For its first hundred years, the Duluth Chamber of Commerce was something of a men-only business organization until 1971 when women were finally invited to the annual dinner. Two years later, Julia Marshall became the first woman appointed to the Chamber’s Board of Directors. In 1988 another milestone was achieved when Cynthia Haden became the first woman to chair the board.
Fast forward to November 2024 when the 154-year-old organization took a big leap forward with the unanimous election of Chiamaka Enemuoh to chair the board, making her the first person of color and the first immigrant to hold that position.
“Quite frankly, I was shocked when I got the call that I was unanimously selected by the nominating committee,” she said. “I’m really grateful. It’s been a long time coming, and I know that to some people it might seem like that should have happened long before now. But I’m grateful to be the one to lead in the community where I have also, like I like to say, grown up.”
Enemuoh is a Nigerian immigrant whose family – her parents and three siblings – moved to the U.S. when she was in her teens to build a life of opportunity here. After earning a business degree at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, Enemuoh relocated to Duluth. That was two decades ago.
“I’ve spent more time in Duluth than my birthplace,” she said. “This is where I have built my life, from the bottom to where I am right now. So, I’m grateful to be honored in that sense, because it’s not something I was expecting. I was just doing what I felt was right.”
Doing what was right included earning a nursing degree and a Doctor of Nursing practice degree from the College of St. Scholastica, working for others in the health care field, and then starting her own health care business – Lifestone Health Care, an assisted living facility in Proctor. She also serves as chief manager of Ponemo, a real estate company.
Coming from Nigeria where everyone knows their neighbors and a sense of community is endemic to the culture, Enemuoh at first felt something missing in her new American life.
“When I first moved to Duluth many, many years ago, things were really difficult. I didn’t have any friends here. I only had one family member, my husband who is a professor at UMD (Dr. Emmanuel Enemuoh, professor of mechanical and industrial engineering),” she said. “So, I was looking for ways to get involved in the community. I joined different networking events and along the way with several employers, I learned about the Chamber. At first I found the Chamber as a place to network and get some education because through their education series. That’s how I first got involved and then at some point I did Leadership Duluth and continued to learn about the Chamber and how I could serve the community as a board member.”
She first became aware of the Chamber as an employee of health care businesses that were members.
“When I started my own organization (in 2016), I wanted my own organization to become a member of the Chamber. I joined the Chamber so that my business could continue to get the benefits and support of the Chamber because I know they advocate for their members,” she said.
She said it was in 2019 that she became seriously involved in the Chamber. “A year after that I was asked to join the executive committee of the board, and I’ve been on the executive committee since that time.”
It wasn’t long into her relationship with the Chamber that Enemuoh realized she and the organization had many of the same goals.
“At the end of the day, what we’re trying to do is to improve things and make our community a premier destination for business, economic development and family,” she said. “That is what I have learned – we all want the best for our community, and we have to work together to do that. I have learned the importance of working with people, collaboration, We all as humans, I believe, have the interest to move things forward, However, we have to work with each other in order to move things forward, so advocacy and education is a good way to accomplish that. WE must continue to have open dialogue and try to relate with people who may have different perspectives that you.”
Enemuoh said she brings to the role of board chair her personal core values of integrity, authenticity and gratitude.
“I want to lead with integrity, authenticity and gratitude,” she said. “Small businesses remain at the heart of our economy and there has been increasing pressures that small businesses face. So, for 2025, we will focus on business retention efforts and engaging directly with businesses to understand their needs and championing policies that will create a more supportive environment for growth. Whether it’s true advocacy, outreach or fostering connections, we are here to make sure that businesses of all sizes thrive. Even in my short term right now I’m connecting with businesses individually more so than I have. I’m listening to what their needs are and then relaying back to our amazing Chamber staff and president so that we can continue to support them. My goal is to work with the Chamber president and all of the staff there to accomplish our goals for 2025.
“My vision for the Chamber in 2025 is for us to have a community where inclusive growth and opportunity can support lasting progress for everyone. We’ll work to serve our members by providing that business advocacy and collaborative leadership.”
Jim Lundstrom is editor of The Duluthian.
