Mark Hulst new La Conner Chamber of Commerce director

Just weeks after selling his auto repair business in Burlington, Mark Hulst is revved up for his next gig.

Hulst, owner of the Skagit Cellars tasting room here, has been tapped as the new executive director of the La Conner Chamber of Commerce. He succeeds Heather Carter, who stepped down in June after nine years at the helm.

Hulst was introduced by Chamber board president Chris Jennings at the La Conner Town Council hybrid meeting Oct. 11. Thursday he hosted an open house at the Chamber visitor's center on Morris Street.

Chamber members, town residents and others who filled the chamber offices to meet the new director were upbeat. Nary a face mask was worn.

Hulst was energetic in his remarks, promising to be visible, perhaps aware of the complaint that Carter rarely visited members.

"Our customers are happy to be here," Hulst told the group. "We want them to be. We want them to have the 'wow' factor."

"You will see me out on the street a lot," he pledged. "We need to provide information to businesses. As a business comes to town, they're bound to be successful. We are going to provide success. We will help businesses survive."

Mayor Ramon Hayes and La Conner Town Council members welcomed Hulst's selection, noting his current service on the Mount Vernon City Council and prior work on the Mount Vernon Planning Commission.

"You're perfectly equipped," said Hayes, who recently sold his downtown jewelry store, "to interface between the business community and local government."

Raised in Sedro-Woolley, Hulst has resided in Mount Vernon since 2001. He owned Bavarian Autohaus from 2009 until the end of August. Hulst opened Skagit Cellars Winery in 2012, a year after becoming chair of the Mount Vernon planning commission. He launched the tasting room in La Conner seven years ago.

"La Conner," he said, "is a great place to do business."

Hulst is now in his third term as a Mount Vernon council member, representing the city's second ward.

Taking a lead role at the La Conner Chamber fits nicely with Hulst's dual interests in entrepreneurship and public service, he told the Weekly News.

"I've always wanted to do something to help other businesses grow," he said. "This is an ideal opportunity to do that."

Hulst previously served six years on the Mount Vernon Chamber of Commerce board of directors. He was the board's president in 2010.

Hulst is confident he will be an effective liaison between La Conner's business district and Town Hall.

"I can work well with Town staff," he said. "I work well with other (Mount Vernon) council members. I think my relationship with the town council and staff will be beneficial."

Hulst's immediate goals include increasing staffing at the visitor's center.

"A main focus," he said, "is to recruit enough volunteers to keep the visitor's center open six days a week at some point. One of the things I really want to do is 'staff up' our visitor's center. I want to increase the hours. Even during the middle of the week we have people coming in."

Hulst sees processing information as a key element of his duties as director.

"I want to apprise Chamber members of pending legislation that might affect them," Hulst said. "It would be just facts and no opinions. Part of it would be to let them know who to contact. It's not my role to take a position, but to keep members informed."

He said another task will be to increase awareness among La Conner merchants and business owners of resources available to them through the Economic Development Alliance of Skagit County.

He would also like to build rapport between residents and the business community, helping them join forces on mutual interests and public events, perhaps starting with Christmas caroling during the holiday season.

Hulst said his can-do approach and appetite for positive results allows him to keep his plate full while juggling multiple assignments.

"I really don't have any hobbies," he said. "I guess you could say my hobby is my work. I enjoy being around people and helping any way I can."