Joan Carlson, left, and Jamie Knudsen in the Haines Chamber of Commerce office.
Jamie Knudsen is the new office manager of the Haines Chamber of Commerce, taking over the job from Joan Carlson, who’s leaving after 11 years of service to the business group.
Knudsen is a Haines High School graduate who has worked here as a home health care provider, a child care worker and an airline dispatcher.
Her duties will include meeting the public, bookkeeping and membership, scheduling gatherings such as regular luncheon meetings and seminars, and organizing special events including the spring community cleanup, Fourth of July festivities, Christmas promotions and the group’s annual banquet.
Knudsen said she felt lucky to be chosen for the position and that she expected it would be fun.
“Because I’ve lived here so long, I like to talk to people about Haines, and about getting them to move here,” Knudsen said. “I’m into shopping local. I think it’s important to support Haines. I live here year-round and I grew up here. I want to raise my kids here.”
A Haines resident since 1980, Carlson and husband Paul leave Monday for Bantam, Conn. to care for her mother. Carlson was honored at a luncheon last month where chamber president Ned Rozbicki called her the “backbone” of the organization for more than a decade. “Joan is hard to replace for many reasons,” he said.
Carlson also served on the downtown revitalization committee, the borough’s Parks and Recreation board, and the chamber’s economic development committee.
She told a crowd at the luncheon that leaving was a difficult choice. “Continue to fight for where you live. Continue to fight to maintain it. It’s a great place,” Carlson said.
The chamber office is located in the Gateway Building on Main Street. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday.