A Chamber Chat with David Minor: Community Growth, Tourism, and Eau Claire Hospitality
At Metropolis Resort, we talk a lot about growing with our community, not just growing inside our own walls. That’s one of the reasons our relationship with the Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce has been so important over the years.
For this episode of Fun Intended, I sat down with David Minor, President and CEO of the Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce, as he prepares to retire. We talked about Eau Claire’s growth, why community partnerships matter, the role tourism plays in the local economy, the importance of young professionals, and what David has learned from decades of leadership.
And because this is Fun Intended, we also talked quite a bit about Disney.
It Really Comes Back to People
David has spent much of his career in hospitality and Chamber leadership, and he sees those worlds as closely connected. Both are about people.
As President and CEO of the Chamber, David described his role as helping turn the board’s strategic direction into action while also building partnerships across the community. The Chamber works with the city, county, surrounding communities, economic development organizations, Visit Eau Claire and many others.
Each organization has its own focus, but the goal is bigger than any one group. It’s about figuring out how everyone can work together to make the community stronger.
That sense of cooperation is one of the things David believes makes Eau Claire special.
A Growing Community That Still Feels Connected
I grew up in Eau Claire, so to me it can still feel like a small town. David pointed out that for someone coming from a smaller community, Eau Claire can feel like a much bigger city.
That balance is part of the appeal.
We have restaurants, entertainment, healthcare, universities, outdoor recreation, a growing downtown and a strong business community, but it can still feel connected.
David talked about how Eau Claire has continued growing through major economic changes that could have sent the community in the opposite direction. That growth didn’t happen by accident. It happened because people and organizations kept investing in what the community could become.
Growth Creates More Growth
David believes outside investment often follows communities that are willing to invest in themselves first.
Downtown Eau Claire is a good example. One organization takes a chance. Another sees what’s possible. Then someone else makes the next investment. Over time, those individual decisions can transform an entire district.
We’re seeing another version of that ourselves as Metropolis Resort expands.
Our expansion may physically happen on our property, but the impact goes beyond Metropolis. More attractions can mean more visitors. Those visitors may stay overnight, eat at local restaurants, shop, explore downtown or discover another reason to return to Eau Claire.
That’s one of the reasons David described tourism as a bit of a hidden industry. You can easily see a new building going up, but tourism is people constantly moving through the community.
The economic impact is spread across hotels, restaurants, attractions, retail and other businesses.
Why Programs Like Young Professionals Matter
One part of the conversation that stood out to me was our discussion about Young Professionals and Leadership Eau Claire.
I’m involved with Young Professionals myself, and I was a little nervous when I started. I came from marketing and wasn’t sure how comfortable I would feel stepping into the larger business community. Instead, I found people who were welcoming, helpful and interested in building real connections.
David sees programs like these as important because they help develop the next generation of community leaders. He doesn’t think younger people should have to wait until a certain age before they can contribute. If someone is ready to serve and has something valuable to offer, give them the opportunity.
Those programs also create relationships that can last for years. People become friends, colleagues and connections they can call when they need help solving a problem. That network is part of what makes our community stronger.
Leadership Isn’t Always Being in Front
When I asked David about the projects he was most proud of, his answer wasn’t really about a building. It came back to people.
There are projects around Eau Claire where the Chamber played a role behind the scenes, and most people will never know exactly what that role was. David is fine with that. For him, leadership is often about getting the right people into the same room and helping them move something forward.
That became especially clear during major challenges like COVID and the more recent hospital closures. In both cases, different organizations and leaders had to work together quickly because no single group could solve the problem alone. That ability to bring people together may be one of the Chamber’s most important roles.
And Then We Talked About Disney
David is also a major Disney fan, with more than 70 trips to Walt Disney World. But what interests him most isn’t just the parks. It’s Disney’s approach to hospitality and leadership. One idea that stuck with him is the simple decision to call people “guests” instead of “customers.”
That changes the mindset.
A customer is making a transaction. A guest is someone you’re welcoming in. That philosophy is something we think about at Metropolis, too. We’re not just operating attractions or checking someone into a hotel room. We’re part of someone’s vacation, birthday, weekend or family memory.
David also admires Disney’s willingness to push people, technology and ideas beyond what already exists. That same mindset applies to businesses and communities. Growth requires asking what could be better next.
What Comes Next
After decades in Chamber leadership, David is looking forward to reading for pleasure, traveling with his wife and finding new ways to contribute without needing to be at the center of everything.
And yes, another Disney trip is definitely possible.
After our conversation, one idea kept coming back to me.
Buildings matter. Businesses matter. Attractions matter.
But none of them work without people.
Hear the Full Conversation
Hear David talk about Eau Claire’s growth, community leadership, tourism, his years with the Chamber and what businesses can learn from Disney.
Listen to Episode 8 of Fun Intended
Come Experience Eau Claire With Us
Plan your next visit to the Chippewa Valley and experience Action City, Chaos Water Park, dining, overnight stays and more at Metropolis Resort.
