For the past three and a half years the Paulding Chamber of Commerce has been directed by Mikayla Pieper, but now Mikayla has been called to Nebraska and is leaving Paulding. While sad to see her move on, the Chamber Board new it was time to look forward to a new Director who could take the organization into the future. After having ten applications come in with various interviews that soon followed, the board selected Erica Noggle as their next Paulding Chamber Director.
MS. Noggle started working April 5 at the Chamber office with Mikayla showing her the community businesses and Chamber members. Together they stopped in at West Bend Printing, your local newspaper and print shop, to introduce Erica to the Antwerp people.
Erica begins at Paulding coming from several years of experience in the Defiance Area Chamber of Commerce. She said she is very impressed with the Paulding office setup as the United Way, PC Area Foundation, PC Economic Development and more are all located in the same building, allowing for better communication and access to each others offices. The Paulding Chamber tries to work closely with Tim Copsey, Paulding County Economic Development Director.
Noggle is a Paulding County native. She lives with her three children and husband in the Wayne Trace school district.
She brings a wealth of experience to her new position. She previously worked for the Defiance Chamber of Commerce. Prior to being hired on as a full time employee, she spent a significant amount of time as a volunteer for the office.
To be hired on Noggle was required to successfully complete the hiring process that included three interviews. At the end of the third interview she was offered the job and she enthusiastically accepted.
Noggle is excited for her new role. “I get to be involved in the community and I get to do it in my home county,” she commented. She stated that she loved her time in Defiance, but being closer to home has a wealth of advantages.
One thing that Erica intends to continue is the social media and the new corporate video introductions that she and Mikayla are working on together. The Chamber After hours will soon migrate to the virtual membership highlighting businesses, networking, marketing and job creation.
She states that she is not looking to change anything immediately, “I don’t want to just change things – some things are already working and successful.” Instead she hopes to, “create a role for myself to cater to the needs [of the community and county’].”
Pieper commented about transitioning from the position, “I am excited for her. It was a fun time getting to know businesses and giving back to the community.”
If you need to join the Paulding Chamber, give Erica a call or send her an email and she will be glad to get your business setup and promoted through the Chamber.
