The Anchorage Chamber of Commerce recently welcomed Michele Harmeling to its team, as well as promoted Magen James to director of programs and events.
Michele Harmeling joined the Anchorage Chamber earlier this summer as its membership development coordinator.
Harmeling is a graduate of both the University of Alaska Fairbanks (BA) and Eastern Washington University (MFA). A lifelong Alaska, she has worked in nonprofit, outreach and volunteer management roles at the Alaska Center for Performing Arts, Sound Salmon Solutions (Everett, WA), the Northwest Watershed Institute (Port Townsend, WA) and the North Olympic AmeriCorps team (Port Angeles, Wash.).
In her current role, Harmeling is responsible for annual membership retention and maintaining positive relationships with Anchorage Chamber members. She often meets directly with business owners and corporate partners to provide one-on-one benefit services, relaying valuable feedback to the Anchorage Chamber staff and board of directors.
Harmeling also serves as board secretary.
She currently resides in Palmer and enjoys hiking, backpacking, fishing, and spending time with friends and family.
Magen James was recently promoted to director of programs and events with the Anchorage Chamber.
James has worked in the customer service industry since she was twelve, joining the Anchorage Chamber in 2011 as its membership events coordinator. In this role, James has been instrumental in the success through organizing the Anchorage Chamber's annual Military Appreciation Week events, Gold Pan Awards, ATHENA Society Luncheon, Annual Train Ride, monthly Business After Hours, and Speed Networking, to name a few.
In her new role, James will be key in developing new programs and events, such as the Military Unit Adoption Program, Young Entrepreneurs Academy, and planning the Anchorage Chamber Centennial Program.
Originally from Fairbanks, James attended the University of Alaska Fairbanks and graduated in May 2011 with a Bachelor's of Business Administration (BBA). She's currently working towards her MBA at Alaska Pacific University.
James loves spending her free time with her husband Sean and dogs, Toby and Sadie.
Anchorage Chamber press release