The Delta County Chamber of Commerce welcomes its newest employee, Matthew Valiquette, who will serve as the Chamber and U.P. State Fair’s Operations Manager.
As operations manager, Valiquette will make important strategic, planning and policy decisions. He will also develop, implement, and review current operational policies and procedures along with hiring and supervising maintenance personnel. He will also make sure that the valuable resources of the organizations are used as efficiently as possible.
Most recently, Valiquette worked as Executive Director of the Bay Area Workforce Development Board in Green Bay, where he coordinated and oversaw all of the business affairs of the organization. In this position, he led a diverse 40-member Board of Directors across an 11-county region of Northeast Wisconsin. As the executive director, he managed over $50 million in federal, state and local grants over a 10-year period.
Valiquette also served as a military intelligence officer in the U.S. Marine Corps, honorably retiring in 2009 following a 21-year active-duty career which included multiple combat tours in Iraq. He was also a master instructor for the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD, where he taught political science and served as faculty advisor to more than 100 students majoring in political science.
Valiquette holds a master’s degree in national security affairs from Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, CA, a bachelor’s degree in political science from Ohio State University, and an associate’s degree in business administration from University of Maryland. Originally from Escanaba, Valiquette graduated from Escanaba Area High School in 1988.
“Matt has an impressive background and brings to our organizations all the skills that we are looking for in an operations manager,” said Delta County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Vickie Micheau. “He has exceptional communication and leadership abilities, which are crucial for motivating staff members and connecting with stakeholders.”
“Clearly I’m navigating a steep learning curve, but I’m also very thankful for the opportunity to learn from extremely knowledgeable and experienced pros with Vickie and Sheila [Sheila Krueger, Chamber Associate Director], unequivocally two of the absolute best in the business,” Valiquette said. “I’m beyond grateful and excited to join the Chamber and U.P. State Fair team, and look forward to collaborating and contributing to the truly amazing and positive team that works tirelessly to make a difference in bettering our community.”
As the Chamber’s Operations Manager, he has many goals for the coming year, while learning about the operations of the Chamber and U.P. State Fair.
“My initial primary goals are really focused on familiarizing myself with current operations and building relationships with the countless community stakeholders involved in the Chamber and U.P. State Fair,” he said. “As my knowledge level develops, I look forward to strategically enhancing our Facilities Maintenance and Renovation plan, ensuring we are responsibly allocating our resources to priorities collectively identified by our Board and Authority leadership.”
Valiquette says that he is eager to share his experiences and devote his expertise and knowledge to his home area and the businesses and residents of the U.P.
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