From the Intern Desk: Ben Eaton
Welcome back to our fall blog series, From the Intern Desk! This blog series will continue to feature our current staff members. Our next featured staff member is Ben Eaton. Ben is the Membership Development & Retention Manager at the Chamber and has been with the Chamber for three years. Ben began life at the Chamber when he interned here in the summer of 2014. After his internship, he started working here part time in December and he has been full time since June, 2015. A fun fact about Ben is that he attended Wilkes University and graduated with a degree in Psychology and Sociology.
Ben’s life at the Chamber first began when he applied as an intern, He had no idea what a Chamber of Commerce even did. Ben put his resume in as a shot in the dark. He got an interview and was offered the internship on the spot. He decided to take it over another internship that he was was offered in retail and never looked back.
Question and Answer Time!
I had the opportunity to talk with Ben and learn more about his life and position here at the Chamber of Commerce.
What has been your most positive experience from working here?
“For me, it has been the people I met and how much I have gotten to learn about our community. My favorite moment thus far has been when I was attending the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE) Conference in Nashville. I won a full scholarship through Pennsylvania Association of Chamber Professionals (PACP.) It was my first time attending the conference. We had downtime in the evenings and one night we found ourselves at a rooftop bar with beautiful views of the city. It was at that moment when I realized all the opportunities this job has given me that I would never have imagined if I took a different path.”
Can you summarize your typical work day?
“Quite honestly, no. Every work day varies so much that it is what keeps me interested in the job. Some days, I could be spending the entire day in the office responding to emails and finishing paperwork. Other days, I can be out on the road visiting members and potential new members. Yet other days, I could be preparing for our next event. Most days, are a mix of everything above. Within the non-profit world, you get to wear a lot of different hats in your job and this job is no exception. It keeps the days interesting and fulfilling.”
What advice would you give a student interested in interning at the Chamber?
“Take advantage of all the opportunities to network that you can. You never know if another person in the room will be your future employer. You are in one of the best internships to network with many businesses in the area. Don’t let that opportunity go to waste.”
What are the other staff members like?
“Working in an office with only eight people, you all work extremely close together. We operate like a family where everyone plays a part that keeps pushing us to the main goal.”
What has been your biggest take-away(s) from working here?
“Starting off as an intern, I had no idea what I wanted to do outside of college. My biggest take-away from working here is that I don’t know if I will remain at the Chamber of Commerce for the entirety of my career, but I do know that I want to always work in non-profits. The work can sometimes be hard, but I always leave the office every week feeling fulfilled in what I accomplished.”
What do you love the most about working here at the Chamber?
“I like to think that our Chamber is on the edgier side of things in the Chamber world. We constantly are attending conferences to get the most up-to-date best practices, bring back what we learn, and implement it. Since coming on board, our Chamber has undergone tremendous transformation. We internally call it Chamber 2.0. We have undergone a website and database transformation that has enhanced the way our members are able to interact with us.
We revamped our membership dues structure and are gradually rolling it out to our members. The members who are on it, love the flexibility it gives them in choosing how to participate with us. Our Economic Development arm has launched Wilkes-Barre Connect to help businesses of every size in the area. It is truly a new feel to the Chamber and it shows in the energy seen in our members. The forward thinking and development is what I love the most about working here.”
Interesting Facts Time!
While we were talking, Ben also gave me more insight into his life. He likes to travel, drink coffee, kayak, hike, play ice hockey, and run. In his free time, he usually keeps a pretty busy schedule. He starts each morning with a workout and finishes each night with an hour of reading. On the weekends, Ben usually catches up with his family and friends.
Ben is also an active committee member on the Victims Resource Center – Board of Directors, Board Development Committee, Finance & Audit Committee, NEPA Rainbow Alliance – Board of Directors, Programming Committee (Chair), Executive Committee, Leadership Wilkes-Barre – Alumni Council, Advisory Council, Northeast Sight Services – Dinner Auction Committee, Family Service Association – Pauly 5K Committee, Pittston Tomato Festival – Festival Committee, Wyoming Valley Children’s Association – Dinner Auction Committee, Wilkes-Barre Family YMCA – Dinner Committee, PA CareerLink – Youth Committee, United Way of Wyoming Valley – Young Professional Society, and the Osterhout Public Library – Brewsterhout Rooftop Party Committee.
Connect with Ben and keep up with his latest adventures through his LinkedIn account!
https://www.linkedin.com/in/everal-ben-eaton/
While we were talking, Ben also gave me more insight into his life. He likes to travel, drink coffee, kayak, hike, play ice hockey, and run. In his free time, he usually keeps a pretty busy schedule. He starts each morning with a workout and finishes each night with an hour of reading. On the weekends, Ben usually catches up with his family and friends.
Ben is also an active committee member on the Victims Resource Center – Board of Directors, Board Development Committee, Finance & Audit Committee, NEPA Rainbow Alliance – Board of Directors, Programming Committee (Chair), Executive Committee, Leadership Wilkes-Barre – Alumni Council, Advisory Council, Northeast Sight Services – Dinner Auction Committee, Family Service Association – Pauly 5K Committee, Pittston Tomato Festival – Festival Committee, Wyoming Valley Children’s Association – Dinner Auction Committee, Wilkes-Barre Family YMCA – Dinner Committee, PA CareerLink – Youth Committee, United Way of Wyoming Valley – Young Professional Society, and the Osterhout Public Library – Brewsterhout Rooftop Party Committee.
Connect with Ben and keep up with his latest adventures through his LinkedIn account!
https://www.linkedin.com/in/everal-ben-eaton/
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