Kate Hopson’s resignation as Executive Director and Events Coordinator later this year leaves an immense void and big shoes to fill at Lake City/Hinsdale County Chamber of Commerce.
In her resignation letter to chamber of commerce board members dated November 13, Hobson states her nearly four years at the helm coordinating a succession of special events and administration work which has seen a 55 percent increase in chamber membership over the past two years has been “a significant and meaningful chapter in my life, and I am so proud of everything we’ve accomplished together.”
Hopson will continue with the chamber through the end of the year, overseeing the upcoming chamber membership drive and special events such as next weekend’s annual Christmas in Lake City.
As chamber directors seek a replacement with deadline Sunday, December 15, the board may decide to modify the impressive array of duties which Hobson wielded since she was hired in April, 2022.
Principal duties as Executive Director are administrative and coordinating operations at the chamber’s Lake City visitors’ center, as well as overseeing the sizeable number of chamber-sponsored special events.
Chamber President Jacqui Wonnacott says she remains “basically in denial” after Hopson’s announced resignation, she and her fellow board members crediting the departing Executive Director for “enormous changes for the positive” which Hopson has accomplished.
Wonnacott credits Hopson for bringing the chamber into the positive financially in its sponsorship of special events, increasing pages in the visitors’ guide with this year’s salute to Hinsdale County’s 150th Anniversary, and streamlining operations at the visitors’ center.
“Financially,” says Wonnacott, “we’ve never been in better position.”
“Obviously, we want to wish Kate only the very best,” Wonnacott continues, “and I want to extend my personal thanks to Kate for her service not only to the chamber of commerce but to the community at large.”
“She filled a huge gap in the community and seamlessly tied so many things together.”
In addition to pledging a smooth transition through at least the end of the year, and working to insure “the next person in my role has all the support they need to succeed,” Hopson assures the chamber she has no plans to exit the community.
On the contrary, she continues as a three-year board member of Downtown Improvement & Revitalization Team and remains as a member of the Lake City/Hinsdale County Marketing Committee.
Even prior to her work as the Chamber’s Executive Director, Hobson’s graphic design company, Wildpeak Design, was assisting the Marketing Committee with innovative design and marketing strategies.
A San Antonio, Texas, native, she moved to Lake City in 2018. She tells SILVER WORLD she had no intent to leave the Executive Director position until earlier this fall “when I was offered a position I couldn’t refuse.”
After being contacted with the job offer, considerable thought and soul-searching ensued, she says, “it’s been one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever had to make.”
Asked about her future career path, she says effective December 2 she has been hired as marketing manager for a multi-state cannabis operator.
Hobson says superlatives in her years with the chamber has included solidifying the chamber center as an “information hub for the community” with the focus of making sure locals and visitors “stay informed, know what’s going on, and jive together.”
Working with Sarah DeCristino, Hopson transformed the little-used back room of the chamber into an innovative education center.
In terms of special events, the departing Executive Director says she is especially pleased with the success of Oktoberfest which this year “finally tipped the scale from being a purely local event to a celebration which people travel to Lake City to attend.”
Also high on Hopson’s list is the chamber’s annual sponsorship of the July 4 festivities, noting the “insane amount of work” is easily outweighed by the “satisfaction of knowing so many people have such great fun.”
Hopson is quick to acknowledge that for all the chamber’s success with special events, “none of it would be possible without the huge team of volunteers.”
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