Samantha Martinet was recently hired as the new executive director for the Moscow Chamber of Commerce.
Martinet, originally from Colorado, served in the United States Marine Corps for 13 years and followed up by working in the Marine Corps Community Services for six years. While working for the Marine Corps Community Services, she focused on behavioral health and program management. Martinet moved to Moscow three years ago where she started working at the University of Idaho.
During her time at the UI, Martinet worked in corporate and foundation relations. One of her primary tasks in her job was fundraising. She appreciated her position at UI but wanted to return to working personally with people, like the positions she held in the Marine Corps Community Services.
“I really enjoyed that, but I wanted to more with people one on one,” Martinet said. “Helping them more in line with what I used to do.”
After her departure from working at UI, Martinet opened her own consulting firm. She focused on helping others with transition work and resume writing. Several of her clients were service members. She also was the director of marketing and manager of the taproom for Hunga Dunga Brewing Company, based in Moscow.
It was during Martinet’s time at Hunga Dunga that she was able to get to know Moscow’s small businesses. She branched out among the Moscow community and got to know people in the town better than she had in the past.
The positive experience from working at Hunga Dunga and getting to know Moscow businesses pushed Martinet to pursue the executive director position with the Moscow Chamber of Commerce. Martinet attributed her background in strategic planning and leadership to her past position in corporate and foundation relations.
“I thought it would be really amazing to be able to see through my experience at Hunga Dunga, the challenges that we faced with COVID-19 and everything that we were going through,” Martinet said.
The Moscow Chamber of Commerce serves as a nonprofit agency to promote the small business community of Moscow. There are opportunities for businesses to network and gain resources through the Chamber of Commerce.
UI is a large part of Moscow, and Martinet touched on the importance of UI students being involved with the Moscow community and the opportunities that are available to them.
“We’ll be good at helping bridge that gap and working with the university to really leverage the value that they bring and get them back into the community,” Martinet said. “One of the biggest goals for me, as the Chamber of Commerce, is to be able to take everybody’s needs and find a way to create a collaboration.
The Chamber of Commerce supports several businesses ranging from large companies such as Schweitzer to small businesses, like local restaurants. Martinet mentioned the exceptional differences of Moscow.
“There is a lot of diversity in what we offer,” Martinet said.
Martinet started the executive director position on Feb. 16. She looks forward to serving in her new capacity.
“I’m just very excited for the opportunity and I can’t wait to see all the great ways that we can do really great things for Moscow,” Martinet said.
Sierra Pesnell can be reached at [email protected].