Amanda F. Swain And Daniel Richards Join Ridgway Chamber Board
A new outdoor adventure store owner and local brewery owner are the two newest members of the Ridgway Area Chamber of Commerce (RACC) Board of Directors. Amanda F. Swain of Ridgway Adventure Sports and Daniel Richards of Colorado Boy Pub & Brewery bring their specific industry knowledge to the chamber, to help develop promotions for its five Ridgway tourism themes: Outdoor Adventure, Culinary Experiences, Arts & Entertainment, Health & Wellness, and History & Heritage.
“The Chamber Board is thrilled with the additions of Amanda and Daniel. Daniel brings the important and previously lacking perspective of a culinary business leader to the board, and Amanda will bring the unique perspective of a business owner launching a new outdoor recreation store in Ridgway. The two of them round out a full board with a diversity of perspectives and business sector representation,” Chamber Board President Colin Lacy said.
The addition of Amanda Swain and Daniel Richards to the board, brings its membership to seven – the first full slate in several years. Over the past two years, the chamber has been in transition with new board members, new staff and a revised, updated website and visitors guide.
"I am excited to become part of RACC. During my first meeting, it was quickly apparent that the members respect and care deeply about the community and want sustained growth in all business types, age groups and an overall vibrant economy in Ridgway. Being a new business owner, I want to understand the needs in the town and how I can best participate to meet them,” said Swain, who opened Ridgway Adventure Sports with co-owner Andy Persio at 109 N Lena St. (the former Unicas Southwest store) on May 24.
“About four years ago, while living in San Francisco, I began strategizing how to move to the mountains that I fell in love with when my grandparents moved to Ouray in the ‘90s. I was very fortunate to have family in the area all these years and I am thrilled to live here permanently,” she said.
Her past volunteer work has ranged from fostering dogs to organizing silent auctions for nonprofits.
Richards, who came on the chamber board at the same time, is an avid supporter of local town events, the Sherbino Theater and Weehawken Creative Arts. The owner of Colorado Boy Pub & Brewery at 602 Clinton St. has lived in Ridgway for three years. After his initial job with IBM, he left his corporate information technology career to start his first brewpub Echo Brewing Company in Frederick, Colo., with his twin brother Dennis in 2012. Richards bought Colorado Boy in 2015.
“I joined the RACC Board to work together with local groups in taking an active role in helping the Ridgway area business community thrive,” he said.
The Ridgway Area Chamber of Commerce is organized to achieve the objectives of promoting business and community growth and development in the Town of Ridgway and the surrounding area. The chamber also operates the Ridgway Visitors Center, which is open from May 1 to October 1 and is located at 150 Racecourse Road, Ridgway, Colorado 81432. For more information, visit ridgwaycolorado.com.