Superior chamber executive to leave in July

SUPERIOR — Deana Miller, executive director of the Superior Chamber of Commerce, has resigned effective after the community’s Fourth of July celebration.

In a letter posted on the Superior chamber website, the chamber board said that Miller had resigned and that a search is underway for a new executive director.

“During her time with the chamber, Deana ensured the smooth operations of our regular events, implemented new programs, and collaborated with regional partners to secure additional funding for chamber operations through grants. Plus, in the aftermath of the Marshall Fire, Deana has been instrumental in the relief efforts,” the letter said.

Miller told BizWest that her decision to resign was more personal than professional. “The [Marshall] fire has taken a lot out of me. My mental health and my family’s mental health was affected; it was not the right fit for me,” she said. 

“The community needs all the help it can get and needs someone with the energy for the next phase. We’re on the upswing, but I’ve the energy personally,” she said.

She is credited with “organizing sponsorships that supplied meals to thousands of displaced community members, reaching out to area businesses to see what support was needed, bringing attention to local businesses’ needs through the media, securing a space for a free business resource center, and educating both businesses and residents on the funding available to assist them in getting back on their feet.”

The board acknowledged that the work was “no doubt, daunting. But, she handled the adversity with grace, poise, and a singular focus on helping in any way she could.”

Miller started in the role in September 2021. She is a Boulder native who spent several years as Superior’s arts and events supervisor in addition to various roles across the state, including stints as a technical adviser with Downtown Colorado Inc. and as a Colorado creative industries manager with the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade.

“It felt like I was coming home,” she told BizWest when she started her new role.

In the published statement from the chamber board, Miller was quoted as saying, “The chamber has given me such a wonderful opportunity to use my strengths, and I leave the chamber in a strong position to help the community through the next phase of the Marshall Fire recovery and building the new downtown. I am happy to have accomplished so much in such a short amount of time. I loved connecting with the chamber’s membership, and I appreciated the welcoming nature of the tight-knit community it enjoys. I will take long-lasting friendships with me.”

Editor’s note: This story has been updated with comments from Deana Miller.

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