The new CEO of the Junction City Area Chamber of Commerce is heading up the recently created Membership Enhancement Division, which does replace the former Activities Division.

Dennis Beson updated the Chamber Executive Board Tuesday on his efforts to make some slight changes to the Membership Enhancement Division.

“What we’re trying to focus on is bringing the activities portion more in-house, so that I would be driving those, organizing those, along with my staff, but still reaching out for volunteers whether that be members or specifically ambassadors,” said Beson.

He also added that they will be tweaking the ambassador group just a bit as well,”and focusing our ambassadors on reaching out to members and just talking to people trying to build a little bit better community here of members.”

Communication with all members has been an issue in the past and has cost the Chamber members, but Beson is wanting to turn that around and hopefully grow the Chamber substantially over the next year and a half. Currently the Chamber has 308 members.

“I think my goal, my personal goal, would be by the end of 2016 to us actually being up towards 500.”

Part of Beson’s plan to grow the membership is to in part grow the events put on by the Chamber, such as the MAC Breakfast, Chamber Breakfast and Business After Hours. But one of the major things he will be working on is the Chambers 101 Class that will be available to all members.

“Driven by our staff where someone can actually see all of the different points that they can take advantage of in their membership.”

Beson will continue to manage the entire Chamber as a whole but will be taking the lead on the Membership Enhancement Division as well.