SEQUIM — Shelli Robb-Kahler, who once served as vice president and business development officer at First Federal, is the Sequim-Dungeness Valley Chamber of Commerce’s new executive director.
Robb-Kahler, 49, a Sequim native, will begin work April 4.
The chamber plans a “meet-and-greet” community gathering for her from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. April 5 at the chamber office and visitor center at 1192 E. Washington St.
Robb-Kahler was laid off about a year ago from First Federal, where she had worked for more than 29 years.
She was studying at Peninsula College to become a medical assistant when the chamber’s top executive position opened.
“This opportunity came up, and how often does an opportunity like this come up?” Robb-Kahler said late Tuesday afternoon after the chamber announced its selection for succeeding Vickie Maples, who is leaving April 15.
“It is a natural fit for me because of my work before and my love of people, my love of the community,” said Robb-Kahler, speaking at the First Federal conference room at West Washington Street and Priest Road.
She was joined there by chamber board President Christy Rookard, who manages the North Sequim Avenue First Federal branch.
Rookard said Robb-Kahler has “unique” business experience that includes management, communication and people skills.
She also has experience in the financial field, networking abilities and executive management.
“She knows how businesses operate,” Rookard added.
Rookard said the pay range for the position is between $40,000 and $50,000 a year and would not be more specific.
Robb-Kahler, who started out as a teller at First Federal in Port Angeles, later opened and managed the Sequim branch in 1981, a building now vacant at Sequim Village Center on West Washington Street.
She was the vice president and business development officer at First Federal when she was laid off.
In that position, she was responsible for the retail “face” of First Federal as the local, homegrown institution is presented to the community.
She oversaw about 120 employees in First Federal’s retail division.
In her new job, she will be responsible for about 450 chamber members. She will supervise about 100 volunteers and an office staff.
“As a nonprofit dedicated to serving the business community of the Sequim-Dungeness Valley area, the chamber board was seeking someone with a unique combination of skills and experience to be responsive to the needs of the chamber membership,” Rookard said.
“Ms. Kahler’s professional background and personal skills provide us with that combination, and the board is looking forward to working closely with her as we continue to strengthen the role of the chamber in service to our members and the community.”
Robb-Kahler was one of four applicants for the chamber position who were interviewed in early March.
The advertised position drew between 15 and 20 applications, Rookard said, adding she wasn’t certain of the exact number.
The applications were mulled over by the chamber’s selection committee March 7 before interviews were arranged.
Robb-Kahler lives in Sequim with her husband, Marty. They have two sons, Brady and Colin.
Robb-Kahler served on the Clallam County Family YMCA board for four years and was for many years involved in the United Way of Clallam County.
She also organized the Sequim Irrigation Festival’s Kids Day events for seven years.
Maples, who has led the chamber for more than two years, said in February she was reluctantly resigning to attend to out-of-state family health and business commitments and responsibilities in California.
She has agreed to help her successor through a smooth transition.
The chamber board hired Maples in late July 2008.
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Sequim-Dungeness Valley Editor Jeff Chew can be reached at 360-681-2391 or at jeff.chew@peninsuladailynews.com.
