The Ames Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Commission is excited to welcome Eric Smidt to the team as Vice President of Marketing & Communications.
“I am excited that Eric decided to join our team here at the Ames Chamber of Commerce,” said Dan Culhane, President and CEO of the Ames Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Commission. “He is creative and highly skilled in communications and I believe will serve us well in this role while also providing valuable leadership and insight into our programming and the work we do throughout the Ames MSA.”
As the Vice President of Marketing & Communications, Smidt will oversee the overall marketing and communications strategies and implementation for the organization.
“I am incredibly excited to be able to continue to serve our community through communications, now focusing on business and economic development through the Ames Chamber of Commerce,” said Smidt. “I’ve built my career on telling the amazing stories that are all around us. Ames is a Smart Choice and I’m excited to continue the vision that the Chamber has developed and share those stories across our community.”
Smidt has spent the past five years as the Director of Communications for the Ames Community School District. During that time, he coordinated the communication campaign that led to the successful approval of the $110 million bond referendum for the new Ames High School. He also launched several new communication channels including the Amazing magazine that has a quarterly distribution of 12,000 copies across the Ames community, and the district’s award-winning Amazing Education Podcast.
Smidt began his position on August 15 and can be reached at eric@ameschamber.com