It's been a good year

In true educator fashion, Post Falls School District Superintendent Dena Naccarato gave Post Falls Chamber of Commerce members an assignment as one of her first actions as the new chamber chair.

"For the next few minutes, we want to discuss how to strengthen the business-education partnership in Post Falls," Naccarato said Tuesday.

She instructed attendees of the chamber's Connect4Lunch and annual meeting — held at the Red Lion Hotel Templin's on the River — to think about how potential employees demonstrate they're prepared for work and that they will be assets to an organization.

"What are the qualities you need in a qualified employee?" Naccarato asked the room.

After a few minutes, she asked everyone to write those ideas on notecards found on the tables, to soon be shared with high school teachers.

She also asked attendees if their businesses work with Post Falls High or the Kootenai Technical Education Campus (KTEC). She prompted them to exchange insights if so. If not, she asked them to brainstorm various ways their organizations can interact with high school students.

She said Post Falls students need more apprenticeship opportunities, both paid and unpaid.

"They need to be exposed to the job opportunities that exist in our area so they realize they do not need to move out of our area to have a fulfilling career and a living wage," Naccarato said. "Experience and awareness will translate into qualified, dedicated employees for our local businesses."

She said her vision for the chamber in the coming year is to increase the opportunities for the school district to partner with the business community.

"I believe the experiences our local businesses can provide to high school students can pay huge dividends to local business and the entire community," she said. "Telling someone about your product or company is one thing, but having students experience it is another."

Naccarato accepted the baton of leadership from outgoing Chair Eric Knudtsen.

"It doesn't feel like it's been a whole year since I was up here taking the gavel from Julie Holt," Knudtsen said. "The year has definitely flown by."

Before concluding his tenure, Knudtsen shared good news about the chamber's accomplishments in the past year, including implementing new vision and mission statements for the chamber, which are "to be the catalyst for business prosperity and quality of life in our community" and "through innovation, education and collaboration, we create a positive business environment for the community to prosper."

He reported a growth in chamber membership, up from 400 this time last year to now 457 members; 75 new members joined in 2022, giving the chamber a membership retention rate of 85.5%. The chamber celebrated 15 ribbon-cutting ceremonies and two groundbreakings. The River City Market experienced a 69% revenue increase. He said one of the biggest accomplishments for Post Falls overall was the opening of the Idaho State Veterans Home Post Falls.

He also thanked chamber staff members for their service.

"They do a tremendous job," he said.

Several members were presented awards for their longevity with the Post Falls Chamber, including three award recipients for 20 years: Northwest Specialty Hospital, Numerica Credit Union and Walmart; and for 15 years: Post Falls Kiwanis and the Murray Group. Red Lion Templin's on the River was also honored with the chamber's chair award for its excellence in food and service through the years. Post Falls Director of Parks and Recreation Dave Fair was the recipient of the President's Award, presented by Post Falls Chamber President Christina Petit.

"This award is being given in appreciation for collaboration and communication on the River City Market and Music, for countless hours of taking travel writers around our community to show them all the beautiful things our parks have to offer, so we can promote Post Falls, and for the lighting work on our building so that we could be a part of Winterfest," Petit said to Fair. "Your team has been amazing and an exceptional partner to our chamber."

Petit also presented Knudtsen with a special clock award for his service as the chamber chair.

"This one's a hard one, I try not to get sad," she said.

She said Knudtsen has been an exceptional leader. She said last year, he talked about leading the chamber into the future.

"You led us through a lot of new things with the chamber and you sat next to my side during some very difficult conversations," Petit said to Knudtsen. "I'm so glad to get to keep you one more year on the executive committee, so you're not going too far, but I just want to give you this token of my appreciation for your time and service with us."

The meeting ended with a festively raucous rendition of "The 12 Days of Christmas," led by Post Falls City Council President Kerri Thoreson, as part of a longstanding tradition that invites all attendees to get into the holiday spirit.

The chamber is presently accepting nominations for big and small businesses of the year, citizen of the year, volunteer of the year and the spirit of Post Falls, to be announced Feb. 9 during the Post Falls Chamber's 2023 Community Recognition Event.

Info: postfallschamber.com