The Tamaqua Chamber of Commerce has added a new member to its team.

Aimee Dotson, a Tamaqua native, has taken over as the outreach and office administrator in the office on West Broad Street in Tamaqua.

“I think being a business owner will definitely help me do this job,” Dotson said. “I know as a business owner, the things that I would like to see the chamber do, and the things that I enjoy that the chamber does.”

Dotson owns Pamkakes, a local business in the heart of Tamaqua right across the street from the chamber office.

“Before I did cakes, I always really enjoyed planning events, networking and helping other people out as much as I can,” Dotson said.

“I love to do things on the computer, as far as designing pamphlets and brochures. When the position came up, I was going back and forth about applying, I thought I would love it, but I didn’t know if I could swing everything. When I had the interview it seemed like it was a perfect fit.“

Dotson is a 1999 graduate of Tamaqua Area High School. She emphasized how tightly knit of a community the Tamaqua area is.

“There might be some things about Tamaqua that some people might not like, but everyone here really does have each other’s back,” Dotson said.

“It really is a great community. I love raising my kids here. People around here really step up, band together and help each other out.”

It’s going to be a busy 2020 for Dotson and the chamber. She is already in the midst of the Hometown Hero project, which consists of displaying banners throughout town of local heroes.

“The Hometown Hero project is really exciting,” she said. “Those applications are coming in, so I’m excited to get that project going. It’s nice to see around town. My long-term goal is to help the chamber board as much as I can, assist the businesses in town and get commerce going in town for everyone; for the smaller businesses, larger businesses, tourism — anything we can do jump up business here in town.”

The chamber office, located at 37 W. Broad St., now has regular business hours Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

“There’s a lot of opportunity in Tamaqua and I feel like if we get some really great businesses downtown, it’ll really plant the seed for new people to come in. The better the existing businesses do, the more opportunity people will see and want to come here and start another business.”

The chamber is always accepting new applications. For more information, call 570-668-1880.