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Jen Radtke, the new executive director of the Greenville Area Chamber of Commerce, is excited to take the next step in her career after being hired at the start of this month. — DN file photo
GREENVILLE — Following a winding career that has bounced around between the roles of planning weddings and events, working as a theater production coordinator and working triage in the ER, Jen Radtke is embracing the latest chapter of her career as the new executive director of the Greenville Area Chamber of Commerce.
Following the resignation of Paul Sischo, who left for another job after more than three years leading the Chamber, Radtke saw an opportunity to put to use the skills she has learned throughout working a variety of professions.
Radtke said she was thrilled to receive the offer to become the new executive director, which saw her leave her part-time position as the production coordinator for the Greenville Public Schools Performing Arts Center after six years.
“I have been trained in customer service and administrative practices, marketing techniques, community involvement, event planning — every single thing that I’ve done in my past has almost led me to this role,” she said. “Now it’s up to me to just run with it. All of my life experiences have just been preparing me for this role.”
Jen moved to Greenville along with her husband, Joe Radtke, and their two sons, Jacob and Miles, after Joe was hired as the band director at Greenville Middle School in 2019.
Jen Radtke, the new executive director of the Greenville Area Chamber of Commerce, center, is embracing her new role while joined by her staff, Member Services Administrator Chelsea Baker, left, and summer intern Audrey Belding. — DN Photo | Cory Smith
Radtke was subsequently hired within the school district’s theater department. She is sad to leave the world of local school productions behind, but excited at the prospect of leading the Chamber.
“I have been with GPS since 2019, and I love that job and being in the community. I’m super sad to be leaving that position, as we do a lot in that little office with very few resources over there,” she said. “But this is a very decent next step as far as getting out there even more in the community,” she said. “I have some big shoes to fill, but I’ve always been interested in working with people. So this is just a really good step for me to take as far as that goes. This is something that I believe will be very fulfilling.”
Radtke, who started in her new position at the beginning of this month, said her goal for the summer is to strengthen the base that Sischo had already started.
“I’m getting my feet wet, becoming familiar with the procedures of the office and stepping up to fill the role as the board needs me to do it,” she said. “Right now I’m just taking it one step at a time. In one of my former lives, one of my jobs was event planning and wedding planning that I did on my own. It’s always nice to see all of the moving parts come together to make an event happen. For that to be a success, that’s the best feeling in the world, and I feel confident I can do that here at the chamber.”
In her role as the theater production coordinator, Radtke said that with helping to run dozens of live shows and events every year, she is more than used to dealing with so many moving pieces — things that occur behind the scenes that most people don’t realize are happening — to bring shows and events to life.
“It helps to have great people to work with as well, and here at the Chamber, it was nice coming into an already established, well-oiled machine,” she said. “The Chamber is such a great resource for people to connect, first, with other people. Then, it’s people to business, business to business, and then business to community. We’re the right place to find all the resources that are needed for those connections.”
With less than a week on the job, Radtke’s tenure started with a bang with the annual Chamber golf outing on June 6.
“I wanted to come in and start before the golf outing, to meet as many people in one place as I could,” she said. “That was a great opportunity to begin networking and it went very well.”
Despite the hectic first week on the job, Chamber Executive Board Chair Darci Ward Cole said Radtke has jumped into the position headfirst, already leaving a positive impression.
“We are happy to welcome Jen aboard,” she said. “She jumped right into the fire her first week with our golf outing and did a great job. She was a strong candidate throughout the interview process. The chamber holds, or is involved in, many events. She already had experience working on events in this area so we knew she could bring some ideas and experience to the table. She is outgoing and has a personality that we feel will blend well with our staff. She is already showing strong leadership and has a willingness to get to know our community members. Jen is a wonderful addition to the team.”
Radtke said the job has also been off to a good start, thanks in part to the support she has received from the Chamber board and her staff, which includes Member Services Administrator Chelsea Baker and summer intern Audrey Belding.
“It’s been great and everyone has been very supportive,” she said. “My board members, they are super supportive as well, encouraging me, getting my face out there and being out in the community.”
Originally from the village of Shepherd in Isabella County, Radtke and Joe were high school sweethearts, having known each other since they attended church together at the age of 10.
The pair eventually lived and worked in Breckenridge for nearly 15 years as Joe taught band and Jen worked as a high school administrative and athletic secretary.
In moving to Greenville, Radtke said it wasn’t difficult for her family to move to the Danish Festival City and call it home.
“I feel like I am capable and I trust that I am,” she said. “I’ve built a good group of people, of friends — my own little community of people who make it a point to build each other up. Having that support has really strengthened my sense of community. For a while, I was a little lost, but I think with having a good group, that’s really helped.”
As for her goals at the Chamber beyond the summer, which include running a successful “Party on Lafayette” event on July 19 downtown, Radtke said she wants to ensure she keeps the train on the tracks before attempting to shake things up too much.
“It’s early for me to say my goal out loud, but I do have a goal of where I want to see this go,” she said. “I want to get started here and make sure this is achievable. I keep a handwritten journal — it’s an affirmation type of thing — but that’s where I have those goals firmly placed. But in order for me to be confident, I want to get started first.”
