Here to Serve Rhonda Wiles Finds Her Footing as Brownsburg Chamber of Commerce President Writer / Christy Heitger-Ewing Photography Provided
members through the years. Those relationships proved valuable as she transitioned into the role in January.
Nothing feels better than when you find your passion and purpose in life. Just ask Rhonda Wiles, the new president of the Brownsburg Chamber of Commerce, who has seamlessly settled into her new role throughout the past few months.
“I didn’t know how things had been done in the past, so I took it as an opportunity to watch what was going on with the culture of the Chamber and grow it from there,” Wiles says.
Wiles first got involved in Hendricks County when she worked as marketing director for the State Bank of Lizton, a job she held for 15 years before working for Angie’s List and subsequently at a local lumber company. Two years ago her father, who had been battling Parkinson’s disease, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. When he passed away in April of 2019, Wiles took some time off for emotional healing. After a while, however, she was ready to rejoin the workforce and felt strongly about staying in the county. Last November, while attending a Hendricks County business luncheon for women, three individuals approached her to ask if she planned to apply for the Brownsburg Chamber of Commerce director position that had become available. A self-proclaimed people person, Wiles had to admit that it seemed like a good fit. After all, she’s gotten to know many community
Wiles found that many members were eager for change. Some craved interaction beyond just the monthly luncheon. Many voiced that there should be a partnership between the town and the Chamber of Commerce, which Wiles says currently has 270 members. Therefore, one of the first things Wiles did after taking the position was meet with the new town manager, the assistant manager and economic development representatives. “We said, ‘What’s in the past is in the past. None of us were involved with that and we would all like to move forward and help one another out,’” says Wiles, who asked the economic development manager to speak at a Chamber luncheon. “I’m big about utilizing my members’ knowledge and skills.” Wiles also began to seek the opinions of those not in the Chamber, and ask what kept them from joining. Some confided that they didn’t feel there was an opportunity for them, so she specifically
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