By ROBERT A. DEFRANK

ST. CLAIRSVILLE — Wendy Anderson is at the forefront of promoting all that Belmont County’s businesses have to offer as director of the St. Clairsville Area Chamber of Commerce.

Anderson said networking is a primary focus of her job.

“We make sure that all of our members are aware of networking events. We connect them with others in the business world that want to connect. We help our members with discounted insurance,” she said.

She said these efforts are facilitated by her involvement with civic organizations.

“I am involved with the United Way of the Ohio Valley, Wheeling Symphony, Heart Association, I am on the council of Brookside,” she said.

She has been married to Dave Anderson for 12 years. She has three children, Jason, Joey and Amanda, as well as stepchildren Bethany and Whitney.

“Which all together have given us 15 (grandkids) plus one of the way,” she said.

She added the family also includes mixed Labradors Honey and Sugar and two cats, George and KiKi.

Anderson has some advice for young women starting out or interested in her field.

“Don’t be shy. Remember, you and only you can predict your future. Try out several jobs. See what makes you happy. Don’t worry about friends’ or family opinions. You are the one that needs to live with a job for years. Make it a happy place to go to every day,” she said. “Be true to you.”

She also sees the role of women in her field evolving in the Ohio Valley.

“We are so much bolder than before. We are taking more of a lead in the business world. Most of my friends either own their business or are the executive directors. Progress has been made in the ongoing efforts of education, employment and leadership and will continue,” she said.

While the job has been rewarding, Anderson said the moment when she knew her current field was her calling was during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

“We had started Coffee and Connections for our members to network and connect. We had January, February then COVID made us stop. That didn’t stop my members, they wanted to network. They needed to get the message out about their business. They really missed the C&C face-to-face,” she noted. “We knew we had to do something, so we went to the Zoom platform. We had over 60 participants. That was huge. That’s when I knew that networking and connection was so important to our members.”

She said the ability to be flexible is one of the bright spots in the Ohio Valley.

“When the Ohio Valley asks for help, help arrives, such as the toy drive for United Way. The Ohio Valley gave so much for the less fortunate,” she said. “When we see a need we step up.”

Her motto is: “Believe in yourself. If a cauliflower can be a pizza, you can be anything!”