Phil Castle, The Business Times

Diane Schwenke jokes about how her daughter once distilled her job description down to two activities: attending meetings and talking on the phone.

Schwenke doesn’t deny she’s spent a good portion of her nearly 33 years as president and chief executive officer of the Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce doing just that. But there’s always been a reason, she says. And that’s to answer the question she says she asks herself. “How can I meet the needs of the business community today?”

Sometimes that’s representing the interests of business owners and managers who aren’t at the meeting. Other times that’s pushing programs that help participants become better leaders and entrepreneurs. Still other times, that’s advocating for — and against — ballot measures and legislation.

It’s a team sport, she says, that involves chamber members, board and staff as well as others in a place known for a culture of collaboration. “This community still cares about each other.”

Schwenke expects to remain involved in the community, but soon in a different role. She announced plans to retire later this year — after the chamber board hires a successor.

Schwenke says the timing is right for a transition. The chamber is in a good position financially and fully staffed. The business community is recovering from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and related restrictions. Moreover, she says her husband has been retired for four years and waiting for her to join him for more travel and other pursuits.

“It is time,” she says. “It is now time for a new leader with fresh ideas to take the helm and steer this strong organization that effectively carries out its mission of being the voice of business and promoting economic growth.”

Schwenke says she’ll remain on the job until a successor is in place, but doesn’t expect that to take too long. A succession plan adopted several years ago details how to proceed with the process.

Ivan Geer, chairman of the chamber board of directors, says a selection committee comprised of board members will carry out what he said will be a fair and transparent process.

Schwenke joined the Grand Junction Area Chamber Commerce in 1989, taking a job for which she never applied. She was a finalist for a position with what was at the time the Mesa County Economic Development Commission. When that didn’t work out, she was asked if she’d be interested instead in leading the chamber.

Prior to coming to Grand Junction, Schwenke worked in positions with chamber management and economic development in Colorado and Nebraska.

In 1989, the Grand Valley was still recovering from the oil shale bust, and the chamber was in debt, she says. The financial situation was soon corrected, and chamber membership has more than doubled over the past three decades — from around 350 when Schwenke started to nearly 800 today, she says.

While chamber executives often look to move up to positions in larger communities, Schwenke says she was fortunate. “The community continued to grow, and I had the opportunity to grow with it.”

While there have been a series of downturns — the oil shale bust, a natural gas boom and bust and most recently the COVID-19 pandemic — the Grand Valley remains resilient, she says. “The community has always come out of it stronger.”

Moreover, the Grand Valley economy is more diverse and less dependent on energy development, she says. The growth of the health care, manufacturing and tech sectors has helped, as has the expansion of Colorado Mesa University. Grand Junction remains a regional hub for health care and shopping. “We’re still a place to come to.”

Challenges persist, Schwenke says, among them rising housing prices and labor shortages. More infrastructure will be needed to accommodate growth. Moreover, residents sometimes take for granted the attributes that make the Grand Valley a great place to live and work.

Businesses play an important role, she says. That means the chamber plays an important role as well as a catalyst for growth, convener of leaders and champion for the community.

Schwenke says she’s proud of the reputation the Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce has developed as a business advocate and for taking positions on everything from local ballot issues to state and national legislation and policies.

She says she’s also proud of a number of chamber efforts implemented during her tenure, among them the Mesa County Leadership Program and Young Entrepreneurs Academy. The program trains emerging leaders from the business community. The academy familiarizes middle and high school students with entrepreneurship and starting and running their own ventures.

Schwenke says she’s most enjoyed interacting with local business and community leaders. “This is a collaborative community that can come together to solve problems.”

As for her impending retirement, Schwenke says she looking forward to having more time to relax, travel and pursue other activities.

But until then, she plans to keep attending meetings and talking on the phone — and to keep meeting the needs of the business community.