Pocomoke City Chamber of Commerce Has New Director

Welcome to Pocomoke City Lauren Iman!

Written by
Brian Shane
Staff Writer/Daily Times
POCOMOKE CITY -- The Pocomoke City Chamber of Commerce has named Lauren Iman to its executive director position after a two-month vacancy.

"I'm very excited to have this position," she said. "I've already met a bunch of wonderful members and organizations in town that I really look forward to doing business with. I hope we can have a great outcome, and this can be a good year for the Pocomoke City Chamber."


Former Executive Director Denise Wagner left the Chamber in January after holding the job for three years. Chamber President Joshua Nordstrom, who works in public relations for Midway car dealership, had been working as interim executive director since Wagner's departure.


Iman won the job over two other finalists. She had a bit of a coming-out party at the Chamber's 60th anniversary party on March 31, Nordstrom said. He hopes to introduce her to all the executive directors of other Lower Shore chambers.


"They have valuable advice to offer. Anytime you're in a new position, in a new field, you try to glean some wisdom from people who have been there," he said.


The Chamber selected Iman because of her background in social marketing and degree in digital media, and other experience in customer service and retail. She last had worked at Baysys on Wallops Island before losing her job to layoffs, Nordstrom said.


He said one of the main reasons she was hired was for her personality.


"We wanted somebody personable. She's very nice and very sweet, and you wouldn't even meet her without seeing how nice she is. But she's got a good head on her shoulders, and she's not intimidated by this job. That's important when you're the face of the business community -- the face of Pocomoke, in a sense."


She also won the position in part, Nordstrom said, because she was local; Iman makes her home in the Captain's Cove community of Greenbackville, Va.


Many candidates were willing to relocate for the job, but the board of directors wanted someone who was already familiar with the area and would be accepted in close-knit Pocomoke as a from-here, not a come-here.


"We didn't want to set up anybody to fail," Nordstrom said.
The Pocomoke City Chamber of Commerce has about 100 members. Nordstrom and Iman said they hope to convince more businesses of the benefits of membership.


Iman says she's going to get in touch with businesses that are no longer members, and see what it takes to get them interested again.


She also hopes to find newer businesses in the area that would join.


The position, they say, is one that will have a renewed focus on events and fundraising. The Chamber does not receive funding from Pocomoke City. Planned events include a fall festival and costume party for Halloween, a golf tournament, and a continuation of the Cypress Festival. They also have plans to develop a young professionals club within the Chamber.


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