West Plains Chamber introduces new executive director

Toby Broemmeling, a person with familiarity in the area, specifically at Fairchild Air Force Base, was officially introduced as the new executive director of the West Plains' Chamber of Commerce at the group's Jan. 30 annual meeting.

For the past six years, Broemmeling served as the area director for Young Life at Fairchild before filling the same role for the greater West Plains. Prior to that he was special projects coordinator with the Spokane Home Builders Association.

Broemmeling shared the speaker's podium at the meeting, which attracted a full house at Northern Quest Resort and Casino with Fairchild commander Col. Ryan Samuelson.

During his speech, which recapped a busy year at the base that included its 75th birthday and the 70th anniversary of the Air Force, Samuelson announced that he would soon be off to a new duty assignment at Andrews AFB near Washington, D.C. where he will be connected with operations of Air Force One, the official aircraft of the President of the United States.

Samuelson also briefed the attendees on Fairchild's anticipated growth for the future and is in line to become one of the bigger air refueling facilities in the country by 2020. This means more than 2,000 additional airmen along with their families will be arriving to the local area to support the mission.

What this means to the community is that the base doesn't plan to build additional housing for the growing population but instead they will be moving into local communities.

Before he departs, Samuelson hopes to know if Fairchild wins another important award. The base and surrounding area are once again awaiting news if it will receive the Abilene Trophy, awarded annually to the community in Air Mobility Command that is most supportive of its local Air Force Base. The Greater Spokane Area last won the award in 2013.

Broemmeling, a West Plains resident, also serves on the West Plains Truancy Board and as a volunteer pastor at the Heights Church in Airway Heights. He holds a bachelor's degree in business management, economics and international business from Whitworth University.

"I've spent the last 10 years serving families in the West Plains area because I care about this community and believe in its potential," Broemmeling told the audience.

Doug Kelly from Avista Utilities and 2017 West Plains Chamber board chairman, wrote in a news release that Broemmeling was chosen from roughly 20 applicants. "He knows how to work with limited resources and grow" organizations, Kelly said.

Broemmeling fills the position that has been open since the July 31, 2017 resignation of Joe Jackson.

Paul Delaney can be reached at [email protected].