Anacortes Chamber of Commerce selects new leader

ANACORTES - The Anacortes Chamber of Commerce has hired Melissa Turnage as its next president and CEO following the departure of Jesica Kiser.

Turnage has been the executive director of Fidalgo DanceWorks.

Mark Lione, chair of the chamber's board of directors, said the board is "extremely excited and happy" to have Turnage at the helm of the nonprofit.

"We look forward to a bright and successful future under Melissa's leadership," Lione said in a Tuesday news release.

Turnage, whose first day is Wednesday, has served as executive director of Fidalgo DanceWorks since 2023 after joining that nonprofit in 2020 as its development director.

Turnage is an Army veteran and mother of four who holds bachelor's degrees in history, humanities and nursing as well as a master's in public administration.

She is involved with the Anacortes Rotary Club, the Kiwanis Club of Anacortes, the Anacortes Arts Festival, the Anacortes Creative District's leadership team, youth sports programs such as the Anacortes Lacrosse Club, and several nonprofit initiatives.

At Fidalgo DanceWorks, Turnage has strengthened community partnerships, expanded fundraising efforts and guided a major capital campaign that secured more than $1 million for the purchase and renovation of a new dance studio, according to the release.

"I'm honored to join the Chamber team and excited about the opportunity to bring people together around shared goals, meaningful partnerships, and business success," Turnage said in the release.

"I look forward to working to amplify Anacortes' voice throughout the region and to developing opportunities that help our local economy thrive."

Lione said the chamber received about 25 applications for the position after Kiser's resignation in late May. Kiser's last day was June 19.

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