Church Announces Retirement From M-VC Chamber

The Montrose-Verdugo City Chamber of Commerce announced that Executive Director Liz Church will be retiring and relocating out of state. Her last day will be on Aug. 15.

Church became executive director in 1998, but has worked in the Montrose area since 1978.

She first worked in Montrose as an account executive for the award-winning newspaper, The Ledger. She then went on to run the Montrose edition of the Record-Ledger in the early ‘80s and began working at the Crescenta Valley Chamber helping their directory company.

In 1988, Church became affiliated with the Montrose Chamber. She sold and produced their first Chamber Directory which she still produces.

For the next decade, she worked part-time in the Chamber office helping with the Christmas parade, Oktoberfest, golf tournament, the newsletter production and organizing and writing the Montrose history book.

From 1994 to 1997, she served on the board of directors as Membership Chair. She created their dues collection procedure which is still used today.

Invited to be executive director in 1998, she accepted the position and under her direction the chamber created their website.

She was instrumental in the introduction of the Art Walks (now in their sixth year) and in starting the Tri-Chamber Foothill Community Business Expo, now in its seventh year.

Church said, “A wonderful opportunity has come up for me and, although it was a very difficult decision after serving the community as executive director for almost nine years, it is one I cannot pass up.

“It has been a privilege and an honor to serve this community in my capacity as executive director of the Montrose-Verdugo City Chamber.

“I have had a chance to work with some of the most outstanding community-minded people and consider it an honor to have known Frank Roberts. My affiliation with the Chamber dates back to 1988 and has enriched me as a person and given me the chance to make a difference.”

Liz Church and her husband sold their home of 36 years in Glenoaks Canyon and will be relocating to Austin, Texas.