New chamber director impressed with 'caring community'

"We have really been welcomed by the community," says new Dexter Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Hillary Starnes about her move to Dexter.

Starnes has been so impressed by the city and surrounding community that she is working on a new chamber slogan emphasizing what she has found here: "A caring community."

"Dexter is the best kept secret in Southeast Missouri," notes Starnes. "It is such a pleasant, clean town."

Starnes took over as Chamber executive director Thursday after starting work at the chamber in August. She has worked with longtime Executive Director Janet Coleman to familiarize herself with the community and the role of the chamber and took over after Coleman's retirement.

Starnes and her husband, Andy, moved from Poplar Bluff, Mo., to Dexter at the beginning of October. He is a police officer for the City of Bloomfield, and the couple had already made plans to move to Dexter before she heard that the chamber was looking for a new director.

"I heard about the chamber position, and decided I would interview for it," says Starnes.

Prior to accepting the job at Dexter, Starnes held two positions at Three Rivers College (TRC) in Poplar Bluff. She first worked in the Office of Development at TRC where she helped with fundraising for the TRC Endowment Trust and helped coordinate special events. She worked closely with the college president in that position.

"I helped with a $20 million capital campaign that raised money for three new buildings on the campus," says Starnes.

Starnes was later named Coordinator of Student Engagement, where she was charged with overseeing student organizations. She served as an advisor for student government and also coordinated special events, which included the annual employee banquet and faculty/student breakfasts. She helped plan the very first TRC rodeo.

While working at TRC, she became part of the Poplar Bluff Chamber of Commerce Ambassador Program. The ambassadors were charged with "reaching out to new members" in the community. She helped create a network with area businesses and assisted in membership drives. The work helped her understand the role of the chamber in the local community.

In addition to her role as director, Starnes is also the chamber economic development coordinator. While the Chamber is not a funding mechanism for economic development, she will be working closely with the Industrial Development Authority (IDA) of Stoddard County and the Bootheel Regional Planning and Economic Development Commission (BRPC).

Starnes says industrial prospects often are looking for a building or property where tax incentives are available and other incentives are offered. She says that is the domain of the IDA, but the chamber can assist potential employers with necessary permits and making sure needed utilities are available.

Starnes has several things she wants to accomplish as director of the Dexter Chamber. They are:

* Meeting with Chamber members and establishing goals;

* Increasing the chamber presence online and through social media;

* Developing a strategic economic development plan for one, five and 10 years for the city and surrounding area.

Starnes says it is important for everyone to work together. She adds that there are some great traditions in Dexter, but ways need to be found to attract more people.

"If you are not bringing people in, businesses are not going to grow," states Starnes.

She notes that the Historic Downtown Association has done a great job in attracting new businesses and improving the appearance of the downtown area. She says in reviewing the traditional events, she has found that the fall is very busy with several special events and traditions such as Fall Fest.

Starnes says she would like to see some events held in the spring and summer months to add to the established traditions.

She hopes to work to establish a Community Day to be held in July. She says she is working with the Dexter Parks and Recreation Department on plans for the event, which would be held at East City Park. She says the event could include a Poker Run, dog show, sporting events and a chicken cook-off to promote the Tyson Foods plant located in Dexter. She says one year the cook-off could feature grilled chicken while the next year it could feature chicken soups. She thinks a good time for the event would be the weekend after the Fourth of July.

Starnes would also like to see the Farmer's Market grow as an attraction. She says more effort needs to be made to attract producers and sellers, and the market should be sanctioned by both the city and the chamber.

Starnes notes that chamber membership is currently at 290. She says beginning in March, she and the chamber board will begin a reassessment.

"The membership cost is much lower here than in many other cities," Starnes says.

Starnes would like to see the chamber have a bigger presence on Facebook and other social media. She says traditional media such as the newsletter, newspapers, radio and emails will continue to be important, but there is a lot of room for growth on electronic media.

Starnes has been busy meeting people in the community and talking with civic and service groups. She has already been a speaker at the Rotary and Kiwanis Clubs. She says she will probably join one of the local service groups.

"I really want to get involved in the community," Starnes says.

Starnes was born in Jonesboro, Ark., the daughter of Robert and Gail Speer. She graduated from high school at Jonesboro in 2004 and then obtained her bachelor's degree in business administration from Arkansas State University. She moved to Poplar Bluff in 2010, where her older sister, Rachel Marler Haddock lived. She subsequently went to work for TRC. She has two step-children: Riley Hoenes and Mekhi Starnes -- and a puppy named Jax.

"We've found a home," Starnes says about the family's move to Dexter.