By Hillary Gavan
For StatelineBusiness

ROSCOE - Kathy Dyrdahl has been working with business people and local officials as she learns how to best serve them as the new Roscoe Area Chamber of Commerce executive director.

She started in her new position on Jan. 7, replacing Mary Cacioppi who left to work as Economic Development Director for the village about two months ago.

"I'm looking forward to promoting businesses and Roscoe any way I can. Once we start letting people know what we are all about, people will start coming up here and shopping," Dyrdahl said. "Growth is good."

Dyrdahl said she has a lot of experience in public relations. She worked as the Director of Communications and Marketing for the American Red Cross in Rockford for four years. She has lived in Roscoe for more than 20 years.

Currently Dyrdahl is working toward her bachelor's degree in fine arts at Rockford College. She will graduate in May.

Dyrdahl has been working with board members and learning about her new position.

"Every day I'm getting more and more excited about the differences we can make as a team," Dyrdahl said.

Dyrdahl has been working with office assistant Sharon Grosch and is working to get her first newsletter out in February.

When the Chamber was without a director for two months, Dyrdahl said 2007 Chamber President Penny Billman and 2008 Chamber President Matt Ambrose stepped up and helped to keep things running.

"They went above and beyond for the Chamber," Dyrdahl said. "The board of directors is amazing. They have been really wonderful to work with and the relationship is going to get much stronger."

The Roscoe Chamber Annual Dinner will be Thursday, Jan. 31 at the Ramada, 200 Dearborn Ave., South Beloit.

Dyrdahl hopes people will stop in at the event and learn about the Chamber.

The Roscoe Chamber has 375 members.

Dyrdahl has been married for 27 years to her husband, Phil, a senior engineer at EcoLab.

She has four sons. Matthew, 21, attends the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. Michael, 19, goes to Rock Valley College. Mitchell, 14, and Mark, 12, attend Roscoe Middle School.

"Roscoe's my home. It's where I raised my children. It's the community I love. I plan on always being a part of it for a long time," Dyrdahl said.

Dyrdahl enjoys painting, knitting scarves, watching her children run sports and spending time with her black Labrador named Chelsea.