The reins of the Carbon Chamber and Economic Development Corp. will be turned over to Alice Wanamaker, currently the assistant vice president Northern Region of the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce.

Wanamaker also serves as the member relations director at the Carbon Chamber and Economic Development Corp.

On March 1, Marlyn Kissner, the current executive director of the CCEDC, will begin her new position as the vice president of membership and community relations with the Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau. Kissner also served as the executive vice president Northern Region for the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce and also oversaw the Pocono Chamber of Commerce.

Tony Iannelli, the CEO and president of the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce, said Wanamaker will lead the Carbon Chamber, while Elizabeth Blose, the current assistant vice president Northern Tier for the GLVCC at the Pocono Chamber, will lead that office.

“They’ll work together as a team,” he said.

Wanamaker began working for the Carbon chamber in 2014, and Kissner has been her mentor the whole time.

Succession planning is an important part of the chamber, Kissner said.

“They’ll continue on and continue strong,” she said.

Wanamaker said she is excited to begin this new phase of her career, and ready to oversee the day-to-day operations of the office.

“We are excited for Alice and what she’ll do in her future,” Iannelli said.

Wanamaker said she knows the pandemic has been tough on many businesses, but she isn’t discouraged. She enjoys championing small businesses and supporting them emotionally and helping them financially. The chamber helps businesses apply for grants.

“We are surviving because we are supporting one another,” she said and appreciates all of the people who shop small and shop local. Carbon County Strong is the CCEDC’s motto.

Like everyone, Wanamaker said she will be happy when the virus is under control.

“I look forward to a day when we are fully opened up and welcoming our neighbors in,” she said.

In the meantime, she found the workshops she used to hold in-person are actually thriving online.

Since the expense of travel and the time it takes are no longer an issue, many chamber members from the Lehigh Valley are now tuning in for the webinars. This gives businesses in Carbon County that are hosting the virtual events online exposure to a much larger audience.

“It’s opening up our world,” she said.