A Whirlwind for New Canton Chamber of Commerce President

Tracey Rettig's typical day president of Canton Chamber of Commerce is anything but ordinary. On the job just two months, she said she sees great things ahead for the township. She's getting an eyeful, attending multiple events in any given weeks along with her regular duties.

Though she’s a Berkley resident, Rettig lived in Canton for a few years in the 1990s, and said she can’t believe how many of the vacant fields are now sites of shops and businesses serving the community. Even an economic downturn hasn’t stopped the township from moving forward, she said on March 3, her 60-day mark at the job.

“We’re having at least one ribbon-cutting for a new business every week since I started,” Rettig said. “I talk to my Oakland County counterparts, many haven’t even had one in months.”

She said she’s excited about finalizing plans for Chamberopoly, the annual Chamber dinner auction, scheduled for April 16 from from 7 p.m. to midnight. “We usually get about 400 to 500 people. It’s going to be a great time,” she said.

The township is still seeing positive growth, with new businesses building or taking over closed storefronts. Companies continue to seek township approval to open, such as DSW moving into New Towne Plaza on Ford Road, the massive growth of big box retail such as Wal-Mart and Dick’s Sporting Goods going up along Michigan Avenue, restaurants like Los Tres Amigos on Canton Center Road and even renewed subdivision development continues, mostly west of Canton Center.

Rettig’s job is to promote the needs of these companies, as well as serve as a liaison between the business community and the township. Though this is her first public-service position, she said she loves the job.

“I’ve always wanted to work in economic development. Just the other day I was able to find a grant for a local business, it was great to see the owner’s reaction when I showed them how they could gain more funds to help them grow. It’s exciting to be part of the solution,” she said.

Rettig graduated from Michigan State University with a journalism degree in 1988 (both her parents worked for the Detroit News, and her grandfather had been at the Detroit Times), but immediately entered the marketing world by creating magazines for the Engineering Society of Detroit. She liked promoting a business, and continued the work at various companies, most recently as communications manager for Energy Conversion Devices in Rochester Hills.

As the company downsized, however, Rettig said she realized she wanted to get into non-profit work, and started on a graduate degree at Lawrence Technological University. She has some experience in the field, as a member and serving on the boards of the MSU Extension Leadership Council, the Association for Professional Fundraisers, the Detroit Women’s Economic Club (now called Inform) and the Junior League of Birmingham.

“Through my work at LTU, someone pointed out the job opening in Canton. I remembered what I love about the community, it’s so vibrant and family friendly. I realized this is what I want to do,” Rettig said.

Joan Noricks, president of the , said she’s thrilled with the work that Rettig has done so far. “She’s such a collaborative, innovative person, open to new ideas,” Noricks said. “We definitely have some challenges ahead in Canton, it’s a scary time for residents who have lost jobs or suffered pay cuts. When considering cuts, the township leaders are going to have to stay attuned to what the residents want or don’t need. But I think we’ll all pull together…I see good things ahead.”