26 years of Creston pride

After 26 years of service to the Creston community, Creston Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Ellen Gerharz is stepping down to experience life as a regular Creston resident. This will be a first for Gerharz, who was hired into the role within a month of moving to the area.

“That fourth of July of 1999 was the last parade I’ve ever seen,” Gerharz said. “I’ve been working in certain spots, so I’ve never seen a parade go by me.”

Though Gerharz and her family moved to Creston in summer 1999 from Montana, she was born and raised in northern Iowa. After getting her degree from the Univeristy of Iowa, Gerharz spent time living in Chicago, Montana and L.A.

In 1999, Gerharz had one daughter already attending the University of Iowa and another about to follow. She followed them back to her home state alongside her husband and high school-age son, this time settling in Creston.

It was one of Gerharz’s daughters that suggested applying for the Chamber position.

“I had worked in fashion merchandising for the first part of my career and then kind of drifted over to non-profit work,” Gerharz said. “I was an arts center director and then worked for Rocky Mountain College in Billings at their Peace Institute, and so I had both real world experience and non-profit experience. And I was quite active with the Chamber when we lived in Montana and so I had a pretty good idea of what it was.”

Since becoming the director, Gerharz has seen various changes in the community and had a hand in nearly every event. When Creston’s 150th birthday came around in 2019, Gerharz was one of the main forces in planning the celebration.

“We had a good committee,” Gerharz said. “We worked well together, but it was a lot of work. I think the population enjoyed it.”

The sesquicentennial celebration brought about a new Fourth of July tradition too, thanks to Gerharz.

“I reached out to the service clubs during the sesquicentennial, which was in conjunction with the Fourth of July, and requested that they do a barbecue bash. That started [in 2019] they just kept doing it,” Gerharz said.

Other additions Gerharz has brought to Creston and Southwest Iowa include the Paint Creston program, adding the Mormon Trail to the Iowa DOT map, a sign pointing to Creston in Stuart and more flowerpots around town.

Gerharz has worked with various entities in the county, including the Union County Development Association. UCDA Director Mindy Stalker said she’s grateful for all Gerharz has done.

“UCDA has always appreciated the partnership in progress with Ellen and the Creston Chamber of Commerce,” Stalker said. “On a personal note, I truly appreciate Ellen’s fierce advocacy for rural communities at both a local and a state level. It takes a lot of dedication to be a champion for a community, a county and a region for so many years and wish her all the best in her retirement.”

While her work with the Chamber has taken Gerharz through plenty of ups and downs at all hours of the day, she has no regrets.

“It’s been an enjoyable job and it isn’t really a job,” Gerharz said. “I really enjoy what I do, which is working with all the people I have come in contact with, doing some new things.”

While Gerharz officially retires on Wednesday, Oct. 15, a retirement party will be held in her honor from 3 to 6 p.m. Oct. 14 at Liberty Hall in Uptown.

Gerharz has spent the last few weeks training the new executive director, Olivia Cheers, including walking her through this year’s Southwest Iowa Hot Air Balloon Days.

As Gerharz looks to her future retirement, she doesn’t expect to find herself bored like many retirees.

“I’m going to stay in Creston for a while and then just see what the future holds for me,” Gerharz said. “I’m a season ticket holder for the Iowa Hawkeyes, so between now and November, I will spend time over in Iowa City. I’ve got plenty to do around my house, I really do, so I don’t worry about getting bored.”

While her job with the Chamber may be complete, she’ll never forget the people.

“I want to thank them for accepting me, because they have,” Gerharz said. “I want to thank the community for accepting me and always seeming to work for the good of the community in their own ways.”