Executive Director Kristina Wiltgen resigns from the Decorah Area Chamber of Commerce

The Executive Director of the Decorah Area Chamber of Commerce,
Kristina Wiltgen, has announced her resignation. Wiltgen made the announcement to the DACC board Friday, during the August meeting.

Wiltgen joined the DACC in 2003 as the Director of Operations and was named Executive Director in 2016. She holds an Institute for Organization Management (IOM) certification form the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and was nominated by her peers for Director of the Year at the Mid-American Chamber Executives conference in 2019.

"This has been a difficult decision for me," says Wiltgen, "I am extremely proud of the work the DACC does to fulfill our mission within the business community. I am hopeful that our efforts will play a role in supporting the local economy now and in the future, and assist the DACC in securing new leadership."

Wiltgen's leadership aided in the development of the "Drift less. Visit more." tourism brand and enhanced collaboration with Winneshiek County Development & Tourism. She has been instrumental in the development and execution of the Leadership Decorah program in an effort to foster connections and provide education to local professionals. Wiltgen's efforts to support small business in rural communities through the COVID-19 pandemic gained her an appointment to the Expanding Workforce Working Group under the Economic Recovery Advisory Board established by Governor Reynolds.

In recent years Wiltgen also led community efforts with the JCPenney transition, hosting RAGBRAI as a pass-through community, and updated holiday decorations.

"The leadership and knowledge that Kristina has brought to DACC and the Greater Decorah Area business community over the past 17 years has been incredible.  She has made the DACC one of the top chambers in the region. We want to thank her for her years of dedication and hard work, and wish her the best of luck in her new endeavors," says Joe Gavle, DACC Board President.

Wiltgen will continue in her role at the DACC while a sccessor is being sought.