by VERONICA GORDON
Buda Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Cindy Swink is hoping Buda residents and business owners will come by the office and have a glass of tea or lemonade.
“Or some coffee if that’s what you like,” Swink said with a broad smile as she started her first week on the job.
Swink is the chamber’s third executive director in the past few months. Her predecessor Terry Capps resigned in June. Capps replaced Dick Schneider, who retired in February after 11 years.
“I’m not concerned about that,” Swink said. “I’m going to hit the ground running. I’m laser-focused on my job. I expect nothing but good things.”
Swink, a native Texan, recently worked in real estate in Florida. She returned to the area to be closer to her family. Swink plans to get to know the business owners and residents of Buda.
Swink said she has been pleasantly surprised by the diversity of the community.
“It’s so multi-faceted,” she added. “But all the people and businesses have such positive energy.”
Swink said her philosophy is for the chamber to be a resource for local business owners.
“We can help them to maximize their marketing efforts through our website and networking opportunities,” she said. “We are also helping to generate leads for them.”
Swink said she hopes to grow the chamber membership base through continued networking events, luncheons and ribbon cutting events.
“We are here to help businesses be successful,” she said. “I want to facilitate relationships and reach out to those who would benefit from membership.”
The current economy has been challenging for many business owners, Swink said. She said she hopes to support the community and citizens through difficult economic times.
“If we don’t have the answers for them, we will do our darndest to try to find them,” she said.