Kendallville Area Chamber of Commerce board of directors president Tom Shepherd, right, announced Thursday the chamber's new management team. Shown left to right are: Lynnette Leamon, public relations coordinator; Michael A. Walton, chamber executive director; Sara Fisher, part-time administrator; and Shepherd.
The Kendallville Area Chamber of Commerce has a new management team.
Tom Shepherd, president of the chamber's board of directors, has announced Michael A. Walton, of Leo, is the new chamber executive director. This fills a vacancy created when Anita Shepherd resigned in July.
Joining Walton will be Lynnette Leamon as the chamber's public relations coordinator, filling a vacancy created with the resignation of Katie Shalau last week. Sara Fisher is the chamber's part-time administrator.
"I'm impressed and excited about what Mike can do for our community," said Shepherd.
Walton has more than 30 years of sales and management expertise toward helping northeastern Indiana businesses maximize their sales and profits. He worked for several technology resellers in the Fort Wayne area for over 25 years selling Microsoft and Cisco infrastructure solutions.
Walton is a Garrett native and 1974 Garrett High School graduate, and has relatives in the Kendallville area. He has Bachelor of Arts degree in business administration from Anderson College. Walton and his wife Sherry have been married for 24 years. They have no children. She owns a behavior consulting practice in Fort Wayne.
"One of my priorities is retaining chamber members and recruiting new members," said Walton. He intends to promote chamber member businesses. "I'm willing to try new ideas, and suggest doing things differently than what's been done before."
He also believes in documenting communication and meeting deadlines. "I'm more of a team builder than the guy who tries to do everything," he said. "What I can do for Kendallville is what's best for Kendallville businesses."
His interests include sports, bass fishing, church choir and traveling.
Leamon worked for seven years at Group Dekko, and then eight years as marketing coordinator for the Cole Center Family YMCA in Kendallville before accepting the chamber position. She resides in Kendallville with her husband Chuck and three children.