Eagle Grove's new Chamber of Commerce director Mary Venegas' story started out far from Eagle Grove, and has taken her quite a distance before arriving here.
Born and raised in Los Angeles, she's pursued education that has taken her around the world. She holds an Associate of Physical Science degree from Long Beach College. She lived in Spain in 2015 where she pursued a certificate in Spanish and history. She's also earned a Bachelor's degree in Environmental Science and Policy, and pursued a minor in Geography, on which she's currently working on earning her Master's degree. When she returned from Spain, she volunteered with the Peace Corps, which took her to Jamaica, where she "lived in a shoe box," she joked, and bathed and washed her clothes in a river.
Upon returning to the US, she and her husband built a tiny home in California. Ultimately, that turned out to be too tiny. But not before they ran an antique and precious metals business for "about a dozen years" in LA. Which Venegas said gave her a love of entrepreneurism.
She's also served as a Professor of Geography, teaching weather and climate at the University of California in Long Beach, and remotely.
When they came to Eagle Grove, she decided to jump in and help out, right away. Starting at Summerfest of last year as Project Manager Assistant. And after working with her on that project, former Chamber Director Sara Middleton saw in her a potential successor.
"I knew way before I even considered leaving, actually right after I met her, that Mary would be the next Chamber Director," Middleton told the Eagle. "She's got the right skills, right temperament, and right work ethic to not only do the job, but excel at it in ways I couldn't."
Venegas had high praise for Middleton as well. "She's been, like, my go to girl," Venegas said. "I love Sara, she's been such an amazing mentor!"
Venegas was eager to get started, and Middleton was eager to hand over the reins. But there was the small matter of a pregnancy Venegas had to finish. And after some time getting to know her newborn, she jumped in with both feet. Even as Middleton continued to help her get the ball rolling.
Already she's managed one major ribbon cutting event, for the Eagle Scout project by Cole Fourage, at Fish Pond Park. And now she's planning another ribbon cutting with some significance, coming up this Friday. When she will preside over the ribbon cutting ceremony for her mentor's art gallery, Studio Sol.
It seems she's off to a running start! Which means Eagle Grove can heave a sigh of relief, knowing we're still in good hands when it comes to our Chamber of Commerce.
