Amanda's Mission: Connecting Our City and Community

What does the Rush County Chamber of Commerce actually do, and how can it help local businesses, nonprofits, volunteers, and community members connect? In this episode of The Hoel Truth Podcast, Bob sits down with Amanda Harris, the new Executive Director of the Rush County Chamber of Commerce, to talk about her background, her love for the Rush County community, and her vision for building stronger connections across the county.

Amanda shares how she and her family came to Rush County, why she stepped into the Chamber role, and how she sees the Chamber as a bridge between the city, local organizations, volunteers, and the business community. She also talks about new networking opportunities like The Weekly Grind, local collaborations, ribbon cuttings, young entrepreneurship, storytelling, volunteerism, and why small-town businesses need to support one another.

If you’re a Rush County business owner, nonprofit leader, volunteer, young entrepreneur, or community member who wants to get more involved, this conversation is a great place to start.

To learn more about the Rush County Chamber of Commerce, contact Amanda at:
director@rushcountychamber.com
(765) 932-2880

Transcript

Hey, Amanda. What drew you to become the director of the Rush County Chamber?

What drew me to this position is that I. I love this community. And I thought that I could be a bridge builder between our city or wonderful volunteer organizations and the business community.

Welcome to this edition of the Hoel Truth Podcast.

Today our special guest is Amanda with the Rush County Chamber of Commerce. So, Amanda, take a minute and introduce yourself.

Well, thanks for having me on. I'm Amanda Harris. I am the new executive director of the Rush County Chamber of Commerce. My family and I moved here right before the Covid 19 pandemic. Kind of got crazy and everything locked down.

So I guess you could say. Really didn't start meeting people in Rushville till about 2021. But yeah, I have I have three children, two five year olds and an 11 year old. They keep me busy. I was a stay at home mom with them for the last 11 years. Through all of that time in the Rushville community and the community, we moved here from Switzerland County.

I filled all my spare time with volunteer work, very involved with our local boards like the Parks Board, Parks Department here, ordinance committees, Main Street, and so through all of that, when I saw this position pop up, I was like, yes, that's perfect. So what brought you to Rush County? So fun fact my husband and I were card dealers at Belle Terra Casino.

I don't know if you've ever been there before. And then when Shelbyville decided to open up table games, we we came up here for that because the boat down there was done a little bit. So I dealt blackjack for about a year, and my husband dealt craps for eight years.

So is he still over at the horse?

He is not. He is a diesel mechanic. Okay. Yep. How do you go from it? You know what this podcast has supposed to have nothing to do with your husband. But I'm just curious. Well, it's my podcast. It's been a wild ride. Yeah. So, you know, we move up here for this new job at the Shelbyville Casino, and then Covid hits and we get furloughed, and we were like, why don't we just start a trucking company in the middle of all of this?

And that was going pretty well. And then we hit our one year inspection mark and that inspection, we were doing pretty good. The inspection took so long to do that. It put us out of business. We had to be on the road, I mean, 6 or 7 days a week to be able to stay afloat. It's. Yeah.

He taught himself out of work on his own truck and trailer. Yeah. Now he's a technician at Carvana. Awesome. Yeah. Yeah. So what you know, you can kind of talk about some things that you're wanting to do in the chamber, you know, kind of, you know, you said you did a lot of volunteer work, but what made you feel like the chamber position was the right job for you?

I see the position I'm in now, and what it should be is kind of a bridge between what the city is doing, what all of these wonderful nonprofit organizations in Rush County are doing, and, and the business community, I felt like there was maybe a little bit of a disconnect there. And I've had a hand in all of that.

I've been a small business owner. I have worked with lots of different people within the city through the volunteer work I do. I have worked with tons of organizations here in town. And it's like I can just see the missing pieces of the puzzle and where it could all fit in together and work together a little bit more to make Rush County even better.

So what? I mean, you're brand new at this. How long have you been at it? Oh, gosh. Maybe three, three months now. Okay. What are what are some things that you've done and then maybe some things that you would like to kind of implement.

So one of the first things I did I was like, okay, I'm here, I need to work with what I've got.

And I was looking around like, I've got a coffee maker. Why don't I just open up the doors one day a week and I'll put on a pot of coffee? And I was sitting there. I was like, oh, call it the weekly grind. And that is open to anybody. And that is a free weekly networking event. It's two hours long.

I never know who's going to show up, but I thought, you know, what a great way for for people to I make myself available. And if you want to learn more about the chamber, you can come in if and it's kind of turned into this cool, more formal networking event. Our conference tables been filled up almost every every week.

Now I have different organizations wanting to come and sort of highlight themselves. We just had shares Inc. there and then Jack's Donuts sponsored donuts coming up on the 26th. We have the ISB DC coming, and then I have a local baker providing muffins for that. Yeah, and then just other networking events. I there's no nobody else in town doing those.

And I really feel like that's a whole that we can feel or feel. So I just recently had business on tap that was a collaboration with us, Bobolink, Liquor, Barrel Head Bourbon Bar and a party planning business in town. And that was really successful. So what are some what are some future things, goals that maybe you have in mind and I didn't know.

Is there is there like a chamber group that you can be a part of, like for other executive directors or you know, how what kind of support do you have out there? There's a lot of support out there. Like, I'm so new to this now, I haven't really found it yet, but I'm I'm kind of comfortable just doing it the way I want to do it.

And I feel like it's been going well so far. I'm very open to collaboration, whether that's with another chamber. We're actually doing Milroy Building Supplies ribbon cutting tomorrow with the Greensburg Chamber of Commerce. So that's that's pretty cool. But. Yeah. Okay. Brain fart. Yeah. No, I mean, and and and, and I think Greensburg does Don does a fantastic job down there.

I mean, just but I also know every community is unique. Yes. So, like, I totally agree. You've got some. Yeah. You're going to have your core businesses that every community. But you know you know and I can't remember how active Honda is down there. But you don't have Honda. But you do have diamond now and that kind of stuff, you know.

So I, I, I get that and I'm, I'm glad to see the energy of you in our chamber, you know, and just, you know that that's awesome that, you know, you look and you see a poppy coffee pot and you're like, hey, because my wife's like, hey, we should probably go check that out. And then we have a leadership meeting every other Friday.

Right in the middle of it, I was like, oh, yeah, it's not a bad idea, dear. But, you know, we kind of already have a meeting scheduled every other week. So, you know, it's like I said, I didn't know where I was really going with this weekly grind thing, but I had a member reach out to me while I was on vacation.

They said, do you think you could do one on Mondays? And I said, you know what? Why not? Let's I'll see what I can do. Right. So there is a need for that, right? For sure. And I've got all kinds of wacky ideas. Well, and, you know, and I don't know if you know what back is the business networking like international.

So it's, it's a, it's a, it's a formal networking group and it's, it's very structured. But like Rush Field doesn't have anything like that. Like I mean I know Newcastle has 1 or 2, I know has 1 or 2. And I mean, it's not to bore you with the details, but it's like only one roofing company can be in there, only one account and one lawyer.

And you're really supposed to truly, like, try to help them get business. Like when you hear somebody say, hey, I need an accountant here, here. Susie's my account. That's in our, you know, our networking group. You should reach out to Susie. And, you know, as you know or as you'll learn, like, there is a lot of when somebody calls me and says, I need a referral for an HVAC company or an electrician, like that goes a long ways because they know I'm around a lot of contracts, you know?

So like other business owners, when they reach out, it's like, yeah, I mean, if that referral means a lot, you know, to them. So that's what a business networking, you know and there's been talks. I've talked to a couple of people trying to start one in Rushville. It just never I didn't completely I didn't have the time. I didn't completely have the heart to start it.

I would be part of something like that. But yeah, I, you know, so I just didn't know. Yeah. Like I said, like, I, I get it, you you're in a unique situation. So who technically do you report to? That would be our board. Okay. Okay. Yep. So is that is this is it county funded? Like where do the funds come from?

Memberships. Memberships okay. Yes okay. Yep. So there's no state funding. No government okay. No it is. Yep. All membership. Yep. Then I'm taking the board. Is that a, a non paying board? I mean, is that a volunteer volunteer board? Sorry. Yeah. No you're good. No they're they're great to they're they're very supportive and you know, they are all very

Oh sorry. That truck really messed me up. I was like, what is that? Yeah. They're all very active. I mean, with in the chamber. And then a lot of them have their hands and other boards and organizations as well. So they do a lot for, for the community in general. Yep. So what are what are some other things that you're looking forward to maybe over the next year or two, maybe even

I'm really looking forward to I, I want to kind of hone in on young entrepreneurial ship.

I feel like we have a lot of of that here in Rush County. I my son is 11 years old and he has his own dog poop removal business. It's yeah, it's called trips, dog turd removal services. And he he was just he was just killing it one summer and, they I feel like the possibilities are endless for this younger generation right now.

I, you know, with the internet and AI and social media and all of that, and they're just figuring out how to monetize it and make it work and their to their advantage, you know, but you also have the young lady who does brew on to you have the young lady that just opened the country made boutique and sip and squeeze, and it's incredible to see that.

So I would love to have got, like I said, some ideas in the works to kind of highlight that and, and help some people. So I've noticed that. And this isn't just genuinely Rush County. I know a couple Luke Williams out of Connersville that does heating and air and then Dylan Logan that does electrical. And I mean NIMBYs are all about 2021.

It seems like they might be a few years older than that, but it's like there's a group of them boys over there that are self-employed, you know, and I just, you know, I know you always look back at generations and you know, how our parents were created, kind of who we were. And now I'm going to create my kids.

You're going to create your kids, you know, so it's it is kind of cool. Like I'm a huge fan of small business. That's why we do the podcast. I try to have as many of them on as possible just to talk, because everybody wants to hear that story, you know? Yeah. And it's like I said, it is cool to see the young entrepreneurs, you know, because that's that's what this country needs.

We don't need more. We don't need bigger government. You know, we need like literally more people that can go produce something and make something. So yeah. Well, and what you just said about the story behind it, that is something that I love. I had an opportunity through the heart of Rushville to go take a storytellers workshop at an Indiana main Street convention.

I learned so much from that. But people are so hungry for that anymore. Social media has done a lot of positive things, but there are a lot of things that get lost in the weeds on there. I mean, you can post your flier for your business all day long. You know, they're going to scroll right past it. But, you know, if you have a picture of a business owner with their story and you can read about who they are and where they came from, why are they doing what they're doing?

It helps build that connection up a little more. So that's I love that you're doing that here. Yeah. No that's awesome. Because I was wondering Brian too. We've tried to get her in here. She's just too, too shy and quiet. I told her I was going to quit sending my wife down to buy coffee, but, But no, like, I mean, because when you said younger generation, then you went to your son's age, I was like, man, I don't feel ancient here, you know?

So I was hoping 25 was younger generation, so almost 40 wasn't as bad, so. But, no, that's, you know, that's that's awesome. So. Yeah. What a what else what what else would you like to share? Kind of, you know, anything else with the chamber? 

I guess, you know, I can't say it enough how how open I am to collaboration. I really want to build these bridges and make these connections. We've got a wonderful collaboration going on with the Imagination Arts Council. That's. That's available to members only to where my personal office window is, has now become advertising space. And Imagination Arts Council will find an artist to.

Take your your logo and your business and make this awesome art installation whatever they can come up with. Wife will be the first recipient of it, and we'll have that up in the window through July. And then something that's close to my heart and what really got me into this position, I mean, I went and got my degree while I was at home with the kids, but how important volunteerism is?

And I feel like that's Rushville is is so unique and that, I mean, you have volunteers everywhere, but it just blows my mind. There can be a family that nobody knows here in town, and their house is burnt down, and they will have all of their needs met in a couple of hours. It's I love that about Rushville.

And I tell young people all the time, you know, Rotary Club, like, do not underestimate the power of volunteerism and how that can I mean, it's not only good for your community and it makes you feel good, but it builds your skill set. And that is something valuable that you can put on a resume that you didn't have to pay to get.

So and, you know, employers really look at that.

Well, and I mean, that's another thing like as an employer like degrees anymore just mean less and less. And like, you know, if you know, you're right, if I see somebody that's volunteered or somebody that's been in for H for seven years or, you know, played football for five years, like we've got a high school kid working for us and, you know, he's playing football.

And is that a complete inconvenience a little bit with the job that he's trying to perform here. You know, it's like the one morning. He's like, Ty did not show up. And I'm like, I was like, that's weird. And then we looked at her calendar and he was at football practice. So, you know, so like I said, there's and part of that's just being a kid like, yeah, we want if you're here and you're a kid, you know, be a kid.

But no, I mean, that's like I say, I can't stress the excitement that I've got in my wife of just somebody young, full of energy, like, really wanting to, you know, just bring a new perspective, you know, to the chamber, you know, working together. And, you know, you understand, you know, a lot of that more than me, but with all the volunteer needs.

But yeah, I mean, it's it is pretty cool in Rush County with the amount of people that have each other's backs for sure. Yeah. And you really it's I've lived in several different, different communities and it's not like that everywhere else. So. Yep, yep. Now any any words of advice, any words of encouragement. How if you know, how can people you know I also I guess another question we could ask is like what kind of members get I explain your membership because I don't honestly even know.

So you mean like so like is it one level? Is it

there are multiple levels. Anybody can join the chamber. You don't even have to be from Rush County. If you are Joe in Nebraska and you don't even have a business, you can join the chamber. So we offer individual memberships. We have a nonprofit membership level small business, you know, medium sized business and then up to large corporations.

And that comes with certain levels of marketing. We have our electronic sign and all of that. You know, but to me, what it's really about is if if there are members out there who haven't participated in any of our networking events, no matter how simple they are, really encourage them to do that. Because I feel like in small towns, we really need to have each other's backs in the small business community.

You know, we need to have members supporting members and like you said, it, it people call you for for an HVAC reference. It's because they trust you. So it's if we can just keep building on that. I feel like that's very important.

So what? This is not like a bad question. What what what is the benefits? What is the reason to have individual like a membership.

You know, I this this sounds goofy. You do get access to the electronic sign just like any other membership level it is. And I was like, how cool would it be to have access to that? And you can you could do happy birthday messages, graduation messages. Maybe you have lots of great ideas and you would just like to share those at networking events.

Maybe you would like to get out and make some more contacts. And yeah, like I said, I wouldn't. I wouldn't like trying to make it a question, but now that you say that, I guess if somebody is looking to get into business or something, maybe that's a good kind of first step. Or even if you're someone who just wants to support what we're doing in the small business community in general, you're that's exactly what your membership goes towards.

So how can somebody reach out to if they are interested in the membership? The best way to get Ahold of me is to email me. I'm pretty quick with responding really any time of day. And that is director at Rush County Chamber com. You can call the chamber office. You can message us on Facebook. Like I said, we're pretty quick at getting back with you.

Thank you for coming in. Thanks for having me on.