By Mandy McFarland Enquirer Coordinator
BREMEN — One year ago, the Bremen Chamber of Commerce Coordinator position did not exist. Now, discussion has begun to take it from a part-time job to full-time.
Bremen High School graduate Trent Miles interviewed for the position Nov. 8, 2008 and was announced as Bremen’s first-ever Chamber Coordinator 10 days later. By December, he had begun his role, just in time to celebrate the holiday season. For the most part, it was a pretty straightforward job description.

“In the beginning, there were three main functions that I needed to serve,” Miles said. “Develop and maintain the recently-launched chamber Web site as a resource for both chamber businesses and the Bremen community, assist in member recruitment, retention and the annual membership drive and lastly, to coordinate and organize special events hosted by the chamber.”
Over the last year, Miles has grown along with his position. There were no previous coordinators to learn from, so he had to learn as he went.
“In the midst of all of these responsibilities, there has been a lot of listening going on at the chamber,” he said. “Our local businesses need our support in specific ways. We have found some huge opportunities that could affect the way our chamber members do business and we need to capitalized on these in the near future. However, these initiatives and opportunities cannot adequately be addressed by someone in a part-time position.”
So at their last meeting Wednesday morning, Oct. 21, the Chamber board discussed the idea of making Miles’ position full-time.
“The chamber coordinator position was new to everyone,” Miles said. “I’m not sure any of us really knew what it would turn into. This year we have been able to realize the vision for the position and are beginning to identify what the future may hold for the chamber and the coordinator position.”
Miles began his position as a college student who had served various internships and had worked various part-time jobs. Nothing was permanent, however, until the Chamber Coordinator position came up.
“When the coordinator position became available, I thought it was a good fit with my public relations degree and would give me the opportunity to develop and hone the skills I had learned in college,” he said. “Since then, I have gained a respect for the chamber’s role in the economic development of a local community and its ability to work as an advocate for the good of our local businesses. It is something I am proud to be a part of.”