Life-long Value

Julie Schmitt, Comfrey, BCLP 2006    
Executive Director, Sleepy Eye Area Chamber of Commerce

I was a January 2006 graduate of Blandin and when my week at Blandin was over, I started a new position and new adventure in my life.  I was hired as the Executive Director of the Sleepy Eye Area Chamber of Commerce.   A whole new realm for me but I wanted to work with people on an everyday basis and my previous position of entering data into the computer was just was not letting me do that.  Three and a half years later I find that the very best part of my job is the people.  There many stories out there to share, there are many volunteers who do whatever needs to be done without recognition, and there are many who give of their time, talents and money if requested.  

Being involved with the Chamber and the community means being involved with many organizations and committees.  Through the Chamber we have the Chamber Board of Directors, the Retail Association, the Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Ambassadors.  In the community, we have the EDA, Bridging Brown County, the National Guard Citizen Committee, the Comfrey First Responders, the Sleepy Eye Ambulance Department and the Brown West Nicollet Red Cross.  We have celebrated Brown County’s 150th Anniversary, Sleepy Eye built a new Family Aquatic Center and the Sleepy Eye Lake Trail and renovated a Community/Senior Center – all projects with which I have been involved in. 

I am so honored to have received the Minneapolis Aquatennial Honorary Commodore’s Award; an award received through nominations by the Miss Sleepy Eye Committee of which I work with.   

Many times I have said to other Blandin graduates “wouldn’t you like a refresher at Blandin – wasn’t it the best week you could ever experience?”  The camaraderie and the relationships gained from the week at Blandin is life-long value to me.  Anytime a person has the opportunity to experience Blandin I tell them they will gain so much from this and take the skills learned to higher levels.