Staff

The Greater Idaho Falls Chamber of Commerce creates a foundation for its members by being the leading business resource for networking, advocacy, and educational activities. We work together with businesses to create and protect competitive advantage for business in the Greater Idaho Falls area. The Chamber creates opportunities for your business through our many services and programs.

Chip Schwarze
Chief Executive Officer
208-523-1010 Option 5

Chip has been the CEO for the Greater Idaho Falls Chamber of Commerce and the Idaho Falls Convention and Visitors Bureau since March 2017. He has a strong background in the administration of large volunteer organizations, fundraising, business to business sales, sales management, finance, and entrepreneurship. He most recently worked as a district director for the Boy Scouts of America in Olympia, Washington, where he was the lead administrator for three districts covering all of southwestern Washington. Schwarze also has ties to the Idaho Falls area, as he previously worked as a financial advisor and sales manager in Idaho Falls for several years.

Schwarze is a graduate of Brigham Young University–Idaho. Schwarze and his wife have five grown children, three of whom reside in the Idaho Falls area.

Lois Mackes
Business Operations Manager
208-523-1010 Option 4

Previously, Lois has been the Program and Events Manager since February 2018 and has now been switched to Business Operations Manager in June 2019.

Lois has a background in relationship building and coordination of successful teams. Her work experience includes project management, planning and logistics, volunteer coordination, human resources, marketing, customer service, and business management.

Lois earned her bachelor’s degree in Business Management from the University of Phoenix. She is a longtime resident of Idaho Falls having moved from New York in 1985. Lois has been involved in and supported the community through church, school, and other volunteer activities. Lois and her husband, Shurl, have five children and eight grandchildren and enjoy spending time with family and fishing the South Fork.

Aaron James
Marketing and Communications
208-523-1010 Option 2
Aaron James has been the Marketing Coordinator since June 2019.

He is a native to Idaho Falls and is a Brigham Young University-Idaho Graduate, with a Bachelor’s in Communications.

With his mentality to learn and try new things, Aaron ran a small marketing business in his college town to help college students create professional-looking brands with a tight budget. Also, Aaron served a two-year service mission in Japan for his church, and also was an English school teacher in mainland China with a teacher program. All these experiences he treasures and hopes to create new and unique opportunities for himself and those around him.
In his spare time, Aaron enjoys drawing with whatever is his in hands, taking photos of timeless moments, traveling the world, to experience new things, and to just simply relax.
Stacy Butcher
Programs and Events Manager
208-523-1010 Option 3

Stacy Has been Program and Events Manger since November 2019.

Stacy comes to us with over 30 years of small business experience.  Working with everything from hospitality management to the boutique wine industry.  She recently relocated to Idaho Falls with her husband and love the community here. Together with her husband, they share 6 grown children and a mini Australian Shepard.  In her spare time, she enjoys running, camping, and exploring all that Southeast Idaho has to offer.  In her new role, she’s excited to get involved with this community and watching it continue to thrive.

Wayne Davis
Membership development Specialist
208-523-1010 Option 6
membership@idahofallschamber.com

Wayne joined the Chamber of Commerce in March 2019.

He brings to the Chamber 20+ years of Sales and Marketing experience with Fortune 50 companies including Federal Express, AOL and Verizon Wireless. He also has experience with not for profit as District Executive in Utah with the Boy Scouts of America and as Minsiter in Oklahoma, Arkansas and Tennessee with the Church of the Nazarene and Cumberland Church.

He earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Benthany Nazrene College and Masters level studies at Nazarene Theological Seminary and Memphis Theological Seminary.

Wayne and his wife reside in Idaho Falls and have 5 grown children and nine grandchildren.

Lauren Deerfoot
Intern

Lauren Deerfoot is a current student at Brigham Young University – Idaho studying Business Management, and is interning with us for the winter. She hopes to one day open and operate a nonprofit for Native American youth, but currently she enjoys taking photos, playing sports, and traveling to dance in Native American powwows in her free time.