RANGELY I Brooke Lohse’s last name was Smith when she was graduated from Rangely High School in 2000. She’s returning to her hometown with a college degree, a husband and two sons. Lohse will be the new executive director of the Rangely Chamber of Commerce.
“It’s fantastic,” Lohse said of her new position, which started Nov. 21. “It feels good to be back. We’ve been taking the boys to events around town, which is part of the reason we wanted to move here.”
After high school graduation, Lohse attended Mesa State College (now Colorado Mesa University) in Grand Junction and earned a bachelor of science degree in mass communications in 2004. Since earning her degree, Lohse has worked in banking and marketing and accounting for a car rental company in Grand Junction.
“I did an internship with the Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce, and I’m excited to get things going here again,” Lohse said. “We want to do some new things to entice members to join, promote their businesses and things to do in the area.”
Lohse plans to update the chamber’s website and get out to meet all the members.
“People are using the Internet more and more,” Lohse said. “I’m excited to get out and meet all the people and their businesses and see what their needs are. We want to help fill needs and provide some educational opportunities for them.”
Lohse said her husband Charlie, who is from Littleton, Colo., wanted to move to Rangely after his first visit. The couple is happy for the opportunity to raise their sons Cutler, age 2, and Gavin, 7 months, in Rangely.
“We really wanted to move back here to raise our boys,” Lohse said.
