12/Mar/2009
Ann Rasmussen Named New Chamber Director
There’s a new face at the Zachary Chamber of Commerce. She is brand new Executive Director Ann Rasmussen who took over when Lisa Rioux left after 12 years to become first assistant to newly elected City/Parish Councilman Trae Welch.
“Zachary is a small city, but it is very progressive,” said Rasmussen. “And everyone has been so warm and welcoming since I have been here.”
A native of Sulphur who majored in elementary education at USL, Rasmussen has two grown sons, Eric and Brandon. Eric is with Arthur J. Gallagher Insurance in Baton Rouge and Brandon is a geographer with a mapping business in New Orleans. Her three-year-old grandson is Nicholas.
“I have many friends in Zachary. We come here every Christmas to cut our tree at the Christmas tree farm,” she said. “Of course I look forward to meeting many more citizens of the most progressive city in East Baton Rouge Parish.”
Rasmussen worked as a freelance business development and governmental affairs consultant for nine years. Before that she did paralegal work and served as an instructor for law office support personnel. She also worked with the LSU Paralegal School and has both fund-raising and lobbying experience.
“This is Zachary’s time to make its mark and get on the map,” said Rasmussen. “I am very excited about my new job because I think the timing is right and the right leadership is in place. Most important the people are speaking with a single voice. Everyone seems to be on the same page and that is very good.”
She and Councilman Welch have been good friends for a long time and they have both talked for years about the great things that are coming for Zachary.
“New initiatives are surfacing,” according to Rasmussen. “Lisa did a great job. She is very well organized and highly structured. Now my job is to take the Zachary Chamber to the next level, and that is my first goal.”
Rasmussen said she plans to be more involved with members of the Chamber and the entire business community in Zachary. “My goal is to help our city’s businesses grow, prosper and remain in Zachary,” she said.
One new initiative involves regular planning meetings between the Zachary Chamber and Chamber of Commerce for both Baker and Central.
“It is hard to predict the future, but the mayor and city council have been hard at work for the last year on a master plan for Zachary,” she said. “The only thing I know for sure is that the city will not want for careful planning. That guarantees we will have a larger, cleaner city in the future.”
Rasmussen said her primary focus will be on businesses that are members of the Chamber, but she will definitely spend a portion of her time working on economic development. “But we must be cognizant of Zachary’s fine history. We certainly want to be sensitive to that and to be of service to the businesses that are already here.”
The new Executive Director said she just feels very lucky to have an opportunity to be part of Zachary’s bright future.
There’s a new face at the Zachary Chamber of Commerce. She is brand new Executive Director Ann Rasmussen who took over when Lisa Rioux left after 12 years to become first assistant to newly elected City/Parish Councilman Trae Welch.“Zachary is a small city, but it is very progressive,” said Rasmussen. “And everyone has been so warm and welcoming since I have been here.”
A native of Sulphur who majored in elementary education at USL, Rasmussen has two grown sons, Eric and Brandon. Eric is with Arthur J. Gallagher Insurance in Baton Rouge and Brandon is a geographer with a mapping business in New Orleans. Her three-year-old grandson is Nicholas.
“I have many friends in Zachary. We come here every Christmas to cut our tree at the Christmas tree farm,” she said. “Of course I look forward to meeting many more citizens of the most progressive city in East Baton Rouge Parish.”
Rasmussen worked as a freelance business development and governmental affairs consultant for nine years. Before that she did paralegal work and served as an instructor for law office support personnel. She also worked with the LSU Paralegal School and has both fund-raising and lobbying experience.
“This is Zachary’s time to make its mark and get on the map,” said Rasmussen. “I am very excited about my new job because I think the timing is right and the right leadership is in place. Most important the people are speaking with a single voice. Everyone seems to be on the same page and that is very good.”
She and Councilman Welch have been good friends for a long time and they have both talked for years about the great things that are coming for Zachary.
“New initiatives are surfacing,” according to Rasmussen. “Lisa did a great job. She is very well organized and highly structured. Now my job is to take the Zachary Chamber to the next level, and that is my first goal.”
Rasmussen said she plans to be more involved with members of the Chamber and the entire business community in Zachary. “My goal is to help our city’s businesses grow, prosper and remain in Zachary,” she said.
One new initiative involves regular planning meetings between the Zachary Chamber and Chamber of Commerce for both Baker and Central.
“It is hard to predict the future, but the mayor and city council have been hard at work for the last year on a master plan for Zachary,” she said. “The only thing I know for sure is that the city will not want for careful planning. That guarantees we will have a larger, cleaner city in the future.”
Rasmussen said her primary focus will be on businesses that are members of the Chamber, but she will definitely spend a portion of her time working on economic development. “But we must be cognizant of Zachary’s fine history. We certainly want to be sensitive to that and to be of service to the businesses that are already here.”
The new Executive Director said she just feels very lucky to have an opportunity to be part of Zachary’s bright future.
