The Logan Chamber of Commerce has a new president—Rhiannon Elton, author of fantasy novels and organiser of the annual Writer’s Festival.
It’s a very different proposition for Ms Elton, who has written stories all her life; including her latest novel ‘The Case Of The Captain’s Hair’.
Now, she’ll be representing Logan’s business community which includes all types of business, from one-person coffee carts and retail outlets through to banks, schools and global exporters.
Ms Elton says she has had an entrepreneurial spirit since she was a teenager and wanted to come on board to help bridge the gap between business and the arts.
“I used to help mum run candle stalls, face painting and fortune telling stalls, which taught me a lot about business and people,” Ms Elton said.
“When I decided to move to writing full-time, I saw that there wasn’t a creative writing community that were thriving from their books.
“The community was scattered, so I joined the Chamber of Commerce committee as their first Arts Champion in order to help bridge the gap between business and the arts.
“Last year I became the Chamber secretary and as Stewart Fleming stepped down this year from President, has asked me to take his place.”
Ms Elton says her vision is to keep the community together.
“I believe the businesses of Logan are the lifeblood of the community and together we can keep each other educated on best business practices and the trends that impact business.
“I also believe that the more involved in the community the businesses are, the more they thrive.
“Logan is filled with incredible businesses that all seem to be hidden gems.
“It’s my goal to make sure everyone knows they’re there.”
Ms Elton’s personal goals in the role is to make sure members stay “at the forefront of crucial information, whether it’s industry related, market trends, or events coming up”.
“We have an amazing committee who are leaders in their industries and the knowledge they have and access to information is so valuable,” Ms Elton said.
“I want to focus on bringing the community together as connectedness is critical for the mental health of local business owners and their families.
“The Chamber of Commerce is first and foremost the advocate for Logan City’s businesses.
“It’s our job to educate our members on how to overcome their obstacles, connect businesses with who they need to know, and strengthen the bonds between the business community and greater public.”
All the while, Ms Elton will continue to write.
Her website showcases a series of 10 books, alongside a quote that reads: “What is to say that your dreams aren’t real? All amazing things today began with simply that. A dream.”
“It’s impossible for me to stop writing,” Ms Elton said.
“It builds up like a pressure pot.
“I’m lucky I have a fantastic and passionate committee who are dedicated to their volunteer roles with the Chamber.”
