The Greater Idaho Falls Chamber of Commerce has selected Paul Baker as its new chief executive officer.
A native of Dublin, Ireland, Baker has lived in Idaho Falls for about a year and nine months. He began his new role with the chamber on May 1.
His goal is to increase the chamber's regional impact.
“I’d really like to elevate and level up the chamber and the visibility of the chamber in the community,” he said. "… My vision is to … also find ways that the members can increase their value of their membership here."
Baker brings a wealth of high-profile experience to the role ranging from helping organize the London Olympics to working with Formula 1 and English Premier League Soccer.
“As CEO of the Greater Idaho Falls Chamber, Mr. Baker will leverage his knowledge, skills and impressive domestic and international network to support and promote the city’s businesses and industries," said Robert Couch, chairman of the chamber's board of directors, in a news release. "He is committed to fostering a thriving business community through collaboration, innovation and the development of effective strategies that drive growth. We are confident that the chamber will continue to provide greater value to its members under Paul’s direction. We are also appreciative of Steve Hunter’s willingness to serve as the chamber’s interim CEO while we conducted the search process.”
Family ties brought Baker and his wife across the pond and all the way to the Intermountain West.
The Chamber of Commerce consists of more than 600 local businesses in Idaho Falls, Ammon, Iona, Ucon and Bonneville County — representing at least 27,000 employees.
“(They) all make a significant impact to the community that we live in terms of job creation, products and services,” Baker said. “That ranges from agriculture, tourism, engineering and financial institutions. …You wouldn’t necessarily know that all of these companies and all of these entities are part of one group that are wanting to find ways that they can contribute to the area.”
The chamber supports existing and new businesses in the community, to help create a vibrant economic climate in the greater Idaho Falls region.
“The chance of success, if you involve yourself in the chamber, increases by 40 percent because you can have that support from other businesses and people who have been there and done it and can learn from their journey,” Baker said. “… They’ll get tons and tons of referrals and positive feedback. Word of mouth is a great currency in the area.”
Chamber membership also provides excellent opportunities for networking with other businesses and leaders, Baker said.
More than 40 ambassadors from local businesses represent the chamber at community events and interact with members.
The chamber operates a Chamber Leadership program, Chamber Academy and Young Professional Network to help “develop future leaders in the community,” its website states. It organizes the Fourth of July Parade, monthly business spotlights and ribbon cutting ceremonies at grand openings for local businesses.
Additionally, it has a legislative committee that advocates for “education; public infrastructure; energy, national security and federal programs; Idaho National Laboratory; economic development; effective tax, fiscal and monetary policy; and personal and public safety,” according to its website.
The chamber helps recruit new businesses and individuals to the region. It also runs the Eastern Idaho Visitors Information Center next to the River Walk.
“We try and be a hub for tourism in the area,” Baker said. “… Outside businesses want to come into a community that really looks after its own businesses and those that are based here.”
He recognized the passion and dedication of the chamber’s current staff members.
“There’s a really great team of people here at the chamber,” Baker said. “There’s a great board. There’s a great group of ambassadors. There’s a great sense of duty and responsibility that people feel about how to make a positive contribution to the community.”
Baker brings significant international business experience. He graduated from Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge in business management and leadership. He directed logistics and infrastructure for United Parcel Service to prepare for the 2012 Olympic Games in London. He also helped organize the Olympic torch relay.
"My involvement was to help put it together, to make sure that it went seamlessly, that there was no issue with the torches, and all the components — that one person would finish their run, and then the next person would light their torch," Baker said.
He also assisted in converting the Cardiff Millennium Stadium, now known as Principality Stadium, from a rugby arena to an Olympic soccer venue that met FIFA standards. He arranged for hotel accommodations and gear logistics for the athletes.
After the Olympics, he ran three ice hockey teams in the U.K. and worked in media marketing.
“I’ve worked in different sectors, whether it’s been energy, tourism, consumable products, transportation and logistics,” he said. “All of them have had an economic impact on the area in a significant way. You think about the Olympics, for example. It had an $18 billion development plan and had a significant economic impact that we’re still feeling years later."
Prior to diving into business, he worked in social work.
"I’ve gotten to learn the macro factors that impact our businesses — so political, economical, societal, technological, environmental and legal that have an impact on our economy," Baker said. "Then, having worked in these industries, I’m looking at the micro factors, so the internal ones that happen in each business or organization that determine the success of the company. It’s really given me a broad range of understanding of each individual sector that the Chamber represents.”
His wife, Laura Baker, is the daughter of a U.S. diplomat. They have three grown children, two of whom live in the United Kingdom. Laura Baker is originally from Washington state. Her sister lives in Idaho Falls, and so they decided to move here. After an international life, Baker said they are here to stay and plan to build their “forever home.”
Even before joining the chamber, Baker was active in the community. He has served as an assistant soccer coach for Idaho Falls High School and is a director for the Portneuf Valley Soccer Club in Pocatello.
“When I saw kids’ faces, and the relationship I was able to build up with them quite quickly, I just kind of fell in love with the area,” Baker said. “… It’s been nothing but a real blessing for us to be here. We love the community and love the people that we’ve interacted with.”
Baker wants to encourage the chamber to expand its altruistic mission.
“Rather than think about what can the chamber do for its members, let’s think about what can the chamber do for the residents that live here,” Baker said. “I’m thinking about what 10 years from now looks like for the community as a result of what the chamber is doing today.”
The chamber will be holding a rebranding event, "Launch at Lunch," at noon May 31 at the Westbank Convention Center.
"The goal here is to launch a new brand, but also the new vision and direction the chamber is going to go in the next few years," Baker said.