New director looks to lead Evergreen Chamber of Commerce
May 4—Ben Dorrington has set goals of economic growth and creating community-driven spaces for the community of Evergreen.
He looks to shepherd those goals as the new executive director of the Evergreen Chamber of Commerce. It's a position he will be taking on this summer following the retirement of Connie McCubbins.
"There is so much potential," Dorrington said, sitting in the chamber office on the upstairs level of Snappy Sports Senter. "As you drive down the corridor, there's a question as to what may happen."
In recent years, the Evergreen population has continued to grow with the greater Flathead Valley, introducing new businesses and places for residents and tourists alike. Dorrington hopes to keep up with that change, using it to Evergreen's benefit to expand community, social and business options.
Dorrington grew up on a bluff in Kalispell overlooking Evergreen. After graduating from Flathead High School in 1996 he attended Linfield University and majored in psychology.
"I had this calling when I was 17 that I needed to help people, so I was trying to find a way to do that," Dorrington said.
After graduation, Dorrington worked with Wilderness Treatment Center in Marion for two decades doing various jobs, from being a staff therapist to taking over the marketing sector later in his career. The center was sold amid a lawsuit in 2018, and Dorrington left the company.
He then worked in marketing for Averill Hospitality before the Covid-19 pandemic resulted in his layoff. From there, Dorrington returned to social services, working at Immanuel Living and Kalispell Public Schools before staying home with his kids.
When he saw the job at the chamber, Dorrington was excited to keep the momentum in Evergreen going.
"I saw how impactful that sidewalk project is and was," he said. "I really think this job can have a direct impact on the community. People can make an impact... and I think the chamber can do that here."
Business owners, community members, the Evergreen Community Partners, and the Evergreen School District, along with the chamber have been working for years to bring sidewalks to Evergreen. Last year the first phase of sidewalk construction was completed with sidewalks now running from Tractor Supply to Evergreen Junior High.
Funding has been secured for a second phase of sidewalks, but the community continues to work on bringing a third phase to fruition.
Another goal for Dorrington is growing the Evergreen Chamber of Commerce's footprint in the greater Flathead Valley business community. As the population continues to grow, and businesses continue to put roots in and around U.S. 2, Dorrington is eager to have the chamber grow with it.
He also looks forward to exploring community space options, toying with the idea of creating a space where the chamber could host events, concert series and other community events.
"It's really an exciting time to be building on that momentum," he said. "We are for the people; Evergreen is for the people."
McCubbins is set to leave the chamber at the end of June but has stayed on to help train Dorrington as he prepares to take over leadership of the organization.
"I'm excited that Ben Dorrington will be stepping into my role as executive director," McCubbins said. "Ben is incredibly talented and will bring a fresh perspective to the job. Ben is going to be a great asset to the Evergreen Chamber of Commerce."
To learn more about the Evergreen Chamber of Commerce, visit evergreenchamber.org/.
Reporter Kate Heston may be reached at 758-4459 or kheston@dailyinterlake.com.
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