Carlos Valenzuela has passed the torch.
 Natalie Lakosil/Douglas Dispatch The Greater Douglas Chamber of Commerce’s new president Josue Lopez. Lopez was elected president and took over the position August 2. |
He was elected by fellow board members and used to hold the position of head of the retail committee. “With Carlos stepping down I want to continue the momentum and I am really excited about taking the position,” Lopez said.
“We will be focusing on promotion of local businesses and start a shop more local campaign,” he said. The same businesses the chamber wants to support are the businesses that support local charities and little league, he said.
“We want to make it easier for tourists from Mexico to come in and shop here,” Lopez said. The chamber has a great relationship with the city manager and the city itself, and the chamber wants to continue that, he said.
“Douglas Rides is a program we are trying to promote more, the cost is $1 and the bus will take you from the border to 1st, 3rd and 5th Street, up to San Antonio and the downtown area,” Lopez said. “We also want to continue promoting our website, www.douglasazchamber,org, where people can enter events to our calendar or check for upcoming events.”
Agua Prieta and Douglas are interdependent on one another and the chamber is working to get more businesses in Agua Prieta to join as members, he said. “The most important thing is to keep communication open.”
Douglas has reached a turning point and is in its awakening, former president Carlos Valenzuela said. “We are working to promote Douglas along Highway 80 to attract U.S. tourists to Douglas as well,” Valenzuela added.
“We are talking to the city about having an office in the new Phelps Doge Building downtown,” Lopez said. “Carlos is our office manager right now and will help run the office until we can staff it with someone.”
“We have an awesome board that works really well together and we all bring different things to the table,” Lopez said. “We would not be able to go out and promote things and have fun if it were not for Carlos, he has lead the way on organization.”
“I am very happy to be able to transition to a new board of advisors without complications,” Valenzuela said. “I am glad Josue was elected president, he has a good pulse of merchants and the chamber has a firm foundation finally after holding the position for a year and a half.”
“Douglas is making a comeback, you can see it downtown where all the businesses have remodeled,” he said. “We want to move Douglas forward and we are working towards that.”
The new board of directors includes;
Josue Lopez- President
Kathleen Gomez- Vice President
Vicky Merritt- Secretary
Danny Ortega Jr.-Treasurer
Faith Collins- New Board Member
Carlos Valenzuela- Office Manager
The next Membership Lunch meeting will be Monday, August 16th, 11:45 AM, at the Best Western. The keynote speaker will be Karen Strongin, about the Cochise County Fair. For questions visit www.douglasazchamber.org.
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