Youll be hard-pressed to find a bigger cheerleader for the Iola area than Mary Benningfield.
A relative newcomer she and her family moved to Iola about two years ago from her native Tulsa Benningfield compares Iola to a Norman Rockwell scene.
Walking around, seeing the old Victorian houses, older folks on their porches in rocking chairs with lemonade, she said. It was not a hard decision to come to Iola.
Benningfield, 34, started Monday as executive director of the Iola Area Chamber of Commerce, her first stint in such a role.
Benningfield comes to a chamber in transition. The organization has been without a director for several months after the departure of Carol Sager.
As a means to regenerate enthusiasm for the group, Benningfield plans to work in league with the Chamber Board of Directors with a multi-faceted relaunch. In addition to a new director, the Chamber soon will have a new home in the Bowlus Fine Arts Center, a newly revamped website and a new vision on how to keep businesses in and around Iola thriving.
Ill be doing the same traditional things previous directors have done, she said. But there may be some different things as well. Its a matter of the Chamber Board and I coming together to create the vision.
BENNINGFIELD and longtime office aide Aileen Wilson will move the Chamber office from 208 W. Madison Ave. to an office at the Bowlus within the next month or two.
Its going to help us with our look, give us a more modern feel, Benningfield said, noting the Bowlus is one of the predominant structures in Iola. And the Bowlus and Chamber have the same vision toward tourism and getting people into town.
As an aside, the Chamber is looking to sell its current site. Benningfield said there has been some interest, but nothing definite.
The Chamber will keep the same hours (9AM to 3PM, Monday-Friday) and the same telephone number (365-5252). The relaunched website should should be up soon, she said.
Her hectic schedule hasnt allowed Benningfield to meet many Chamber member businesses yet.
Its going to be a matter of letting them know Im here for them, she said. Thats my job as a director. Were a coalition of businesses for businesses. We want to help them in all sorts of ways. Im excited.
BENNINGFIELD grew up in Tulsa, and worked a dozen years as a pharmacy technician before taking a job as an administrative assistant/office manager for a construction company.
With a young family, Benningfield said she and husband, Brook, began to feel a smaller and quieter environment would be an improvement over the bustling city.
Tulsa was getting too big, she said. I wanted to raise my girls in a quiet area, where I knew they could ride their bikes, and I wouldnt have to be on them 24-7.
Their daughters are age 14, 8, and 1.
Brook is a retired military veteran.
