The Carbon Chamber & Economic Development Corp. welcomed a new person to the staff in 2024, and plans are in the works for changes to the website in 2025.

Kylie Adams-Weiss joined the staff in August as the senior vice president. She had been with the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce in Northampton County for five years.

“I look forward to bringing the things I’ve learned home to Carbon County,” said Adams-Weiss, who lives in Palmerton.

With a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Tyler School of Art and Architecture and a background in fine arts, sales and development, Adams-Weiss joined the GLVCC in July 2019. She worked as the marketing and events coordinator for the Allentown Chamber and Downtown Allentown Business Association.

In November 2019, her role transitioned into working with the affiliated chambers in Lehigh and Northampton counties. Then, in 2021, she became the director of marketing and design for several affiliated chambers.

Adams-Weiss has many goals in her new role. One of them is to strengthen the partnership between CCEDC and the GLVCC. She also wants to increase the number of Carbon Chamber events, overhaul its digital messaging on social media, and do some rebranding on the website.

“Our website is a really great resource for our members,” she said.

The rebranding will include a new logo and a more modern look to the website. Being user-friendly is key to opening up all the benefits to the chamber members and giving them access to resources at their fingertips, she said.

The work at the Carbon Chamber isn’t a one-man show though, so to speak. Adams-Weiss also gets help from Linda Rex, who has been an administrative assistant for CCEDC since 2013. And Jessica O’Donnell-Gower, the executive vice president of Affiliated Chambers for the GLVCC, is increasing her work within Carbon County.

“Jessica is helping to steer that partnership,” Adams-Weiss said about her Lehigh Valley counterpart. “She knows how to connect people.”

O’Donnell-Gower, who lives in Slatington, said she has roots in Palmerton.

“Carbon is very near and dear to my heart,” O’Donnell-Gower said. “I’m proud of being from there.”

O’Donnell-Gower has been with GLVCC since February 2014, and works with the East Penn, Greater Bath Area, Greater Northern Lehigh Area, Hellertown-Lower Saucon, Nazareth Area, Northampton Area, Southern Lehigh, Western Lehigh and Whitehall Area chambers of commerce, the Emmaus Main Street Partners, as well as CCEDC. She said there isn’t anything more rewarding than bringing progress to your hometown.

Adams-Weiss agreed.

“We’re personally invested,” she said.

O’Donnell-Gower said that the chamber is there for all businesses to help them elevate their brands, participate in their ribbon cuttings and events, and aid them in business growth. The chamber is also there to create a sense of community.

“We are not just a Chamber of Commerce, but a chamber of community,” she said.