A Yakima Valley native who is a recent graduate of Washington State University has been hired as the new director of the Toppenish Chamber of Commerce.
Bethany Carpenter’s first day at the helm of the chamber was Monday, April 26.
Carpenter graduated from Granger High School in 2006. She earned her bachelor or arts degree in public relations from WSU in December of 2009.  Carpenter’s family has deep roots in the Yakima Valley, including a fourth-generation family farming operation. Her great-grandfather, Tom Carpenter established the farm on Carpenter Road near Granger. Her grandfather, Tom, Jr. then continued the farming tradition, raising hops and fruit, followed by her father and his brothers. With the addition of a cousin this past year, the farm is now in its fourth generation in the Valley. Carpenter said her brother also plans to become a part of the family legacy.
Carpenter loves the Yakima Valley.
“It is beautiful here,” she said about living in the area. “We have the most beautiful sunsets.”
Carpenter noted she is excited to land her first job, which is a close fit to her public relations major. She has been working with Susan Trenner, the outgoing chamber manager for the past week. According to Carpenter, Trenner will continue working at the chamber for two more weeks.
“I am getting to know people, meeting local businesses and other members of the community,” Carpenter said.
Her first big chamber event will be the annual Mural-In-A-Day on June 4 and 5.
“Toppenish is a great place,” she said. “It is a really unique town. Not a lot of places can say they have 70-plus murals in their community.”
The history of the murals and the city’s Wild West theme are also a good fit for Carpenter, who minored in history at WSU.
Carpenter is looking to add a few new ideas once she gets settled. She has some experience in video edition and plans to add video pieces to the chamber’s popular website, including footage of Mural-In-A-Day and other local events during the coming year. She is also creating a Facebook page for Toppenish.
“I am just excited to be here and to get to know everyone,” she said. “I want everyone to know all the things that Toppenish has to offer.”
In her free time, Carpenter likes to spend time with her large family, which includes her parents, a younger brother and three younger sisters. She likes to play tennis, volleyball and is learning to play the guitar. Around town, folks will find her traveling in “Dusty Dodger” her 1996 Dodge pickup.
“I love it,” she said about her pickup, “I am going to keep it for as long as it runs. It’s a great truck.”
Last winter, she traveled with several members of her church to an orphanage in Africa.
“It was an amazing experience,” she said. “I will never forget it.”
Carpenter’s office at the Chamber is at the Toppenish VIC Center,