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Meet Erin Carney of Metrocrest Chamber of Commerce

Today we’d like to introduce you to Erin Carney.

Erin, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
It’s a kind of a joke in our industry that we all get into chamber work by accident. I moved to Texas (as soon as I could, as the saying goes), in 2009 after my completing my undergraduate degree at the University of Arizona (I’m an Arizona native).

When I was in graduate school at UNT, I completed my graduate practicum at a local nonprofit. After graduation, I was hired on to work in community relations. I started attending chamber functions, and absolutely fell in love with the industry. The President of the Lewisville Area Chamber of Commerce, one of my mentors and now good friend, took a chance on me and hired me to run programs and events for the chamber in Lewisville.

I found my professional calling through that chance, and I’m incredibly thankful for the opportunities I was afforded early on in my career. In 2013, I came to the Metrocrest Chamber, serving in the role of Programs Director. In 2015, I was promoted to President, and have recently celebrated my 5th anniversary at the Chamber.

I’m a proud member of the US Chamber of Commerce Foundation Winter Board of Regents, having completed my Institute for Organization Management certification in 2016. I’ve made some of my greatest friends through chambers and associations, and it’s a joy to work in an industry with so much talent, drive, and enthusiasm for commerce.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
I’m a big music fan; all kinds, all the time. I can rarely work without music in the background, and this question reminded me of one of my favorite Reckless Kelly songs, Wicked Twisted Road.

The opening riff states, “My first love was a wicked twisted road/I hit the million-mile mark at seventeen years old/I never saw a rainbow, much less a pot of gold/Yeah, my first love was a wicked twisted road.” My first, and many since, professional roads have been wicked, twisted, and full of love.

Working in the nonprofit arena, you have to love what you do. Most nonprofit executives would tell you challenges, and obstacles fuel them, and I’m no different. Finding my professional calling early was a truly unique experience. I’m a millennial taking a seat in meetings and boardrooms throughout the community, and I received seats at many tables quickly and assertively.

I’ve struggled with ageism, and it’s only emboldened me to ensure that as I continue to expand in my career and my industry, I reach a hand back and pull up those that are trying to move in and up, not push them down harder and faster. Better, together.

Metrocrest Chamber of Commerce – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Not many people grow up knowing what a chamber of commerce is, or that an entire industry exists that caters to the needs of business advocacy and trade associations. I certainly didn’t. Chambers of commerce have been helping local and corporate businesses advance in communities across the nation since the 1700’s; the Metrocrest Chamber of Commerce has been tackling the challenges and needs of the business communities of Addison, Carrollton, and Farmers Branch since 1968.

Representing 550+ member businesses, we see a demographic split of 80% small/20% large business and developing programs, cultivating experiences, and harvesting opportunities that help each unique business grow and sustain is one of the best parts of the job. We’re known for being small but mighty, and challenging business owners and representatives to think about ideas that are essential to breaking boundaries.

We’re talking about workforce housing, cost of living, sustainable communities, and education. These are courageous conversations for a business community to engage in, and I’m humbled by the ongoing opportunity to be the voice of business for our members.

What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Success is so entirely personal, and yet to be a successful leader, you also have to create benchmarks to show that you are equally willing to hold your feet to the fire.

Personally, success looks like running in your own lane. Somedays, running in my own lane looks like getting the two hardest things done on my to-do list, and not letting the other ten things hold me back. Other days, my own lane reminds me that society and social media do not define my life, and I’m able to celebrate my successes on my own terms.

Professionally, success looks like helping a business achieve their own goals. It’s really no different than running in your own lane. One of the greatest lessons I’ve learned in chamber work is that not all businesses want to be the biggest, baddest and best in their category.

Some businesses want to put food on their tables, provide the same to their employees, and make their customers happy. There’s something honorable in this when you pare it down; success is what you make of it. The work I do, our organization does, and our businesses do matters. And that’s pretty dang special.

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