Craig Schmidt

Mammoth Lakes Chamber of Commerce Hires Director

Craig Schmidt to take the reins on Oct. 6, 2014

Mammoth Lakes, Calif. (September 22, 2014) — After a summer-long search, the Mammoth Lakes Chamber of Commerce (MLCC) has chosen a new Director for the organization. Craig Schmidt of Morro Bay will step into the role of Chamber Director on Oct. 6, 2014.

“Craig has more than 20 years of Chamber experience that will be invaluable to our business community,” said MLCC President Jeremy Goico. “He has an extensive understanding of economic development, which our town needs to put more emphasis on.”

Over the years Schmidt has served as the Executive Director of the Hood River Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau, President and CEO of the Healdsburg Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau, and most recently as the CEO of the Morro Bay Chamber of Commerce and Business Center. He is a graduate of the U.S. Chamber’s Institute of Organizational Management, the Economic Development Institute, and a certified consultant with Business Retention and Expansion International.

“My approach to Chamber program development focuses on economic development,” Schmidt said. “How do we help our existing businesses grow and become more profitable? How do we make a healthy business community where businesses from elsewhere want to call Mammoth Lakes home, bringing new jobs and new tax revenue?”

The MLCC Board of Directors recently met to discuss what programs and partners would be most effective in accomplishing these goals.

“It is that strategy that I will have the privilege and honor of carrying out,” Schmidt said. “Progressive, energetic, focused.”

“Craig understands that he is building this Chamber from the ground up and showed great enthusiasm for the entrepreneurial opportunity ahead of him,” Goico added. “This is a very exciting time for the Chamber and I look forward to working with Craig and introducing him to the community.”