NICEVILLE, FLORIDA - While the local Niceville-Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce serves hundreds of businesses and thousands in the community, it is one person, President and CEO Tricia Brunson, who’s kept the Chamber thriving and steady for the past 10 years. In fact, there were many times when she has literally saved the day.

Imagine, for instance, thousands of people gathered around the Bayou on the Fourth of July, waiting for fireworks that almost didn’t come. Past Chamber President [now termed Chair of the Board], and Senior Group Executive Martha Miller, Vanguard Bank, said Brunson came to the rescue when a heated dispute between a barge operator and the fireworks display person nearly cost residents their holiday. People were at a loss, but Brunson went to the Bayou and solved the dispute by building consensus. The night sky bloomed with patriotic color last year as always.

This year, people were in similar panic trying to find an available barge. Hurricane Katrina reconstruction efforts had sapped the supply. Again, Brunson rose to the occasion, calmly making non-stop phone calls until help arrived. Brunson, notes Miller, uses powerful diplomatic skills, then "always breezes through as if nothing happened."

Key to her diplomatic success is a disarmingly simple strategy. "She thinks before she speaks," said long-time friend Shelli Brown, vice president at Compass Bank. "She asks, ‘How can I get my point across to help this person?’" In the process, Brunson achieves mutual goals, said Brown. Her cool head and determination helps keep the Chamber running smoothly.

"People don’t realize what they have in her," said past Chamber President and Chair-Elect David Goetsch, Okaloosa-Walton College vice president. "They’ve come to expect all she stands for, and her value to our Chamber just cannot be overemphasized." She’s taken a relatively small Chamber, to one that now boasts over 700 members. Goetsch is impressed, and added, "Under her leadership, all programs are on time and on budget."

Niceville Mayor Randall Wise appreciates her equanimity. When the Chamber moved from Valparaiso to Niceville, Brunson didn’t give more weight to Niceville simply because locations changed, he said. "She always has time for everyone."

Okaloosa County Commissioner, and Past Chamber President, James Campbell, served on the search committee that hired Brunson. Most folks wouldn’t do well in a job that entails following the dictates of a new boss and board every year, but that’s what Brunson does. "And every year, the incoming [Chair] strives to do a little better, a little different than the year before. So her job is constantly changing." One leader focuses on raising membership by a certain percentage, another, such as current Chair Marion Riley Taylor, will boost the Chamber’s overall image with an updated Web site and new logo, while recruiting more mentors for the school district. "Whatever your nitch is, she [Brunson] makes it happen," said Campbell.

Moreover, Brunson manages an underpaid office staff, keeps membership numbers up, works with hundreds of volunteers, and she’s responsible for the budget. "None of us would have looked as good without her," said Campbell. But, he laughed, "She’s a lot prettier to look at, than us old grey heads in the city!"

Brunson often performs the lion’s share of the work, but always credits volunteers for results, said Miller. She epitomizes professionalism and "her feelings don’t get in the way." This year, at the drop of a hat, Brunson took over an Appreciation Day for military leaders when a volunteer had to attend another pressing event at her workplace. Brunson managed all of it, from invitations to caterers to decorating.

Brown, who has known Brunson since they were in fourth grade at Plew Elementary, said her friend hasn’t changed a bit. "She’s very kind, and always a leader." They were once riding their bikes, and Brown tried to go down an off-limits street. "She would say, ‘Now, we’re not supposed to do that,’" recalls Brown. "She’d get me back on the right track." One of Brunson’s gifts is that "she can go in and talk to the [Eglin Air Force] Base Commander and then the grocery checkout girl, who will feel just as important."

In the 35 years they’ve been friends, they’ve seen each other through some rough spots. "I don’t believe anyone knew she had a son, Kyle, who was ill. Tricia never used his illness as an excuse," said Brown. "People didn’t realize what it took for her to get there, to work every day. She’s so strong internally."

Kyle was born with a neural tube disorder, Dandy-Walker Syndrome, and died three years ago this November, when he was seventeen. Campbell, who knew Brunson’s family, also knew the sacrifices Brunson was making as she cared for Kyle. When the committee hired her, Campbell recalls thinking, "If she can deal with that stress, then she can deal with anything."

Brunson misses her son’s tremendous capacity for joy. She loved Kyle’s response to country music. "His favorite song was Alan Jackson’s ‘Don’t Rock the Jukebox,’" said Brunson. Kyle couldn’t sing the words, but he would tap his foot. She said he had a smile that could rule a room of people. From life’s difficulties Brunson has learned, "Stick to your course and your goal."

Brunson’s most admired historic figure is Abraham Lincoln, for he didn’t swerve from his inner dictates, holding strong when being anti-slavery wasn’t popular, Brunson said.

Another person Brunson greatly admires is her daughter, Jenni, who is twenty-three, and who earned her Bachelor’s degree at the University of West Florida. Jenni Brunson is now Director of Marketing at Twin Cities Hospital.

Brunson recently started back to college herself, working toward a degree in Human Resources at Okaloosa-Walton College, after earning an AA degree earlier.

Under her leadership, the Chamber transitioned into its new building in Niceville; became certified in ’06 for upholding certain practices and high standards; won the’03 Communication of the Year award from the Florida Association of Chamber Professionals for its newsletter, The Chamber Connection; and excelled in its reaction to Hurricane Katrina victims. "We were some of the first to respond," said Brunson. "The town we sent supplies to in Mississippi was d’Iberville, just outside of Biloxi." Ralf Zapata, a Chamber member and local dentist, had family in the area. In assisting them, he saw the great need for help, came home, and started his own relief effort, she said. "Our project was an extension of his efforts." It was such a good feeling to send the word out, and see pallets of water, formula, food, diapers, clothing and toys pour in, she recalls. "People’s hearts went out." They collected, sorted, loaded and delivered the goods. For Brunson, it was all in a day’s work.

Campbell, though, said Brunson downplays her tremendous contribution to the Chamber. "She’s a classy person and runs a classy operation. I hope she’s there for another 10 years."