When I was first entering the job market, I'm sure that I was pretty annoying. Anyone and everyone became a resource to me. I questioned them to no end. I asked for opinions. I tried to take in as much information as I could, while attempting to weed through the good and the bad advice. One thing that became clear pretty quickly, was that everyone held the local Chamber of Commerce in high regard.

As I reached out to the Ann Arbor Chamber of Commerce, I had a picture in my mind of an exclusive club that I had no part in. Rooms filled with cigar smoke and old men in expensive suits talking about their next yacht purchase (I didn't say it was a realistic vision). Imagine my surprise when the voice on the other end belonged to Megan Crosbie, a young woman who was (gasp) my own age and incredibly helpful in helping me learn about the chamber.

Over the past couple of years, we've worked together in a few different ways and she's made quite a name for herself in the community. With the upcoming merger of the Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti chambers, I figured what better time to pick her brain about working for the chamber, the merger and what the image of chamber should be in a young professional's mind.

Tell me about your job at the Ann Arbor Chamber, and how you landed the position: While attending Eastern Michigan University I was an Intern for the chamber. After six months of hard work, I was hired part-time as a marketing consultant. After graduating, in December of 2008, I was offered a full-time position as the membership sales & marketing coordinator. I am responsible for chamber communications, including the website, ChamberFLASH eNewsletters, press releases, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and the chamber blog. I also help businesses understand the value of membership and joining the chamber.

When the news broke that the Ann Arbor Chamber and the Ypsilanti Chamber would be merging, what was your first thought?

Very exciting! I am so excited to be a part of this historical merger. By forming the Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti Regional Chamber of Commerce we will have a stronger voice in public policy. Our members will benefit by having a larger membership of which to do business with and more opportunities to save money through member-to-member discounts and other programs.

Chambers are sometimes seen as the place where older business people meet and there is no place for a young professional or an entrepreneur. Is this something that you've see in your membership?

It is true that in the past chambers were seen as the place for only older business people. The chamber is making huge strides to become more appealing to young professionals and entrepreneurs. Last October the Ann Arbor Chamber introduced an iPhone application for our member-to-member discount program, which has already attracted several entrepreneurs and young professionals to join the chamber. The chamber has also used their partnerships to become more relevant to young professionals and entrepreneurs, including their partnerships with LA2M and the Ann Arbor Jaycees.

What is the most exciting thing you've been a part of since working with the chamber?

The iPhone application was very exciting! We were one of the first, if not the first, chamber of commerce in the country to develop a free iPhone application to our membership. We worked with several chamber members including: The Whole Brain Group, Arbormoon Software, Torrance Learning and HSG Consulting to create the iPhone app. Going to various events and networking groups to promote our accomplishment was very exciting. However, the announcement of the merger has proved to be just as exciting.

What is the thing you're most excited about coming up in the future for the chamber? The merger is very exciting. There is so much work that goes into a merger. From a marketing perspective, we need to completely rebrand everything. We must create a new logo, new website, new business cards, new letterhead, new promotional materials, etc. I am very excited to be a part of reinventing our chamber.

Now that I'm a member of the chamber, what's the next best move for me to make?

The best way to take advantage of your membership is to get involved. Joining a committee is a great way to volunteer while making several business contacts. Being a part of a committee, any committee - chamber or anywhere else, is a great way to expand your professional skills as well as meet several people. The chamber has several committees and subcommittees, and we are always looking for people who want to volunteer.

What is the biggest perk of your job?

I am able to go to events and meet so many incredible people. I have made so many contacts through working for the chamber.

Kyle Stuef is a marketing consultant who blogs on Internet/technology trends, and being a young professional in Ypsilanti and Ann Arbor for The Deuce and AnnArbor.com

He can be reached at:

kstuef@gmail.com

@KyleStuef

www.linkedin.com/in/kylestuef

www.facebook.com/kylestuef