Chamber chief takes helm
Cheney’s Joelean Copeland, a proud Cheney resident, will get paid to promote what she believes is the best location in the nation.
Copeland was named executive director of the West Plains Chamber of Commerce, 201 W. First St., a job she started earlier this month. She replaces Carolbelle Branch, who was hired as Spokane Valley public information officer in June.
The West Plains Chamber serves the businesses and communities of Cheney, Airway Heights and Medical Lake, with a combined population of roughly 20,000. Copeland’s annual salary is about $32,000.
“I am going to take the lead from the local governments and ask them what they want to see in their area … and go out and get it,” Copeland said. “I’m going to ask them, ‘What do you think the citizens will benefit from?’ “
Copeland, 28, is a single mother with a 7-year-old daughter. She has been living in Cheney 10 years.
She grew up in Yakima and graduated from Eastern Washington University with a Bachelor of Arts in technical writing and a Master of Arts in publishing with an emphasis on editorial and design.
After she graduated, she got a job with the university as the managing editor of the EWU Press, a literary regional publishing house and the organizer of the annual Get Lit! Northwest Literature Festival.
“I never wanted to leave the area because it’s a great place to raise a family,” she said about settling in Cheney.
For three years she made the commute from Cheney to the EWU Press office in Spokane.
“Now, I’m four minutes from work, and that’s if I get coffee on the way,” Copeland said with excitement in her voice.
She’ll undoubtedly buy it at Kafka’s, Bahama Joe’s or another local coffee shop.
Copeland was one of four applicants interviewed by the chamber’s executive board committee. Chamber President Dan Villalobos said the committee was looking for someone with an energetic, outgoing personality, and Copeland fit the bill.
Under Branch’s 31/2-year leadership, chamber membership increased from 146 to 186. Copeland plans to continue Branch’s “coffee and chat” program, meeting with the individual communities once a month.
She also plans to continue organizing the Best of the West Plains banquet. The annual winter dinner recognizes those who contribute to the communities.
Copeland also will travel to Washington, D.C., in the spring as a member of the Regional Chamber Alliance. Branch made the trip for two years to advocate saving and expanding Fairchild Air Force Base.
The alliance is made up of the West Plains, Spokane, Spokane Valley, Post Falls and Coeur d’Alene chambers.
The West Plains Chamber of Commerce is a nonprofit organization.