Chamber Announces New Executive Director: Detra Dettmann

Susan Gail, President, Fairfield Area Chamber of Commerce, announces that Detra Dettmann will be the new Chamber Executive Director effective July 5, 2016.  After 23 years with the Chamber, Nancy Morrissey retired in early May leaving the vacancy.  Dettmann will be joining Lindsey Waugh, Chamber Administrator. 
 
"The process to fill this E.D. position was extensive and as a result of our efforts, the Chamber has been able to hire an exceptional individual to fill this position" said Darien Sloat, Chamber President Elect. "Detra is passionate about this community and region, and brings a wealth of both parallel and complementary skills to this role. She is a person we believe will grow the Chamber in ways which will add greater value to our members and create a rich fabric of both services and programs for our community and region."
 
Detra and her family have called Fairfield home for 11 years. She is native to Iowa, growing up on a small dairy farm in the northeast part of the state before moving to southeast Iowa after college. "I was so excited to come to Fairfield in 2005," says Detra. "I had no idea that small town Iowa could offer all these things in one place: the variety of businesses, restaurants, community celebrations, the arts...and all taking place against the agricultural backdrop that is such a part of me. We feel so blessed to have raised our kids here."
Detra's husband, Shawn, works for the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service in Fairfield and their two children graduated from Fairfield High School. Their son, Makena, is a senior at Coe College studying physics, mathematics, and computer science. Their daughter, Hannah, graduated from FHS two weeks ago, and will study computer science and environmental studies at St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN this fall.
 
Having a B.S. and M.S. in Wildlife Biology, Detra started her career as a Louisa County Conservation Board Naturalist. From there, she advanced to Executive Director before moving to Jefferson County to accept a job with the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service, providing technical assistance to Pathfinders Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D), a regional nonprofit which develops programs and services related to natural resource conservation and community development in a six county area. "While I had a strong natural resource background, working as RC&D Coordinator with Pathfinders unveiled my passion for community development work," she says.
 
"I found I love working with visionary community leaders and volunteers, and was rewarded by supporting their locally-led efforts by either writing a winning grant or connecting them to other resources needed to succeed." In 2011, the U.S. Congress defunded the RC&D program nationwide, eliminating her position. "I had the option to stay with USDA and be assigned to do something else, but I couldn't imagine leaving behind the community partners and various projects we had in the works," says Detra. So she resigned from the federal government and returned to become the Executive Director at Pathfinders RC&D. "My goal was to stabilize and restructure the organization in its new reality without federal support."
 
Detra served as Executive Director for five years and not only stabilized the organization, but helped grow its programs, services, and staffing level. "Pathfinders is in a good place now and I feel I can step away and take on new professional challenges."
"I am so excited to become Executive Director for the Chamber because it knits together all the things I am passionate about: the city of Fairfield, community development, economic development...and opportunities for growth and change."
 
Detra was involved in various Fairfield initiatives in the past including the Go Green Commission, Blue Zones, the middle school rain garden project, and local food system development. However, she may be best known for her skills in grant writing, helping secure funds for the Loop Trail, Maasdam Barns, and new pool and recreation center among others. "There is such vision and dedication in Fairfield," she reflects. "I treasure the relationships I currently have with community leaders and business leaders and look forward to the new connections and new endeavors that have yet to come."
 
In her free time, Detra serves on the Board of Directors for Fairfield Band Aides (Band Boosters) and Fairfield Education Foundation. She also enjoys playing in the Municipal Band and has been in a few productions produced by Fairfield Area Community Theater.  And not straying too far from her roots, she and her family enjoy kayaking, wilderness camping, and tending to the chickens and other livestock on their hobby farm.
 
"We look forward to Detra's leadership as we continue to grow and position our Chamber for success even further in the direction of engaging our members and prospering together," states Gail.