The Carbon Chamber and Economic Development Corp. has a new leader.

Marianne Rustad accepted the position of vice president of operations in December. She has been with the chamber since August 2021, starting as the events manager and logistics coordinator.

Her predecessor, Alice Wannamaker, had the title of director, but Rustad thinks operations fits with the scope of her work better.

In addition to Rustad, the CCEDC office in Lehighton includes Kathy Henderson, the director of Economic Development, Bambi Elsasser, Lehighton downtown manager, and Linda Rex, the administrative professional.

“Our goal this year is to further market the services we offer,” Rustad said. “The CCEDC is a connection hub for business and community resources. We work closely with the Wilkes Small Business Development Center, and our in-house low interest loans through Economic Development offer an alternative finance option.”

Rustad said a representative from the Wilkes Small Business Development Center comes to the Lehighton office once a month to work with business owners and people interested in starting a business. She can help them develop a business plan or sale their business, and the service is free. It is available to chamber members and nonmembers alike.

CCEDC members can get additional help for their businesses through a variety of tools on the CCEDC website and calendar of events, as well as advertising perks, discounts on networking events, and more. There are also opportunities to get involved in the community by serving on a committee or joining a Leadership Carbon class, Rustad said.

This year’s Leadership Carbon class is full, but names are being taken for the one that begins in September. More information is available by calling the chamber at 610-379-5000.

In order to go over everything the chamber has to offer, Rustad has reestablished the “Master Your Membership Workshops.”

“I believe those tools are being underutilized,” she said.

The workshop will run from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. on Feb. 14 at the CCEDC office at 137 South S., Lehighton for member and possible future members who want to learn more about what the chamber has to offer them. Registration is available at https://tinyurl.com/febmym or call them. It is free to members and $10 for nonmembers. The event includes a light breakfast.

Rustad reports directly to the CCEDC Board of Directors led by Patrick Reilly, the president of Mauch Chunk Trust, and to Jessica O’Donnell-Gower, the executive vice president of Affiliated Chambers, Easton and Phillipsburg Area Initiatives and Northern Tier Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce.

“The Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce is the sixth largest Chamber of Commerce in the country under the leadership of President and CEO Tony Iannelli,” Rustad said.

More information about the CCEDC is also available on its website at www.carboncountychamber.org.