The Lake Today

For Trisha Creach, Camdenton reminds her of her hometown. After serving the Lake Area Chamber of Commerce in the executive director role and stepping in the same role for the Camdenton Chamber on Dec. 1, she is ready to use this sentiment to help promote the Camden County seat and Lake Area as a whole.

“It feels like a ‘homecoming’ to some degree,” she said. “It was an opportunity to continue to promote the Lake of the Ozarks while exploring another Lake community.”

Creach has 17 years serving the Lake Area Chamber of Commerce, served in and contributed to numerous local, statewide and nationwide organizations and enjoys spending time with her family near Camdenton. Her love of Lake of the Ozarks drives her ambition to encourage everyone – resident and visitor alike – to enjoy the area as much as she has.

“The Lake of the Ozarks is a one-of-a-kind waterfront community that supports not only the tourism industry but has also quickly become a year-round region that fosters diverse business developments and services, a strong retirement appeal and a great place to call home with an exceptional quality of life,” she said.

A passion for the Lake

Creach grew up on a small farm in southwest Missouri, and has come full circle with a similar personal life at Lake of the Ozarks.

“I am married to Cary Creach, assistant principal at the Calhoun School District and have one beautiful (11-year-old) stepdaughter, Kylee. We enjoy life on the farm with a collection of animals, many of which have turned into pets,” she said.

Even though Creach moved to the Lake full-time in 1992, her parents purchased a Lake home in the mid-80’s, which was the beginning of great memories on the waters of Lake of the Ozarks, she noted.

As a Mizzou fan, Creach attended the University of Missouri in Columbia. Her first major was fisheries, forestry and wildlife, but during her sophomore year she decided parks, recreation and tourism was her true calling, she said.

“In 1994, I received a bachelor’s degree in parks, recreation and tourism and was offered an internship with the Lake Area Chamber of Commerce,” she said. “On weekends and during the summer months, I would travel through the lake area from college to go back home. It did not take long to fall in love with the Lake of the Ozarks and decide to call it home. “

Under the leadership of Al Fisch at the Lake Area Chamber, she fulfilled her internship, already making a mark on the Lake Area community.

“As part of my internship I had to complete a lodging assessment on every property on the east side,” she said. “It was a tool utilized for many years to assist visitors.”

Once her internship was complete, Creach found out a position opened up at the Lake Area Chamber as an administrative assistant. She served in that role, then served as the director of marketing and was present with and became the executive director in 2000.

Helping the Lake grow

“The Executive Director carries out the directives of the board of directors, which includes the general management and coordination of all organizational activities,” she said.

However, Creach, along with her devoted staff, volunteers and partinerships with other tourism and economic driven organization at the Lake, has done much more to make the Lake Area thrive as a whole.

In its simplest definition, a chamber is an advocate and promoter of businesses, particularly their members, Creach stated. With the chamber serving as a conduit, the business community is able to focus their energies for a greater impact.

“In doing so, it develops a secondary result, that of educator of the business community to the inter-relationship of all of its members and how each must be dependent on the other if there is to be healthy economic growth for the entire Lake Area,” she said. “In 1994 the Lake Area Chamber of Commerce membership was 548 and today, the Lake Area Chamber is 800 members strong.”

One of the most significant things the Lake Area Chamber has done is help secure the Chamber’s home at Willmore Lodge. This historic log cabin is a landmark facility that today, attracts more than 25,000 visitors annually seeking to learn more about our wonderful community.

“In addition, the infrastructure developments to meet the needs of our community have been significant accomplishments that the Lake Area Chamber of Commerce has played a role in along with many others in our region,” she added.

There are so many programs that involved the entire Chamber team in which Creach is very proud including the Support the Fort, Lake of the Ozarks Regional Economic Development Council, Water Safety Council, Run for the Fallen, and the many special events that continue to boost the best of Lake.

In fact, in 2003 being recognized as the Outstanding Community Supporter from the Commanding General of Fort Leonard Wood fostered the important relationship with the neighboring military installation, Creach said.

In recent years, Creach has served as president of the Chamber of Commerce Executives of Missouri and Chair of the Southeast Board of Regents for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. In addition, she received the Institute of Organizational Management (IOM) designation following four years of study with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

“I am so grateful for the wonderful time at the Lake Area Chamber. It has been a honor to serve the Lake Area Chamber of Commerce business community alongside a dedicated staff and proactive Board of Directors,” she said. “I have experienced so many wonderful memories at the Lake Area Chamber; it is difficult to pick just one. From special visitors at Willmore to kicking off a new event, I cherish 17 years of great experiences and memories. I have been so blessed to get to know what makes this community so great and that is the people of this area.”

Expanding her service

Outside her duties with the Lake Area Chamber, Creach has been involved with numerous civic organizations such as participating in the first-ever Homemade Boat Races to benefit Kids Harbor to attending important fundraisers for other local organizations such as the recent Citizens Against Domestic Violence Annual Brunch.

“In 2011, the honor of being named as one of the TOP 10 Women of the Year at the Lake of the Ozarks was a huge highlight,” she told The Lake Today. “I have been very involved with Big Brother/Big Sisters as a "big" and have been a member of the Rotary Club for many years.”

Creach looks forward to and is excited to soon be serving the Camdenton Area business community and look forward to meeting the membership.

“I hope to bring a certain passion and committment to the development of the Camdenton Area Chamber of Commerce, and to continue to enhance its relationships with its members and the community,” she said.

Overall, Creach believes that the Lake of the Ozarks is a one-of-a-kind waterfront community that supports not only the tourism industry but has also quickly become a year-round region that fosters diverse business developments and services, a strong retirement appeal and a great place to call home with an exceptional quality of life.

“As a representative of the Lake Area, the challenges faced by the chamber often directly parallel the challenges faced by the lake region,” she said. “A challenge is an opportunity for growth and development with any issue. The current opportunities being pursued are business retention efforts, area beautification projects, a collective marketing campaign and regional economic development initiatives.”