Susan Gorski: 20-year advocate helps grow the Ghugiak-Eagle River community.

• Author: Bohi, Heidi
• Position: TOWNS IN TRANSITION: SIDEBAR - Chugiak-Eagle River Chamber of Commerce

One Santa suit, two white beards I and wigs later, the thing Susan Gorski still likes most about being executive director of the Chugiak-Eagle River Chamber of Commerce is the diversity that comes with the job.

Since she first started as director in 1989, the result of her late mother suggesting Gorski simply volunteer, she has worn a lot of hats. She has been groundskeeper for the community garden. Administrator. Membership developer. Interior decorator. Marketing and public relations strategist. Cleaning lady. Banker, secretary, lobbyist. Peacekeeper. De facto mayor.

And special events coordinator. Which brings her back to the Santa gig. As a staff of one during her first year on the job, she decided the Chamber would host a holiday tree lighting. So she blew into Pay 'n Save, bought a Santa suit, took it home to her husband Jim, an attorney, and said, "Put this on." After 300 kids pulled and poked at him for the better part of the day, he swore he'd never do it again. "He's still the town Santa today," she says laughing. "He has become Santa," and now is escorted by eight real reindeer from the Reindeer Farm in Palmer during what has become one of the biggest charity events of the year there.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Looking back, it isn't the first time she used her instincts and can-do attitude to develop the Chamber and the community with a grass roots approach that the community lauds her for.

"Twenty years ago I didn't even know what a bedroom community was," she says from the office that she shares with 14-year veteran Merry Braham, who manages all special events now. "It was nuts: the Chamber had no...