The Canby Area Chamber of Commerce has announced a new executive director just ahead of the community’s usual busy calendar of summer events following an extensive search and interview process by the organization’s board of directors and staff.
Goody also boasts an impressive entrepreneurial background, having owned her first business at the age of 18. She holds a bachelor’s degree in business marketing and geoscience, as well as associate’s degrees in paralegal practices and weather technology.
Originally from Denver, Colorado, Goody spent her formative years in southwest Florida on the Gulf Coast. She joined the Air Force, specializing in weather forecasting, before retraining as a paralegal.
Over her 22-year military career, she rose to the position of senior paralegal and law office manager at McChord Air Force Base in Tacoma, Washington.
In 2007, Goody relocated to Seal Rock, Oregon, and founded the Celtic Heritage Alliance, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Under her leadership, the organization hosted the highly successful Newport Celtic Festival & Highland Games, which quickly became the second-largest event of its kind in the state.
In 2017, Goody facilitated a smooth transition of the organization to a new board of directors, which relocated the events to McMinnville, now known as the McMinnville Scottish Festival.
She has since held a number of roles, including as a business management consultant for the event planning services company Fest-Eval LLC, administrative and facilities director at the Ranch at the Canyons Association in Terrebonne and operations director for the nonprofit Olalla Center in Toledo.
Goody settled in the Silverton area in 2022, and in January of this year, she founded Umbrella Business Solutions LLC, providing a variety of freelance services to small-business owners and entrepreneurs.
Goody is the third permanent director appointed to lead the local business advocacy organization since Kyle Lang’s departure in January 2022 after four years in the role.
He was followed by Laurie Tartar, who stepped down after six months for a personal matter, and Tracy Zawacki, with whom the board parted ways after two months for undisclosed reasons.
The board in February announced it had tabbed longtime Office Manager Audrey Traaen to serve as interim executive director while the search for a new, permanent CEO continued.
“Our board and staff are grateful for all the time and effort dedicated to fill this position and are much relived that they can scale back and allow Belinda to take the reins,” the chamber board of directors said in a May 10 email announcing the hire.
“A special thank you to the chamber’s office manager, Audrey Traaen, and office coordinator, Robin Balcom, for making sure things kept moving smoothly throughout this process.”
Goody began in her new role April 25 and “jumped in with both feet,” officials said, hosting the chamber’s first Tourism Committee meeting, its monthly Good Morning Canby event at Hope Village, and the May luncheon at Cutsforth’s Old Town Hall.
