Today we’d like to introduce you to Chelsea Scoma.
Hi Chelsea, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
The Grandview Chamber of Commerce has been part of the business fabric of the Grandview and South Kansas City region for more than six decades. The Chamber officially incorporated in 1962 with a mission that remains the same today: to strengthen local commerce, amplify the voices of our business community, and build a connected, thriving Grandview.
Our current leadership team, President Liz Ogle and Membership & Events Manager Chelsea Scoma, each have deep roots in the area. Liz has spent much of her life in South KC and Grandview, becoming a homeowner here in 2008. She worked for well-known Grandview businesses such as Crew’s Jewelry and Grandview Parks & Recreation and even served the Chamber in a contract capacity before officially joining the staff in January 2022. Her dedication and experience led her into the President’s role that October.
Chelsea was working for a Chamber member business when she joined the Chamber’s Board of Directors in April 2022. She joined the staff part-time that July and moved full-time into her Membership & Events role in October. Since then, Liz and Chelsea have operated as a tight two-person team with a shared passion, complementary strengths, and a commitment to serving a community they both deeply love. All under the loving nickname coined by our EDC David Carranza now used by many, the “Dynamic Duo”.
Together, they’ve helped re-energize the Chamber with fresh programming, strategic partnerships, and a renewed focus on the relationships and culture that make Grandview unique. Businesses consistently tell us that what draws them in and keeps them engaged is the comfort, connection, and genuine sense of belonging they feel within our network. We genuinely care about our members and enjoy the relationships we build with each person, and that passion is reflected throughout the Chamber, from our engaged Board of Directors to our dedicated members, all of whom share a genuine desire to support one another.
At its core, the Chamber is about people. When one of our members, Lily’s Play-n-Stay, recently experienced a fire and had to temporarily relocate operations to their newly built Lily’s Rescue Rehab, the response went far beyond business support. All Chambers that Lily’s owner Amy Klein is a member of; from Belton, Grandview, Raymore, and South Kansas City, came together to deliver lunch, snacks, drinks, and comfort for her and her staff during an incredibly challenging time. We also helped connect the story with a local television news anchor to share Lily’s journey and rally community support. It was a powerful reminder that our Chamber is more than meetings and metrics, it’s a network rooted in friendship, care, and showing up for one another when it matters most.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Like many chambers across the country, the Grandview Chamber has recently seen seasons of growth, rebuilding, and reinvention. Our journey has not always been linear, but each challenge has allowed us to build something stronger and more intentional for our business community.
When Liz and Chelsea stepped into their current roles in 2022, they inherited a need for modernized systems, stronger communication channels, and a refreshed approach to programming and the value our members felt. The team immediately began rebuilding committees, re-establishing partnerships, updating processes, and re-engaging businesses who had felt disconnected during years of transition and recovery after COVID.
We are a small Chamber, with around 230 businesses, organizations, and individuals we are proud to call members and friends. As a two-person staff, capacity can be both a challenge and a motivator. Every initiative we launch from major events to advocacy, demands creativity, resourcefulness, and community collaboration. But this “small but mighty” structure is also what allows us to stay personal, nimble, and deeply connected to our members.
We are grateful for our 16-member Board of Directors for their leadership and support. Thanks to them, and our dedicated members, with every challenge comes progress: stronger engagement, more member-driven events, and growing recognition for our Chamber’s work. The journey hasn’t always been smooth, but it has absolutely been worth it, and a lot of fun!
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Grandview Chamber of Commerce?
The Grandview Chamber exists to serve the people and businesses who make this community what it is. We are known for being hands-on, relationship-driven, and deeply invested in the success of every organization we support; from major employers Like Peterson Manufacturing to nonprofits such as the Grandview Assistance Program, entrepreneurs such as board member and ambassador, Brittany Kimble, owner of Studio Plush who was named in the Top 3 of Grandview salons, the Grandview and Hickman-Mills Districts plus our continuing education partners, and family-owned operations like ReLeaf Resources.
What sets us apart is our commitment to being advocates as well as connectors.
In the past year, we’ve:
• Successfully advocated for improved city ordinances to make doing business in Grandview easier.
• Led initiatives recognized at the city and state levels, including a Small Business Week proclamation by the City of Grandview and a formal resolution by Representative Anthony Ealy for our service and innovation.
• Earned multiple awards from CCEM and the Missouri Chamber for Chamber Image, Special Publications, and Member & Community Communications.
We host a dynamic range of events designed to connect our members and community from intentional networking and professional development to signature experiences and large-scale community celebrations. Over the past year, we’ve hosted over 20 ribbon cuttings, launched the NextGen internship program in partnership with our two local school districts, and collaborated a dozen times with regional chambers to expand our networking and create new growth opportunities for members. Our self-built website, created as a resource for members, residents, and local businesses alike, has seen more than 28,000 visits.
One of our most highly anticipated events is Bash on Byars, hitting the stage on June 12, 2026 at the Grandview Amphitheater. We have had birthdays and anniversaries celebrated with us, 2025 even had a proposal under the fireworks! This free, high-energy community celebration is unlike anything Grandview has experienced and it continues to bring residents and businesses together for an unforgettable night of music, fun, and connection.
We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
We live by a simple truth:
“We are only successful by the success of our members.”
This guides every program we build, every partnership we form, and every conversation we have. Increasing value and resources for our members so they can grow their businesses and, in turn, strengthen our city, is the driving force behind every intentional decision we make.
We choose Grandview every day, and we’re proud to support those who choose it too.
For the Grandview Chamber, success isn’t measured in numbers alone, it’s measured in impact, connection, and community strength.
We define success as:
• Members who feel supported, seen, and connected
• Businesses that find opportunities for growth because of new relationships formed within our network
• A community where collaboration is the norm
• Positive policy changes that make it easier to operate in Grandview, and keep doing so
• Events and initiatives that bring people together, energize the local economy, and give our members a place to shine
When a nonprofit finds new supporters…
When a small business celebrates a milestone…
When a major employer steps up to invest in the city’s future…
When our members say, “I feel at home here”…
That is success for us.
Our purpose is to build the environment where businesses and the people behind them can thrive. If our members are winning, then we are, too.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.grandviewmochamber.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grandviewmochamber/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GrandviewMOChamber
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grandviewmochamber
- Twitter: https://x.com/gmochamber
- Other: https://www.facebook.com/BashOnByars
