By Dale Brown
The Journal 

Hays leads local chamber

 

Last updated 2/28/2023 at 9:04am

Dale Brown | The Journal

Ritzville Chamber of Commerce, from left: Charles Jingling, member; Kellen Hays, president; Becky Main, treasurer. Not pictured: Kaiden Bell, vice president; Reya Huitron, secretary.

RITZVILLE - The Ritzville Chamber of Commerce has three new board members who were elected officers for 2023

During a meeting Jan. 30, Kellen Hays was elected president, Kaiden Bell vice president and Reya Huitron secretary.

Treasurer Becky Main and board member Charles Jingling will also continue to serve through January 2024.

Born in Ritzville, but raised in Washtucna, Hays graduated from Washtucna High School in 2006, attended Montana Tech University on a football scholarship and finished his degree in Pullman.

Having assisted with the local high school football team and served as a volunteer fireman since 2012, he is no stranger to volunteer service.

For the past decade, he's also honed his business skills at bustling retail establishments.

For five years, Hays worked for Walmart and was recruited to work at Love's Travel Stop shortly after the facility opened in 2013. Since then, in addition to the Ritzville facility, he helped open the Prosser location in 2017 and the Moses Lake store last May.

"I love our community, I really do," Hays said. "I know I'm going to ruffle some feathers, but it's time for a change. We've had a deficit of new ideas and new knowledge.

"I've talked to some businessowners in town. When asked whether they belong to the chamber, they say, 'What is the chamber doing for me?'

"Hearing those responses, I knew it was time to volunteer," he said. "I didn't expect to become president right away, but I think this is where I was called to serve. I don't want to detract from anything the chamber has already accomplished. I want to complement, not complicate."

Hays hopes to develop new ways to bring tourism into town.

"As a chamber, we've let expenses outgrow us. We need to quit making excuses," he said. "This town has the ability to be amazing."

 

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