Deidre Martinez

When the Sheboygan County Chamber hired Deidre Martinez as its new executive director, they knew they were getting a dynamic leader with an outgoing personality.

Not even six months into her new job, Martinez is taking to the biggest stage of them all!

"They all think I'm nuts right now," said Martinez with a laugh when asked how her Chamber family reacted to her decision to dance in the Movers & Shakers Gala.

As this community leader acclimates to her new surroundings and shares her vision for the Chamber and its future, dancing in the Gala provides a huge platform for this newcomer to say hello.

"Being new to the community and new to my role here, this gives me an opportunity to give back in a different way," Martinez said. "By stretching outside my comfort zone, I'm hoping to show people I want to be a big part of this community.

"A lot of times, we think of giving back as opening your wallet. We forget sometimes that giving of your time and talent is just as valuable."

She is quick to note that she's not a talented dancer, with her moves being reserved for her living room or maybe the driver's seat of her car depending on what music is playing.

Martinez came to Sheboygan from the Chicago suburbs where she worked for the Crystal Lake Chamber of Commerce. She has served in a variety of roles that have included marketing, recruitment and retention in higher education.

She is excited about the future of Sheboygan County.

"There are so many opportunities here for growth, for careers, for advancement, for my children," Martinez said. "This community is open to conversation about how we build this together and grow, and I love that. People believe there is enough to go around for everyone, and if we work together and not duplicate our efforts, our collective level of success will be much greater.

"The Chamber is the connector for those relationships, and we're a hub for those conversations, and that's where I can see us taking this county to the next level. The Chamber is making sure the right people are connecting and having conversations. We're making sure to invite the next generation to the table so they have a voice in our collective future."

Deidre's partner is Zeke Cribbs.