With an ongoing love for her community and a desire to see businesses succeed, it was an easy decision for Carrie Benson to apply for the Executive Director position with the Mountain Grove Area Chamber of Commerce.
Though she previously volunteered to help with community events like the Chamber golf tournament, she was not in a position to truly make the changes she desired to see for Mountain Grove’s businesses.
After being encouraged to apply for the position, it was not too long after that the Board of Directors selected her among other applicants as the new Chamber Director.
She took over the top post on Aug. 16 and ran her first Chamber meeting last Thursday.
“My vision is that when businesses succeed, the communities succeed,” Benson said. “..I’m pretty excited for the opportunity to help Mountain Grove with growth in the business community. When businesses grow and thrive, it brings in new families and more opportunities for businesses to start up.”
She said her focus is on helping Mountain Grove take advantage of all the things the 21st century has to offer when it comes to marketing the community through the use of technology.
The Chamber’s newest director has deep roots in the community as she graduated from Mountain Grove High School in 1995. Many residents remember her father, Mr. Benson, who was a principal at the Mountain Grove R-III School District. After previously moving from the area, she moved back to town in 2017. Then last year, she opened Mr. B’s Fillin’ Station in the 700 block of N. Main St. This latest venture provides her a vested interest as a Chamber Director looking to help market the town as growth helps Mountain Grove businesses, including one of her own.
