I had been a Chamber member for only a few months when I decided to log into my account just to see what I had signed up for. That is when I remembered something Nate had mentioned: a radio segment called Be Our Guest, where local business owners get to share their story with the community. I picked up the phone and called him on the spot.
He sent over a list of questions to prepare, and before I knew it, a date was locked in with Bob Fisher, KGLO’s host.
The morning of, my nerves and my excitement were neck and neck. I showed up 20 minutes early, too eager to sit still at home. Alice and the team welcomed me in, and I made my way upstairs to the studio, heart pounding just a little. Bob waited for a break in the broadcast, then walked me through exactly what to expect, even letting me practice the questions before we went live.
And then, we were on air. Any nerves I had melted away almost instantly. It felt less like an interview and more like catching up with an old friend.
What struck me most, though, was that this opportunity cost me nothing. As a new business, every dollar matters, and the Chamber had handed me a stage, a microphone and an audience, free of charge. KGLO even recorded the segment and shared it across their social media, tagging my business so their followers could find me, too.
I left the studio that day feeling something I did not expect. Not a sense of pride, but a feeling of being genuinely held. There is a saying that it takes a village, and I got to see that village at work. Mason City’s Chamber did not just welcome me as a member; they helped me tell my story, and in doing so, made it a little bit theirs, too.
This content is sourced from
Greater Mason City Chamber of Commerce
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