Lindsay Myers had worked at the Iola Area Chamber of Commerce for only a few months before she was thrown into the job of interim director.
Myers joined the Chamber in late August as an administrative assistant. She took over the director duties when Jill Hartman resigned in early January.
“We’re still kind of in this in-between stage of figuring it all out,” Myers said of the change in leadership. “I’m excited for the opportunity.”
Myers wants to continue the Chamber’s efforts to support local businesses, especially as they continue to navigate the challenges caused by the coronavirus pandemic. The economic hardship caused by the pandemic discouraged some businesses from continuing their Chamber membership; however, other businesses have joined, so membership is holding steady.
“We still have the same goals and vision, to promote our members, bring the community together and build on the appeal of Iola business,” Myers said. “I’m sure it will look a little different, but we’ll still maintain the same level of services and benefits.”
MYERS grew up in Coffeyville. She earned a bachelor’s degree in English with an emphasis on creative writing at Kansas State University.
Immediately after college, she started working as a teller for Landmark National Bank.
Later, she’d go on to work in the insurance industry.
Her greatest passions, though, revolve around creative writing, children and nonprofit work. Her dream is to write historical fiction.
Ironically, it would be Landmark bank that brought her to Iola and the Chamber, even though she had long left the company.
Her husband, Matthew Myers, took a job as a commercial loan officer with Landmark National Bank in Iola. The couple had wanted to relocate to Southeast Kansas, to be closer to family.
Lindsay Myers learned of the administrative job at the Chamber through Shilo Eggers, formerly chairman of the Chamber’s board of directors and who still serves on the board. Eggers works with Matthew Myers at Landmark.
“We both really wanted to move back to a smaller town,” Myers said. “Once we got here, we loved Iola. It’s quaint. It has a lot of life to it, and a lot of people working really hard to take care of their community.”
AS AN administrative assistant, Myers helped Hartman with various office and organizational tasks. She also helped organize events, especially during the Halloween and Christmas holidays, which brought special challenges because of the coronavirus pandemic.