News Photo by Steve Schulwitz New Alpena Chamber of Commerce President Paige Fisher is seen working at a computer in her office on Wednesday. Fisher said she is excited to work with local businesses and other organizations to help improve Alpena’s business landscape.

By STEVE SCHULWITZ

News Staff Writer

ALPENA — Three years ago, new Alpena Chamber of Commerce President Paige Fisher placed blind trust in Alpena when she and her husband decided to purchase a house in the area without even visiting the community.

Kevin Fisher was familiar with Alpena and urged his wife to make the move from Marquette to Northeast Michigan. Shortly after the couple’s arrival, Paige Fisher said she fell in love with Alpena and the community.

“We decided to move here because of my husband’s love of the area and he just really talked it up,” Fisher said. ” I bought the house and we haven’t looked back. I loved Alpena right away. It felt so homey and I just thought it was perfect.”

Fisher has become a critical face and voice for the local business community and although she is just settling into her new role, she is excited to work with local business owners to help them prosper and make Alpena grow. She said locally owned small businesses have a special place in her heart and she can’t wait to work side-by-side with them to provide any assistance she can offer.

“I’m still at a point to where I’m trying to learn more about the Alpena business community, but my goal in the upcoming weeks is to meet with the businesses, the community, and to better understand where we’re at, so I can better gauge where we need to be in the future.”

Before taking the job at the chamber, Fisher was employed by MLive as a branded content creator who worked with visitors bureaus and local businesses around Michigan to help promote them. She said during her time at MLive, she was able to learn a lot about other communities, their businesses, and will try to apply what worked for them and what did not.

“Of course, anything we decide to do will be done with the input and communication with our members,” she said. “We have to talk to each other and figure out what is best for everyone. This isn’t going to be a one person who decides for all situation. I am here for our members and that is what I’m excited to bring moving forward.”

Fisher said she has been busy since she began her job and complimented Director of Events Alisha Bouchard, and the other chamber staff, for helping her settle in and lending a hand.

“I would be lost without them right now,” Fisher said. “Alisha has been a rock star. Honestly, I wouldn’t know which way is north at this point and I am so grateful to have her on the team.”

Fisher said she intends to work with other local entities like the CVB, the Alpena Downtown Development Authority, and local government officials. She said having strong relationships with others is a key to success.

“It is essential,” she said. “We need to collaborate, not only with those organizations, but with the community as a whole. We need to use each other’s strengths and lean on each other for all of us to succeed moving forward.”

Steve Schulwitz can be reached at 989-358-5689 or sschulwitz@TheAlpenaNews.com. Follow him on X @ss_alpenanews.com.