It would be rare to go to a Chamber networking event or ribbon cutting and not see Mindy Brummett there. “I love being involved,” Mindy said. “The Ambassadors and the people who come to the events have become my friends. Now I’m a member of the cool kid’s club!”
Although she grew up in the Northwest, Mindy has lived all over the country. Before she moved to Spokane three years ago, Mindy was an Ambassador for the Chamber of Commerce in Colorado Springs.
“I really think Chambers of Commerce are good for the community,” Mindy said. “They help to grow business, so when I moved to Spokane, I jumped at the opportunity to be involved.”
Meeting new people and making connections is one of the main reasons people and businesses sign up to join the Chamber, but for Mindy, her focus is creating long-term relationships. “My main thing is I want to develop relationships,” Mindy said. “I want to greet new businesses coming into town and get to know everybody. That’s why being an Ambassador is so important to me; we’re connectors.”
Being an Ambassador comes with a set of responsibilities and expectations. They are expected to volunteer and attend as many events as possible. “That is a critical part of being an ambassador,” Mindy said. “This allows people to see that I’m part of the community, helps build trust, and that often leads to great business relationships.”
Mindy has earned that trust; she has over ten years of experience in marketing and advertising and works as a Media Strategist. That background has helped her understand how to advertise and market a business on any budget, a skill she has used to her advantage in her personal life as well.
A few years ago, Mindy’s hobby-turned-side hustle evolved into a small business-Forge Wrks, where she does custom laser engraving for everything from unique home decor to yard art.
“My husband had this machine, and I started playing with it and realized I could do so many things,” Mindy said. “I can laser cut and engrave wood, acrylics, and glass, so I’ve been making a little bit of everything and just started selling some of it at Farmer’s Markets.”
Mindy and her husband Jason have five kids and two dogs, one of which, Drax, is a Great Dane who weighs 170 pounds. Make that six kids, one dog. In their “free time,” the family loves getting outdoors and going camping, riding ATVs in the mountains, kayaking, paddle boarding, mountain biking, and snowboarding.
When asked how she’s able to balance all of her hobbies and make it to all of the networking events the Chamber puts on, Mindy had a pretty simple reply. “I just love it. I love networking and connecting with people, so I make it a priority.”
