Athens forms new chamber of commerce
By Casey Krautkramer
Athens Area Development Corporation is now theAthensArea Chamber of Commerce.
The chamber was formed on June 3 after two other organizations, Athens Area Development Corporation and Progress Athens Foundation, met last October to discuss the creation of a volunteer chamber organization to promote Athens businesses, organizations and events.
Former Athens Area Development Corporation members Randy Decker and Bonnie Stange and current Progress Athens Foundation members Tom Peter, owner of Peter Trucking, and Jessica Frahm, vice president and commercial lender at Forward Bank in Athens, are members of the newly formed chamber. Frahm serves as president, Peter as real estate and economic development chair and Stange as treasurer.
Katelyn Haugstad, owner of The Worship, is vice president and marking/communication committee chair; Merilyn Schaer, owner of Lonate Boutique, is the secretary and event planning committee chair; and village board member Chris Perkins is membership committee chair.
Kat Becker, owner of Cattail Organics, and village board president Decker are also chamber board members.
Athens Area Development Corporation was created in 1962 for the purpose of recruiting a doctor, a dentist and a chiropractor to the village so residents didn’t have to travel to receive care. Founding members of the organization pooled their own personal resources together to get a secure foundation and purchase real estate to provide a place for these providers to practice and serve the village and its surrounding residents.
When the corporation morphed into the new chamber, its officers and members were president Randy Decker, vice president Dave Weiler, treasurer Rick Schaetzl and secretary Bonnie Stange. Other members were Brian Luther and Jerry Zenner.
The corporation previously owned and managed two buildings in Athens, Hope Clinic and the Professional Building, that were transferred to the chamber.
Progress Athens Foundation was started in 2021 by Tom and Lorene Mueller, Tracy Westfall and Jessica Frahm. It became a nonprofit public charity organization in 2022 for the initial purpose of raising funds to purchase the former U.S. Bank building in Athens to relocate the municipal offices and Athens branch of the Marathon County Public Library to the much larger space. Progress Foundation officers were selected at its annual meeting on April 8. Officers are president Tom Peter, vice president Tracy Westfall, treasurer Kim Heller and secretary Sherri Nehrbass. Board members are Tom and Lorene Mueller and Jessica Frahm.
Chamber President Frahm said the new group was developed to promoteAthens businesses, organizations and events while striving to be the central hub of information bringing everyone together to continue “growing our community.”
“I cannot express my gratitude enough to the founding members of the Athens Area Development Corporation, which has been in existence for over 60 years,” she said. “Thanks to your efforts, both individually and collaboratively, Athens has you to thank for the convenience of local health and dental care amongst other things. Your dedication and commitment to Athens over the years has been shown through your many efforts, and attracting and retaining these services has been a blessing to our community.”
“Many of you have been identified and recognized as the support beams of Athens, and I’m sure, as your experience has taught you, that anything new needs credible, experienced support beams to create buy-in for others to see the value to partake. With those facts, coupled with the group’s longevity, I have no doubt you all feel the responsibility and commitment to ensure the legacy carries on through the Athens Area Chamber of Commerce.”
CHAMBER HOSTS TRINITY CHILD CARE RIBBON CUTTING- Members of the newly-formed Athens Area Chamber of Commerce gathered with a few members from Progress Athens and Trinty Child Care leaders to organize a ribbon cutting on Aug. 11. Pictured, from left to right, are: Tom Peter, member of both the Athens Area Chamber of Commerce and Progress Athens; Randalyn Ellenbecker, Trinity Child Care director; Trinity Lutheran Church pastor Mark Schwarz, Trinity Lutheran School and Child Care principal Dean Frick; Sherri Nehrbass, member of Progress Athens; Jessica Frahm, member of both the Athens Area Chamber of Commerce and Progress Athens; Randy Decker, Athens village president and member of the Athens Area Chamber of Commerce; Kim Heller, member of Progress Athens and Katelyn Haugstad, member of the Athens Area Chamber of Commerce.
STAFF PHOTO/CASEY KRAUTKRAMER
