it a great fit for Stansbury, but her skills will also be a great addition to the questions, concerns and challenges small-business owners face.
“I love it,” she said. “I need this to feel fulfilled, working in a diverse field and providing the tools, connections and resources to local businesses to be successful. I like to solve problems, help connect people and support them.”
The Brownsburg Chamber of Commerce exists to support local businesses, promote networking opportunities, advocate for them and act as a voice for the business community.
It also strives to foster economic development, provide resources for existing and potential businesses, and add value in benefits and educational programs for members.
Stansbury is involved in civic groups as well, and enjoys learning about education, health, and community initiatives that guide the quality of life in Hendricks County.
Years ago she was introduced to the Rotary Club in South Bend, when her family moved there for her husband’s job. She’s continued attending Rotary in Hendricks County and said it’s helped her understand some of the organizations in the community.
“You get to meet so many people from all over the community and then learn about different aspects like the school system during their State of the Schools, for example,” Stansbury said. “I’m joining the Leadership Brownsburg program and I’m excited about learning all about the town and how it operates.”
As she works on organization, collaborating with leaders in the community and meeting small-business owners, Stansbury’s ideas are in full swing.
“I’d like to grow the chamber in membership and in opportunities,” she said. “I want to be a leader for Brownsburg and draw in a lot of participation from the community. I thrive when connecting with others. I want to meet businesses one on one, put a face with a name and see what we can do to help.”
She’s also working on various opportunities for the 300-plus individuals currently active at the chamber.
“We have a member luncheon, AM Connect and other networking opportunities,” she said. “The idea is to meet the needs of all of the different businesses. Some can sneak away for an hour at lunch, but for others, meeting in the morning or after hours is better, so we’re working to create that availability for everyone.”
Most recently, the chamber hosted its first Small Business Roundtable event. The inaugural networking opportunity featured Nick Bell of Bell Bookkeeping, and shared information regarding managing income and expenses on QuickBooks.
In recent years there have been several changes to the executive director role, but Stansbury said she’s here to stay.
“I think people have been on hold for a little bit, but we’re getting organized and it’s really exciting,” she said. “I see so much potential and have so many ideas. I’m thinking about different events we could host, what kind of speakers we could bring in, and finding those businesses we’re missing – just tons of ideas.”
For now, she’s leaning on the chamber’s ambassador group and learning more about the current member base. She hopes to create a chamber that serves as an extension of the community.
“This is an amazing resource and people may not know about it,” she said. “Right now I’m looking at what we have to offer and the value we can offer to the local businesses. Once I’ve had a chance to talk to more businesses, I’ll be able to come in with a plan. I’m excited to immerse myself in Brownsburg. The people have been amazingly welcoming to me, and I think they’re excited about the chamber and what it has to offer.”
A calendar of events and additional information about Brownsburg Chamber membership can be found at brownsburg.com.
