Meet Noel Black, the woman leading the Chamber into the future

As the new Blackwell Area Chamber of Commerce coordinator, Noel Black said she is looking forward to embracing Blackwell’s traditions while charting a new course for the city’s future.

At an official meet-and-greet event last week, Black shook hands with several Blackwell citizens and formally introduced herself at the Chamber of Commerce office on Main Street with a smile and a sense of optimism that was palpable.

“I’m so excited to be here in Blackwell,” Black said. “Coming here, I have learned a lot about Blackwell’s traditions: the Fourth of July parade, Homecoming, the Christmas parade and everything else that the Chamber is involved in. My goal this year is to observe and to be a part of everything, and we are already in the process of planning for some fun new things going into next year.”

Black said she has received a positive welcome from various community groups and city officials.

“Working in the area, I have always heard positive things about Blackwell’s events, and there is such a strong sense of community here,” she said. “I think that’s so special.”

Black, a Lamont native, is no stranger to Kay County. She graduated in 2005 from Tonkawa High School.

She started in the commerce industry in 2012 as an administrative assistant for the Perry Chamber of Commerce.

She was the tourism coordinator for the Ponca City Chamber of Commerce. She went back to the Perry Chamber as the communications and events coordinator before becoming the president and CEO there.

Black has educational experience in business development and organizational strengths. She has worked toward certification from the U.S. Chamber’s Institute for Organizational Management.

She has taken training from the Chamber Management Institute and the Center for Chamber of Commerce Excellence. The latter was in association with the University of Oklahoma College of Professional and Continuing Studies for Advanced Chamber Management. Black also has gone through the Nonprofit Management Certification Program at the Oklahoma Center for Nonprofits.

Black said her work has developed within her a passion for non-profit organizations and what a chamber of commerce can do for businesses in the community.

She is married to Alex Black and has three children: Aven, Brielyn and Riah. Her free time is spent with her children in all their activities and sports and enjoying their family time.