Lisa Hoyt 

Beth Anne Piehl, Special Sections Writer

In a male-dominated profession, Lisa Hoyt found herself thriving, traveling the world as international sales manager of Charlevoix’s LexaLite Corp., attending trade shows and ensuring the company’s literature was translated to French, Spanish, Portuguese and more as it expanded its global clientele.

“For a woman, it was incredible,” said Hoyt, now 38. “I had some incredible opportunities as far as career advancement.”

It was a whirlwind lifestyle that, to those whose jobs keep them close to home, seems exotic and exciting. For Hoyt, after 15 years of globetrotting, she found herself longing to stay nearer to Northern Michigan.

“It came to the point where I felt I was not connected anywhere,” she said. “I couldn’t commit to a service group. I was looking for something where I could feel I could make a difference in my community. That’s where my heartstrings were tugging.”

Serendipitously, as is often the case in life-path changing opportunities, the membership director job opened up at the Petoskey Regional Chamber of Commerce in 2007; Hoyt applied and was hired.

Since then, she’s hit the local ground running, responsible for all facets of chamber membership including networking events like Business Before and Business After Hours, Breakfast of Champions community recognition program, Festival on the Bay, the fall golf outing and more.

She is also the face behind the successful Connecting Women in Business program, which under her leadership has grown in the last year to include up to 100 area businesswomen who meet for lunch, networking and speakers who share messages of inspiration, education and advice.

The luncheon series was spearheaded by Hoyt and organized with the help of a steering committee that met to discuss what types of speakers to invite to the area and topics of relevance to area professionals. Group members meet about once a month, aside from during the busy summer months.

“For a chamber program, it has exceeded our expectations,” said Hoyt.

Providing chamber members, and encouraging potential new ones, to take advantage of new niche programs offered by the local organization is another facet of Hoyt’s job. Such programming showcases the many services of the chamber for its membership, which today stands around 760, Hoyt said. Ypods (Young Professionals Off Duty), for those under age 40, an Entrepreneur Club and the Connecting Women in Business group are examples of the chamber’s efforts to reach all segments of its membership.

“We’re really trying to find ways to meet members’ needs,” she said. “We’re always encouraging people to get involved and take advantage of what we have to offer.”

Catering to the members and business community in a smaller radius is the perfect fit for Hoyt, who also enjoys working with the Ambassador Committee to welcome new business with ribbon-cuttings celebrations.

“Every day’s a great new opportunity,” said Hoyt. “I love coming to work every day.”

For more information about the Connecting Women in Business or other chamber programs, visit www.petoskey.com.

Making the connection

Who: Lisa Hoyt, 38, of Charlevoix
Her position: Membership director, Petoskey Regional Chamber of Commerce, since 2007
Family: Husband Dave and their 8-year-old Shih-tsu, Chili
Background: Born in Defiance, Ohio; attended Adrian College, began as marketing manager of LexaLite Corporation after college and was promoted to international sales manager.
Connection to Northern Michigan: Her college roommate was Valerie Barnes, whose father Josh has been active in the area community, including as mayor of Charlevoix. He was president of LexaLite at the time of Hoyt’s move north. “I fell in love with the area, of course,” says Hoyt.
Other involvements: Leadership Little Traverse graduate; member and president of Kappa Sigma, part of the Beta Sigma Phi sorority in Charlevoix; Northern Michigan Community Mediation.