After a successful six-year tenure with the Yelm Chamber of Commerce, executive director Line Roy has announced she will step away from the position.
Roy, who was appointed to the Yelm City Council in January of this year, will also resign from her seat. Her last meeting as a councilmember will be on Sept. 27.
“For over six years I have had the absolute honor and privilege to support the businesses of Yelm through my position as executive director of the Yelm Chamber of Commerce,” Roy wrote in a social media post.
Throughout her tenure with the chamber, she attended over 35 ribbon-cuttings, 72 forums, 60 business after hours events, went through six passion planners, hosted over 100 livestream videos, and helped organize three Nisqually Valley Barbecue Rallies, and six Nisqually Galas.
“September will be my last month with the chamber. I am so exceptionally grateful for the opportunity I had leading this organization, for the members that turned into friends, for the people who supported me and my crazy ideas, and I am so excited for the next chapter of my professional life,” Roy wrote, noting she intends to stay in Yelm.
Roy told the Nisqually Valley News she accepted a position with the City of Yelm as their communications and recreation coordinator. She added her new role will be similar to what she did with the chamber of commerce.
“Sometimes opportunities present themselves and you don’t quite expect them, but you also can’t ignore them,” Roy said. “I’m excited to continue growing professionally. I kind of had to take the leap and give it a go.”
Roy said she’ll work as the public relations person for the city. She will also run the social media platforms, along with different communication-related duties. She said the biggest difference is the chamber is a private entity, while her work with the city will be geared toward helping the public.
“I think this journey will be very similar to what I was doing with the chamber, but I’ll face just enough challenges to keep me on my toes,” Roy said. “Sometimes you have to go, if you want to grow.”
Roy already has goals in mind she hopes to achieve in her new position.
She wants to continue building and strengthening community engagement with residents and those who use Yelm “as a home base.” She also wants to tell Yelm’s story and highlight different individuals and businesses in the community.
“I really loved what I did (with the chamber). The community, the chamber members, my chamber board, they make it really hard to go,” Roy said. “I can look at some of the big projects I got to work on over the past six years and know that what I did made a difference.”
Several of the projects Roy referenced include the business economic recovery task force, which gave $30,000 in grants to local businesses. She’s also proud of how she was able to grow partnerships with different organizations in the city, county and region, as well as how the city transitioned to virtual programming during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“When I look at those big projects and those relationships that we got to build, it makes it tough to close this chapter. But it also really excites me to start the next one and take what I’ve learned at the chamber and use it as a learning point,” Roy said. “I get to continue growing and hopefully keep making a difference.”
Following Roy’s departure from both the city council and the chamber of commerce, both will need to search for replacements.
“The process will likely look the same as it was earlier this year,” Mayor Joe DePinto said about the council seat.
The City of Yelm will post the opening on social media.
“The council will then decide at the next meeting how they will determine the appointment,” DePinto said. “I’m hoping they decide (on) Oct. 11. They will make the appointment after hearing from the candidates at the council meeting.”
