BROOKVILLE, Pa. (EYT) – If you’ve come to know Brookville Area Chamber of Commerce Director Jamie Popson, it’s hard not to feel true kindness almost instantaneously when you speak with her.
Popson may not have spent her upbringing in Jefferson County, but over the last two-plus decades, she’s worked incredibly hard to become the businesswoman, mom, and overall person who helps her community thrive. Several community members may know her from an over nine-year tenure with the Pennsylvania Great Outdoors Visitors Bureau as their Digital Content Coordinator, but others may have first met her more recently. She officially took over as Brookville Area Chamber Director in September 2022 and has hit the ground running.
One of the largest projects and something she is most proud of so far in her tenure is launching a new website for the chamber in 2023. Her many years of digital marketing experience played a major role in designing the website to be useful to both chamber and community members to find what they need. One of the last aspects she’s presently working on to make the website feel more complete is the addition of a community calendar so community members can see all the happenings all in one place. With this extensive website project mostly now under her belt, she’s made it a personal goal for herself to have 2024 be the year of building more connections and being more involved in helping to bring events to the area.
“I’m finding ways to be more involved in the community and increasing my personal network to help the chamber. We have had an increase in membership and even individuals have joined to stay engaged with the community. I’m thankful for all the support the chamber has received in my time as director. Now it’s time to add a few more board members to help us.”
One event she’s looking forward to most is working to bring back the Brookville BBQ Bash. This event was last held in 2017 and was a major success for the town in past occurrences. The event is a heavy lift, but the impact it makes for vendors, storefronts, and the hospitality industry in Brookville is significant. Popson was heavily involved with the Tasting Tour in 2023; a rebrand from the previously held wine walks in the town. The event was a great success, and she expects it to be even better in 2024 because of the valuable feedback she received in her first year involved in this capacity. Though she has not committed to bringing back the Brookville Victorian Christmas, she is hopeful there may be a day when this historic event can return for so many to enjoy again.
Popson is also anticipating hosting more after-hours mixers to connect area business leaders and to help community members learn more about several of the resources and businesses available to them in the Brookville area. Quarterly breakfast presentations at rotating restaurants and locations each month are events she also looks forward to attending. The first quarter breakfast presentation is quickly approaching and is set for Tuesday, February 27. This event is open to the public and features a noteworthy guest speaker from the region each time. Those interested in attending will hear from Center for Rural Pennsylvania Executive Director Kyle C. Copko and data points pertaining to small town Pennsylvania communities such as Brookville.
While there is certainly so much to be excited about, Popson admits the chamber involvement and community support used to be a much different landscape. Popson originally became involved as a board member for the Brookville Area Chamber from 2017 to 2020, and the impact the chamber was making at that point was less consistent and developed than it is today. The board members and the chamber members are more engaged and willing to help set up Jamie to be successful in her position.
“Comparing the chamber today to where it was when I was serving on the board is very different,” Popson expressed. “There has been a lot of hard work from many people to make sure we are working more collectively as a community.”
Service is a genuine passion of Popson’s and it’s something she’s done plenty of in her time as a Brookville resident. One organization she’s given most to is the Jefferson County History Center. Her dedication helped to make possible a new archives building for the center through significant fundraising and she continues to serve this organization in a variety of ways today. She’s also been a past Girls Scouts of the USA troop leader for her daughter and other young girls from Brookville. She was also a previous Civic Club member and even served a two-year term as Club President. Her additional community involvement today is spent being a Brookville Raiders wrestling mom and helping the program in the ways she can.
Popson is the proud mom of five children and has two sets of twins. Her kids range in age from young teenagers to early 20-somethings, and these five bring so much meaning and joy to her life. They all mostly fill the remaining time she has when not working for the chamber or volunteering. She currently has her wrestling mom hat all the way on this winter and looks forward to watching the last matches in her son’s career soon.
Her journey to the Brookville Chamber was unexpected, but it’s been the change she’s needed to bring true joy back into her career. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic forced her to reevaluate several aspects of her life and her career was one of those aspects. After finding some part-time work for around two years, Popson was presented with the opportunity to become the next director of the chamber and it’s truly been a life-changing experience. Not every day is picture-perfect, but she has a genuine appreciation and love for what she does in her current role.
“I’m always learning something new and never pretend to have all the answers. I always accept feedback to help make events and our community a better place. This role allowed me to get back to my passion for being deeply rooted in the community.”
To all the people who have supported and guided Jamie into this new chapter in life, there’s no question she appreciates it and will continue to make everyone proud.
“It’s been truly exciting to take on this new position,” she said. “Being active in the community has introduced me to some of my biggest cheerleaders and best friends. So many of you helped to show me my potential and I couldn’t be more thankful for that and the encouragement from over the years. I love our community, the people here, and our board and members.”
The Brookville Area Chamber is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The organization can be contacted by phone at 814-849-8448 or by email at director@brookvillechamber.com.
Copyright © 2024 EYT Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. Any copying, redistribution or retransmission of the contents of this service without the express written consent of EYT Media Group, Inc. is expressly prohibited.
