Britten resigns as chamber director

Angie Britten wasn’t looking for a job, but one she couldn’t refuse came looking for her. As such, the Red Oak Chamber & Industry Association is in the market for a new executive director.

“I’m going to be a marketing and client care specialist for Miller Financial Group, at their home office here in Red Oak and for their newly-added Maryville office,” Britten said. 

Her resignation from the chamber position is effective June 30, though the chamber board has not yet acted on it. Britten said she intends to stay on board to assist in the transition and to see through some upcoming events, including the chamber’s golf outing and Junction Days.

“I’m not going to stop being involved with the chamber. I’m looking forward to serving on committees and perhaps as a board member,” she said.

Britten joined the chamber staff in November 2015 as the assistant director, after serving as a volunteer in previous years. She became the executive director in 2016 when the ROCIA underwent restructuring, dividing the economic development work from the chamber work. 

As the economic development function of the ROCIA is now being moved to the auspicies of Montgomery County Development Corporation, there are more changes coming for the chamber.

“It’s a perfect time to evaluate the chamber’s processes,” Britten said. “The chamber needs to look at how it does business day to day – how to work smarter, not harder.” Key to that, she said, will be a lot of volunteer support.

Britten said “rebuilding relationships with many of our members was a major accomplishment” during her time at the chamber. She said another goal that is being met is “we’ve had success in proving the value of the association.” She pointed to the recent Southwest Iowa Buy Local Expo, an event that was dramatically upgraded from the previous year’s Farm & Home Show. 

Britten said she will miss relationships with chamber members, the board of directors, and her day-to-day work with Elaine Carlson, her assistant. “The office is in good hands,” Britten said. 

Britten grew up in Red Oak and is a 1997 graduate of Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville, Mo. She worked for the university as a fundraiser in its alumni relations department while in school and afterward. Her father lives in Maryville, so Miller Financial’s new location there is another positive in her new position.

Britten and her husband, Kevin, lived in Glenwood for seven years, then moved to Red Oak seven years ago. She became involved with the chamber shortly thereafter, working as a volunteer before taking a position on the staff.

Britten said the current changes at the chamber played no role in her decision.

“I wasn’t looking for a new job,” she said, adding, “This opportunity is good for my family and for me professionally.”