Page 10 - LRCC FOCUS March 2020

CHAMBER NEWS

Strongest Together

BY MATTIE MILNE, KOLT COMMUNICATIONS

AS FAR BACK AS ASHLEY SANDBORN CAN
REMEMBER, the community chamber of
commerce has been an integral part of her life.

From attending ribbon cuttings and member
mixers with her mom, Lisa and grandmother,
Betty to watching them represent the chamber
as ambassadors and diplomats, and today,
directing the marketing and communications
team within the Lansing Regional Chamber of
Commerce; she owes her leadership position to
her inspiring role models.

“I have a strong line of hard-working women in
my life,” said Sandborn. “They set the bar high
and I’ve always aspired to be a strong, powerful
woman like them.”

Sandborn began working for
the Lansing Chamber four
months ago and moved to “My only goal in life is to make my daughter proud,”
Michigan only six years ago. said Sandborn. “I hope that my daughter looks at
While starting a new job in an me the same way I’ve always looked up to my mom
unfamiliar area may be scary, and grandma.”
she felt confident as both her
grandmother and mother were To this day, Sandborn’s grandmother continues to
incredibly involved in the stay involved within the Sioux Falls community.
Sioux Falls Area Chamber of Sandborn speaks with admiration, mentioning that
Commerce in South Dakota. a free moment for her grandmother to call and
catch up is only when Betty is on her daily two-
“I have lived and breathed the mile walk.
chamber since I was a baby,”
said Sandborn. “I already “My grandma is going to be 77 in June,” said
knew the lay of the land and Sandborn. “She’s only been retired for a few years,
had peace of mind knowing but she still serves on a ton of boards. What she
what the chamber does. Every does in one day, I seemingly seem to do in the span
community wants the same of one week. She definitely gets the most out of
thing — to create positive every single day – even in retirement.”
change while recognizing the
different voices and viewpoints Sandborn says her grandmother set the bar high.
within the community.” She hopes to do the same for her
daughter. And that doesn’t necessarily
Her grandmother was highly mean being involved in community
respected and adored within the Sioux Falls area after serving 48 years at the Sioux commerce — more like being a strong,
Falls Area Chamber of Commerce. Once retired, they renamed the boardroom kind leader and woman, just like Betty
after her and the mayor titled the day of her retirement as ‘Betty Ordal Day.’ So Ordal.
much of who Sandborn is today can be traced back to her childhood.
“My daughter, Lauren was excited when
“When my grandmother was honored, my great-grandma was living. My she heard I got the job with the Lansing
daughter was in attendance as well. It was amazing to look out at the crowd Chamber,” said Sandborn. “She’s very
together and see how many lives my grandmother impacted,” said Sandborn. familiar with the organization and she’s
“My grandma is always so kind and respectful, yet gets the work done. She is very familiar with the history of her
definitely what a woman would want to emulate in all areas of her life.” great-grandma. She gets it and couldn’t
be prouder. All the women in my life are
And just as Sandborn thanks the many generations of strong women before so supportive of each other and we’re
her, she hopes and strives to be a shining light and inspiration for her nine- always there to lift each other up.” n
year-old daughter.

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