Campbell County Chamber of Commerce
Julie Simon says she enjoys being an advocate for Campbell County. In fact, she enjoys being an advocate for all of Wyoming.
The Campbell County Chamber of Commerce president each day tackles her job of promoting local commerce for the chamber’s 600 members. To accomplish this, Simon has spent much of her time since 2009 specifically advocating business and industry not only for Campbell County, but for the entire state.
“I am president of the Campbell County chamber, but I am also the current president for the Wyoming Chamber of Commerce Partnership,” she says. “One of the Partnership’s functions is to exchange ideas and information between all chambers, to provide a basis for action on matters of statewide importance. For example, we have legislators who have told me that they don’t hear much from business, so the Wyoming Chamber is doing what it can to get the voice of business heard often at the state capitol in Cheyenne."
Backer of Energy
Simon also sits on the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Emerging Technologies Committee, which allows her to advocate for Campbell County when energy issues arise.
“Our county is big in coal, oil, gas and methane, so if legislators ever propose to put regulations on those industries, I will immediately ask why they are doing such a thing,” she says. “I will be quick to ask legislators if it is beneficial and smart to put heavy burdens on the actual companies that support Wyoming with massive tax revenue.”
Leaders of the Pack
Locally, Simon is a big believer in the Gillette Area Leadership Institute, which the Campbell County chamber has hosted for more than 20 years. The Institute accepts 20 applicants each year, who meet once a month for 10 consecutive months to learn more about the community and sharpen their leadership skills.
“For example, participants will spend one day immersed in government, one day learning about health care, one day in education, then quality of life, social service, agriculture, business and so forth,” Simon says. “More than 400 people have ultimately graduated, including me. I wasn’t involved in any way with the chamber when I graduated from the Leadership Institute in 2003, and today I am chamber president. The Institute helps shape leaders.”
Read more about business in the Gillette, WY community.