As director of the Milbank Area Chamber of Commerce, Laurie Folk has a lot of businesses to look after. Over 175, if you happen to be counting. She says there is always so much to do and so much going on that she was more than happy to welcome her new administrative assistant, Jamie Henderson.
Laurie says Jamie’s duties include “anything that comes up.” Jamie agreed that her to-do list is ever-changing and expanding. She laughed and described her day as “fluid.”
Laurie says part of Jamie’s role will be to help plan upcoming chamber promotions and events. Farley Fest alone has a million details. She says she believes Jamie will help bring a consistency to the myriad of elements that go into it and other events, too. “She also seems to be a great self-starter!”.
Jamie says, “I feel as though I have known Laurie forever. “We get along really well, and I appreciate the confidence she has shown in my abilities.”
So far, she says her favorite part of the job is interacting with the people that come through the Chamber office door. “Getting to know new people has been fun.”
Jamie, whose maiden name was Swensen, grew up in Ortonville and has a degree in graphic communications which includes marketing, mass communications, and graphic design. She has held a variety of graphic design and marketing positions, and most recently was a stay-at-home mom for 12 years, At the same time, she worked remotely as a freelance graphic designer.
Her children are now twelve, nine, six and four and quite a bit more independent and the position at the Chamber was intriguing as it allows her to be more active in the community, take care of her family, and, because it’s part time, to still take on some freelance design jobs. “My creative side is not something I can turn off. It bleeds into everything I do.”.
Laurie laughs and says, “This is a great job for someone creative. It has no beginning or end. The sky’s the limit! Jamie’s biggest challenge has been to use a pencil and not a pen because that’s the nature of it..Things change!”
If you are in the neighborhood, stop in to the Chamber office any day between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. and welcome Jamie to the Milbank business community. Her hobbies include reading, jigsaw puzzles, photography, and spending time with her family. She and her husband, Tyler, and the children make their home near Marvin.
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