The East Jordan Area Chamber of Commerce has a new president!
Welcome, Diane Gorkiewicz!

As of Wednesday, April 7, 2004, there will again be a talented woman sitting at the helm of the East Jordan Area Chamber of Commerce ship! Our new skipper, Diane Gorkiewicz, comes to us with an impressive educational background, an equally impressive work experience background, and a whole lot of ideas and enthusiasm. No one will be happier to welcome Diane aboard than Carol Galmore, Chamber office manager, who has done such a great job keeping everything running smoothly during this transition period. (Thank You, Carol!)

Diane studied everything from Youth Development to Individual & Group Counseling to Community Development to Grant & Proposal Writing to Wellness Education to Substance Abuse Education/Prevention at the University of Minnesota, Ball State University and Indiana University, respectively. She graduated from the Bronson Methodist Hospital School of Nursing, then went on to get an Associate of Applied Science in Supervision from Purdue University, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, also from Purdue, and a Master of Science in Education (Adult and Community Ed) from Indiana University. [Ed. Note: Phew! Glad I didn't have to pay her tuition bills!]

Over the years, her work experience has included counseling, instructing, and developing wellness and stress management programs at her own clinic in Ft. Wayne, IN; Administrative Director & Lifestyle Counselor at Burns Clinic Medical Center in Petoskey, MI, and then at the Cuyahoga Falls Health & Wellness Center in Cuyahoga Falls, OH; Breast Cancer & Servical Cancer Screening Coordinator; Worksite Wellness Coordinator; Northwest Community Health Agency; Charlevoix Public Schools "STAR" (Success To All Readers) program; Owner & Operator of environmental retail shop - Rose Cargo - in Charlevoix [Ed. Note: Cool Stuff!]; middle school science & wilderness teacher and school nurse at Northwest Academy in Charlevoix; and coordination of Adult Day Services in conjunction with the East Jordan Senior Center, developing and providing stimulating activities for clients with dementia related to Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and other conditions.

Although she is not a current resident of East Jordan, Diane has worked, played and shopped extensively in the community. She has been a speaker at many organizations over the years. And she and her family have hiked, biked, canoed, skied, snowshoed, and boated all around the Jordan River Valley.

Diane has also learned a great deal about East Jordan history from the many senior citizens she has been working, singing and talking with over the past two years, and was particularly thrilled about the Main Street Center renovation because it preserved the historic integrity of this town which is so special to her.

Working in downtown East Jordan has given Diane the opportunity to get to know members of the community - business owners, public officials, and volunteers. She is acutely aware of the role of volunteers in a small community and understands the efforts that go into all the activities that make East Jordan a viable and interesting place to live in and visit. As a proponent of the arts and education, and with her health and wellness background, she is always striving to improve the quality of life for the community as a whole and its individual members.

In her own words: "Although following Mary Faculak is not an easy task, there are so many wonderful programs and special projects in place in East Jordan, that it will be an exciting challenge to maintain and to further expand the development of the East Jordan area." Diane looks forward to sharing her ideas and enthusiasm, and making a contribution to the very bright future of this progressive community.

If you already know Diane, stop by the Chamber office (in Main Street Center) and welcome her aboard. If you don't know her, stop by the Chamber office and introduce yourself!

Archive Index | Home