Dayton Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Cathy Mitchell.
Courtesy
New Dayton Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Cathy Mitchell said she is excited to explore the commercial partners and the “cool vibe” the town offers with its unique history.
Now that she’s been hired to serve in the Chamber’s leadership role, Mitchell wants to add to that an ability to increase local connections in the easiest way possible.
“It’s just fun planning (events) and you’re always doing it for a good cause and you’re always doing it for the community or for a nonprofit or for somebody who needs it,” Mitchell said.
Mitchell found her place in the rural area working under Jody Foley, Dayton and Carson City RE/MAX agent, as an executive assistant. She brought raffle or door prizes for Chamber gatherings to interim Executive Director Helaine Jesse or the town’s Dayton Valley Days event.
“The next thing you know, I’m on the Chamber board and now the next thing you know, I’m the director and it’s just like, wow,” Mitchell said. “But Helaine had a huge part in that. She’s amazing. She’s the most wonderful mentor because there’s a lot to learn about being an ED for anything.”
Keeping businesses’ needs and personal contact without making it a burden to be a Chamber member will be important, Mitchell said. She also hopes regionally, residents or visitors will take the time to learn what Dayton has to offer. The Chamber has had about 15 new members in the past few months. Incoming businesses including an eye doctor, a Pack and Post near the Smith’s Food and Drug on the Old U.S. 50 and some crafters have moved into the area.
Social events for networking opportunities have been scaled back from monthly to quarterly mixers to prevent overwhelming members, she said. She also said she intends to learn more about her own job
“The last three (mixers) have just really been great,” she said. “We’ve had a really good turnout, and so even these crafters are finding out that it’s worth it for them to come and meet and network and get their name out there.”
Mitchell said there are opportunities to partner with the county, local nonprofits and people who enjoy the town’s lifestyle and economic development future. Recent actions such as the Friends of Sutro Tunnel’s hire of Joel Seidman as tourism director, an agreement with Lyon County to begin a feasibility study for the Dayton Valley/Chaves Road Bridge Project, the beginning of the Dayton Depot reconstruction, the Odeon Saloon’s opening and recent housing developments such as Chicanos Por La Causa’s Gold Country complex show community members are investing significantly in the community’s future.
“We’ve got the Friends of Sutro Tunnel really making that push with increasing visibility,” Mitchell said. “We would love to do more events with them. The (Cards in the Cavern) event was very, very advantageous for both of us.”
Mitchell originally came from the City of Riverside in California where she worked in utilities for about two years and then moved to the fire department. For 18 years, she helped to coordinate fire and police expos or Men Who Like to Cook culinary opportunities. When her husband and two sons needed a change, they left Southern California and came to Northern Nevada.
“I love the mountains, I love the snow, I love the seasons,” Mitchell said. “It’s just so different.”
Mitchell said she looks forward to educating herself on other boards’ work to help her own.
“I guess I just have to see where it goes because there’s a lot more to this position than I think people realize,” Mitchell said. “And I’m just going to grow with it and try and make it all about the community and the businesses, and we’ll see where it goes.”