Phil Castle, The Business Times

Candace Carnahan expects her new role with the Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce to vary with the situation. A leader, to be sure. But also an advocate and collaborator.

If Carnahan were to choose a single metaphor to describe her role, though, it would be an orchestra conductor. One who puts the best people in the best positions to bring out their best performances. 

In turn, that makes the collective and individual successes of local businesses music to her ears.

“I’m very humbled to have this opportunity and excited to see where we go with it,” she says.

The chamber board of directors voted to hire Carnahan as president and chief executive officer. 

Her selection concluded a search for a successor to Diane Schwenke, who retired after working more than 30 years in the position.

Carnahan has worked for the chamber more than seven years, the last year as vice president. Before that, she worked as director of programs as well as events and program manager. Prior to joining the chamber in 2015, she worked in several management roles in the hospitality industry.

“With Candace’s experience at the chamber as well as her extensive background leading and developing teams, creating and maintaining programs and driving business success, she brings a unique skill set to the role,” says Ivan Geer, chairman of the chamber board.

Geer says Carnahan was instrumental in developing the chamber mission. “As she becomes president and CEO, this transition will reinforce our chamber as an advocate for a strong business climate in Western Colorado. We thank Diane for her many yers of leading the chamber, and we are excited to welcome Candace to continue building the legacy of the Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce.”

Carnahan oversees a chamber with 800 business members, making it the largest organization of its kind between Denver and Salt Lake City.

The Grand Junction chamber employs a staff of just five, but the board and members are active, she says. “It’s a very engaged group.”

Carnahan says she hasn’t yet had an opportunity to meet with the board to discuss  priorities and goals, although a strategic planning session has been scheduled. At the same time, though, she says it’s important for her to talk to members about what they want and need. “It’s going to be really critical to listen.”  

To that end, she says the chamber serves a variety of purposes as a source of information and assistance for businesses as well as advocate in taking positions on everything from local ballot measures to state and national legislation and policies.

Businesses and business owners need different resources at different stages in the life cycles of their operations whether that’s helping an entrepreneur start a venture or assisting an existing company expand.

The ultimate goal, Carnahan says, is to help Grand Valley and Western Colorado businesses succeed.

The business climate reflects what she describes as a mix of winds and successes, but also barriers and burdens.

Businesses have started to recover from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and related restrictions, not to mention catch up with what’s been pent up demand for goods and services.

Many businesses are expanding their operations in terms of facilities and staffing, which bodes well for Grand Junction, she says. She cites as one example a proposed expansion at the CoorsTek operation.

At the same time, businesses face challenges in shortages of labor as well as affordable housing and child care for employees.

Government regulations and policies also can pose difficulties for businesses, she says. That makes it important for the chamber to try to prevent and mitigate burdensome measures or at least help businesses navigate them.

Carnahan says working in various roles for the chamber for more than seven years has prepared to help and to serve in her latest role. She says she’s gained in-depth knowledge of the organization and its various programs as well as local business community. That positions her to build on what she calls an “amazing foundation.”

Carnahan also  brings to her new duties other experiences, skills and training.

Prior to joining the chamber, she worked at the Hotel Denver in Glenwood Springs as director of sales and marketing and then assistant general manager. She also worked as catering manager at the Stabley Hotel in Estes Park. She owned Serendipity Weddings and Events and also worked as a host and trainer at Walt Disney World.

She graduated from the Western Association of Chamber Executives and was named to the association’s emerging leaders council for a second term.

Moreover, Carnahan was born and raised in Grand Junction, giving her a life-long familiarity with the area and what she says is a passion to help the community.

As president and CEO of the chamber, she expects to be a leader as well as an advocate and collaborator.

But she says she’s also looking forward to her role as a conductor in putting the best people in the best positions to bring out their best performances. She’s hopeful the result will be beautiful music.