THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, February 29, 1996 TAG: 9602280135
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 03 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY SUSIE STOUGHTON, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SUFFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 82 lines
CATHERINE C. ``Cat'' Brinkley has worked at the local Chamber of Commerce for 20 years. But earlier this week, she was having trouble remembering which office was hers.
For two decades, Brinkley had been at the front desk - most recently as program administrative manager. But recently, she was named director, and the rear office became hers.
Colin R. ``Randy'' Davis had retired and moved out at the end of January, and the desk and shelves were still bare.
``Let's go back here to Randy's office and talk,'' she said, laughing as she realized she still considered the office his.
In two decades, she had worked under six directors. And with each change, Brinkley helped break in the new boss.
``I've trained them all,'' she said. ``I would have trained this one, too.''
Instead, she will be teaching a new program manager to work with her in the two-person operation.
``The main goal of this partnership is to work for the city,'' said Brinkley, a Suffolk native and graduate of the former John Yeates High School.
Changes in the chamber's programs will come gradually, she said.
``I want to work on my membership,'' she said. ``I want to increase my membership and to get everyone - including the members we have now - more involved.''
To increase participation, she hopes to develop new ways the chamber members can help with Peanut Fest, the city's annual celebration in the fall.
``Peanut Fest started in this building,'' said Brinkley, who coordinated the event the first nine years. ``I cannot imagine something that started so small mushrooming so big.''
She will continue activities such as the Farm Family of the Year luncheon and the annual volunteer recognition dinner.
The chamber is a volunteer organization that is assisted by the staff.
``We're the structure,'' she said. ``They're out there doing the work.''
The chamber also hosts Business After Hours, allowing members to get to know one another and prospective members.
``That's always the underlying goal - to bring the new members in,'' she said.
The chamber's mission is to provide service.
``Somewhere out there is a person who needs something,'' she said. ``Once you talk to people and find out what their needs are, it's easy to help them or send them in the right direction.''
She gets calls from residents who need to know something about their city, people considering moving to Suffolk and from people far away who are looking for information.
``People have so many questions,'' she said, ``like, `Where is the nudist colony?' or `Where do I buy moving teddy bear eyes?' ''
She enjoys the personal contact.
``It's people helping people.''
The number of calls from prospective new residents has increased dramatically in recent months, she said.
``We're growing by leaps and bounds,'' she said.
Education is a major emphasis of the chamber, and that's fine with Brinkley, whose son, Shawn, is a sophomore at Virginia Tech.
``That's our future right there,'' she said.
The chamber's Partners in Education program has 64 businesses working with various schools.
Many changes have occurred since she started as a part-time secretary at what was then the Suffolk Chamber of Commerce.
``When I started, you had your IBM typewriter and if you had 75 letters to send, you did 75 individually typewritten letters,'' she said.
But the years have gone quickly.
``It doesn't seem like a long time,'' she said. ``You work with the members day after day, and they're part of your family.''
She hopes to continue her contact with the public.
``Just because I became the director, it's not really going to be that different,'' she said. ``I'll still do what I've always done.'' ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by MICHAEL KESTNER
Catherine C. ``Cat'' Brinkley says changes in Chamber of Commerce
programs will come gradually.
by CNB