Healdsburg Chamber of Commerce Moves To New Offices

staff started this week with a major move to new quarters -- but handled the transition exceptionally well, by all accounts.

"I think we were only down for one hour," said Chamber referring to telephone and Internet connections -- all hooked up smoothly by local providers Grapevine Communications.

Assisted by a crew from McElroy and visitor services staffers Charlene Staton and Star Thorpe spent most of Monday moving boxes of office equipment from their former digs at 217 Healdsburg Ave. to next door, in back of

"Before, we had two offices for four people," McElroy said as she continued unpacking boxes of files and office supplies. "Now, we have four offices for four people."

In addition to McElroy, Staton and Thorpe, a new staff member, Jennifer LeBrett of Cloverdale, will be starting  Aug. 29 as business and membership development director, McElroy said.

LeBrett, who has children who attendin Healdsburg, formerly worked at the Santa Rosa Chamber of Commerce in economic development, McElroy said.

McElroy said she is also in the process of hiring a marketing and events director, she said. for a job at

"I've gotten a lot of great resumes," McElroy said. "I hope to hire someone by Sept. 1."

She said the new 1,000-square-foot space, contributed by h2hotel as part of the hotel's development plan agreement, will double the space of the former Healdsburg Chamber of Commerce and Visitors' Bureau at 217 Healdsburg Ave. That space will be remodeled into the Healdsburg Visitors Center, slated to reopen by the end of this month.

Healdsburg businesses, families and individuals may contribute to the $200,000 cost of the Chamber's office buildout and expansion and the Visitors Center remodel in several ways, McElroy said.

Those are:

--Bricks inscribed with the names of businesses, families or individuals are for sale at $250 for small ones or $1,000 for large ones. Bricks will be installed in the courtyard adjacent to the new chamber offices and the remodeled Visitors Center.

--An 11-day fundraising cruise to Italy and France is planned next May, featuring celebrity chef Jacques Pepin. A $750 deposit by Sept. 1 will hold reservations, McElroy said. Details are available at the event website.

--Marketing partnerships are available for one, three or five-year agreements. Healdsburg Chamber will market the partnering business in exchange for the business's sponsorship.