Gennifer Akroyd is the new Bluffton Area Chamber of Commerce director, according to Phil Zimmerly, president of the chamber board.

Akroyd comes to the chamber with a background in marketing and public relations, particularly with non-profit organizations. That includes with the United Way of Hancock County and as a freelancer.

A 1992 Cory-Rawson graduate, she has previous small business experience as owner-operator of Thin and Healthy with locations in Findlay and Bowling Green.

“We are really happy to have Gen on board,” said Zimmerly. “She has several new ideas for the chamber and we are confident that under her leadership the chamber will continue to grow and be a vibrant organization in Bluffton.”

Akroyd’s chamber duties are part-time. She is also an independent sales representative and Pearl Director of Damsel in Defense. She equips women with products that can protect themselves, empower themselves and education themselves with self-defense training.

With Damsel in Defense, in 2015 she was the top seller nationwide in personal sales. She oversees a group of over 200 independent business owners in the organization.

“I’m very excited to work with the chamber,” she said. “We will continue our monthly breakfast meetings starting in September. Planning will get underway soon for the Blaze of Lights and we are looking for ways to build up our arts and crafts show. We also continue to look at new ways to promote our farmers’ market.”

She said that there are several opportunities for chamber members and community residents to become involved in the Blaze, arts and crafts show and other chamber events.

“I invite anyone interested in volunteering to contact me,” she said.

Akroyd can be contacted at [email protected].

The Bluffton chamber has approximately 200 members. Its website is www.explorebluffton.com.

Membership is open to businesses, organizations, industries and individuals who are interested in promoting the Bluffton community.

Akroyd replaces Fred Steiner as chamber director. Steiner held the post for the past eight years, stepping down at the end of May to focus on the Bluffton and Ada Icons, which he and his wife, Mary, own.