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
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.

 

linkedin

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.

Louis 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.

Emily Slike
Programs and Events Manager
208-523-1010 Option 3
Emily joined the Chamber of Commerce in June 2019.
She was born and raised in Hailey, Idaho. Emily has always had a love of public service work and spent two years as an AmeriCorps member in the Wood River Valley. After receiving her B.A. from the University of Idaho, she received her J.D. from the University of Montana School of Law.
In her free time, Emily enjoys dancing, rock climbing, biking, skiing, hiking, running, reading, and theatre.
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.