During Wyoming Working Together, a Community & Economic Development Conference in Gillette, Wyoming, Mary Jane Strickland, Director of Partner Investments for the Greater Cheyenne Chamber of Commerce was named the "Employee of the Year."
Strickland has been with the Greater Cheyenne Chamber of Commerce since the fall of 2017. In her time with the Chamber she has advanced the organization by adding over 8 new partners each month.
Vice President, Stephanie Joy Meisner-Maggard, expressed the following in her nomination, "Because she genuinely cares about each business, she educates them about the Chamber and what we can do to serve them from the start. She incorporates storytelling and adopts their passions to ensure they are getting the most out of their investment."
Strickland is a vibrant and positive personality who has embodied servant leadership as a part of her every day approach when working with greater Cheyenne area businesses. She prioritizes taking care of each businesses' needs and rallying behind their individual causes.
"We stress servant leadership within our staff. Mary Jane exemplifies this when working for the Chamber and has become a strong leader in this area." expressed Dale Steenbergen, CEO/President.
Strickland's career has been very diverse, which makes her a great representative when working with businesses. She moved to Cheyenne in 1986 and had a consistent and strong network of businesses with her cosmetology credentials. She later ventured into the government, working for the Wyoming Army National Guard as a Records Clerk. She found her passion interacting with businesses moved to the Wyoming Business Report as an Account Executive and forged a variety of great relationships which has launched her career as a Chamber Professional. Overall, Strickland enjoys challenging herself and when doing so, she is able to excel and exceed expectations.
A motivational quote Strickland lives by:
"As the author Ray Kurzweil once said: No matter what problem you encounter, whether it's a grand challenge for humanity or a personal problem of your own, there's an idea out there that can overcome it. And you can find that idea."