Chamber saying goodbye to 'right arm'
July 24, 2011
Brittany Kersavage and her family are moving on to bigger and better things, though the Chamber thinks Brittany and her family did amazing things here. We wish you all the best!
Good tidings have befallen the Kersavage family of Bonners Ferry, but their boon is our loss. On Saturday at a special Bonners Ferry Chamber of Commerce meeting, Chamber president Rhea Verbanik bid Brittany Kersavage, for more than a year the "feet, hands and head of the Chamber," a fond farewell.

After years of pursuing his dream job of working with a nationally renowned zoo, Brittany's husband, Derick, finally landed it, and at the middle of next month, they and their four children will leave Bonners Ferry for a new home near Tacoma, Washington.

During her tenure as the Chamber's sole paid member, Brittany has increased the membership, improved the Chamber website, http://www.bonnersferrychamber.com, putting it at the top of the search results whenever any one in the world looks up Bonners Ferry or Boundary County, and she's presented a "face behind the counter" at the Visitors Center that visitors will remember with fondness forever, and so hence our town.

She's worked closely with local government groups so as to promote and encourage local business growth, helped oversee a monthly Chamber publication that has become as welcome a source of local news as the town paper, and represented the Chamber, and Boundary County, in myriad positive ways.

When sobs of dismay greeted the news of her good fortune and our great loss erupted, Brittany was quick to wave off and settle the crowd.

"No, no no!" she said. "You've given me so much. Without my experience as a chamber member, volunteer and employee, I'd never have had the opportunity to meet so many great people, from around the world, and I'd never have known all this community has to offer."

Yeah, right, Mrs. Selfish. You were the perfect person at perfectly the right time, and we're going to miss you.

You set a standard to aspire to.

We are, however, happy for your family's good fortune, and wish you, Derick and your sons well, and send our prayers with you that the opportunity you've earned are everything you dreamed they'd be.

Meanwhile in other news, the Bonners Ferry Chamber of Commerce is looking for the next Brittany Kersavage ... details at 11.