BEMIDJI—The Bemidji Area Chamber of Commerce leadership passed the gavel at the annual meeting and dinner celebration Sept 20. Ryan Welle, vice president of First National Bank Bemidji and the chamber’s 2015-2016 board chair, passed the gavel to incoming chair Colleen Falk of Fieldstone Financial.

Welle’s term ended at the close of the chamber’s fiscal year Aug. 31, the chamber said in a release.

Falk partners with Fieldstone Financial as business consultant and strategic planner. Falk and her husband started and owned Bluewater Bait and Sports for 17 years and now own Anytime Fitness Clubs. She received a bachelor’s degree in business administration and a master’s degree in industrial technology from BSU and over the past 27 years has been an adjunct instructor for Northwest Technical College.

She has more than 30 years in the areas of business development, corporate relations and training in the areas of entrepreneurship, marketing, operations, finance and quality management. Falk has been a member of the Bemidji community for more than 50 years and has always enjoyed the opportunity to be part of this thriving community.

The Bemidji Area Chamber, a 501 C-6, was incorporated in October 1907 and is located in the Tourist Information Center at Paul Bunyan Park in downtown Bemidji. The chamber has 460 members “with a mission to serve its members and advocate for the business community,” the release said.

The organization is governed by a board of directors representing the broad makeup of its membership. The 2016-2017 board members are: Falk; Welle; Kristi Anderson, Sanford Center; Betsie Curb, Century 21; Ashley Johnson, Northwest Minnesota Foundation; Dave Kloha, Bemidji Appraisal Service; Caralee Nowak, Pinnacle; Corey Rupp, Affinity Plus Federal Credit Union; Dave Smith, MJB Home Center; Mychal Stittsworth, Stittsworth Meats; Cindy Todavich, Todavich Electric; Chris Vacek (incoming chair), RP Broadcasting; Lindsey Wangberg (executive committee member at large), Sanford Health; and Kayla Winkler, DoubleTree by Hilton.

The chamber takes a lead in several community events and programs, including Bemidji Day at the Capitol, Awards of Excellence, Winterfest on Lake Bemidji, Lake Bemidji Dragon Boat Festival and the Spring Job Fair. The chamber also operates the Tourist Information Center.

For more information, visit www.bemidji.org.