New Chamber of Commerce director sees Newton’s potential

Even as a self-described “transplant” of Newton, KayLea Marchant sees the city’s potential, and she cannot wait to help it become fully realized in the years to come as the new executive director of the Greater Newton Area Chamber of Commerce, a position she fully stepped into this week.

“I’m just excited for Newton,” Marchant said in a recent interview with Newton News. “I think there’s a lot of good things happening, and some people don’t necessarily see it or even believe it. But there really are some exciting things. And I’m just really excited to be a small piece of it.”

Marchant originally grew up in Minnesota, but she and her family often stayed in Newton during Knoxville Nationals. They would also turn laps at the Newton Kart Klub. So it comes as no surprise that she would eventually call Newton home and end up working at the Iowa Speedway for more than eight years.

“I went to college in Des Moines (AIB College of Business), and Newton and Knoxville were kind of my safe places,” she said. “…After college graduation I started my internship at Iowa Speedway that March, and my mom and dad moved me to Newton in 2007. And I’ve been here ever since.”

When the executive director position opened up, a number of people reached out to her and told her she should apply, telling her it was something she would enjoy and was right up her alley. As an employee for the racetrack she often found herself working alongside young professionals and networking with others.

For the leader of the Newton Chamber those are great qualities to have. The Chamber Board of Directors announced her hiring on May 8, saying her strong background in sales and marketing roles, as well as her service on the Main Street Board of Directors, gives her a unique blend of experiences.

Marchant is already thinking of ways to uplift Newton’s character to be closer to places like Pella and Waverly, for example. Both of those cities have memorable and charming downtown atmospheres. In order for a town to feel successful, it is going to take work from more entities than just the city, Marchant said.

“The city can’t do it all on its own,” Marchant said. " It needs help. And I think that’s where the collaboration comes into play and being a team member and really just make our space, our town one of those places that you want to come to and feel that same feeling (as Waverly or Pella) when you drive in.”

When it comes to makes a successful Newton, Marching said the Chamber’s role is to connect and network with businesses big and small.

“We have so many new businesses here than even when I first moved to Newton, and there are bigger ones, too,” Marchant said. “I think finding ways to bring those together — the small ones, the big ones — and getting them all on board and in the same place is important.”

Marchant sees something different about Newton. While much of its history is tied to the Maytag family, she argues there is much more to Newton than people realize. It also held two huge marketing companies. It has the racetrack. New, modern-day investments also show promise.

To her, the town is in “a cute little pocket” just off of Interstate 80.

“We have so much going for us,” Marchant said. “There is so much here and it just needs to be shared. And that’s where I am excited to be part of sharing it.”